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Tense Rules In English.
Active Voice
Present Tense
Present Simple Tense
1. Affirmative
sub + v1 + s/es + obj.
s/es with third person ex: he, she, it, they.
es -> singular
s -> plural
2. Negative
sub + do/does + not + v1 + obj.
do -> I/plural
does -> sigular
3. Interrogative
do/does + sub + v1 + obj.
4. Double Interrogative
WH Family + do/does + sub + v1 + obj.
WH Family ex: who, what, which, how, whom, whose, when, where, why.
Present Continuous Tense
1. Affirmative
sub + is/am/are + v1 + ing + obj.
am -> I
is -> singular
are -> plural
2. Negative
sub + is/am/are + not + v1 + ing + obj.
3. Interrogative
is/am/are + sub + v1 + ing + obj.
4. Double Interrogative
WH Family + is/am/are + sub + v1 + ing + obj.
WH Family ex: who, what, which, how, whom, whose, when, where, why.
Present Perfect Tense
1. Affirmative
sub + has/have + v3 + obj.
has -> singular
have -> I/plural
2. Negative
sub + has/have + not + v3 + obj.
3. Interrogative
has/have + sub + v3 + obj.
4. Double Interrogative
WH Family + has/have + sub + v3 + obj.
WH Family ex: who, what, which, how, whom, whose, when, where, why.
Present Perfect Continuous Tense
1. Affirmative
sub + has/have + been+ v1 + ing + since/for + obj.
has -> singular
have -> I/plural
2. Negative
sub + has/have + not + been+ v1 + ing + since/for + obj.
3. Interrogative
has/have + sub + been + v1 + ing + since/for + obj.
4. Double Interrogative
WH Family + has/have + sub + been + v1 + ing + since/for + obj.
WH Family ex: who, what, which, how, whom, whose, when, where, why.
Past Tense
Past Simple Tense
1. Affirmative
sub + v2 + obj.
2. Negative
sub + did + not + v1 + obj.
3. Interrogative
did + sub + v1 + obj.
4. Double Interrogative
WH Family + did + sub + v1 + obj.
WH Family ex: who, what, which, how, whom, whose, when, where, why.
Past Continuous Tense
1. Affirmative
sub + was/were + v1 + ing + obj.
was -> I/singular
were -> plural
2. Negative
sub + was/were + not + v1 + ing + obj.
3. Interrogative
was/were + sub + v1 + ing + obj.
4. Double Interrogative
WH Family + was/were + sub + v1 + ing + obj.
WH Family ex: who, what, which, how, whom, whose, when, where, why.
Past Perfect Tense
1. Affirmative
sub + had + v3 + obj.
2. Negative
sub + had + not + v3 + obj.
3. Interrogative
had + sub + v3 + obj.
4. Double Interrogative
WH Family + had + sub + v3 + obj.
WH Family ex: who, what, which, how, whom, whose, when, where, why.
Past Perfect Continuous Tense
1. Affirmative
sub + had + been+ v1 + ing + since/for + obj.
2. Negative
sub + had+ not + been+ v1 + ing + since/for + obj.
3. Interrogative
had + sub + been + v1 + ing + since/for + obj.
4. Double Interrogative
WH Family + had + sub + been + v1 + ing + since/for + obj.
WH Family ex: who, what, which, how, whom, whose, when, where, why.
Future Tense
Future Simple Tense
1. Affirmative
sub + will + v1 + obj.
2. Negative
sub + will+ not + v1 + obj.
3. Interrogative
will + sub + v1 + obj.
4. Double Interrogative
WH Family + will + sub + v1 + obj.
WH Family ex: who, what, which, how, whom, whose, when, where, why.
Future Continuous Tense
1. Affirmative
sub + will be + v1 + ing + obj.
2. Negative
sub + will + not + be + v1 + ing + obj.
3. Interrogative
will + sub + be + v1 + ing + obj.
4. Double Interrogative
WH Family + will + sub + be + v1 + ing + obj.
WH Family ex: who, what, which, how, whom, whose, when, where, why.
Future Perfect Tense
1. Affirmative
sub + will have + v3 + obj.
2. Negative
sub + will not + have + v3 + obj.
3. Interrogative
will + sub + have + v3 + obj.
4. Double Interrogative
WH Family + will + sub + have + v3 + obj.
WH Family ex: who, what, which, how, whom, whose, when, where, why.
Future Perfect Continuous Tense
1. Affirmative
sub + will have + been + v1 + ing + since/for + obj.
2. Negative
sub + will+ not + have been+ v1 + ing + since/for + obj.
3. Interrogative
will + sub + have been + v1 + ing + since/for + obj.
4. Double Interrogative
WH Family + will + sub + have been + v1 + ing + since/for + obj.
WH Family ex: who, what, which, how, whom, whose, when, where, why.
Correction Settings
Tense Rules In English.
sub + v1 + s/es + obj. sub + v1 + s/es + obj.
Subject + v1 + -s/-es (he/she/it) / infinitive (minus “to”) (they) + obj.
- She walks to the shops every day.
- He likes to eat fruit in the morning.
- They want to go to the park.
s/es with third person ex: he, she, it, they. s/es with third person ex: he, she, it, they.
They is the third person plural- so it never takes an “-s OR -es” ending. Instead it’ll take the infinitive of the verb, minus “to” (the bare infinitive).
To speak…
He/She/It SPEAKS. -s
They SPEAK. Infinitive minus “to”
To go…
He/She/It GOES. -es
They GO. Infinitive minus “to”
sub + do/does + not + v1 + obj. sub + do/does + not + v1 + obj.
This is correct 👍 but in modern spoken English you will be more likely to hear…
Do not —-> Don’t
Does not —-> Doesn’t
1) He doesn’t have the book.
2) They don’t want to go to the doctors.
does -> singular does -> singular
3. Interrogative 3. Interrogative
Your formulas are correct, but they feel a little clinical. Here are some options for natural phrasing…
1. Use tag questions=
In the UK we are more likely to state a ‘fact’ and then ‘tag’ a question onto it…
- You like this park, don’t you?
- They have to walk to school tomorrow, don’t they?
2. Drop the auxiliary verb completely=
Because we want to talk quickly, and it’s clear from the pronoun/context who we are talking to, we’ll normally say…
- Want some pizza? (Do you want some pizza).
- They know about the party this evening? (Do they know that there is a party this evening?)
4. Double Interrogative 4. Double Interrogative
When we are asking negative questions that start with one of the “WH family” we always contract the auxiliary…
- Why don’t they want an ice cream?
- Who doesn’t want to come to the party?
WH Family ex: who, what, which, how, whom, whose, when, where, why.
sub + is/am/are + v1 + ing + obj. sub + is/am/are + v1 + ing + obj.
Again this is correct, but we will always contract the subject and the auxiliary verb in spoken English…
- I’m going out tonight.
- They’re buying a puppy!
- He’s not going on holiday this year.
am -> I
is -> singular
are -> plural
2. Negative 2. Negative
Sometimes you’ll see (with the singular)…
He/She/It + To Be = He’s / She’s / It’s
He/She/It + To Be + not = He isn’t / She isn’t / It isn’t
1) He isn’t going to the shops OR He’s not going to the shops.
2) It’s not going to work. OR It isn’t going to work.
3. Interrogative 3. Interrogative
See above interrogative section
4. Double Interrogative 4. Double Interrogative
See about double interrogative section
WH Family ex: who, what, which, how, whom, whose, when, where, why.
sub + has/have + v3 + obj. sub + has/have + v3 + obj.
We combine them…
- I/They have —-> I’ve / They’ve
- He/She/It has —-> He’s / She’s / It’s
-I’ve seen this film twice already.
- It’s been a lovely day today.
- They’ve been really busy all day.
has -> singular
have -> I/plural
sub + has/have + not + v3 + obj. sub + has/have + not + v3 + obj.
- I/They have not —-> Haven’t
-He/She/It has not —-> Hasn’t
-I haven’t found my keys yet, I lost the last night and now can’t find them anywhere.
- It hasn’t been easy to stay on my diet.
4. Double Interrogative 4. Double Interrogative
Normally we’ll drop the WH question word altogether…
-You finished yet? (Have you finished [it] yet?
WH Family ex: who, what, which, how, whom, whose, when, where, why.
1. Affirmative 1. Affirmative
Contract them…
- I’ve been working a lot lately.
-They haven’t been very happy today.
has -> singular
have -> I/plural
2. Negative 2. Negative
See above sections as same rules apply.
sub + v2 + obj. sub + v2 + obj.
Sub. + used to + verb + obj.
- I used to play football everyday.
- They used to go to the beach every summer.
sub + did + not + v1 + obj. sub + did + not + v1 + obj.
Didn’t= what you will hear.
WH Family ex: who, what, which, how, whom, whose, when, where, why.
was -> I/singular
were -> plural
sub + was/were + not + v1 + ing + obj. sub + was/were + not + v1 + ing + obj.
Wasn’t or weren’t
1. Affirmative 1. Affirmative
We don’t really say “had” in spoken English, instead we combine the subject with “ ‘d”…
I had —-> I’d
They had —-> They’d
He/She had —-> He’d/ She’d
It had —> it’d
- I’d just started eating when the phone rang.
- It’d just started raining when we got there.
- He’d just got home when the door went (someone knocked on the door).
sub + had + not + v3 + obj. sub + had + not + v3 + obj.
Always use ‘hadn’t’
WH Family ex: who, what, which, how, whom, whose, when, where, why.
Past Perfect Continuous Tense Past Perfect Continuous Tense
This tense is very rarely used in spoken English outside of highly formal storytelling to be honest because we use simpler past tenses.
1. Affirmative 1. Affirmative
Just remember to contract them…
- I’d been running every morning since the end January, but I had to stop when I twisted by ankle.
sub + had+ not + been+ v1 + ing + since/for + obj. sub + had+ not + been+ v1 + ing + since/for + obj.
Use ‘hadn’t been’
1. Affirmative 1. Affirmative
We will always contract the subject and will together= I’ll, He/She/It’ll, They’ll.
We never use “will” for planned events- it is strictly used for instant, split-second decisions.
- Bye! I’ll call you later! (You’ve just met a friend in the street and have just decided that you’ll call them later).
⬆️ See how I used ‘you’ll’ (and ‘you’ve) here?
sub + will+ not + v1 + obj. sub + will+ not + v1 + obj.
Never use ‘will not’ you will ONLY hear ‘won’t’.
WH Family ex: who, what, which, how, whom, whose, when, where, why.
1. Affirmative 1. Affirmative
Same rules apply-from the last section
WH Family ex: who, what, which, how, whom, whose, when, where, why.
Future Perfect Tense Future Perfect Tense
You guessed it, another new contraction! This one is only really to show you the sound in spoke English.
I will have —-> I’ll’ve (I-luv or I’ll-uv as a sound)
He/She/It- (He’ll’ve / She’ll’ve /It’ll’ve)
They- They’ll’ve
WH Family + will + sub + have + v3 + obj.
Future Perfect Continuous Tense Future Perfect Continuous Tense
Exactly the same rules apply as in previous sections but we just add ‘been’ to the end of those monstrosities!
Feedback
Wow! You’ve done a lot of research and study here! Grammatically you’re correct and clearly understand the core concepts of these tenses. Instead of going through each tense individually, I thought it might make sense to provide you with some examples of how you will hear English (🇬🇧) spoken on the streets.
Unfortunately, despite our wide array of beautifully complex tenses, we’re actually quite lazy and don’t actually use many of them in modern, street-spoken English. In textbooks, you’ll be told that we use all of our tenses equally. However, my advice to you would be to focus on a core five…
1. Present simple
2. Present continuous (we love our gerunds!)
3. Past simple
4. Present perfect
5. Future simple
If you can jump between these five smoothly, as well as using those contractions that I’ve mentioned, you will be able to easily handle 99% of your conversations. Let me know if there’s anything I can clarify!
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Tense Rules In English. This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
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Active Voice |
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Present Tense |
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Present Simple Tense |
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1. Affirmative |
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sub + v1 + s/es + obj. sub + v1 + s/es + obj. sub + v1 + s/es + obj. Subject + v1 + -s/-es (he/she/it) / infinitive (minus “to”) (they) + obj. - She walks to the shops every day. - He likes to eat fruit in the morning. - They want to go to the park. |
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s/es with third person ex: he, she, it, they. s/es with third person ex: he, she, it, they. s/es with third person ex: he, she, it, they. They is the third person plural- so it never takes an “-s OR -es” ending. Instead it’ll take the infinitive of the verb, minus “to” (the bare infinitive). To speak… He/She/It SPEAKS. -s They SPEAK. Infinitive minus “to” To go… He/She/It GOES. -es They GO. Infinitive minus “to” |
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es -> singular |
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s -> plural |
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2. Negative |
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sub + do/does + not + v1 + obj. sub + do/does + not + v1 + obj. sub + do/does + not + v1 + obj. This is correct 👍 but in modern spoken English you will be more likely to hear… Do not —-> Don’t Does not —-> Doesn’t 1) He doesn’t have the book. 2) They don’t want to go to the doctors. |
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do -> I/plural |
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does -> sigular does -> singular does -> singular |
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3. Interrogative 3. Interrogative 3. Interrogative Your formulas are correct, but they feel a little clinical. Here are some options for natural phrasing… 1. Use tag questions= In the UK we are more likely to state a ‘fact’ and then ‘tag’ a question onto it… - You like this park, don’t you? - They have to walk to school tomorrow, don’t they? 2. Drop the auxiliary verb completely= Because we want to talk quickly, and it’s clear from the pronoun/context who we are talking to, we’ll normally say… - Want some pizza? (Do you want some pizza). - They know about the party this evening? (Do they know that there is a party this evening?) |
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do/does + sub + v1 + obj. |
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4. Double Interrogative 4. Double Interrogative 4. Double Interrogative When we are asking negative questions that start with one of the “WH family” we always contract the auxiliary… - Why don’t they want an ice cream? - Who doesn’t want to come to the party? |
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WH Family + do/does + sub + v1 + obj. |
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WH Family ex: who, what, which, how, whom, whose, when, where, why. This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
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Present Continuous Tense |
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1. Affirmative |
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sub + is/am/are + v1 + ing + obj. sub + is/am/are + v1 + ing + obj. sub + is/am/are + v1 + ing + obj. Again this is correct, but we will always contract the subject and the auxiliary verb in spoken English… - I’m going out tonight. - They’re buying a puppy! - He’s not going on holiday this year. |
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am -> I This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
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is -> singular This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
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are -> plural This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
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2. Negative 2. Negative 2. Negative Sometimes you’ll see (with the singular)… He/She/It + To Be = He’s / She’s / It’s He/She/It + To Be + not = He isn’t / She isn’t / It isn’t 1) He isn’t going to the shops OR He’s not going to the shops. 2) It’s not going to work. OR It isn’t going to work. |
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sub + is/am/are + not + v1 + ing + obj. |
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3. Interrogative 3. Interrogative 3. Interrogative See above interrogative section |
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is/am/are + sub + v1 + ing + obj. |
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4. Double Interrogative 4. Double Interrogative 4. Double Interrogative See about double interrogative section |
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WH Family + is/am/are + sub + v1 + ing + obj. |
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WH Family ex: who, what, which, how, whom, whose, when, where, why. This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
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Present Perfect Tense |
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1. Affirmative |
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sub + has/have + v3 + obj. sub + has/have + v3 + obj. sub + has/have + v3 + obj. We combine them… - I/They have —-> I’ve / They’ve - He/She/It has —-> He’s / She’s / It’s -I’ve seen this film twice already. - It’s been a lovely day today. - They’ve been really busy all day. |
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has -> singular This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
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have -> I/plural This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
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2. Negative |
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sub + has/have + not + v3 + obj. sub + has/have + not + v3 + obj. sub + has/have + not + v3 + obj. - I/They have not —-> Haven’t -He/She/It has not —-> Hasn’t -I haven’t found my keys yet, I lost the last night and now can’t find them anywhere. - It hasn’t been easy to stay on my diet. |
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3. Interrogative |
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has/have + sub + v3 + obj. |
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4. Double Interrogative 4. Double Interrogative 4. Double Interrogative Normally we’ll drop the WH question word altogether… -You finished yet? (Have you finished [it] yet? |
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WH Family + has/have + sub + v3 + obj. |
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WH Family ex: who, what, which, how, whom, whose, when, where, why. This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
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Present Perfect Continuous Tense |
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1. Affirmative 1. Affirmative 1. Affirmative Contract them… - I’ve been working a lot lately. -They haven’t been very happy today. |
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sub + has/have + been+ v1 + ing + since/for + obj. |
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has -> singular This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
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have -> I/plural This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
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2. Negative 2. Negative 2. Negative See above sections as same rules apply. |
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sub + has/have + not + been+ v1 + ing + since/for + obj. |
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3. Interrogative |
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has/have + sub + been + v1 + ing + since/for + obj. |
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4. Double Interrogative |
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WH Family + has/have + sub + been + v1 + ing + since/for + obj. |
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WH Family ex: who, what, which, how, whom, whose, when, where, why. |
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Past Tense |
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Past Simple Tense |
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1. Affirmative |
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sub + v2 + obj. sub + v2 + obj. sub + v2 + obj. Sub. + used to + verb + obj. - I used to play football everyday. - They used to go to the beach every summer. |
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2. Negative |
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sub + did + not + v1 + obj. sub + did + not + v1 + obj. sub + did + not + v1 + obj. Didn’t= what you will hear. |
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3. Interrogative |
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did + sub + v1 + obj. |
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4. Double Interrogative |
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WH Family + did + sub + v1 + obj. |
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WH Family ex: who, what, which, how, whom, whose, when, where, why. This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
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Past Continuous Tense |
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1. Affirmative |
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sub + was/were + v1 + ing + obj. |
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was -> I/singular This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
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were -> plural This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
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2. Negative |
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sub + was/were + not + v1 + ing + obj. sub + was/were + not + v1 + ing + obj. sub + was/were + not + v1 + ing + obj. Wasn’t or weren’t |
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3. Interrogative |
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was/were + sub + v1 + ing + obj. |
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4. Double Interrogative |
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WH Family + was/were + sub + v1 + ing + obj. |
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WH Family ex: who, what, which, how, whom, whose, when, where, why. |
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Past Perfect Tense |
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1. Affirmative 1. Affirmative 1. Affirmative We don’t really say “had” in spoken English, instead we combine the subject with “ ‘d”… I had —-> I’d They had —-> They’d He/She had —-> He’d/ She’d It had —> it’d - I’d just started eating when the phone rang. - It’d just started raining when we got there. - He’d just got home when the door went (someone knocked on the door). |
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sub + had + v3 + obj. |
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2. Negative |
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sub + had + not + v3 + obj. sub + had + not + v3 + obj. sub + had + not + v3 + obj. Always use ‘hadn’t’ |
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3. Interrogative |
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had + sub + v3 + obj. |
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4. Double Interrogative |
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WH Family + had + sub + v3 + obj. |
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WH Family ex: who, what, which, how, whom, whose, when, where, why. This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
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Past Perfect Continuous Tense Past Perfect Continuous Tense Past Perfect Continuous Tense This tense is very rarely used in spoken English outside of highly formal storytelling to be honest because we use simpler past tenses. |
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1. Affirmative 1. Affirmative 1. Affirmative Just remember to contract them… - I’d been running every morning since the end January, but I had to stop when I twisted by ankle. |
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sub + had + been+ v1 + ing + since/for + obj. |
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2. Negative |
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sub + had+ not + been+ v1 + ing + since/for + obj. sub + had+ not + been+ v1 + ing + since/for + obj. sub + had+ not + been+ v1 + ing + since/for + obj. Use ‘hadn’t been’ |
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3. Interrogative |
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had + sub + been + v1 + ing + since/for + obj. |
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4. Double Interrogative |
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WH Family + had + sub + been + v1 + ing + since/for + obj. |
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WH Family ex: who, what, which, how, whom, whose, when, where, why. |
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Future Tense |
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Future Simple Tense |
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1. Affirmative 1. Affirmative 1. Affirmative We will always contract the subject and will together= I’ll, He/She/It’ll, They’ll. We never use “will” for planned events- it is strictly used for instant, split-second decisions. - Bye! I’ll call you later! (You’ve just met a friend in the street and have just decided that you’ll call them later). ⬆️ See how I used ‘you’ll’ (and ‘you’ve) here? |
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sub + will + v1 + obj. |
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2. Negative |
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sub + will+ not + v1 + obj. sub + will+ not + v1 + obj. sub + will+ not + v1 + obj. Never use ‘will not’ you will ONLY hear ‘won’t’. |
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3. Interrogative |
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will + sub + v1 + obj. |
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4. Double Interrogative |
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WH Family + will + sub + v1 + obj. |
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WH Family ex: who, what, which, how, whom, whose, when, where, why. This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
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Future Continuous Tense |
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1. Affirmative 1. Affirmative 1. Affirmative Same rules apply-from the last section |
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sub + will be + v1 + ing + obj. |
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2. Negative |
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sub + will + not + be + v1 + ing + obj. |
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3. Interrogative |
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will + sub + be + v1 + ing + obj. |
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4. Double Interrogative |
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WH Family + will + sub + be + v1 + ing + obj. |
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WH Family ex: who, what, which, how, whom, whose, when, where, why. This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
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Future Perfect Tense Future Perfect Tense Future Perfect Tense You guessed it, another new contraction! This one is only really to show you the sound in spoke English. I will have —-> I’ll’ve (I-luv or I’ll-uv as a sound) He/She/It- (He’ll’ve / She’ll’ve /It’ll’ve) They- They’ll’ve |
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1. Affirmative |
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sub + will have + v3 + obj. |
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2. Negative |
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sub + will not + have + v3 + obj. |
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3. Interrogative |
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will + sub + have + v3 + obj. |
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4. Double Interrogative |
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WH Family + will + sub + have + v3 + obj. This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
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WH Family ex: who, what, which, how, whom, whose, when, where, why. |
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Future Perfect Continuous Tense Future Perfect Continuous Tense Future Perfect Continuous Tense Exactly the same rules apply as in previous sections but we just add ‘been’ to the end of those monstrosities! |
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1. Affirmative |
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sub + will have + been + v1 + ing + since/for + obj. |
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2. Negative |
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sub + will+ not + have been+ v1 + ing + since/for + obj. |
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3. Interrogative |
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will + sub + have been + v1 + ing + since/for + obj. |
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4. Double Interrogative |
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WH Family + will + sub + have been + v1 + ing + since/for + obj. |
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WH Family ex: who, what, which, how, whom, whose, when, where, why. |
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