English Tenses and Verb Conjugation

Table of Contents

• 1. Simple Present
• 2. Present Continuous
• 3. Simple Past
• 4. Past Continuous
• 5. Present Perfect
• 6. Past Perfect
• 7. Simple Future
• 7.1 Near Future
• 8. Future Perfect
• 9. Present Conditional
• 10. Past Conditional
• 11. Present Perfect Continuous
• 12. Past Perfect Continuous
• 13. Imperative
• 14. Practice Exercises

1. Simple Present

The simple present is used to express facts, general truths, habits, or routines.

1.1 Affirmative Form

Structure: subject + base verb (add -s or -es for he/she/it)

1.2 Negative Form

Structure: subject + do/does not + base verb

1.3 Interrogative Form

Structure: Do/Does + subject + base verb?

1.4 Interro-Negative Form

Structure: Don’t/Doesn’t + subject + base verb?

2. Present Continuous

The present continuous is used to describe an action that is happening right now or is ongoing around the present time.

2.1 Affirmative Form

Structure: subject + am / is / are + verb + -ing

2.2 Negative Form

Structure: subject + am / is / are + not + verb + -ing

2.3 Interrogative Form

Structure: Am / Is / Are + subject + verb + -ing ?

2.4 Interro-Negative Form

Structure: Am / Is / Are + subject + not + verb + -ing ?

3. Simple Past

The simple past is used to describe an action that was completed in the past.

3.1 Affirmative Form

Structure: subject + verb in past form (regular: verb + -ed / irregular: 2nd column)

3.2 Negative Form

Structure: subject + did not + base verb

3.3 Interrogative Form

Structure: Did + subject + base verb ?

3.4 Interro-Negative Form

Structure: Didn’t + subject + base verb ?

4. Past Continuous

The past continuous is used to describe an action that was in progress at a specific time in the past.

4.1 Affirmative Form

Structure: subject + was / were + verb + -ing

4.2 Negative Form

Structure: subject + was / were + not + verb + -ing

4.3 Interrogative Form

Structure: Was / Were + subject + verb + -ing?

4.4 Interro-Negative Form

Structure: Was / Were + subject + not + verb + -ing?

5. Present Perfect

The present perfect is used to express an action that happened at an unspecified time in the past and is still relevant or connected to the present.

5.1 Affirmative Form

Structure: subject + have / has + past participle

5.2 Negative Form

Structure: subject + have / has + not + past participle

5.3 Interrogative Form

Structure: Have / Has + subject + past participle?

5.4 Interro-Negative Form

Structure: Haven’t / Hasn’t + subject + past participle?

6. Past Perfect

The past perfect is used to express an action that happened before another action in the past.

6.1 Affirmative Form

Structure: subject + had + past participle

6.2 Negative Form

Structure: subject + had not (hadn't) + past participle

6.3 Interrogative Form

Structure: Had + subject + past participle?

6.4 Interro-Negative Form

Structure: Hadn't + subject + past participle?

7. Future Simple

The future simple is used to express an action that will happen later than now.

7.1 Affirmative Form

Structure: subject + will + base verb

7.2 Negative Form

Structure: subject + will not (won’t) + base verb

7.3 Interrogative Form

Structure: Will + subject + base verb?

7.4 Interro-Negative Form

Structure: Won’t + subject + base verb?

7.1 Near Future

The near future expresses an action that is about to happen very soon. In English, it is formed using “to be going to”.

Structure: subject + to be (am / is / are) + going to + base verb

Affirmative Form

Negative Form

Interrogative Form

Interro-Negative Form

Note:

The future can also be expressed using present simple or present continuous when talking about scheduled or planned events:

• Present simple: Used with exact times or fixed events → We have a meeting this afternoon
• Present continuous: Used for future arrangements → I’m travelling next year

8. Future Perfect

The future perfect is used to express an action that will be completed before a specific point in the future.

Structure: subject + will have + past participle

8.1 Affirmative Form

8.2 Negative Form

8.3 Interrogative Form

8.4 Interro-Negative Form

9. Present Conditional

The present conditional is used to express an action that would happen if a certain condition were met.

Structure: subject + would + base verb

9.1 Affirmative Form

9.2 Negative Form

9.3 Interrogative Form

9.4 Interro-Negative Form

10. Past Conditional

The past conditional is used to express an action that would have happened in the past if a condition had been met.

Structure: subject + would have + past participle

10.1 Affirmative Form

10.2 Negative Form

10.3 Interrogative Form

10.4 Interro-Negative Form

11. Present Perfect Continuous

The present perfect continuous is used to express an action that started in the past and is still continuing or has just ended.

Structure: subject + have/has been + verb-ing

11.1 Affirmative Form

11.2 Negative Form

11.3 Interrogative Form

11.4 Interro-Negative Form

12. Past Perfect Continuous

The past perfect continuous is used to talk about an action that had been happening over a period of time before another past action occurred.

Structure: subject + had been + verb-ing

12.1 Affirmative Form

12.2 Negative Form

12.3 Interrogative Form

12.4 Interro-Negative Form

13. The Imperative

The imperative is used to give an order, make a request, or give advice. It is formed with the base verb, without a subject.

13.1 Affirmative Form

Structure: base verb (without subject)

13.2 Negative Form

Structure: Don't + base verb

Note:

The imperative is used only with you (singular or plural), but the subject is not mentioned in English. Context tells who is being addressed.

13.3 Form with "let"

The imperative can also be expressed using the structure let + object pronoun + base verb. This form is used to express a suggestion, permission, wish, or polite command.

13.3.1 Affirmative Form

Structure: let + pronoun + base verb

13.3.2 Negative Form

Structure: let + pronoun + not + base verb

14. Practice Exercises

Test your knowledge of English tenses and the imperative. Complete, transform, or identify the tenses of the following sentences.

14.1 Complete the sentences with the correct tense (affirmative form)

Hints are provided in parentheses.

• This morning, she __________ (to wake up – present perfect) very early.
• They __________ (to play – present continuous) outside right now.
• I __________ (to finish – past perfect) my homework before dinner.
• Tomorrow, we __________ (to go – future simple) to the zoo.
• He __________ (to live – present simple) in New York.

14.2 Transform the sentences

a) Change to the past simple

• I go to school every day.
• They eat lunch at noon.

b) Change to the negative form (present simple)

• She likes coffee.
• They watch TV.

c) Change to the interrogative form (future simple)

• You will come tomorrow.
• They will arrive soon.

Exercise: Transform into questions (near future)

Instruction: Change the following sentences to the near future interrogative form.

• You are going to travel next week.
• He is going to study tonight.
• They are going to visit us tomorrow.
• We are going to watch a movie.

🎯 Mini Quiz: Near Future in English ("be going to")

Instructions: Answer the questions below. Click “Show answers” to check your answers.

1. MCQ: Which sentence is correct?
   a) I going to eat.
   b) I am going to eat.
   c) I will going to eat.
   d) I am go to eat.
2. Fill in the blanks with the correct form of “be going to”:
   You __________ (go) to the party tonight.
   He __________ (not/watch) the movie.
   __________ they __________ (visit) us tomorrow?
3. Change to interrogative form:
   She is going to cook dinner.
   They are going to play football.
4. Translate into English:
   Je vais lire ce livre.
   Ils ne vont pas venir demain.
   Allons-nous sortir ce soir ?

d) Change to the continuous form (present continuous)

• He writes a book.
• We eat dinner.

14.3 Imperative Exercises

a) Change to affirmative imperative

• You open the window.
• You be careful.

b) Change to negative imperative

• You touch that!
• You be late!

c) Use the "Let" structure

• I want to go now. (use "let")
• We should leave soon. (use "let’s")