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
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2024/25 Academic Year

English Lesson Note

For Grade 12
 
Tenses
in
English Grammar
(Formula and Examples)
1. Simple Present Tense
 Simple Present Tense is a type of sentence that has a function to express an activity or fact
that occurs in the present, and structurally or its arrangement, simple present tense uses only
one verb.


 Present Tense is one of the forms of verb tenses. It simply describes the actions, truths(facts),
future and situations. It is very easy to form and uses base form of the verb.

 Structure / Formula
 Formula of the simple present tense affirmative is,

Subject + Base Form(V1)+’s’ or ‘es’ + rest of the sentence

 If the subject is he, she or it, there is addition of ‘s’ or ‘es’ with base form. For example,
He eats apples daily.
 If the subject is you, we, they or any plural form, only base form is used. For example,
They eat apples daily.
Simple Present Tense Negative
 Subject + do not / does not + base form + rest of the sentence.
 With the singular subject we use ‘does not’ while with the plural, we use ‘do not’. For example,

▪ He does not eat apples daily.

▪ They do not eat apples daily.
 Simple Present Tense Interrogative
 Do / Does + subject + base form + rest of the sentence +?

 Interrogative sentences start with ‘do’ or ‘does’. For example,

▪
Does he eat apples daily?
Do they eat apples daily?

Usage
 Use the Present Simple in English for:

1. Something which is true or fac]tual –

1.1 General – “Chinese people eat a lot of rice.”

1.2 Permanent – “I am a teacher.” “He is a father.”
1.3 Mathematical/scientific – “One plus one equals two.” “Water freezes at 0c.”
1.4 Habitual – “I drink coffee every day.”
1.5 Recurring – “It snows every winter.”
1.6 Eternal/Unvarying – “The Bible says ‘You must not kill’.”
1.7 Mental state – “I think she is very kind.”
2. Describing Feelings and Senses – “I feel very cold.” “Im
freezing.”
3. Giving instructions, directions or demonstrations – “Open
the box on the table, take out the hand beater and beat the

eggs until they are creamy.”
4. Media (newspapers, radio announcements, television
broadcasts) – “Earthquake hits New Zealand.”
5. Timetables – “The train leaves at midnight.”
6. After ‘when’ or ‘if’ to form a time clause (also called the
‘General or Zero Conditional) – “I like to ski when it snows.”
“When it snows, I like to ski.” Note the comma in the second
example.
Examples
 Affirmative Sentences
▪ My friend helps me.


▪ Teacher talks to his students regularly.
▪ I walk daily early in the morning.
▪ They discuss literature with each other.
▪ She takes exercise regularly.
 Negative Sentences
▪ I do not like mathematics.
▪ He does not fall in the category of eligible candidates for a job.
▪ The garden does not look attractive.
▪ He does not attend his class regularly.
▪ They do not talk to each other.
 Interrogative Sentences
▪ Do you like Mathematics?
▪ Does he belong to Rome?
▪ Do they perform their duties honestly?
▪ Does he attend his class regularly?
▪ Does she take exercise daily?
2. Present Continuous Tense
 Present continuous tense expresses the ongoing action or task of
the present. It is also called present progressive tense. For example,
I am eating the meal. 
Subject + is/am/are + Present participle (-ing) form

Positive Sentences
To make the positive sentences, we use same structure,

Subject + is/am/are + Present participle (-ing) form

Examples of positive sentences

▪ Julia is making a sponge cake right now.

▪ He is going to the hill station next week.
Negative Sentences
 We add ‘not’ after auxiliary verb to make the sentence negative.

Subject + is/am/are + not + Present participle (-ing) form

Examples of negative sentences.

▪

Julia is not making a sponge cake right now.
▪ He is not going to hill station next week.

Question Sentences
 To make the question, auxiliary verb come at the start of the
sentence and question mark at the end.

Is/am/are + Subject + Present participle (-ing) form + ?

Examples of question sentences.

▪ Is Julia making a sponge cake right now?

▪ Is he going to hill station next week?
 Usage

Usage  Example

To express actions that are

happening now. He is playing tennis now.

To express actions that are

planned. He is watching movie with his friend next Sunday.

For changing situations. The climate is getting hotter each year.

To express time at the moment of

speaking We are performing our duty at the moment.
Example Sentences
▪ The laborer is pushing the cart.
▪

▪

He is flattering the boss.
She is kneading the flour.
▪ He is spending the holidays in Switzerland.
▪ I am taking the examination this month.
▪ John is writing an essay on education.
▪ Peter is running on the jogging track.
▪ He is reading his favorite book.
▪ The police are catching the thief.
▪ They are playing badminton right now.
Passive Voice
➢ Usually, passive voice of present continuous tense is made when
the subject is not known. For example,

▪

Flowers are being plucked. (affirmative)
▪ Flowers are not being plucked. (negative)
▪ Are the flowers being plucked? (question)
➢ Structure of passive voice sentences,

Object + is/am/are + being + Verb(v3)

 3. Present Perfect Tense
Structure:

Subject + Has/have + Verb (v3)

➢ Present perfect tense expresses the completion of the action or task

of the present. For example, I have taken two doses of medicine.
Signal Words
▪ for
▪ since
▪ yet
▪ still
▪ already
▪ ever
▪ till now
Structure / Formula
Subject + has/have + Past participle (v3)
Subject (He/she/it) has  Past participle(V3)
Subject (I/We/They) have Past participle(V3)

Positive Sentences
To make the positive sentences, we use this structure,

Subject + has/have + Past participle (V3)

Examples of positive sentences

▪ Julia has made a sponge cake.

▪ He has gone to the hill station.
Negative Sentences
➢ We add ‘not’ after auxiliary verb to make the sentence negative.


Subject + has/have + not + Past participle (V3)
Examples of negative sentences.

▪ Julia has not made a sponge cake.

▪ He has not gone to the hill station.
Question Sentences
➢ To make the question, auxiliary verb come at the start of the sentence
and question mark at the end.

Has/have + subject + Past participle (V3) + ?

Examples of question sentences.

▪ Has Julia made a sponge cake?

▪ Has he gone to the hill station?
 Usage

Usage Example

How long? I have been at work for six hours.

The work that has recently been

completed. He has just cooked the meal.

Time period that has not finished. She has drunk two cups of tea today.

To describe the specific moment of time. We have lived in this house since 2015.
Example Sentences
▪ The laborer has pushed the cart.
She has kneaded the flour.

▪

▪ I have traveled to Rome.

▪ He has spent all his money.
▪ I have taken the examination this month.
▪ John has written an essay on education.
▪ Peter has rescued the cat.
▪ He has read his favorite book.
▪ The police have caught the thief.
▪ They have played badminton.
Passive Voice
 Usually, passive voice of present perfect tense is made when the
subject is not known. For example,

▪

Flowers have been plucked. (affirmative)
▪ Flowers have not been plucked. (negative)
▪ Have the flowers been plucked? (question)

Structure of passive voice sentences,

Object + has/have + been + Verb(v3)

4. Present Perfect Continuous Tense
Structure:
Subject + Has/have + been + Verb(+ing)

Example:

 I have been completing my assignment for the last three days.
 She has been working in this department since 2017.
 Present Perfect Continuous Tense (present perfect progressive tense) is
used to express the action or task that started in the past and continues in
present.
Signal Words
▪ for two hours,
▪ for ________
▪ how long
▪ since morning,
▪ since ______
Structure / Formula
Subject + has/have + been + Base form(+ing)
I Have been travelling.

Auxiliary verb Auxiliary verb Base form of

Subject (present tense) (past participle) verb+ing

Positive Sentences
To make the positive sentences, we use this structure,

Subject + has/have + been + V1(+ing) + …

Examples of positive sentences
▪ He has been playing football for two hours.
▪ The child has been studying since morning.
▪ She has been kneading the floor.
▪ I have been playing my favorite game.
▪ They have been working in this office since last year.
Negative Sentences
 To make the sentence negative, we add ‘not’ after auxiliary verb
(present tense).

Subject + has/have + not + been + V1(+ing) + …
Examples of negative sentences.
▪ Julia has not been making a sponge cake.
▪ He has not been reading his favorite book.
▪ She has not been planting for three hours.
▪ They have not been studying since morning.
▪ I have not been traveling.
 
Question Sentences
 Auxiliary verb (present tense) come at the start of the sentence and
question mark at the end.

Has/have + subject + been + V1(+ing) + … +?

Examples of question sentences.
▪ Has he been studying since morning?
▪ Has she been planting for two hours?
▪ Have they been traveling for two days?
▪ Has the farmer been ploughing the fields?
▪ Has he been smoking since 2011?
 Usage

Usage  Example

Emphasis on duration of I have been learning French since I

action. went to school.

To express anger and

irritation Why have you been disturbing me?

1. He has been watching TV

Time bound expressions for two hours.
(since, for, lately, how long) 2. He has been smoking since 2015.
5. Simple Past Tense Structure:
Simple past tense is used to express the
 in the past or
actions that happened
happened one after the other. For example,
The baby crawled.
Subject + Verb (v2) or irregular verb:
- He completed the assignment.
- I read the newspaper.
Signal words
▪ Last night 
▪ Yesterday
▪ Last Monday
▪ In 1998
▪ An hour ago
 Structure / Formula
Subject + V2 + Object

I solved  the sum

Subject Simple Past (V2) Object

Positive Sentences
 See the structure to make affirmative/positive sentences.

Subject + Past(V2) + Object

Examples of positive sentences

▪ Julia made a sponge cake.

▪ He went to the hill station.
Negative Sentences
We use ‘not’ afterauxiliary verb to make
the sentence negative.
Subject + did + not + Base form (V1) + object.
Examples of negative sentences.
▪ Julia did not make a sponge cake.
▪ He did not go to the hill station.
Question Sentences
To make the question, auxiliary verb

come at the start of the sentence and
question mark at the end.
Did + subject + base form (V1) + object + ?
Examples of question sentences.
▪ Did Julia make a sponge cake?
▪ Did he go to the hill station?
 Usage

USAGE 
EXAMPLES

Action that happened at

definite time. She went to the park an hour ago.

Actions that happened He ordered pizza. He received the pizza at

one after the other. home. He ate it.

The actions or states that

finished in past. His mother used to wash his clothes.
Example Sentences
1. He drew the old man out of the ditch.
2. She used to wash clothes daily.

3. He wrote an interesting story.
4. The child completed his homework.
5. Did he live in this house?
6. His mother would wash clothes.
7. Did he write a letter?
8. We paid tribute to our national poet.
9. The boys recited the national anthem.
10. She did not sleep.
6. Past Continuous Tense
Structure:
 Subject + was/were + Verb(+ing)

Example:
 He was reading the book.
 I was going to the park for a morning walk.
 Past continuous tense expresses the actions or task that were ongoing in
the past. We cannot determine when the action started or finished. For
example, When I was walking yesterday, it started raining.
Signal Words
▪ when
▪ as long as
▪ while
▪ yesterday.
 Structure / Formula
Subject + was/were + Present participle (-ing) form

He Was Drawing a sketch.

Subject Auxiliary verb


Present
Participle(ing) object
Positive Sentences
 To make the positive sentences, see the following formula.

 Subject + was/were + Present participle (-ing) form

 Examples of positive sentences

▪ He was traveling to Venice.

▪ She was eating a burger.
 Usage
Usage Example
To express 
actions that were He was
ongoing in past playing tennis yesterday.
Two or more
ongoing past He was
actions at the watching movie while he
same time. was was eating chips.
He was driving car at 05:00 pm
Time expression yesterday.
Negative Sentences
We add ‘not’ after auxiliary verb to make

the sentence negative.
Subject + was/were + not + Present
participle (-ing) form
Examples of negative sentences.
▪ He was not traveling to Venice.
▪ She was not eating a burger.
Question Sentences
To make the question, auxiliary verb come
at the start of thesentence and question
mark at the end.
Was/were + Subject + Present participle (-ing) form + ?
Examples of question sentences.
▪ Was he traveling to Venice?
▪ Was she eating a burger?
Example Sentences
1. He was drawing the old man out of the ditch.
2. He was writing an interesting story.

3. Was he living in this house?
4. I was not reciting the national anthem.
5. John was traveling to Venice.
6. She was driving the car.
7. They were eating mangoes.
8. The naughty boy was not teasing the old man.
9. Was the hero fighting with cannibals?
10. They were not signing the agreement.
Passive Voice
Usually, passive voice of past continuous
tense is made when 
the subject is not known.
▪ Mangoes were being eaten. (affirmative)
▪ Mangoes were not being eaten. (negative)
▪ Were mangoes being eaten? (question)
Object + was/were + being + Verb(v3)
7. Past Perfect Tense
Subject + had + Verb (v3)

Past perfect tense indicates the finished or
completed actions of the past.
For example
- I had taken two doses of medicine before the
fever vanished.
The past perfect tense is used to describe an event
that occurred before a completed action in the
past.
-

He had gone when she became ill.
- She had not lived in New York.
- They had not been married long when I was born.

Signal Words
- before yesterday - already - when
- until that day
 Structure / Formula
Subject + had + Past participle (v3)

He had
 traveled last year.

He/she/it /I/we/they had Past participle(V3)

Positive Sentences
 To make the positive sentences, we use this structure,

 Subject + had + Past participle (V3)

 Examples of positive sentences

▪ The players had lost heart before the match finished.

▪ Chris had completed the assignment before he went to school.
Negative Sentences
We add ‘not’ after auxiliary verb to make

the sentence negative.
Subject + had + not + Past participle (V3)
Examples of negative sentences.
▪ The players had not lost heart before the
match finished.
▪ Chris had not completed the assignment
before he went to school.
Question Sentences
To make the question, ‘had’ come at the start of

the sentence and question mark at the end.
Had + subject + Past participle (V3) + ?
Examples of question sentences.
▪ Had the players lost heart before the match
finished?
▪ Had Chris completed the assignment before he
went to school?
Example Sentences
1. He had drawn the sketch of a map.
2. The match had finished when I reached the
stadium. 
3. Had she lived in this house?
4. I had not planted the flowers.
5. John had traveled to Venice until last month.
6. They had eaten mangoes.
7. The hero had not fought with cannibals.
8. He had read his favorite book before yesterday.
9. The players had lost heart before the match
finished.
10. I had drafted my plan before I started work.
8. Past Perfect Continuous
Tense 
The past perfect continuous tense represents any action or
event that started in the past and sometimes continued
into another action or another time.

Past Perfect Continuous Tense is used to express

the action that started in the past and continued in
the past for some time. It is also called Past
Perfect Progressive Tense.
Subject + had + been + Verb(+ing)
Signal Words
▪ for two hours, 
▪ for ________
▪ All day
▪ since morning,
▪ since ______
Example:
- We had been playing games for 6 hours when
Dad came home. 
- She had been reading magazines for 1 month
before she decided to apply for the job.
- Had she been washing dishes all day?

- He had been completing his

assignment for the last two hours.
- I had been playing football since morning.
 Usage

Usage
 Example
I had been
Emphasis on duration of learning French for two
action or task that years before I went to
finished in past college.
He had been drafting a
Time expressions (since, plan for two days before
for, lately, how long) the meeting.
 Structure / Formula
Subject + had + been + Base form(+ing) + object + time reference

I Had been  travelling.

Subject Auxiliary verb Auxiliary verb Base form of verb+ing

Negative Sentences
To make the sentence negative, we add ‘not’ after the
auxiliary verb.

Subject + had + not + been + Base form(+ing) + object +
TR
Examples of negative sentences.
▪ The mechanic had not been fixing my bike since
morning.
▪ He had not been reading his favorite book.
▪ She had not been planting for three hours.
▪ I had not been traveling.
Question Sentences
Auxiliary verb ‘had’ come at the start of the

sentence and question mark at the end.
Had + subject+ been + Base form(+ing) + object + T.R. +?
Examples of question sentences.
▪ Had he been studying Biology since morning?
▪ Had she been planting for two hours?
▪ Had they been traveling for two days?
▪ Had he been smoking since 2011?