University-Level Tense Mastery (Rules + Examples + Exercises)

Tense Name Structure Usages & Rules with Exercise

Examples

Present Simple Subject + base 1. Facts – Water boils at Write 1 sentence for each
verb (s/es for 100°C. use (fact, habit, schedule,
3rd person) 2. Habits – She drinks instruction).
coffee every morning.
3. Scheduled future – The
train leaves at 9 PM.
4. Instructions – Turn left
at the junction.

Present Subject + 1. Now – I am studying. Write 1 sentence for each

Continuous am/is/are + 2. Temporary – She is use (now, temporary,
verb-ing staying with her cousin. future, repeated).
3. Future plan – They are
flying to Paris next week.
4. Repeated with ‘always’ –
He is always complaining.

Present Subject + 1. Present result – She has Write 1 sentence for each
Perfect have/has + past lost her keys. use (result, experience,
participle 2. Life experience – I have repetition, duration).
visited Rome.
3. Repetition – He has
called me five times.
4. Duration – We have
lived here for 10 years.

Present Subject + 1. Emphasize duration – Write 1 sentence for each

Perfect have/has been + He has been reading for use (duration, recent stop,
Continuous verb-ing three hours. visible result).
2. Recent stop – She is
tired because she has been
running.
3. Visible result – The floor
is wet. Someone has been
 cleaning it.

Past Simple Subject + past 1. Specific time – I Write 1 sentence for each
form of verb watched the movie use (specific, habit, series).
yesterday.
2. Habit/state – He played
football every weekend.
3. Series – She entered,
turned on the light, and
sat down.

Past Subject + 1. In progress – I was Write 1 sentence for each

Continuous was/were + reading at 8 PM. use (progress, interrupted,
verb-ing 2. Interrupted – She was simultaneous).
sleeping when I called.
3. Simultaneous – I was
studying while he was
cooking.

Past Perfect Subject + had + 1. Before another event – Write 1 sentence for each
past participle They had left before I use (before another past,
arrived. report, imagined).
2. Reported experience –
He said he had met her
before.
3. Imagined past – I wish I
had studied harder.

Past Perfect Subject + had 1. Duration – I had been Write 1 sentence for each
Continuous been + verb-ing working for five hours use (duration, cause).
before the break.
2. Cause – She was
exhausted because she
had been running.

Future Simple Subject + will + 1. Instant decision – I will Write 1 sentence for each
base verb answer the phone. use (decision, prediction,
2. Prediction – It will rain promise, fact).
tomorrow.
3. Promise/offer – I will
help you.
 4. Future fact – The sun
will rise at 6 AM.

Future Subject + will be 1. In progress – At 10 AM, I Write 1 sentence for each

Continuous + verb-ing will be teaching. use (progress, parallel,
2. Parallel – He will be inquiry).
studying while I will be
working.
3. Polite inquiry – Will you
be joining us for dinner?

Future Perfect Subject + will 1. Before future time – She Write 1 sentence for each
have + past will have finished her use (before future time,
participle thesis by Friday. future cause).
2. Future cause – They will
be tired because they will
have worked all day.

Future Perfect Subject + will 1. Future duration – By Write 1 sentence for each
Continuous have been + 2026, I will have been use (duration, emphasis).
verb-ing teaching for 10 years.
2. Emphasis on duration –
She will have been waiting
for an hour.

Tense Indicators: Keywords & Time Expressions

Tense Common Keywords/Indicators

Present Simple always, usually, often, sometimes, never, every day/week/year, on

Mondays, generally, rarely, seldom, frequently

Present Continuous now, right now, at the moment, at present, currently, today, this
week/month/year, look!, listen!, be quiet!

Present Perfect already, yet, just, ever, never, recently, lately, so far, until now, since,
for, this week/month/year

Present Perfect for, since, all day, the whole day, how long, lately, recently, up to now
Continuous
Past Simple yesterday, last night/week/month/year, in 1990, ago (e.g., 2 days ago),
when, then, once, that day, at that time

Past Continuous while, when (as interruption), as, at that moment, all day yesterday, at
5 p.m. (past time)

Past Perfect before, after, already, just, when (to compare two past events), by the
time, until then, earlier

Past Perfect for, since, before, until, all day, the whole day, by the time (used with
Continuous duration in the past)

Future Simple tomorrow, next (day/week/year), soon, later, in the future, in 2025, I
think, I hope, probably, I promise

Future Continuous this time tomorrow, next week at 5 PM, in the morning (future), while
(future), at that time (in future)

Future Perfect by, by then, by that time, before, until, by the end of (year/week/day),
in two days

Future Perfect for, since, by...for (e.g., by 2026 for 10 years), how long, until then, all
Continuous day/month

2nd phase
Tense Name Structure Usages / Rules Examples

1. Present Subject + 1. Regular actions or routines2. 1. She wakes up at 6 a.m.

Simple base verb Universal truths or facts3. daily.2. The sun rises in the
(s/es for 3rd Timetables/schedules4. Habits east.3. The train leaves at
person) and permanent situations 8:00 a.m.4. He lives in
Dhaka.

2. Present Subject + 1. Action happening now2. 1. I am reading an article

Continuous am/is/are + Temporary situations3. Future now.2. She is staying with
verb-ing plans (with time reference)4. her aunt this week.3. We
Changing or developing situations are meeting the professor
tomorrow.4. Prices are
increasing rapidly.

3. Present Subject + 1. Past action with present 1. He has written three

Perfect have/has + relevance2. Life experiences papers this month.2. I
past (without time)3. Actions have visited Japan.3. She
participle completed recently4. Unfinished has just finished the
time periods (e.g., today, this assignment.4. We have
week) done many tasks this
week.

4. Present Subject + 1. Action started in the past and 1. I have been studying
Perfect have/has continuing2. Emphasizing since 7 a.m.2. She has
Continuous been + duration3. Recently finished been working here for 5
verb-ing actions with visible result years.3. You have been
crying — what happened?

5. Past Subject + 1. Completed past actions2. 1. They attended the

Simple verb in past Specific time in the past3. Past seminar yesterday.2. I met
form habits or states her in 2019.3. We played
cricket every weekend.

6. Past Subject + 1. Action in progress in the past2. 1. She was studying at 10

Continuous was/were + Interrupted past action3. Parallel p.m.2. I was watching TV
verb-ing past actions4. Background when the lights went
description in a story out.3. They were talking
while we were eating.4.
The birds were singing as
the sun was rising.
7. Past Subject + 1. Action completed before 1. He had finished dinner
Perfect had + past another past action2. Expressing before the guests
participle cause and effect in the past arrived.2. I had lost my ID,
so I could not enter.

8. Past Subject + 1. Duration of a past action before 1. They had been working
Perfect had been + another past action2. Cause of for hours before the
Continuous verb-ing something in the past break.2. She was tired
because she had been
running.

9. Future Subject + 1. Promises, predictions, decisions 1. I will help you with your
Simple will + base made at the moment2. Future task.2. It will rain
verb facts3. Offers and threats tomorrow.3. Don’t worry; I
will not forget.4. She will
turn 25 next week.

10. Future Subject + 1. Action in progress at a future 1. He will be working at 9

Continuous will be + time2. Polite inquiries about a.m. tomorrow.2. Will you
verb-ing future plans3. Predicting ongoing be using the printer later?
actions 3. This time next week, I
will be flying to Germany.

11. Future Subject + 1. Action completed before a 1. She will have finished
Perfect will have + specific future time2. Predicting her thesis by July.2. By
past the result of a future event next year, we will have
participle saved enough money.

12. Future Subject + 1. Emphasizing duration before a 1. By June, I will have

Perfect will have future point2. Predicting ongoing been teaching for 10
Continuous been + duration up to a future time years.2. He will have been
verb-ing working all day by the
time we arrive.