Tenses

Simple present

 * 1) The	present simple is used for established facts and things in general.

"Mysore is the cultural capital of Karnataka."

"India exports rubber."

2. It is also	used for habitual activities or routines.

"Mr. Ram gets up at five and starts work at seven."

“We go to the movies every weekend”

3. It is used	for schedules drawn up by others.

"The ship sails at dawn."

"The next train leaves at half-past six."

4. The present	simple is also preferred in newspaper headlines for succinctness.

"Iraq Invades Kuwait"

"Fake Cardiologist Breaks Woman's Heart"

Present continuous

 * 1) The	present continuous is used for temporary actions or events going on	at or around the time of speaking.

"The electrician is mending a fuse."

"It's raining."

2. It is used	for self-made schedules, generally for the not too distant future.

"They are going to Bangalore after lunch."

"Raj and Siri are getting married in June."

Present perfect

 * 1) The	present perfect is used with already, just and yet to	indicate recentness of a past activity

"The guests have already arrived."

“The Chairman has just left the office.”

“We have not finished our work yet.”

2. The present	perfect is used to emphasize the results in the present of a	recently completed past activity.

"Someone has eaten my food” (which explains why the plate is empty and I'll have to go hungry)

"I've lost my passport” (hence I can't leave the country)

3. It is used	with ever to question a person's entire life experience of	something in particular.

"Have you ever seen a straight banana?"

"Has Pushpa ever been on time to office?"

Present Perfect Continuous Tense

 * 1) Used to	emphasize activities that were in progress right up to or shortly	before the time of speaking and so have a direct influence on the	current situation.

"She has been using the computer all day” (so her eyes are strained now)

"Someone has been stealing my money (some of the money is missing)

2. Used with	for or since to say how long an ongoing or continuing	activity has been in progress.

"Milan has been driving for three hours."

"I have been saving for my sports bike since last summer."

Simple past

 * 1) The past	simple is used for activities or events completed at a specific time	in the past (which is either understood or indicated by a time	expression).

"The Indian cricket team won by 2 wickets."

"I went to London last summer."

Past Continuous Tense

 * 1) It is	used for temporary actions or events that were going on at or around	a particular time in the past.

"While I was waiting for the train I ate my lunch”.

2. It is also	used for two activities of similar duration that were going on in	parallel.

"I was washing the car while my wife was cleaning the house."

Past perfect

 * 1) This	tense is used to talk about the pre-past, i.e. activities or events	completed before another past event.

"When we reached the station, the train had already left.”

"Jyothi had studied English for 3 years before she moved to England."

Past Perfect Continuous Tense

 * 1) The past	perfect continuous is used to report on an activity of interest or	direct relevance that was still in progress up until or immediately	prior to a subsequent event in the past.

"I had been sleeping for 3 hours until you called me."

Simple future

 * 1) WILL: used to express pure futurity  (I.e. without any element of willpower).  "The sun will rise tomorrow morning."
 * 2) WILL: used for plain, informal requests, as well as orders given to subordinates.

"Darling, will you post this letter for me?"

"Sally, will you help me arrange these things, please?"


 * 1) SHALL: It is	used instead of WILL in the first person singular and plural in more	formal style to express futurity, especially in cases where the	element of willpower is involved.

"I shall (will) be late this evening."

"We shall not (will not) go that nightclub anymore; their prices are exorbitant."

"I shall succeed!"


 * 1) SHALL: used	when seeking others' approval of offers or suggestions.

"Shall I buy you a watch for your birthday?"

"Shall we all go out to dinner?"

Future continuous

 * 1) Used for	actions or events forecast to be in progress at or around a	particular time in the future.

"The kids will be sleeping when I reach home."

“Tomorrow at this time, we shall be travelling.”

"Darling, will you post this letter for me?"

"Sally, will you help me arrange these things, please?"


 * 1) SHALL: It is	used instead of WILL in the first person singular and plural in more	formal style to express futurity, especially in cases where the	element of willpower is involved.

"I shall (will) be late this evening."

"We shall not (will not) go that nightclub anymore; their prices are exorbitant."

"I shall succeed!"


 * 1) SHALL: used	when seeking others' approval of offers or suggestions.

"Shall I buy you a watch for your birthday?"

"Shall we all go out to dinner?"

Future continuous

 * 1) WILL: used	to express pure futurity

(I.e. without any element of willpower).

"The sun will rise tomorrow morning."

2. WILL: used	for plain, informal requests, as well as orders given to	subordinates.

"Darling, will you post this letter for me?"

"Sally, will you help me arrange these things, please?"

3. SHALL: It is	used instead of WILL in the first person singular and plural in more	formal style to express futurity, especially in cases where the	element of willpower is involved.

"I shall (will) be late this evening."

"We shall not (will not) go that nightclub anymore; their prices are exorbitant."

"I shall succeed!"

4. SHALL: used	when seeking others' approval of offers or suggestions.

"Shall I buy you a watch for your birthday?"

"Shall we all go out to dinner?"

Future continuous

 * 1) Used for actions or events forecast to be in progress at or around a particular time in the future.

"The kids will be sleeping when I reach home."

“Tomorrow at this time, we shall be travelling.”

Future Perfect Tense

 * 1) Used for	activities or events forecast to be completed by a particular time	in the future.

"We will have finished our exams by Thursday”

Future Perfect Continuous Tense

 * 1) Used for	activities forecast still to be in progress at some time in the	future.

"By the end of 2013, we will have been flying in planes for 110 years."