ENGLISH TENSES MADE SIMPLE

With Questions and Answers.

By: Dick Francis Tumusiime

CONTENTS

1………………………………………....................................... INTRODUCTION

6…………………………………………................................... PRESENT SIMPLE

11…………………………………………................................. PRESENT CONTINUOUS

13…………………………………………..................................PRESENT PERFECT

15…………………………………………..................................PAST SIMPLE

26…………………………………………................................. PAST CONTINUOUS

27…………………………………………................................. PAST PERFECT

29…………………………………………................................. FUTURE

30………………………………………..................................... FUTURE CONTINUOUS

30…………………………………………..................................FUTURE PERFECT

31 –48…………………………………... .................................ANSWERS

PART 1

TENSES MADE SIMPLE

INTRODUCTION

The word tense means time

A tense is any of the different forms of a verb which show the time when an action takes place. It can be present, past or future time.

Each of the three major tenses present, past or future is subdivided into 3 different forms; i.e. present simple, present continuous, present perfect. Past simple, past continuous, past perfect, future simple, future continuous, future perfect.

To understand tenses you need to know the verb forms. A verb tells you about an action taking place e.g. to go, to eat, to talk, to catch, to drive, to drink etc.

Most verbs in English have four different forms. Some have five.

These are the different forms;

1. The base from, or the original form.

For example: go, eat, talk. This is the real word before it is used in

different tenses.

In the present simple tense, the base form is used only for the subjects: I, you, we and they; that is I eat, you eat, we eat and they eat.

2. The third person present singular e.g He, she, it, (goes, eats, talks, catches, drinks, drives).

3. The continuous form which is also called the progressive form e.g going, eating, talking, catching, drinking, driving etc.

4. The past tense form e.g went, ate, talked, caught, drank, drove etc.

5. The past participle form e.g has gone, has eaten, has talked, has caught, has drunk, has driven etc.

Note: The past tense form and past participle form are the same for some regular verbs but different for irregular verbs.

Examples:

(A)

PAST TENSE PAST PARTICIPLE

He talked he has talked

He walked he has walked

He smiled he has smiled

(B)

But: It grew he has grown

He spoke he has spoken

Examples in A are regular verbs

Examples in B are irregular verbs

Examples of Regular Verbs

Work, walk, wash, call, open, clean, push, play, kick, jump, change, arrange, help, smile, finish.

Example: Work IRREGULAR

I work in the garden I eat

She works in the garden he eats

She is working in the garden he is eating

She worked in the garden he ate

She has worked in the garden he has eaten

She had worked in the garden he had eaten

EXAMPLES OF IRREGULAR VERBS

VERB PAST TENSE PARTICIPLE

(e.g Yesterday) (e.g have/has already)

beat beat beaten

become became become

begin began begun

bend bent bent

bind bound bound

bite bit bitten

bleed bled bled

blow blew blown

break broke broke n

bring brought brought

build built built

burn burnt burnt

buy bought bought

carry carried carried

catch caught caught

choose chose chosen

come came come

copy copied copied

cost cost cost

creep crept crept

cut cut cut

deal dealt dealt

dig dug dug

do did done

draw drew drawn

dream dreamt dreamt

drink drank drunk

drive drove driven

eat ate eaten

fall fell fallen

feed fed fed

feel felt felt

find found found

fly flew flown

forget forgot forgotten

forgive forgave forgiven

freeze froze frozen

get got got

give gave given

go went gone

grind ground ground

grow grew grown

have / has had had

hear heard heard

hide hid hidden

hit hit hit

hold held held

hurt hurt hurt

keep kept kept

kneel knelt knelt

know knew known

lead led led

learn learnt learnt

leave left left

lend lent lent

light lit lit

lose lost lost

make made made

meet met met

mistake mistook mistaken

pay paid paid

put put put

read read read

rebuild rebuilt rebuilt

ride rode ridden

ring rang rung

rise rose risen

run ran run

say said said

see saw seen

sell sold sold

send sent sent

shake shook shaken

shine shone shone

shoot shot shot

show showed shown

shrink shrank shrunk

shut shut shut

sing sang sung

sit sat sat

sleep slept slept

smell smelt smelt

speak spok spoken

spell spelt spelt

spend spent spent

spring sprang sprung

stand stood stood

steal stole stolen

swim swam swum

sweep swep swept

Take took taken

teach taught taught

Tear tore torn

Tell told told

Think thought thought

Understand understood understood

Wear wore worn

Weave wove woven

Weep wept wept

Win won won

Withdraw withdrew withdrawn

Write wrote written

PRESENT SIMPLE (POSITIVE STATEMENT)

Verb: To eat

I eat bananas every morning We eat bananas every morning

You eat bananas every morning You eat bananas every morning

He eats bananas every morning

She eats bananas every morning they eat bananas every morning

It eats bananas every morning

NEGATIVE – FORM

I do not eat bananas every morning We do not eat bananas

You do not eat bananas every morning You do not eat bananas

He does not eat bananas every morning

She does not eat bananas every morning They do not eat bananas

It does not eat bananas every morning

QUESTION – FORM

Do I eat bananas? Do we eat bananas?

Do you eat bananas? Do you eat bananas?

Does he eat bananas?

Does she eat bananas?

Does it eat bananas? Do they eat bananas?

Speech Practice: (1) Talk about your daily programme

For example: I wake up at six o’clock

I wash my face. I brush my teeth. I prepare breakfast. –(Atleast 15 sentences)

Written: (2) exercise: Write about your daily programme. –(Atleast 15 sentences)

Speech practice (3) Talk about your friend’s /brother’s / sister’s daily programme: For example: My sister wakes up at six o’clock. She says her prayers. She washes her face. She brushes her teeth. At seven a.m. She prepared breakfast.

(4) Written Exercise: Write about your friend’s / sister’s / brother’s daily programme.

Note:

I is first person singular

You is second person singular

He is third person singular (male)

She is third person singular (female)

It is third person singular (not a person)

We is first person plural

You is second person plural

They is third person plural

SINGULAR PLURAL

I go to school We go to school

You play football You play football

He eats potatoes

She eats potatoes They eat potatoes

It eats potatoes

EXERCISE 5

CHANGE INTO THIRD PERSON SINGULAR

Example: I pray – He prays

1. I eat a cake.

2. I drink water.

3. I sit on a chair

4. I get good marks.

5. I cut a cake.

6. I give a book to Peter.

7. I keep money in a bank.

8. I teach children.

9. I do my work.

10. I speak Kiswahili.

11. I buy a car.

12. I learn a new language.

13. I ride a bicycle.

14. I drive a lorry.

15. I cut a rope.

16. I like the book.

17. I sing a song.

18. I do my work.

19. I understand the lesson.

EXERCISE 6

Change the pronouns from singular to plural and make any other necessary changes.

1. He brushes his teeth – They brush their teeth.

2. She washes a dirty dress.

3. He sells his milk.

4. It kills a cow.

5. He helps a fisherman.

6. It cuts very well.

7. She saves the patient.

8. He pays his fees by cheque.

9. He says his night prayers before supper.

10. It flies in the air.

11. He helps me.

12. She comes late to school.

13. It walks quickly.

14. I pray football.

15. She carries the baby.

16. He eats a lot.

17. She understands all the work.

18. I love music.

19. She asks many questions

20. He prays five times a day.

EXERCISE 8

Change the sentences in Exercise 6 into questions

Example: 1 – He brushes his teeth. Does he brush his teeth?

EXERCISE 9

ASK YOUR FRIEND

1. Where she lives.

2. Where her sister lives.

3. Why she wants to learn more English.

4. If her sister speaks English very well.

5. Whether her brother lives in this country.

6. What she eats for breakfast.

7. What time she wakes up.

8. Whether she drinks a lot of beer on weekends.

9. Why she does not smoke.

10. If her brother drives a car.

11. Where she buys her clothes from.

12. Why she always comes to school late.

13. If she likes her teacher.

14. Why she draws with a pen.

15. Which T.V programme she likes most.

16. Whether she understands today’s lesson.

17. Why she likes babies.

18. Who teaches her children music.

19. If dogs eat rice.

20. Whether money grows on trees.

21. If fish have feathers.

22. Why her friends rings her every hour.

23. Which colour she likes most.

24. Why her husband allows children to watch Nigerian films.

25. What she likes better; Coke or Pepsi.

26. If she knows the director’s phone number.

27. Why she allows her children to fight.

28. Who beats children every evening.

29. Whether her father works in Kampala

30. Why she does not like her house girl.

31. When she wakes up in the morning.

32. Who chooses her dresses for her.

33. Why she likes eating too little food.

34. Why she spends too much on perfumes.

35. When she always takes her lunch.

36. Who buys her the beautiful dresses.

37. If she likes your hair style.

38. If she draws with a pen or with a pencil.

39. When she goes to the village to visit her parents.

40. When she cleans her house

41. What she takes to her parents when she visits them.

42. How she comes to the city

43. Whether she has a car.

44. If she prefers cooking for herself to eating in a restaurant.

45. Why she smokes in class.

46. Who pays school fees for her.

47. Why she does not cook very well.

48. When she gets time to play with her children.

49. Who cooks her breakfast.

50. Whether her sister loves music.

EXERCISE 10

Write about how your mother / sister makes a cake / coffee / your best dish.

EXERCISE 11

Talk about how your mother / sister makes a cake / coffee / your dish

(2) PRESENT CONTINUOUS TENSE

This is used for an action taking place NOW

PRESENT CONTINUOUS – POSITIVE

SINGULAR PLURAL

I am going to school We are going to school

You are going to school You are going to school

He is going to school They going to school

She is going to school They going to school

It is going to school They going to school

PRESENT CONTINUOUS (NEGATIVE)

I am not going to school We are not going to school

You are not going to school You are not going to school

He is not going to school

She is not going to school They are not going to school

It is not going to school

PRESENT CONTINUOUS (QUESTION)

Am I going to school?

Are you going to school?

Is he going to school?

Is she going to school?

Are we going to school

Are they going to school?

NOTE: There are some verbs which do not take – ING even when talking about NOW

These actions cannot be seen taking place. They are feeling or things you think about in your head or deep in your heart.

Examples Correct (Ö) Not correct (X)

Understand Do you understand me? Are you understanding me

Forget I forget your name I am forgetting your name

Remember I remember you I am remembering you.

Love I love my baby I am loving my baby

Hate I hate that noise I am hating that noise

Want I want my money I am wanting my money

Need I need your advise I am needing your advice

Taste This food tastes good This food is tasting good.

Smell This room smells bad This room is smelling bad

Think I think about you I am thinking about you.

EXERCISE 12.

CHANGE INTO PRESENT CONTINUOUS (where necessary)

1. He draws a picture.

2. She locks the door.

3. I walk slowly.

4. It falls on the ground.

5. He writes a letter.

6. I buy a basket

7. I kneel to pray.

8. She sells tomatoes.

9. We clean our rooms.

10. I catch the ball.

11. She cries like a baby.

12. He holds his sister’s hands.

13. We run slowly.

14. I look at the picture.

15. You push the cart.

16. He stands behind the tree.

17. She sings in the school choir.

18. I sweep my room.

19. I blow the whistle.

20. He lifts the heavy box.

21. She teaches English.

22. He tears his old shirt.

23. She weaves a basket.

24. He thinks about his sister.

25. Peter withdraws money from the bank.

26. He sleeps on the table.

27. He shakes the bottle of medicine.

28. We meet our friends.

29. They grind the millet.

30. She understands the lesson

(3) PRESENT PERFECT TENSE

(a) This tense is used when talking about an action that has already been completed or has just been finished.

The thing has already taken place but has just ended.

Example (1) Where is the teacher

Answer: He has just gone out.

That means, if you go quickly, you may find him outside.

Example (2) Can we go for lunch?

Answer: No, thanks, I have just eaten

The present perfect tense takes have / has plus the past participle of the verb

Example: the verb : to eat

(3) PRESENT PERFECT TENSE

POSITIVE NEGATIVE QUESTION

I have eaten I have not eaten Have I eaten?

You have eaten You have not eaten Have you eaten?

She has eaten She has not eaten Has she eaten?

He has eaten He has not eaten Has he eaten?

It has eaten It has not eaten Has it eaten?

We have eaten We have not eaten Have we eaten?

They have eaten They have not eaten Have they eaten?

(b) This tense is also used for things started happening in the past but continue up to now.

Example:

(1) I have lived in Kampala for fourteen years means that I still live there

(2) He has taught English since 1980 means that he still teaches it.

(3) He has never seen an elephant since he was born means up to now, he does not know how it looks like.

(4) I have waited in your office for two hours to see you means that I am still in your office.

(5) I have been in Kampala since last year means that I am still in Kampala.

So, the present tense has three important forms; the simple form, the continuous and perfect forms.

SIMPLE

CONTINUOUS

PERFECT

I pray

I am praying

I have prayed

You pray (sing.)

You are praying

You have prayed

He prays

He is praying

He has prayed

She prays

She is praying

She has prayed

We pray

We are praying

We have prayed

You pray (P1)

You are praying

You have prayed

They pray

They are praying

They have prayed

EXERCISE 13

CHANGE FROM PRESENT SIMPLE TO PRESENT PERFECT

Examples:

Present simple Present Perfect

I speak to him I have spoken to him

He does his work He has done his work

She writes many letters She has written many letters

EXERCISE

1. It flies to Nairobi

2. I see him at the office

3. She pays my fees

4. He comes home late

5. She brings the money

6. I draw a nice picture

7. He falls down from a bicycle

8. She blows the balloon

9. Jane and Mary take breakfast

10. We go to the cinema

11. The dog bites the man.

12. She drives quickly.

13. We throw the ball.

14. I take his pen

15. I give him some money.

16. She drinks a lot of tea.

17. I break his pen.

18. He chooses nice pictures.

19. She forgets the money at home.

20. He steals his mother’s money.

21. He learns English quickly.

22. He leaves after supper.

23. She borrows money to thieves.

24. Her sister lends her money.

25. I lose money to thieves.

26. He reads all the books.

27. She rides my bicycle.

28. He rings the bell.

29. The sun rises.

30. He finds the answer to the questions.

31. She forgets quickly.

32. I forgive her mistakes.

33. The water freezes quickly.

34. We give him our money.

35. The girl grinds millet

36. He hides my money

37. I hold my brother’s hand.

38. She keeps time.

39. We kneel to pray.

40. He leads us to the butcher’s

(4) PAST SIMPLE TENSE

This is usually called the YESTERDAY tense. It is used for something that happened and was completed. For example; yesterday, I went to town. I saw my friend. He gave me some money.

In the past simple tense, regular verbs end in ed. But others don’t those are called IRREGULAR VERBS.

Examples of REGULAR VERBS

VERB PAST TENSE (REGULAR FORM)

Work worked

Walk walked

Dance danced

Call called

Bark barked.

PAST SIMPLE (POSITIVE / NEGATIVE / QUESTION)

POSITIVE NEGATIVE VERB (TO EAT) QUESTION

I ate I did not eat Did I eat?

You ate You did not eat Did you eat?

He ate He did not eat Did he eat?

She ate She did not eat Did she eat?

It ate It did not eat Did it eat?

We ate We did not eat Did we eat?

You ate You did not eat Did you eat?

They ate They did not eat Did they eat?

EXERCISE 14

CHANGE FROM PRESENT SIMPLE TO PAST SIMPLE

1. He beats a drum.

2. She begins her work at 6 o’clock.

3. She bends the wire.

4. We bind our books

5. The dog bites the child.

6. I bleed through the nose.

7. The child blows the whistle.

8. The girl breaks cups in the kitchen.

9. I bring money to the shop.

10. He builds nice houses.

11. The candle lights brightly.

12. I buy good shoes.

13. She carries a basket to the market.

14. I catch the ball.

15. I choose a nice shirt.

16. He comes to school late.

17. It costs a lot of money.

18. It creeps under the table.

19. He cuts his finger.

20. We deal in coffee.

21. He digs in the garden.

22. I do my homework.

23. She draws a nice picture.

24. I dream about home.

25. We drink a lot of water.

26. He drives carefully.

27. I eat a lot of food.

28. The rain falls heavily.

29. She feeds the baby.

30. He feels tired.

31. I fight with my friend.

32. He finds his keys.

33. It flies to London.

34. He forgets my name.

35. She forgives his mistakes.

36. It freezes in winter.

37. He gets a lot of money.

38. He give us much information.

39. We go to school early.

40. She grinds maize.

41. We grow beans in the garden

42. He has lunch late

43. We hear a lot of noise.

44. I hide my money under the bed.

45. We hit the snake with a stone.

46. I hold my child’s hand.

47. She hurts her foot.

48. I keep money in the bank.

49. I kneel to pray.

50. He knows the answer.

51. She leads us in prayer.

52. He learns English.

53. She leaves for home.

54. I lend him some money.

55. She lights the candle.

56. He loses his money.

57. She makes many mistakes.

58. He meets his friends.

59. He mistakes me for his friends.

60. He pays fees for his sister

61. He puts a cloth on the table.

62. She reads many newspapers.

63. The government rebuilds the roads.

64. He rides the horse.

65. We ring the bell.

66. He runs very quickly.

67. He says the truth.

68. I see a nice film.

69. He sells old clothes in the market.

70. She sends money to her mother.

71. I shake the bottle before I use the medicine.

72. The sun shines brightly.

73. The policeman shoots the thieves.

74. He shows me a good picture.

75. The dress shrinks after washing.

76. I shut the gate of the garage.

77. We sing in the choir.

78. I sit on my chair.

79. She sleeps early.

80. The food smells good.

81. I speak good English.

82. He spells the word properly.

83. She spends a lot of money on ice cream.

84. I stand near the bank and wait for a car.

85. The dog steals the cat’s food.

86. I sweep the room properly.

87. He swims in the river.

88. I take a lot of time preparing supper.

89. He teaches very well.

90. She tears her dresses in pieces.

91. I tell the truth.

92. I think about my friend.

93. I throw the mangoes outside.

94. He understands the lesson.

95. She wears school uniform to church.

96. She weaves a big basket.

97. The child weeps.

98. They win the game.

99. She sells eggs.

100. He withdraws money from the bank

EXERCISE 15

CHANGE INTO NEGATIVE

1. My mother bought a new car.

2. She closed the door.

3. I wrote a long letter.

4. The bird flew away.

5. The man killed his brother.

6. We went on foot.

7. She ate all the apple.

8. My sister broke the chair.

9. He told me a nice story.

10. We began the lesson late.

11. I saw a nice film.

12. We began the lesson late.

13. I saw a big goat.

14. The boy grew very fast.

15. The timekeeper rang the bell.

16. She gave me good news.

17. We took the papers home.

18. The government withdrew the army.

19. The football team won the match.

20. She wore a nice dress.

21. He threw the dirty clothes outside.

22. I thought about your problem.

23. She tore her sister’s photographs.

24. He taught English well.

25. He took a wrong route.

26. She swam across the river.

27. She stole her father’s money.

28. She stood outside our house.

29. I spent a lot of time waiting.

30. She spelt the words wrongly.

31. I spoke good English.

32. We slept very late.

33. She sat in the corner.

34. We sang nice songs.

35. The man shot the thieves.

36. He shook his head.

37. He sent the letter by post.

38. He sold all his property.

39. She saw her friend on Friday.

40. He ran all the way to school.

41. She rang the bell.

42. He rode his brother’s bicycle.

43. The farmer rebuilt the house.

44. He paid the fees by cheque.

45. He made a lot of mistakes

46. She met me on the way.

47. He lost all his luggage.

48. She lit a cigarette.

49. He lay on his bed.

50. I lent out the money.

51. She left all the money at home.

52. I learnt a lot from my mother.

53. He led me up to the office.

54. The hen laid many eggs.

55. She knew all the answers.

56. She knelt down to pray.

57. I kept everything at home.

58. He held the bag in his hands.

59. He hit the snake with a stone.

60. He hid himself behind the door.

61. I had good news about you.

62. We had many friends when we were rich.

63. They grew tomatoes in their garden.

64. He ground millet at the mill.

65. I went home alone.

66. I gave you all the money.

67. He got all the answers wrong.

68. The water froze.

69. He forgave his workers all their mistakes.

70. She forgot the names of the students.

71. He forewent his lunch because he was busy.

72. The bird flew high in the sky.

73. She found the money in the bag.

74. She fought with her friend.

75. I felt tired very early.

76. She fed the hens with millet.

77. He fell off his bicycle.

78. I ate all the food alone.

79. He drove the car carefully.

80. I drank the tea with my children.

81. She dreamt about her mother.

82. I drew a long line.

83. He did the home work.

84. She dug in the garden.

85. He cut it with a knife.

86. It cost us a lot of money.

87. He came in for a visit.

88. We chose the teachers ourselves.

89. He caught the thief in the house.

90. She brought the food at home very late.

91. He burnt all the papers.

92. The thief broke into the house.

93. The referee blew the whistle.

94. The patient bled so much.

95. The snake bit the boy.

96. She returned my pictures.

97. They left for Rome.

98. She bought the dress in the shop

99. We bound the books badly.

100. He became rich when he was young.

EXERCISE 16

CHANGE ALL THE SENTENCES IN EXERCISE 15 INTO QUESTIONS.

Examples (1) My mother bought a new car

Question: Did my mother buy a new car?

She closed the door.

Question: Did she close the door.

EXERCISE 17

MIXED EXERCISE

Answer in any way you like but be careful with which tense you use.

1. Where does your brother work?

2. Does your sister always walk to school?

3. Who washed your clothes yesterday?

4. Who washes your dresses every Saturday?

5. Who has just called you?

6. Who called you last Wednesday at ten o’clock/

7. Who opened the gate?

8. Who will open the gate for the boss?

9. Who opens the gate every morning?

10. Does your brother clean his shoes himself?

11. Who cleaned the compound this morning?

12. Does your boss help you to push the car when it has a problem?

13. Which team did you play for last season?

14. Which team does your brother play for?

15. Did he kick you accidentally or intentionally?

16. Where does he change his clothes from?

17. Who will arrange the meeting with the boss?

18. an your brother drive?

19. Is she driving a car?

20. Why does he smile at you?

21. Why did you smile at him?

22. When will you finish the work?

23. When does he finish the work?

24. When did he finish his course?

25. Why does he beat the drum at this time everyday?

26. Why did she beat the children?

27. Who is beating my children?

28. Who has beaten my children?

29. How can I become rich?

30. When does your English lesson begin?

31. When did you begin your course?

32. Why did you bend my wire?

33. What did you buy with the money?

34. When did the snake bite her?

35. Why doesn’t the dog bite you?

36. Why do you bleed through the nose after the games?

37. Why does the referee blow the whistle at the end of the game?

38. What did she break?

39. What did you bring for me from town?

40. What does your husband bring for you every day?

41. Who built this house?

42. When was this house built?

43. Where were you when this house was built?

44. Who are building that house?

45. What are the street children burning?

46. What did you buy for your mother?

47. Where did you buy those shoes from?

48. Why do you buy second hand clothes?

49. When will you carry your things away?

50. When did the police catch the thief?

51. Who chooses your sister’s dresses for her?

52. Why did you choose that colour?

53. Who will come for you after school?

54. Why do you copy from your friend?

55. How much did that flask cost you?

56. Who cut your dress in pieces?

57. What were you doing when the earthquake took place?

58. What has the child drawn in your book?

59. When did you draw that picture/

60. What did you dream about last night?

61. When will you drink your tea?

62. When did he learn to drive?

63. Why did he drive without a driving permit?

64. How did you know he was not telling the truth?

65. Where did you kneel to say your prayers?

66. What did you eat for supper?

67. When did he fall off the bicycle?

68. With whom did she fight?

69. At what time did you catch the last bus?

70. When will the plane fly to Kigali?

71. Why did he forget to carry his passport?

72. When did the water freeze?

73. How many marks did you get in the exam?

74. How much money will you give me?

75. Why did you go late?

76. Where did you hide the ball?

77. Where did they hold the party.

78. Why did you keep the money?

79. Where did you keep the property?

80. Where will you keep the book?

81. What happened when you were reading?

82. Why did they rebuild the house?

83. When did he learn to ride?

84. Why did he ride the bicycle?

85. Why didn’t he say the truth?

86. Where did she say that?

87. How many people did you see?

88. What did you sell to get that money?

89. Who will you send to the market?

90. Why did your father send you from abroad?

91. Why do you shake the bottle?

92. Why did he shake the bottle?

93. Who shot the thief?

94. Who showed you my residence?

95. How many songs did they sing?

96. Why did you sleep late?

97. What did he steal?

98. Who will sweep that place?

99. Why did he withdraw all the money from the account?

100. Why didn’t he write to you?

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