Class 7 - TENSES

 Tenses — Class 7

1. What is a Tense?

A tense tells us the time of an action.

Example:

I played cricket. → Past
I play cricket. → Present
I will play cricket. → Future

Easy rule: Tense = Time of action

2. There are 3 Main Times

              TENSE
                │
      ┌─────────┼─────────┐
      ↓         ↓         ↓
     PAST     PRESENT    FUTURE
  happened      now     will happen

Past → before now
Present → now / regularly
Future → after now

3. Each Time Has 4 Forms

Every time has four ways of describing an action:

Type	Meaning	Example
Simple	normal action / habit	I play.
Continuous	action in progress	I am playing.
Perfect	completed action	I have played.
Perfect Continuous	action continuing for a period	I have been playing.

Therefore:

3 times × 4 forms = 12 tenses

4. Understand the Four Forms First

Tell students to ask these questions:

SIMPLE
"What happens?"
→ I play.

CONTINUOUS
"What is happening?"
→ I am playing.

PERFECT
"What has been completed?"
→ I have played.

PERFECT CONTINUOUS
"How long has it been happening?"
→ I have been playing for two hours.

This helps students understand the meaning before the formula.

5. Learn the Four Verb Forms

Use one verb:

Form	Name	Example
V1	Base form	play
V2	Past form	played
V3	Past participle	played
V4	-ing form	playing

Another example: go → went → gone → going

V1 = basic verb
V2 = past
V3 = used with perfect tenses
V4 = used with continuous tenses

6. Simple Tenses

Time Formula Example

Present S + V1 I play.
Past S + V2 I played.
Future S + will + V1 I will play.

Remember: Simple = basic action

7. Continuous Tenses

Continuous means the action is in progress.

Time Formula Example
Present am/is/are + V4 I am playing.
Past was/were + V4 I was playing.
Future will be + V4 I will be playing.

Golden rule: Continuous → V4

8. Perfect Tenses

Perfect means the action is completed.

Time Formula Example
Present has/have + V3 I have played.
Past had + V3 I had played.
Future will have + V3 I will have played.

Golden rule: Perfect → V3

9. Perfect Continuous Tenses

This tells us about an action that continues for a period of time.

Time Formula Example
Present has/have been + V4 I have been playing.
Past had been + V4 I had been playing.
Future will have been + V4 I will have been playing.

These often use since or for.

I have been studying for two hours.
She has been studying since morning.

Golden rule:

Perfect Continuous → been + V4

10. Final Master Chart

	SIMPLE	CONTINUOUS	PERFECT	PERFECT CONTINUOUS
🟢 Present	I play	I am playing	I have played	I have been playing
🔵 Past	I played	I was playing	I had played	I had been playing
🟠 Future	I will play	I will be playing	I will have played	I will have been playing

 ⭐ The 4 Rules Students Should Memorise

Simple → V1 / V2
Continuous → V4
Perfect → V3
Perfect Continuous → been + V4

And the easiest way to identify any tense is:

First ask WHEN? → Past / Present / Future
Then ask HOW? → Simple / Continuous / Perfect / Perfect Continuous