English Grammar for Class 1: Tenses

Tenses for Class 1

Tenses are used to express the time of an action whether it happened in the past, is happening now, or will happen in the future. Verbs tell us what is happening, and tenses tell us when it happens.

There are three main types of tenses:

  • Past Tense – She played with her dogs.

  • Present Tense – I am eating pizza.

  • Future Tense – I will learn to play the guitar.

This guide explains each type of tense and its variations for kids in Class 1.

Types of Tenses

Each of the three main tenses (past, present, future) has four sub-types:

Present Tense

There are four types of present tense:

Simple Present

Used for actions that happen regularly or facts.

  • We go to the museum every day.

  • He loves to play the guitar.

  • She cycles to work every day.

Present Continuous

Used for:

  • An action happening now: They are playing basketball.

  • A habit or routine: I love going to the playground.

  • An action that continues for some time: He is playing football in the backyard.

More examples:

  • She is going to her recitals.

  • She is playing in the park.

Present Perfect

Used for actions that happened in the past but are relevant to the present.

  • She has learned how to play the guitar perfectly.

  • He has never eaten pasta before.

  • He has entered the mall.

Present Perfect Continuous

Used for actions that began in the past and are still continuing.

  • I have been going to the gym regularly for three years now.

  • It has been raining every day since Monday.

  • She has been thinking about joining the gym for one year now.

Past Tense

There are four types of past tense:

Simple Past

Used for actions completed in the past.

  • He did not do his homework today.

  • She went to the restaurant with Ayushman.

  • I did my chores yesterday.

Past Continuous

Used for actions that were ongoing in the past.

  • She was sitting in the library yesterday.

  • You were not doing what you were supposed to.

  • He met me when I was studying for the test.

Past Perfect

Used for actions completed before another past action.

  • I had been washing the car regularly.

  • She had been going to the gym.

  • He had already gone out when his wife arrived.

Past Perfect Continuous

Used for actions that started and continued in the past up to a certain point.

  • I had been reading Much Ado About Nothing when you called me.

  • She had not been driving when I saw her.

  • I had been watching Iranian movies since I was a child.

Future Tense

There are four types of future tense:

Simple Future

Used for actions that will happen in the future.

  • I will think about going to college.

  • I will go to see a play tomorrow.

  • I will dance at the party tomorrow.

Future Continuous

Used for actions that will be ongoing at a future point.

  • I will be playing squash this Saturday.

  • I will be doing my chores when you come in the evening.

  • I will be cooking this Sunday.

Future Perfect

Used for actions that will be completed before a future point.

  • I will have gotten ready by the time you come.

  • He will have learned to play the violin before next year.

  • She will have baked a pie by the time we get there.

Future Perfect Continuous

Used for actions that will continue up to a point in the future.

  • I will have been waiting for three hours when you arrive.

  • He will have been working on this project for almost two years.

  • When Niranjan turns 30, he will have been playing the guitar for more than 20 years.

Conclusion

Tenses help us describe when something happens  in the past, present, or future. By understanding all 12 types of tenses, Class 1 students can improve their sentence formation and grammar basics.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the types of future tense?

There are four types of future tense:

  • Simple Future

  • Future Perfect

  • Future Continuous

  • Future Perfect Continuous

How can we make simple past negative?

Use this formula: did not + root verb (or didn't + root verb).

  • Example: I didn’t play cricket yesterday.

  • He didn’t brag about his accomplishments.

When should I not use future perfect tense?

Avoid using future perfect tense if there’s no specific deadline or time in the future. It's best used when you're describing an action that will be completed before another action or time.

How do you use present perfect tense?

Use has/have + past participle (e.g., cleaned, walked, played):

  • She has learned a new dance.

  • They have finished their homework.

What are the types of past tense?

There are four types of past tense:

  • Simple Past

  • Past Continuous

  • Past Perfect

  • Past Perfect Continuous

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