English tense

Present tenses
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Present simple tenseHow to form the present simple tense in English.
Structure of present simple |
positive | negative | question |
I work in a bank.
You work in a bank.
We work in a bank.
They work in a bank. | I don't (do not) work.
You don't (do not) work.
We don't (do not) work.
They don't (do not) work. | Do Iwork in a bank?
Do you work in a bank?
Do we work in a bank?
Do they work in a bank? |
He works in a bank.
She works in a bank.
The bank opens at 9 o'clock. | He doesn't (does not) work.
She doesn't (does not) work.
It doesn't (does not) open at 9 o'clock. | Does he work? 
Does she work? 
Does it open at 9 o'clock? |

Present simple - common mistakes |
Common mistakes | Correctversion | Why? |
I working in London. | I work in London. | The gerund ing form is not used in the present simple. |
He work in London. | He works in London. | The third person he, she, itadds the letter s. |
He work in London? | Does he work in London? | Questions - third person: 
does + subject + infinitive.
All other persons:
do + subject + infinitive. |
Work he in London? | Does he workin London? | |
He not work in London. | He doesn't work in London. | Negatives - third person: 
subject + doesn't + infinitive.
All other persons:
subject + don't + infinitive. |
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Present continuous tense
The present continuous tense is sometimes called the present progressive.
Here is how to form the present continuous tense in English.Structure of present continuous |
positive | negative | question |
I'm (I am) reading a book.  
You're (you are) reading. 
We're (we are) reading. 
They're (they are) reading.  | I'm (I am) not reading.
You're (you are) not reading.
We're (we are) not reading.
They're (they are) not reading. | Am I reading?
Are you reading?
Are we reading?
Are they reading? |
He's (he is) reading abook.
She's (she is) reading a book.
It's (it is) raining. | He's not / he isn't (he is not) reading. 
She's not / she isn't (she is not) reading. 
It's not / it isn't (it is not) raining. | Is he reading? 
Is she reading? 
Is it raining? |

Present continuous - common mistakes |
Common mistakes | Correct version | Why? |
They still waiting for you. | They are still waiting for you. |to form a continuous tense we use be + -ing. |
They are still waiting for you? | Are they still waiting for you? | In questions the subject (they) and the auxiliary verb (be) change places. |
Do they still waiting for you? | Are they still waiting for you? | |
Where they are waiting for you? | Where are they waiting for you? | |
She doesn't watching TV. | She isn't watching TV. | Toform the negative we put notafter the verb be (am not, is not = isn't, are not = aren't). |
I'm believing you. | I believe you. | Some verbs are not used in continuous tenses - these are called stative verbs (e.g.believe, come from, cost, depend, exist, feel, hate, like). |
Past tenses
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Past simple tense

Here is how to form the past simpletense in English.
Structure of past simple |
positive | negative | question |
I arrived yesterday.
You arrived yesterday.
He/she/it arrived.
We arrived.
They arrived. | I didn't (did not) arrive.
You didn't (did not) arrive.
He/she/it didn't arrive.
We didn't arrive.
They didn't arrive. | Did I arrive yesterday?
Did you arrive?
Did he/she/it arrive?
Did we arrive?
Did they arrive? |Past simple - common mistakes |
Common mistakes | Correct version | Why? |
I was work in London. | I worked in London. | In positive sentences, a helping verb such as 'was' or 'did' is not used. |
He worked in London? | Did he work in London? | The helping verb 'did' is used in past simple questions. |
Worked he in London? | Did he work in London? | The helping verb 'did' is used in...