Grammar is an important part to master in order to improve your TOEFL score.
On GlobalExam you can learn English to perfection online! Dedicated grammar sheets for revising every aspect of English grammar specific to any English exams such as the IELTS, TOEIC, TOEFL, CAE, FCE, BRIDGE, BULATS (Linguaskill) or even BRIGHT ENGLISH. Indeed, we have gathered a complete list of grammar worksheets on numerous topics:
- Comparatives & superlatives
- Conditionals
- Gerunds vs infinitives
- Linking words
- Modal verbs
- Nouns
- Passive vs active + causative verbs
- Phrasal verbs
- Present perfect
- Standard expressions & confusing words
- Present tenses
- Prepositions
- Adverbs
- Conjunctions
- Simple or progressive aspects
How Many Tenses and Aspects Exist in the English Language?
There are three verb tenses in the English language: Past, Present, and Future. These tenses are divided into four aspects: The Simple, Progressive, Perfect, and Perfect Progressive.
The following tables explain all three tenses in each aspects:
| Simple Present Tense | The dog eats meat. |
| Simple Past Tense | The dog ate meat. |
| Simple Future Tense | The dog will eat meat. |
| Present Progressive Tense | The dog is eating meat. |
| Past Progressive Tense | The dog was eating meat. |
| Future Progressive Tense | The dog will be eating meat. |
| Present Perfect Tense | The dog has eaten meat. |
| Past Perfect Tense | The dog had eaten meat. |
| Future Perfect Tense | The dog will have eaten meat. |
| Present Perfect Progressive Tense | The dog has been eating meat. |
| Past Perfect Progressive Tense | The dog had been eating meat. |
| Future Perfect Progressive Tense | The dog will have been eating meat. |
Perfect Tenses in English: Past, Present and Future
Past Perfect
The past perfect tense is used to show that one event happened before another. It refers to a time that has already passed. The past perfect is formed from the past tense of the verb have (had) + the past participle of the main verb (the en/ed/ne form).
In the following examples, Event 1 has already begun and ended before Event 2 takes place.
Event 1 Event 2
Ansue had finished her homework before I got home.
Event 1 Event 2
Had you already done the dishes before we arrived?
Event 2 Event 1
By the time we arrived, everyone had already finished eating.
Event 2 Event 1
When I woke up, I felt that I hadn’t slept well.
| Affirmative | Negative | Interrogative |
| I had danced | I had not danced | Had I danced? |
| You had danced | You had not danced | Had you danced? |
| He/she/it had danced | He/she/it had not danced | Had he/she/it danced? |
| We had danced | We had not danced | Had we danced? |
| You had danced | You had not danced | Had you danced? |
| They had danced | They had not danced | Had they danced? |
Present Perfect
The present perfect tense is used to link a time in the past to the present. It describes an action that happened sometime before now. It is formed with the present tense of the verb have (have/has) + the past participle of the main verb (the en/ed/ne form).
A situation that began in the past and continues in the present:
An action performed in a certain period of time that has not ended yet:
A repeated action between the past and now:
An action completed in the recent past:
- I have just left work.
- They have just arrived.
When the time of the action is unknown or unimportant:
- Have you ever seen “Citizen Kane”?
- Someone has broken my car window!
| Affirmative | Negative | Interrogative |
| I have danced | I have not danced | Have I danced? |
| You have danced | You have not danced | Have you danced? |
| He/she/it has danced | He/she/it has not danced | Has he/she/it danced? |
| We have danced | We have not danced | Have we danced? |
| You have danced | You have not danced | Have you danced? |
| They have danced | They have not danced | Have they danced? |
The auxiliary (in this case, to have) is always have, EXCEPT in the third person singular (he/she/it has gone).
Future Perfect
The future perfect tense refers to an action that will have been completed sometime in the future. To form this tense, use the modal will + the auxiliary verb have + the past participle of the main verb (the en/ed/ne form).
- I will have been here for three months on December 5th.
- She will have arrived by the time you finish cooking.
- Will you have had dinner when I pick you up?
- By this time next week, we will have finished our group project.
- Do you think you will have sold your apartment by this time next year?
| Affirmative | Negative | Interrogative |
| I will have danced | I will not have danced | Will I have danced? |
| You will have danced | You will not have danced | Will you have danced? |
| He/she/it will have danced | He/she/it will not have danced | Will he/she/it have danced? |
| We will have danced | We will not have danced | Will we have danced? |
| You will have danced | You will not have danced | Will you have danced? |
| They will have danced | They will not have danced | Will they have danced? |
- The future perfect tense is usually used with a time expression.
- Make sure you pay attention to the word order compared to the other tenses.
Present Perfect: We have not danced.
Future Perfect: We will not have danced.
Perfect Progressive in English: Past, Present and Future
Past Perfect Progressive
The past perfect progressive tense is used to describe an action that was completed at some point in the past. It is formed with the past tense of the verb have (had) + been + the present participle of the main verb (ending in –ing).
- I had been sleeping when the doorbell rang.
- Had he been depressed before he met his new girlfriend?
- They had been waiting for an hour when help finally arrived.
| Affirmative | Negative | Interrogative |
| I had been dancing | I had not been dancing | Had I been dancing? |
| You had been dancing | You had not been dancing | Had you been dancing? |
| He/she/it had been dancing | He/she/it had not been dancing | Had he/she/it been dancing? |
| We had been dancing | We had not been dancing | Had we been dancing? |
| You had been dancing | You had not been dancing | Had you been dancing? |
| They had been dancing | They had not been dancing | Had they been dancing? |
There is no past perfect progressive for the verb to be! (ex. I had been
being)
Present Perfect Progressive
The present perfect progressive tense is used to describe an action that has started in the past and is still going on. The action is usually of a limited duration. This tense is formed with the present tense of the verb have (have/has) + been + the present participle of the main verb (ending in –ing).
- I have been doing my homework for almost three hours.
- Has he been eating his vegetables?
- They have been losing games since the start of the season.
| Affirmative | Negative | Interrogative |
| I have been dancing | I have not been dancing | Have I been dancing? |
| You have been dancing | You have not been dancing | Have you been dancing? |
| He/she/it has been dancing | He/she/it has not been dancing | Has he/she/it been dancing? |
| We have been dancing | We have not been dancing | Have we been dancing? |
| You have been dancing | You have not been dancing | Have you been dancing? |
| They have been dancing | They have not been dancing | Have they been dancing? |
There is no present perfect progressive for the verb to be! (ex. I have been
being)
Future Perfect Progressive
The future perfect progressive tense is used to describe a continuous action that will occur in the future. It is formed with the modal will + the auxiliary verb have + been + the present participle of the main verb (ending in –ing).
- This time next year, I will have been searching for a job for two years.
- When I arrive, will you have been cooking for a long time?
- At 5:00, I will have been waiting for two hours.
| Affirmative | Negative | Interrogative |
| I will have been dancing | I will not have been dancing | Will I have been dancing? |
| You will have been dancing | You will not have been dancing | Will you have been dancing? |
| He/she/it will have been dancing | He/she/it will not have been dancing | Will he/she/it have been dancing? |
| We will have been dancing | We will not have been dancing | Will we have been dancing? |
| You will have been dancing | You will not have been dancing | Will you have been dancing? |
| They will have been dancing | They will not have been dancing | Will they have been dancing? |
There is no future perfect progressive for the verb to be! (ex. I will have been
being)
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