1. Prepared by Training Team
COMMS CLINIC
Prepared by Training Team

2. To help improve the agents’ understanding and address their opportunities on their common errors below from the Comprehensive English Grammar Training Assessment Exam:
Present Perfect tense
Past Perfect tense
Future Perfect tense
Past Perfect Progressive tense

3. ENGLISH VERB TENSES ASPECT TIME PRESENT PAST FUTURE Simple
Simple Present
Simple Past
Simple Future
Progressive (Continuous)
Present Progressive
Past Progressive
Future Progressive
Perfect
Present Perfect
Past Perfect
Future Perfect
Perfect + Progressive
Present Perfect Progressive
Past Perfect Progressive
Future Perfect Progressive

4. PAST PROGRESSIVE TENSE
The PAST PROGRESSIVE (CONTINUOUS) is a form of the verb that shows the action or state was in progress (continued) in the past.
For example: Lisa was dancing yesterday at 8 o'clock.
Past Progressive is often used together with Simple Past.
For example: While Judi was washing the dishes the phone rang.
Here are the different usages of this tense:
Actions that were in progress at a certain point or at a certain time period in the past
Annoying repeating actions in the past

5. PAST PROGRESSIVE TENSE
PAST PROGRESSIVE (CONTINUOUS) - Actions that were in progress at a certain point or at a certain time period in the past

6. PAST PROGRESSIVE TENSE
PAST PROGRESSIVE (CONTINUOUS) - Annoying repeating actions in the past

7. PAST PROGRESSIVE TENSE
PAST PROGRESSIVE (CONTINUOUS) - POSITIVE SENTENCES
Who?
Form of verb
Examples I
 was + verb + ing
I was studying the whole afternoon.
He/She/It
He was studying the whole afternoon. She was studying the whole afternoon. It was studying the whole afternoon.
You
were + verb + ing
You were studying the whole afternoon. We
 were + verb + ing
We were studying the whole afternoon.
They
They were studying the whole afternoon.

8. PAST PROGRESSIVE TENSE
PAST PROGRESSIVE (CONTINUOUS) - NEGATIVE SENTENCES
Who?
Form of verb
Examples I
 was + not + verb + ing  wasn't + verb + ing
I was not studying the whole afternoon. I wasn't studying the whole afternoon.
He/She/It
was + not + verb + ing  wasn't + verb + ing
He was not studying the whole afternoon. He wasn't studying the whole afternoon. She was not studying the whole afternoon. She wasn't studying the whole afternoon. It was not studying the whole afternoon. It wasn't studying the whole afternoon.

9. PAST PROGRESSIVE TENSE
PAST PROGRESSIVE (CONTINUOUS) - NEGATIVE SENTENCES
Who?
Form of verb
Examples
You
were + not + verb + ing  weren't + verb + ing
You were not studying the whole afternoon. You weren't studying the whole afternoon. We
were + not + verb + ing  weren't + verb + ing
We were not studying the whole afternoon. We weren't studying the whole afternoon.
They
They were not studying the whole afternoon. They weren't studying the whole afternoon.

10. PAST PROGRESSIVE TENSE
PAST PROGRESSIVE (CONTINUOUS) - QUESTION SENTENCES
Who?
Form of verb
Examples
Was I
verb + ing
Was I studying the whole afternoon?
he/she/it
Was he studying the whole afternoon? Was she studying the whole afternoon? Was it studying the whole afternoon?
Were
you
Were you studying the whole afternoon? we
Were we studying the whole afternoon?
they
Were they studying the whole afternoon?

11. PAST PROGRESSIVE TENSE – Exercise 01
Change the verb into the correct form, then press "Check" to check your answers. Use the "Hint" button to get a free letter if you don't know. Note that you will lose points if you ask for hints!
Change the verb into the correct form: 1. Yesterday at 5 o'clock I was eating (eat). 2. Last night, at 10 o'clock she was dancing (dance). 3. Tim was cooking (cook) while Susan was watching (watch) TV. 4. Barbara was painting (paint), and Joe was sleeping (sleep). 5. While you were resting (rest), I was cleaning (clean) the house. 6. While we were swimming (swim), the other team was running (run). 7. Jim was always coming (always come) late to work. 8. Dorothy was always smoking (always smoke) in the room. 9. Jack and Bob were always fighting (always fight) about something. 10. These two were constantly chatting (constantly chat).  11. James was reading (read) and Emily was listening (listen) to music. 12. While the singer was singing (sing), the crowd was jumping (jump). 13. The teacher was sleeping (sleep), and the students were laughing(laugh). 14. An hour ago I was jogging (jog). 15. They were always drinking (always drink) too much at parties.

12. PRESENT PERFECT TENSE
The PRESENT PERFECT is a form of the verb that shows the action or state was complete before the present.
For example: Lisa has danced already.
PERFECT here means "complete, finished". It does not mean the action is "perfect" (100%). It means the action is finished.
Here are the different usages of this tense:
Actions that happened at an unspecified time before the present
Actions that ended recently
States that started in the past, and are still going on
Note: this is a broader use of this tense. It is usually used with states, not actions.

13. PRESENT PERFECT TENSE
PRESENT PERFECT - Actions that happened at an unspecified time before the present

14. PRESENT PERFECT - Actions that ended recently
PRESENT PERFECT TENSE
PRESENT PERFECT - Actions that ended recently

15. PRESENT PERFECT - States that started in the past,
PRESENT PERFECT TENSE
PRESENT PERFECT - States that started in the past,
and are still going on
Note: this is a broader use of this tense.
It is usually used with states, not actions.

16. PRESENT PERFECT TENSE REGULAR VERBS
A regular verb is a verb that follows this rule:
Past form of the verb = Present form of the verb + ed / d
Past form of work = work + ed = worked
Past form of dance = dance + d = danced
We call the present form a base form, or V1 (Verb 1).
We call the past form V2 (Verb 2).
There is another form called V3 (Verb 3). That is the form that we use in the Perfect Tenses. V1 V2 V3
open
opened
stop
stopped
change
changed

17. PRESENT PERFECT TENSE IRREGULAR VERBS
An irregular verb is a verb changes in many different ways.
drink = drank
go = went
These are examples of Irregular Verbs: V1 V2 V3
take
took
taken
buy
bought
eat
ate
eaten
give
gave
given
leave
left am
was
been

18. PRESENT PERFECT TENSE PRESENT PERFECT - POSITIVE SENTENCES Who?
Form of verb
Examples I
have + Verb 3
I have written a book.
He/She/It
 has + Verb 3
He has written a book. She has written a book. It has written a book.
You
 have + Verb 3
You have written a book. We
We have written a book.
They
They have written a book.

19. PRESENT PERFECT TENSE PRESENT PERFECT - NEGATIVE SENTENCES Who?
Form of verb
Examples I
 have + not + Verb 3 haven't + Verb 3
I have not written a book. I haven't written a book.
He/She/It
 has + not + Verb 3 hasn't + Verb 3
He has not written a book. He hasn't written a book. She has not written a book. She hasn't written a book. It has not written a book. It hasn't written a book.

20. PRESENT PERFECT TENSE PRESENT PERFECT - NEGATIVE SENTENCES Who?
Form of verb
Examples
You
 have + not + Verb 3 haven't + Verb 3
You have not written a book. You haven't written a book. We
We have not written a book. We haven't written a book.
They
They have not written a book. They haven't written a book.

21. PRESENT PERFECT TENSE PRESENT PERFECT - QUESTION SENTENCES Who?
Form of verb
Examples
Have I
Verb 3
Have I written a book?
Has
he/she/it
Has he written a book? Has she written a book? Has it written a book?
you
Have you written a book? we
Have we written a book?
they
Have they written a book?

22. PRESENT PERFECT TENSE – Exercise 01
Change the verb into the correct form, then press "Check" to check your answers. Use the "Hint" button to get a free letter if you don't know. Note that you will lose points if you ask for hints!
Change the verb into the correct form: 1. I have read (read) your book several times. 2. She has worn (wear) that skirt many times. 3. My family has visited (visit) Brazil a few times. 4. I have eaten (eat) already. 5. Marta has finished (finish) her homework. 6. You have broken (break) the glass again. 7. They have paid (pay) for everything. 8. It has never snowed (never snow) like that. 9. I have met (meet) Anna once. 10. We have seen (see) him before. 11. You have bought (buy) 4 cars so far. 12. There have been (be) problems. 13. I have had (have) a snake. 14. Maria has raised (raise) a monkey. 15. The kids have grown (grow) so much!

23. PAST PERFECT TENSE
The PAST PERFECT is a form of the verb that shows the action or state was complete before some time in the past.
For example: Lisa had danced before she came.
PERFECT here means "complete, finished". It does not mean the action was "perfect" (100%). It means the action was finished.
Here are the different usages of this tense:
An action that happened before another action in the past
An action that happened before a specific time in the past
A state that started in the past, and continued up to some time in the past
Note: this is a broader use of this tense. It is usually used with states, not actions.

24. PAST PERFECT TENSE
The Past Perfect is often used together with the Simple Past. For example: Kate had sold her apartment before she moved to New York. The action closest to the present is in the Simple Past, and the action that came before it is in the Past Perfect.

25. PAST PERFECT TENSE
PAST PERFECT - An action that happened before another action in the past

26. PAST PERFECT TENSE PAST PERFECT - An action that happened before
a specific time in the past

27. PAST PERFECT TENSE PAST PERFECT - A state that started in the past,
and continued up to some time in the past

28. He had lost the bag. She had lost the bag. It had lost the bag.
PAST PERFECT TENSE
PAST PERFECT - POSITIVE SENTENCES
Who?
Form of verb
Examples I
 had + Verb 3
I had lost the bag.
He/She/It
He had lost the bag. She had lost the bag. It had lost the bag.
You
You had lost the bag. We
We had lost the bag.
They
They had lost the bag.

29. PAST PERFECT TENSE PAST PERFECT - NEGATIVE SENTENCES Who? Form of verb
Examples I
 had + not + Verb 3  hadn't + Verb 3
I had not lost the bag. I hadn't lost the bag.
He/She/It
He had not lost the bag. He hadn't lost the bag. She had not lost the bag. She hadn't lost the bag. It had not lost the bag. It hadn't lost the bag.
You
You had not lost the bag. You hadn't lost the bag. We
We had not lost the bag. We hadn't lost the bag.
They
They had not lost the bag. They hadn't lost the bag.

30. Had he lost the bag? Had she lost the bag? Had it lost the bag?
PAST PERFECT TENSE
PAST PERFECT - QUESTION SENTENCES
Who?
Form of verb
Examples
Had I
Verb 3
Had I lost the bag?
he/she/it
Had he lost the bag? Had she lost the bag? Had it lost the bag?
you
Had you lost the bag? we
Had we lost the bag?
they
Had they lost the bag?

31. PAST PERFECT TENSE - Exercise 01

32. FUTURE PERFECT TENSE
The FUTURE PERFECT is a form of the verb that shows the action or state will be complete before some time in the future.
For example: Lisa will have danced tomorrow by 9 o'clock.
PERFECT here means "complete, finished". It does not mean the action will be "perfect" (100%). It means the action will be finished.
Here are the different usages of this tense:
An action that will happen before another action in the future
An action that will happen before a specific time in the future
A state that will continue up to some time in the future
Note: this is a broader use of this tense. It is usually used with states, not actions.

33. FUTURE PERFECT TENSE
The Future Perfect is often used together with Simple Present. For example: Jake will have passed his exams before he gets his degree.

34. FUTURE PERFECT TENSE
FUTURE PERFECT - An action that will happen before another action in the future

35. FUTURE PERFECT TENSE
FUTURE PERFECT - An action that will happen before a specific time in the future

36. FUTURE PERFECT TENSE
FUTURE PERFECT - A state that will continue up to some time in the future

37. FUTURE PERFECT TENSE FUTURE PERFECT - POSITIVE SENTENCES Who?
Form of verb
Examples I
 will + have + Verb 3
By next week, I will have paid the rent.
He/She/It
By next week, he will have paid the rent. By next week, she will have paid the rent. By next week, it will have paid the rent.
You
By next week, you will have paid the rent. We
By next week, we will have paid the rent.
They
By next week, they will have paid the rent.

38. FUTURE PERFECT TENSE FUTURE PERFECT - NEGATIVE SENTENCES Who?
Form of verb
Examples I
 will + have + not + Verb 3
By next week, I will have not paid the rent.
He/She/It
By next week, he will have not paid the rent. By next week, she will have not paid the rent. By next week, it will have not paid the rent.
You
By next week, you will have not paid the rent. We
By next week, we will have not paid the rent.
They
By next week, they will have not paid the rent.

39. FUTURE PERFECT TENSE FUTURE PERFECT - QUESTION SENTENCES Who?
Form of verb
Examples
Will I
have + Verb 3
By next week, will I have paid the rent?
he/she/it
By next week, will he have paid the rent? By next week, will she have paid the rent? By next week, will it have paid the rent?
you
By next week, will you have paid the rent? we
By next week, will we have paid the rent?
they
By next week, will they have paid the rent?

40. FUTURE PERFECT TENSE - Exercise 01

41. PAST PERFECT PROGRESSIVE TENSE
The PAST PERFECT PROGRESSIVE (CONTINUOUS) is a form of the verb that shows the action or state started in the past and continued until some point in the past.
For example: Lisa had been dancing for 2 hours before she got tired.
Here are the different usages of this tense:
An action that started in the past, and continued up until another time or action in the past
The Past Perfect Progressive is often used together with the Simple Past.
For example: Sam had been driving all night before he reached home.
The action closest to the present is in the Simple Past, and the action that came before it is in the Past Perfect Progressive.

42. PAST PERFECT PROGRESSIVE TENSE
PAST PERFECT PROGRESSIVE - An action that started in the past, and continued up until another time or action in the past

43. PAST PERFECT PROGRESSIVE TENSE
PAST PERFECT PROGRESSIVE - POSITIVE SENTENCES
Who?
Form of verb
Examples I
 had + been + verb + ing
I had been waiting all day.
He/She/It
He had been waiting all day. She had been waiting all day. It had been waiting all day.
You
You had been waiting all day. We
We had been waiting all day.
They
They had been waiting all day.

44. PAST PERFECT PROGRESSIVE TENSE
PAST PERFECT PROGRESSIVE - NEGATIVE SENTENCES
Who?
Form of verb
Examples I
 had + not + been + verb + ing  hadn't + been + verb + ing
I had not been waiting all day. I hadn't been waiting all day.
He/She/It
He had not been waiting all day. He hadn't been waiting all day. She had not been waiting all day. She hadn't been waiting all day. It had not been waiting all day. It hadn't been waiting all day.
You
You had not been waiting all day. You hadn't been waiting all day. We
We had not been waiting all day. We hadn't been waiting all day.
They
They had not been waiting all day. They hadn't been waiting all day.

45. PAST PERFECT PROGRESSIVE TENSE
PAST PERFECT PROGRESSIVE - QUESTION SENTENCES
Who?
Form of verb
Examples
Had I
been + verb + ing
Had I been waiting all day?
he/she/it
Had he been waiting all day? Had she been waiting all day? Had it been waiting all day?
you
Had you been waiting all day? we
Had we been waiting all day?
they
Had they been waiting all day?

46. PAST PERFECT PROGRESSIVE TENSE - Exercise 01

47. SUMMARY Aspect Time Present Past Future Simple
Lisa dances everyday. (with s for singular subject except for I and You)
Lisa danced yesterday. (add ed or d for regular verb)
Lisa will dance tomorrow. (will + V1)
Progressive (Continuous)
Lisa is dancing now. (is/are/am + verb with ING)
Lisa was dancing yesterday morning at 8am. (was/were + verb with ING)
Lisa will be dancing tomorrow at 8am. (will be + verb with ING)
Perfect
Lisa has danced already. (has/have + V3)
Lisa had danced already before she came home. (had + V3)
Lisa will have danced already before she gets home. (will have + V3)
Perfect + Progressive
Lisa has been dancing for 3 hours without stopping. (has been/have been + verb with ING)
Lisa had been dancing for 2 hours before she got tired. (had been + verb with ING)
Lisa will have been dancing for 3 hours by 4pm. (will have been + verb with ING)