Chapter 9 · English Grammar

The Simple Tenses

Beginner ⏱ 40–50 minutes 🎓 Grade 6

What you will be able to do

  • Form the simple present, past and future correctly
  • Add -s/-es to the verb for he/she/it in the present
  • Use the past form (V2) of regular and irregular verbs
  • Use will/shall for the future
  • Match each tense to its signal words

1 Quick Introduction

English

Tense tells us the time of an action. The three simple tenses are the backbone of English: the simple present (she writes), the simple past (she wrote), and the simple future (she will write). Master these and most sentences fall into place.

हिन्दी

काल (Tense) क्रिया का समय बताता है। तीन साधारण काल अंग्रेज़ी की रीढ़ हैं: simple present (she writes), simple past (she wrote), और simple future (she will write)। इन्हें समझ लें तो अधिकांश वाक्य सरल हो जाते हैं।

2 A Real-Life Situation

Imagine this

You introduce your daily life:

You: I study in Grade 6. Yesterday I visited my grandmother. Tomorrow I will join the cricket camp.

Why this form? Three sentences, three times: a habit (present), a finished action (past), and a plan (future). Each verb form signals exactly when the action happens.

3 The Grammar Rule

Rule & Formula
TenseFormExample
Simple PresentS + V1 (+s for he/she/it)She writes.
Simple PastS + V2She wrote.
Simple FutureS + will/shall + V1She will write.
Present: V1(+s) · Past: V2 · Future: will + V1
Water boils at 100°C. We played yesterday. They will come soon.

4 Simple Present Tense

The simple present is used for:

  • Habits and routines: She goes to school daily.
  • Universal truths: The sun rises in the east.
  • Permanent states: He lives in Delhi.
  • Fixed timetables: The train leaves at 6 a.m.

Key rule: add -s or -es to the verb for third-person singular (he, she, it):

  • play → plays, go → goes, watch → watches, study → studies.

Signal words: always, usually, often, every day, daily, sometimes, never.

Visual — Simple Present Tense
Third person singular adds -sI / You / We / Theyplay|He / She / Itplays
1
Worked Example
Correct form: She ___ (go) to school by bus.
Solution

goes — third-person singular 'she' adds -es.

2
Worked Example
Why is the present tense used here: Ice melts in heat.?
Solution

It states a universal truth, which always takes the simple present.

Key Points

  • Used for habits, truths, permanent states, timetables
  • Add -s/-es for he/she/it
  • Signal words: always, usually, every day, never

5 Simple Past Tense

The simple past describes an action finished at a definite time in the past.

  • Regular verbs add -ed: walk → walked, play → played, stop → stopped.
  • Irregular verbs change: go → went, eat → ate, write → wrote, buy → bought.

The form is the same for all subjects: I/he/we/they went.

Signal words: yesterday, last week, ago, in 2019, then, once.

1
Worked Example
Past form: They ___ (visit) Agra last year.
Solution

visited — a regular verb adds -ed.

2
Worked Example
Past form: He ___ (buy) a new bike.
Solution

bought — 'buy' is irregular: buy → bought.

Key Points

  • Used for finished actions at a definite past time
  • Regular: +ed; irregular: change form (went, ate)
  • Signal words: yesterday, last…, ago, in 2019

6 Simple Future Tense

The simple future describes actions that will happen later. Form: will (or shall) + base verb.

  • Predictions: It will rain tomorrow.
  • Promises/decisions: I will help you.
  • Plans: We shall visit Delhi next week.

In modern English will is used with all subjects; shall is more formal and common with I/we. Signal words: tomorrow, next week, soon, later, in the future.

1
Worked Example
Future form: She ___ (call) you tonight.
Solution

will call — will + base verb.

2
Worked Example
Make it future: They play football.
Solution

They will play football.

Key Points

  • Form: will/shall + base verb
  • Used for predictions, promises and plans
  • Signal words: tomorrow, next…, soon, later

7 Vocabulary Builder

WordMeaningहिन्दी
Tensethe time of an actionकाल
Habita regular actionआदत
Universal truthalways true factसार्वभौमिक सत्य
Predictionsaying what will happenभविष्यवाणी
Signal worda clue word for tenseसंकेत-शब्द
✎ Vocabulary Quick Test0 / 1
Q.Which signal word goes with the simple past?
Explanation: 'yesterday' marks a finished action → simple past.

8 Common Mistakes to Avoid

✗ IncorrectHe go to school daily.
✓ CorrectHe goes to school daily.
Add -es for third-person singular in the present.
✗ IncorrectI buyed a pen.
✓ CorrectI bought a pen.
'buy' is irregular: bought.
✗ IncorrectShe will goes tomorrow.
✓ CorrectShe will go tomorrow.
After 'will', use the base verb.
✗ IncorrectThey visited Agra next week.
✓ CorrectThey will visit Agra next week.
'next week' signals the future, not the past.

9 Practice Exercises

Fill in the BlanksLevel 1
Write the correct simple present form.
  1. She ______ (read) every night.
  2. Birds ______ (fly) in the sky.
  3. He ______ (watch) TV daily.
  4. The baby ______ (cry) a lot.
  5. We ______ (play) on Sundays.
Answer Key
  1. reads
  2. fly
  3. watches
  4. cries
  5. play
Fill in the BlanksLevel 2
Use the correct tense (past or future) of the verb.
  1. They ______ (go) to the zoo yesterday.
  2. I ______ (help) you tomorrow.
  3. He ______ (write) a letter last week.
  4. We ______ (meet) again next month.
  5. She ______ (buy) sweets an hour ago.
Answer Key
  1. went
  2. will help
  3. wrote
  4. will meet
  5. bought
Error Detection
  1. She go to the market daily.
  2. We will went there tomorrow.
  3. He buyed a new shirt.
  4. The sun rose in the east every day.
Answer Key
  1. She goes to the market daily. (error: go)
  2. We will go there tomorrow. (error: will went)
  3. He bought a new shirt. (error: buyed)
  4. The sun rises in the east every day. (error: rose)
Sentence Correction
  1. My father go to office by car.
  2. They will plays a match tomorrow.
  3. I eated my lunch at noon.
Answer Key
  1. My father goes to office by car.
  2. They will play a match tomorrow.
  3. I ate my lunch at noon.
Rearrange the Words
  1. school / she / to / goes / daily
  2. yesterday / we / a / watched / film
  3. tomorrow / I / will / you / call
Answer Key
  1. She goes to school daily.
  2. We watched a film yesterday.
  3. I will call you tomorrow.
Match the Following
Column AColumn B
1. She writes daily.a. simple future
2. She wrote yesterday.b. universal truth (present)
3. She will write soon.c. simple present (habit)
4. Water boils at 100°C.d. simple past
Answer Key
She writes daily. → simple present (habit)She wrote yesterday. → simple pastShe will write soon. → simple futureWater boils at 100°C. → universal truth (present)

10 Micro Quiz

✎ Quick Check — 5 questions0 / 5
Q1.Choose: 'She ___ to music every evening.'
Explanation: Third-person singular present → 'listens'.
Q2.Past of 'go':
Explanation: Irregular: go → went.
Q3.Future: 'They ___ tomorrow.'
Explanation: will + base verb.
Q4.Which is a universal truth?
Explanation: Universal truths use the simple present.
Q5.Signal word for the future:
Explanation: 'tomorrow' signals the simple future.

11 Reading Practice

Every morning Neha waters the plants and feeds her dog. Yesterday she planted a new rose bush in the garden. "Tomorrow I will buy more seeds," she said. She believes that gardens make people happy, and she never forgets her morning routine.

Comprehension Questions
  1. Find a simple present verb showing a habit.
  2. Which sentence is in the simple future?
  3. Find a simple past verb.
Answer Key
  1. waters (also 'feeds', 'never forgets') — daily routine, simple present.
  2. "Tomorrow I will buy more seeds." — will + base verb.
  3. planted — a finished action 'yesterday'.

12 Speaking, Writing & Daily Use

Say these aloud
  • I go to school every day.
  • The sun rises in the east.
  • We visited the museum last week.
  • She will join us tomorrow.
  • He bought a new bicycle yesterday.
Write five sentences about yesterday, today and tomorrow, using the simple past, present and future.
Example: I study daily. Yesterday I finished my project. Tomorrow I will start a new book.

13 Challenge Zone

🔥 Higher-Level Questions — 30 / 3
Q1.Choose the correct sentence.
Explanation: 'doesn't' + base verb 'like'.
Q2.Identify the error: 'When I will reach home, I will call you.'
Explanation: In a time clause with 'when', use the simple present: 'When I reach home …'.
Q3.Which sentence correctly uses the present for a timetable?
Explanation: Fixed timetables use the simple present: 'leaves'.

14 Chapter Mind Map

Mind Map
          SIMPLE TENSES
                |
   +------------+------------+
   |            |            |
 PRESENT      PAST        FUTURE
 V1 (+s)      V2         will + V1
 habits     finished     plans
 truths     yesterday   tomorrow
 every day  ago/last    soon/next

15 One-Minute Revision

Remember these

  • Present: V1 (+s for he/she/it) — habits & truths
  • Past: V2 (regular +ed, irregular change) — finished actions
  • Future: will/shall + V1 — plans & predictions
  • After 'will' and after 'does/doesn't', use the base verb
  • Match signal words: every day (present), yesterday (past), tomorrow (future)