Formulas for the 12 tenses in English

Formulas for the 12 tenses in English

The 12 tenses in English are basic content that students from elementary to high school must learn according to the educational program specified in Circular 32/2018/TT-BGDDT. To be specific, the formulas for the 12 tenses in English are as follows:

1. Simple Present Tense

Formula for the Simple Present with regular verbs:

Affirmative: S + V_S/ES + O

Negative: S+ DO/DOES + NOT + V(inf) +O

Interrogative: DO/DOES + S + V(inf) + O?

Formula for the Simple Present with the verb "to be":

Affirmative: S+ AM/IS/ARE + O

Negative: S + AM/IS/ARE + NOT + O

Interrogative: AM/IS/ARE + S + O?

Identification signs for the Simple Present Tense:

In the sentence, there are usually words like: Every, always, often, usually, sometimes, rarely, generally, frequently.

2. Present Continuous Tense

Formula for the Present Continuous Tense:

Affirmative: S + am/ is/ are + V_ing + O

Negative: S + am/ is/ are+ not + V_ing + O

Interrogative: Am/is/are+S + V_ing+ O?

Identification signs for the Present Continuous Tense:

In the sentence, there are often phrases such as: At present, at the moment, right now, now, at, look, listen.

3. Present Perfect Tense

Formula for the Present Perfect Tense:

Affirmative: S + have/ has + V3/ED+ O

Negative: S + have/ has+ NOT + V3/ED+ O

Interrogative: Have/ has + S+ V3/ED+ O?

Identification signs for the Present Perfect Tense:

In the sentence, there are often words like: Just, recently, lately, already, not....yet, never, ever, since, for, so far, until now, up to now.

4. Present Perfect Continuous Tense

Formula for the Present Perfect Continuous Tense:

Affirmative: S + have/has + been + V_ing

Negative: S + have/has + not + been + V_ing

Interrogative: Has/ Have + S + been+ V_ing?

Identification signs for the Present Perfect Continuous Tense:

In the sentence, there are phrases like: All the morning/ afternoon, All her/ his lifetime, How long...? Since + time point, for + time duration.

5. Simple Past Tense

Formula for the Simple Past with regular verbs:

Affirmative: S + V2/ED + O

Negative: S + did + not+ V(inf) + O

Interrogative: Did + S + V(inf) + O?

Formula for the Simple Past with the verb "to be":

Affirmative: S + WAS/WERE + O

Negative: S+ WAS/ WERE + NOT + O

Interrogative: WAS/WERE + S + O?

Identification signs for the Simple Past Tense:

In the sentence, there are words like: Yesterday, ago, last night/ last week/ last month/ last year, when.

6. Past Continuous Tense

Formula for the Past Continuous Tense:

Affirmative: S + was/were + V_ing + O

Negative: S + was/were + not + V_ing + O

Interrogative: Was/were + S + V_ing + O?

Identification signs for the Past Continuous Tense:

In the sentence, there are phrases like: At + past time, At this time + past time, In + past year, In the past, From..to...

7. Past Perfect Tense

Formula for the Past Perfect Tense:

Affirmative: S + had + V3/ED + O

Negative: S + had+ not + V3/ED + O

Interrogative: Had +S + V3/ED + O?

Identification signs for the Past Perfect Tense:

In the sentence, there are words like: After, before, as soon as, when, by the time, until then, already, just, since, for.

8. Past Perfect Continuous Tense

Formula for the Past Perfect Continuous Tense:

Affirmative: S + had been + V_ing + O

Negative: S + had + not + been + V_ing + O

Interrogative: Had + S + been + V_ing + O?

Identification signs for the Past Perfect Continuous Tense:

In the sentence, there are words like: Until then, by the time, by, before + time point, prior to that time.

9. Simple Future Tense

Formula for the Simple Future Tense:

Affirmative: S + shall/will + V(infinitive) + O

Negative: S + shall/will + not + V(infinitive) + O

Interrogative: Shall/will+S + V(infinitive) + O?

Identification signs for the Simple Future Tense:

In the sentence, there are usually words like: Next day/ Next week/ next month/ next year, tomorrow, in + time, 6 years from now.

10. Future Continuous Tense

Formula for the Future Continuous Tense:

Affirmative: S + will/shall + be + V-ing

Negative: S + will/shall + not + be + V-ing

Interrogative: Will/shall + S + be + V-ing?

Identification signs for the Future Continuous Tense:

In the sentence, there are words like: And soon, next year, next week, next time.

In the sentence, there are phrases like: At this/ that + time/ moment + time duration in the future, At + specific future time point, when + clause in the simple present tense.

11. Future Perfect Tense

Formula for the Future Perfect Tense:

Affirmative: S + shall/will + have + V3/ed

Negative: S + shall/will + NOT + have + V3/ed + O

Interrogative: Shall/Will+ S + have + V3/ed?

Identification signs for the Future Perfect Tense:

In the sentence, there are phrases like: By + future time, By the end of + future time, before + event/ future time point, time duration + from now.

12. Future Perfect Continuous Tense

Formula for the Future Perfect Continuous Tense:

Affirmative: S + will/shall + have been + V_ing

Negative: S + will not + have been + V_ing

Interrogative: Will/shall + S + have been + V-ing?

Identification signs for the Future Perfect Continuous Tense:

In the sentence, there are phrases like: By the time, By then, For + time duration + by/ before + future time point.

Note: The formulas for the 12 tenses in English are provided for reference purposes only!

 Formulas for the 12 Tenses in English (Image from the Internet)

Which grades are required to study English in Vietnam?

Section 1 of the English subject program in the general education curriculum issued alongside Circular 32/2018/TT-BGDĐT stipulates as follows:

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SUBJECT

English is a compulsory subject in the general education curriculum from grade 3 to grade 12. As one of the core subjects in the school curriculum, English not only helps students develop the ability to communicate in English but also contributes to the development of general abilities, enabling them to live and work more effectively, excel in other subjects, and pursue lifelong learning.

...

Therefore, students from grade 3 to grade 12 are required to study English.

What are the specific competency requirements for primary students after studying English in Vietnam?

According to Section 4 of the English subject program in the general education curriculum issued alongside Circular 32/2018/TT-BGDĐT, the specific competency requirements for primary students after studying English are as follows:

- After completing the elementary level English subject, students can achieve Level 1 proficiency of the 6-level Foreign Language Proficiency Framework for Vietnam.

To be specific, they: "Can understand and use familiar everyday expressions and basic phrases; can introduce themselves and others; can answer questions about personal details such as where they live, people they know, etc. Can interact in a simple way provided the other person talks slowly and clearly and is willing to help."

- Through the English subject, students gain initial knowledge about the countries, people, and cultures of some English-speaking countries and other countries around the world; they develop a positive attitude toward learning English; they feel proud, love, and respect their own language and culture; and they grow qualities such as love, respect for oneself, friends, family, the environment, diligence, and honesty.