ILMU KALAM (KHAWARIJ)

KHAWARIJ

Khawarij merupakan aliran teologi pertama yang muncul dalam dunia islam. Pada mulanya Khawarij merupakan gerakan politik kemudian bergeser menjadi aliran teologi. Gerakan ini lahir antara tahun 38 H/658 M dan 39 H/659 M. Pada mulanya kaum Khawarij merupakan orang-orang yang mendukung kekhalifahan Ali bin Abi Thalib, tapi kemudian keluar dari kelompok Ali dan bahkan memusuhinya. Kisahnya bermula dari peristiwa perang Siffin (657 M), pembelotan dimulai ketika kekalahan diplomasi Ali pada peristiwa tahkim (arbitrase). Pengikut Ali yang tidak setuju dengan tahkim meninggalkan barisan Ali. Mereka keluar dari Kufah menuju Harurah, sebuah perkampungan yang tidak begitu jauh dari Kufah. Di kampung ini mereka menghimpun jama’ah dan melakukan aktifitas peribadatan dan kemasyarakatan. Kbahkan karena begitu lekatnya dengan perkampungan ini, sehingga mereka dijuluki kaum Haruriyah.

Nama atau sebutan lain bagi kaum Haruriyah adalah Syurah, yang berarti ”menjual”, karena kaum ini rela ”menjual” jiwa dan raga kepada Allah SWT. Penamaan ini mereka nisbahkan pada kata ”yasyri’ dalam firman Allah (QS. 2:207), yaitu;

Artinya: ”Dan diantara manusia ada yang mengorbankan dirinya karena mencari keridhaan Allah dan Allah Maha Penyantun kepada hamba-hambaNya”.

Kelompok ini juga disebut kaum Al Muhakkimah, berdasarkan semboyan mereka laa hukm illaa li-Allaah (tidak ada hukum kecuali hukum Allah) mereka mendasarkan semboyan ini pada QS. 6:57, 12:40 dan 67. Ayat-ayat ini pula yang mereka jadikan alasan penolakan tahkim antara Ali dan Mu’awiyah.

Di samping itu para lawan kaum ini menamakan mereka dengan Al Mariqah yang berarti ”anak panah yang keluar dari busurnya’. Disebut demikian karena pendapat dan pemikiran mereka dinilai kau dan liar, laksana anak panah yang lepas dari busurnya tanpa dibidikkan terlebih dahulu , sehingga keluar tanpa kendali.

Namun sebutan yang paling populer bagi kaum ini adalah Khawarij, yang secara etimologis berasal dari kata kerja kharaja (telah keluar), kemudia menjadi kharij (orang yang keluar) yang bentuk jamaknya adalah khawarij (orang-orang yang keluar). Karena mereka keluar dari para pendukung Ali bahkan memisahkan diri dari kaum muslimin. Namun kaum khawarij menghubungkan kata ini dengan kata yakhruju yang terdapat dalam QS. 4:100, yaitu:

Artinya: ”Barangsiapa berhijrah di jalan Allah, niscaya mereka mendapati di muka bumi ini tempat hijrah yang luas dan rezeki yang banyak. Barangsiapa keluar dari rumahnya untuk berhijrah kepada Allah dan rasul-Nya, kemudian kematian menimpanya (sebelum sampai ke tempat yang dimaksud), maka sungguh telah tetap pahalanya di sisi Allah. Dan Allah Maha Pengampun lagi Maha Penyayang”.

Mereka menganggap dirinya merupakan orang yang keluar dari rumah mereka (Kufah) yang dikelilingi oleh para penduduk yang zalim karena menerima tahkim dan menuju Harurah untuk menegakkan hukum Allah.

§ Tokoh, Pemikiran dan Golongan-Golongan Khawarij

Berikut adalah golongan-golongan Khawarij serta tokoh dan ajaran-ajaran masing-masing golongan.

1. AL-MUHAKKIMAH

Dipandang sebagai golongan khawarij asli karena terdiri dari pengikut-pengikut Ali yang kemudian membangkang. Orang pertama yang mereka angkat sebagai imam adalah ’Abdullah ibn Wahab Al Rasibi. Menurut kelompok ini Ali, Mu’awiyah dan semua orang yang menyetujui tahkim adalah kafir karena mereka telah menyimpang dari ajaran islam. Mereka juga menganggap kafir orang-orang yang berbuat dosa besar, seperti membunuh tanpa alasan dan berzina. Menurut mereka imam boleh saja tidak berasal dari kaum Quraisy asalkan imamtersebut mampu memimpin dan berlaku adil. Dan pemimpin yang telah meninggalkan kebenaran wajib dibunuh.

2. AL-AZARIQAH

Kelompok ini lahir sekitar tahun 60 H di daerah perbatasan antara Iraq dan Iran. Nama kelompok ini diambil dari nama pemimpin kelompok ini yaitu Nafi’ bin Azrak Al-Hanafi Al-Hanzali. Sebagai khalifah Nafi’ digelari amirul mikminin. Menurut Al-Bagdadi pengikut kelompok ini berjumlah lebih dari 20 ribu orang. Kelompok ini memiliki paham yang lebih ekstrim dibandingkan Al-Muhakkimah.

Menurut mereka setiap orang islam yang menolak ajaran Al Azariqah dianggap musyrik dan pengikut Al Azariqah yang tidak mau berhijrah ke wilayah mereka juga dianggap musyrik. Dan menurut merekasemua orang yang musyrik boleh ditawan dan dibunuh termasuk anak dan istri mereka. Berdasarkan prinsip ini, pengikut kelompok ini banyak melakukan pembunuhan terhadap sesama umat islam. Mereka menganggap daerah mereka merupakan daar al islam (darul islam) dan wilayah lain sebagai daar al kufr (daerah yang dikuasai oleh orang kafir). M ereka tidak mengakui hukum rajam bagi penzina karena tidak tercantum dalam Al-Qur’an. Dan mereka menganggap anak orang musyrik akan bersama orang tuanya di neraka. Menurut mereka Allah boleh saja mengangkat nabi yang Allah telah mengetahui bahwa nabi tersebut akan menjadi kafir sesudah diangkat menjadi nabi. Dan taqiah (berpura-pura) tidak diperbolehkan baik dalam perkataan maupun perbuatan.

3. AN-NAJDAD

Kelompok ini dipimpin oleh Najdah bin Amir Al Hanafi, penguasa daerah Yamamah dan Bahrain. Kelompok ini lahir sebagai reaksi terhadap nafi’ yang dinilai terlalu ekstrim. Mereka menentang pendapat Nafi’ tentang kafirnya orang yang diluar Al Azariqah dan tentang boleh membunuh anak adan istri orang yang mereka naggap musyrik. Pengikut Najdat memandang Nafi’ dan orang yang mengakuinya sebagai khalifah adalah kafir.

Kelompok ini menganggap orang yang tidak sealiran dengan mereka adalah kafir. Dan menurut mereka orang-orang ini akan masuk neraka dan kekal di dalamnya. Dan para pengikut Najdat tidak akan masuk neraka walaupun melakukan dosa besar. Menurut mereka dosa kecil yang dilakukan secara terus menerus akan meningkat menjadi dosa besar. Mereka membolehkan taqiyah (berpura-pura), seperti menyembunyikan keislamannya demi keselamatan dan boleh mengucapakan kata-kata dan melakukan tindakan yang bertentangan dengan keyakinan. Dan pada akhirnya kelompok ini mengalami perpecahan. Tokoh-tokoh penting dalam kelompok ini adalah Abu Fudaik dan Rasyid At Tawil yang akhirnya membentuk kelompok penentang An Najdat yang berakhir dengan terbunuhnya Najdat pada tahun 69 H/688 M.

4. AL-AJARIDAH

Pemimpin kelompok ini adalah Abdul Karim bin Ajarrad. Pandangan-pandangan kelompok ini lebih modern. Mereka tidak mewajibkan berhijrah ke wilayah mereka, tidak boleh merampas harta peperangan kecuali harta orang yang mati terbunuh dan tidak dianggap musyrik anak-anak yang masih kecil. Bagi mereka Al-Qur’an sebagai kitab suci tidak layak memuat cerita-cerita percintaan, seperti yang terkan dung dalam surat yusuf. Dan surat yusuf dipandang bukan bagian dari Al-Qur’an.

Kelompok ini akhirnya terpecah menjadi kelompok-kelompok kecil yang ajarannya tidak selalu sama antara satu kelompok dengan kelompok lain. Dan perdebatan diantara kelompok kecil ini seputar masalah qadha dan qadar.

5. AS-SUFRIYAH

Pemimpin kelompok ini adalah Ziad bin Asfar. Menurutnya istilah kufr memiliki dua arti, yaitu kufur nikmat dan kufur terhadap Allah. Dan menurut mereka orang yang kufur nikmat tidak berarti keluar dari islam. Mereka membolehkan taqiyah hanya pada perkataan saja namun tidak pada perbuatan, kecuali pada wanita islam yang diperbolehkan menikahi lelaki kafir jika keamanan dirinya terancam. Mereka mengakui hukum rajam. Menurut mereka meninggalkan perbuatan yang tidak ada had (hukuman)nya, seperti shalat dan lari dari pertempuran bukanlah dosa besar dan mereka tidak disebut kafir.

6. AL-IBADIYYAH

Kelompok ini dimunculkan oleh Addullah bin Ibad Al Murri At Tamimi pada tahun 686 M. Mereka menganggap orang islam yang berdosa besar tidak dikatakan mukmin tetapi muwahhid (orang yang kafir nikmat) dan tida membuat orang tersebut keluar dari islam. Mereka menganggap daerah daar al kufr hanyalah markas pemerintahan dan harus diperangi dan selebihnya dalah daar at tauhid (daerah yang dikuasai orang islam) yang tidak boleh diperangi. Tentang harta yang boleh dirampas dalam perang hanyalah kuda dan alat perang. Mereka beranggapan mukjizat bukanlah tanda kerasulan. Dan pada akhirnya kelompok ini juga mengalami perpecahan.

Sebagian pengikut kelompok ini masih ada di daerah di daerah Oman, Zanzibar, dan Maghreb namun mereka menganggap dirinya berbeda dari yang lain dan menolak disebut khawarij.

Kesimpulan

Khawarij merupakan aliran teologi pertama yang muncul dalam dunia islam. Pada mulanya Khawarij merupakan gerakan politik kemudian bergeser menjadi aliran teologi. Gerakan ini lahir antara tahun 38 H/658 M dan 39 H/659 M. Khawarij, yang secara etimologis berasal dari kata kerja kharaja (telah keluar), kemudia menjadi kharij (orang yang keluar) yang bentuk jamaknya adalah khawarij (orang-orang yang keluar). Karena mereka keluar dari para pendukung Ali bahkan memisahkan diri dari kaum muslimin.

Tokoh-tokoh serta golongan-golongan khawarij:

1. Al Muhakkimah, Abdullah ibn Wahab Al Rasibi

2. Al Zariqah, Nafi’ bin Azrak Al Hanafi Al Hanzali

3. An Najdat, Najdah bin Amir Al Hanafi

4. Al Ajaridah, Abdul Karim bin Ajarrad

5. As Sufriyah, Ziad bin Asfar

6. Al Ibadiyyah, Abdullah bin Ibad Al Murri At Tamimi.

Daftar pustaka

Al Syahrastani. 2005. Al Milal Wa Al Nihal (aliran-aliran teologi dalam sejarah umat islam). Surabaya: PT. Bina Ilmu.

Ja’farian Rasul. 2004. Sejarah Islam. Jakarta: PT. Lentera Basritama.

www.wikipedia.com

ENGLISH TENSES

Tenses

Tense is a grammatical term that refers to how a verb shows the time of happening in the sentence. Every English sentence has a verb that describes an action, state, or occurrence. These can happen in one of the three time zones in which we all exist – past, present, or future – but there are more than three tenses to express further nuances in the passage of time.

1. Simple Present Tense

How do we make the Simple Present Tense?

subject	+	auxiliary verb	+	main verb
		do		base

There are three important exceptions:

1. For positive sentences, we do not normally use the auxiliary.
2. For the 3rd person singular (he, she, it), we add s to the main verb or es to the auxiliary.
3. For the verb to be, we do not use an auxiliary, even for questions and negatives.

Look at these examples with the main verb like:

subject	auxiliary verb		main verb
I, you, we, they			like	coffee.
He, she, it			likes	coffee.
I, you, we, they	do	not	like	coffee.
He, she, it	does	not	like	coffee.
Do	I, you, we, they		like	coffee?
Does	he, she, it		like	coffee?

Look at these examples with the main verb be. Notice that there is no auxiliary:

	subject	main verb
+	I	am		French.
	You, we, they	are		French.
	He, she, it	is		French.
-	I	am	not	old.
	You, we, they	are	not	old.
	He, she, it	is	not	old.
?	Am	I		late?
	Are	you, we, they		late?
	Is	he, she, it		late?

How do we use the Simple Present Tense?

We use the simple present tense when:

• the action is general
• the action happens all the time, or habitually, in the past, present and future
• the action is not only happening now
• the statement is always true

John drives a taxi.
past	present	future
It is John's job to drive a taxi. He does it every day. Past, present and future.

Note that with the verb to be, we can also use the simple present tense for situations that are not general. We can use the simple present tense to talk about now. Look at these examples of the verb "to be" in the simple present tense - some of them are general, some of them are now:

Am I right? Tara is not at home. You are happy.
past	present	future
The situation is now.

I am not fat. Why are you so beautiful? Ram is tall.
past	present	future
The situation is general. Past, present and future.

2. Present Continuous Tense

We often use the present continuous tense in English. It is very different from the simple present tense, both in structure and in use.

How do we make the Present Continuous Tense?

The structure of the present continuous tense is:

subject	+	auxiliary verb	+	main verb
		be		base + ing

Look at these examples:

	subject	auxiliary verb		main verb
+	I	am		speaking	to you.
+	You	are		reading	this.
-	She	is	not	staying	in London.
-	We	are	not	playing	football.
?	Is	he		watching	TV?
?	Are	they		waiting	for John?

How do we use the Present Continuous Tense?

We use the present continuous tense to talk about:

• action happening now
• action in the future

Present continuous tense for action happening now

a) for action happening exactly now

I am eating my lunch.
past	present	future
	The action is happening now.

b) for action happening around now

The action may not be happening exactly now, but it is happening just before and just after now, and it is not permanent or habitual.

John is going out with Mary.
past	present	future
	The action is happening around now.

Present continuous tense for the future

We can also use the present continuous tense to talk about the future - if we add a future word!! We must add (or understand from the context) a future word. "Future words" include, for example, tomorrow, next year, in June, at Christmas etc. We only use the present continuous tense to talk about the future when we have planned to do something before we speak. We have already made a decision and a plan before speaking.

I am taking my exam next month.
past	present	future
!!!
	A firm plan or programme exists now.	The action is in the future.

Look at these examples:

• We're eating in a restaurant tonight. We've already booked the table..
• They can play tennis with you tomorrow. They're not working.
• When are you starting your new job?

In these examples, we have a firm plan or programme before speaking. The decision and plan were made before speaking.

How do we spell the Present Continuous Tense?

We make the present continuous tense by adding -ing to the base verb. Normally it's simple - we just add -ing. But sometimes we have to change the word a little. Perhaps we double the last letter, or we drop a letter. Here are the rules to help you know how to spell the present continuous tense.

Basic rule	Just add -ing to the base verb:
	work	>	working
	play	>	playing
	assist	>	assisting
	see	>	seeing
	be	>	being
Exception 1	If the base verb ends in consonant + stressed vowel + consonant, double the last letter: s t o p consonant stressed vowel consonant (vowels = a, e, i, o, u)
	stop	>	stopping
	run	>	running
	begin	>	beginning
	Note that this exception does not apply when the last syllable of the base verb is not stressed:
	open	>	opening
Exception 2	If the base verb ends in ie, change the ie to y:
	lie	>	lying
	die	>	dying
Exception 3	If the base verb ends in vowel + consonant + e, omit the e:
	come	>	coming
	mistake	>	mistaking

3. Present Perfect Tense

The present perfect tense is a rather important tense in English, but it gives speakers of some languages a difficult time. That is because it uses concepts or ideas that do not exist in those languages. In fact, the structure of the present perfect tense is very simple. The problems come with the use of the tense. In addition, there are some differences in usage between British and American English.

How do we make the Present Perfect Tense?

The structure of the present perfect tense is:

subject	+	auxiliary verb	+	main verb
		have		past participle

Here are some examples of the present perfect tense:

	subject	auxiliary verb		main verb
+	I	have		seen	ET.
+	You	have		eaten	mine.
-	She	has	not	been	to Rome.
-	We	have	not	played	football.
?	Have	you		finished?
?	Have	they		done	it?

Contractions with the present perfect tense

When we use the present perfect tense in speaking, we usually contract the subject and auxiliary verb. We also sometimes do this when we write.

He's or he's??? Be careful! The 's contraction is used for the auxiliary verbs have and be. For example, "It's eaten" can mean:

• It has eaten. [present perfect tense, active voice]
• It is eaten. [present tense, passive voice]

I have	I've
You have	You've
He has She has It has John has The car has	He's She's It's John's The car's
We have	We've
They have	They've

How do we use the Present Perfect Tense?

This tense is called the present perfect tense. There is always a connection with the past and with the present. There are basically three uses for the present perfect tense:

1. experience
2. change
3. continuing situation

1. Present perfect tense for experience

We often use the present perfect tense to talk about experience from the past. We are not interested in when you did something. We only want to know if you did it:

I have seen ET. He has lived in Bangkok. Have you been there? We have never eaten caviar.
past	present	future
!!!
The action or state was in the past.	In my head, I have a memory now.

Connection with past: the event was in the past.
Connection with present: in my head, now, I have a memory of the event; I know something about the event; I have experience of it.

2. Present perfect tense for change

We also use the present perfect tense to talk about a change or new information:

I have bought a car.
past	present	future
-	+
Last week I didn't have a car.	Now I have a car.

John has broken his leg.
past	present	future
+	-
Yesterday John had a good leg.	Now he has a bad leg.

Has the price gone up?
past	present	future
+	-
Was the price $1.50 yesterday?	Is the price $1.70 today?

The police have arrested the killer.
past	present	future
-	+
Yesterday the killer was free.	Now he is in prison.

Connection with past: the past is the opposite of the present.
Connection with present: the present is the opposite of the past.

3. Present perfect tense for continuing situation

We often use the present perfect tense to talk about a continuing situation. This is a state that started in the past and continues in the present (and will probably continue into the future). This is a state (not an action). We usually use for or since with this structure.

I have worked here since June. He has been ill for 2 days. How long have you known Tara?
past	present	future
The situation started in the past.	It continues up to now.	(It will probably continue into the future.)

Connection with past: the situation started in the past.
Connection with present: the situation continues in the present.

For & Since with Present Perfect Tense

We often use for and since with the present perfect tense.

• We use for to talk about a period of time - 5 minutes, 2 weeks, 6 years.
• We use since to talk about a point in past time - 9 o'clock, 1st January, Monday.

for	since
a period of time	a point in past time
	x------------
20 minutes	6.15pm
three days	Monday
6 months	January
4 years	1994
2 centuries	1800
a long time	I left school
ever	the beginning of time
etc	etc

Here are some examples:

• John hasn't called since February.
• He has worked in New York for a long time.

4. Present Perfect Continuous Tense

How do we make the Present Perfect Continuous Tense?

The structure of the present perfect continuous tense is:

subject	+	auxiliary verb	+	auxiliary verb	+	main verb
		have has		been		base + ing

Here are some examples of the present perfect continuous tense

subject	auxiliary verb		auxiliary verb	main verb
I	have		been	waiting	for one hour.
You	have		been	talking	too much.
It	has	not	been	raining.
We	have	not	been	playing	football.
Have	you		been	seeing	her?
Have	they		been	doing	their homework?

How do we use the Present Perfect Continuous Tense?

This tense is called the present perfect continuous tense. There is usually a connection with the present or now. There are basically two uses for the present perfect continuous tense:1. An action that has just stopped or recently stopped

We use the present perfect continuous tense to talk about an action that started in the past and stopped recently. There is usually a result now

I'm tired because I've been running.
past	present	future
!!!

2. An action continuing up to now

We use the present perfect continuous tense to talk about an action that started in the past and is continuing now. This is often used with for or since.

I have been reading for 2 hours.
past	present	future
Action started in past.	Action is continuing now.

For and Since with Present Perfect Continuous Tense

We often use for and since with the present perfect tense.

• We use for to talk about a period of time - 5 minutes, 2 weeks, 6 years.
• We use since to talk about a point in past time - 9 o'clock, 1st January, Monday.

for	since
a period of time	a point in past time
	x
20 minutes	6.15pm
three days	Monday
6 months	January
4 years	1994
2 centuries	1800
a long time	I left school
ever	the beginning of time
etc	etc

5. Simple Past Tense

The simple past tense is sometimes called the preterite tense. We can use several tenses to talk about the past, but the simple past tense is the one we use most often.

How do we make the Simple Past Tense?

To make the simple past tense, we use:

• past form only
  or
• auxiliary did + base form

Here you can see examples of the past form and base form for irregular verbs and regular verbs:

	V1 base	V2 past	V3 past participle
regular verb	work explode like	worked exploded liked	worked exploded liked	The past form for all regular verbs ends in -ed.
irregular verb	go see sing	went saw sang	gone seen sung	The past form for irregular verbs is variable. You need to learn it by heart.
			You do not need the past participle form to make the simple past tense. It is shown here for completeness only.

The structure for positive sentences in the simple past tense is:

subject	+	main verb
		past

The structure for negative sentences in the simple past tense is:

subject	+	auxiliary verb	+	not	+	main verb
		did				base

The structure for question sentences in the simple past tense is:

auxiliary verb	+	subject	+	main verb
did				base

The auxiliary verb did is not conjugated. It is the same for all persons (I did, you did, he did etc). And the base form and past form do not change. Look at these examples with the main verbs go and work:

	subject	auxiliary verb		main verb
+	I			went	to school.
	You			worked	very hard.
-	She	did	not	go	with me.
	We	did	not	work	yesterday.
?	Did	you		go	to London?
	Did	they		work	at home?

Exception! The verb to be is different. We conjugate the verb to be (I was, you were, he/she/it was, we were, they were); and we do not use an auxiliary for negative and question sentences. To make a question, we exchange the subject and verb. Examples:

	subject	main verb
+	I, he/she/it	was		here.
	You, we, they	were		in London.
-	I, he/she/it	was	not	there.
	You, we, they	were	not	happy.
?	Was	I, he/she/it		right?
	Were	you, we, they		late?

How do we use the Simple Past Tense?

We use the simple past tense to talk about an action or a situation - an event - in the past. The event can be short or long.

Here are some short events with the simple past tense:

The car exploded at 9.30am yesterday. She went to the door. We did not hear the telephone. Did you see that car?
past	present	future
The action is in the past.

Here are some long events with the simple past tense:

I lived in Bangkok for 10 years. The Jurassic period lasted about 62 million years. We did not sing at the concert. Did you watch TV last night?
past	present	future
The action is in the past.

Notice that it does not matter how long ago the event is: it can be a few minutes or seconds in the past, or millions of years in the past. Also it does not matter how long the event is. It can be a few milliseconds (car explosion) or millions of years (Jurassic period). We use the simple past tense when:

• the event is in the past
• the event is completely finished
• we say (or understand) the time and/or place of the event

Note that when we tell a story, we usually use the simple past tense. We may use the past continuous tense to "set the scene", but we almost always use the simple past tense for the action. Look at this example of the beginning of a story:

"The wind was howling around the hotel and the rain was pouring down. It was cold. The door opened and James Bond entered. He took off his coat, which was very wet, and ordered a drink at the bar. He sat down in the corner of the lounge and quietly drank his..."

6. Past Continuous Tense

The past continuous tense is an important tense in English. We use it to say what we were in the middle of doing at a particular moment in the past.

How do we make the Past Continuous Tense?

The structure of the past continuous tense is:

subject	+	auxiliary verb BE	+	main verb
		conjugated in simple past tense		present participle
		was were		base + ing

For negative sentences in the past continuous tense, we insert not between the auxiliary verb and main verb. For question sentences, we exchange the subject and auxiliary verb. Look at these example sentences with the past continuous tense:

	subject	auxiliary verb		main verb
+	I	was		watching	TV.
+	You	were		working	hard.
-	He, she, it	was	not	helping	Mary.
-	We	were	not	joking.
?	Were	you		being	silly?
?	Were	they		playing	football?

How do we use the Past Continuous Tense?

The past continuous tense expresses action at a particular moment in the past. The action started before that moment but has not finished at that moment. For example, yesterday I watched a film on TV. The film started at 7pm and finished at 9pm.

At 8pm yesterday, I was watching TV.
past	present	future
8pm
At 8pm, I was in the middle of watching TV.

When we use the past continuous tense, our listener usually knows or understands what time we are talking about. Look at these examples:

• I was working at 10pm last night. .
• What were you doing at 10pm last night?

We often use the past continuous tense to "set the scene" in stories. We use it to describe the background situation at the moment when the action begins. Often, the story starts with the past continuous tense and then moves into the simple past tense. Here is an example:

" James Bond was driving through town. It was raining. The wind was blowing hard. Nobody was walking in the streets. Suddenly, Bond saw the killer in a telephone box..."

7. Past Perfect Tense

The past perfect tense is quite an easy tense to understand and to use. This tense talks about the "past in the past".

How do we make the Past Perfect Tense?

The structure of the past perfect tense is:

subject	+	auxiliary verb HAVE	+	main verb
		conjugated in simple past tense		past participle
		had		V3

For negative sentences in the past perfect tense, we insert not between the auxiliary verb and main verb. For question sentences, we exchange the subject and auxiliary verb.

Look at these example sentences with the past perfect tense:

	subject	auxiliary verb		main verb
+	I	had		finished	my work.
+	You	had		stopped	before me.
-	She	had	not	gone	to school.
-	We	had	not	left.
?	Had	you		arrived?

How do we use the Past Perfect Tense?

The past perfect tense expresses action in the past before another action in the past. This is the past in the past. For example:

• The train left at 9am. We arrived at 9.15am. When we arrived, the train had left.

The train had left when we arrived.
past	present	future
Train leaves in past at 9am.
9 9.15
We arrive in past at 9.15am.

You can sometimes think of the past perfect tense like the present perfect tense, but instead of the time being now the time is past.

past perfect tense				present perfect tense
had | done | > |					have | done | > |
past	now	future		past	now	future

For example, imagine that you arrive at the station at 9.15am. The stationmaster says to you:

• "You are too late. The train has left."

Later, you tell your friends:

• "We were too late. The train had left."

We often use the past perfect tense in reported speech after verbs like said, told, asked, thought, wondered:

Look at these examples:

• He explained that he had closed the window because of the rain.
• I wondered if I had been there before.
• I asked them why they had not finished.

8. Past Perfect Continuous Tense

How do we make the Past Perfect Continuous Tense?

The structure of the past perfect continuous tense is:

subject	+	auxiliary verb HAVE	+	auxiliary verb BE	+	main verb
		conjugated in simple past tense		past participle		present participle
		had		been		base + ing

For negative sentences in the past perfect continuous tense, we insert not after the first auxiliary verb. For question sentences, we exchange the subject and first auxiliary verb. Look at these example sentences with the past perfect continuous tense:

	subject	auxiliary verb		auxiliary verb	main verb
+	I	had		been	working.
+	You	had		been	playing	tennis.
-	It	had	not	been	working	well.
-	We	had	not	been	expecting	her.
?	Had	you		been	drinking?
?	Had	they		been	waiting	long?

How do we use the Past Perfect Continuous Tense?

The past perfect continuous tense is like the past perfect tense, but it expresses longer actions in the past before another action in the past. For example:

• Ram started waiting at 9am. I arrived at 11am. When I arrived, Ram had been waiting for two hours.

Ram had been waiting for two hours when I arrived.
past	present	future
Ram starts waiting in past at 9am.
9 11
I arrive in past at 11am.

You can sometimes think of the past perfect continuous tense like the present perfect continuous tense, but instead of the time being now the time is past.

past perfect continuous tense				present perfect continuous tense
had | been | doing | >>>> |	| | | |			| | | |	have | been | doing | >>>> |
past	now	future		past	now	future

For example, imagine that you meet Ram at 11am. Ram says to you:

• "I am angry. I have been waiting for two hours."

Later, you tell your friends:

• "Ram was angry. He had been waiting for two hours."

9. Simple Future Tense

The simple future tense is often called will, because we make the simple future tense with the modal auxiliary will.

How do we make the Simple Future Tense?

The structure of the simple future tense is:

subject	+	auxiliary verb WILL	+	main verb
		invariable		base
		will		V1

For negative sentences in the simple future tense, we insert not between the auxiliary verb and main verb. For question sentences, we exchange the subject and auxiliary verb. Look at these example sentences with the simple future tense:

	subject	auxiliary verb		main verb
+	I	will		open	the door.
+	You	will		finish	before me.
-	She	will	not	be	at school tomorrow.
-	We	will	not	leave	yet.
?	Will	you		arrive	on time?
?	Will	they		want	dinner?

How do we use the Simple Future Tense?

No Plan

We use the simple future tense when there is no plan or decision to do something before we speak. We make the decision spontaneously at the time of speaking. Look at these examples:

• Hold on. I'll get a pen.
• We will see what we can do to help you.
• Maybe we'll stay in and watch television tonight.

In these examples, we had no firm plan before speaking. The decision is made at the time of speaking.

We often use the simple future tense with the verb to think before it:

• I think I'll go to the gym tomorrow.
• I think I will have a holiday next year.
• I don't think I'll buy that car.

Prediction

We often use the simple future tense to make a prediction about the future. Again, there is no firm plan. We are saying what we think will happen. Here are some examples:

• It will rain tomorrow.
• People won't go to Jupiter before the 22nd century.
• Who do you think will get the job?

Be

When the main verb is be, we can use the simple future tense even if we have a firm plan or decision before speaking. Examples:

• I'll be in London tomorrow.
• I'm going shopping. I won't be very long.

Note that when we have a plan or intention to do something in the future, we usually use other tenses or expressions, such as the present continuous tense or going to Will you be at work tomorrow?

10. Future Continuous Tense

How do we make the Future Continuous Tense?

The structure of the future continuous tense is:

subject	+	auxiliary verb WILL	+	auxiliary verb BE	+	main verb
		invariable		invariable		present participle
		will		be		base + ing

For negative sentences in the future continuous tense, we insert not between will and be. For question sentences, we exchange the subject and will. Look at these example sentences with the future continuous tense:

	subject	auxiliary verb		auxiliary verb	main verb
+	I	will		be	working	at 10am.
+	You	will		be	lying	on a beach tomorrow.
-	She	will	not	be	using	the car.
-	We	will	not	be	having	dinner at home.
?	Will	you		be	playing	football?
?	Will	they		be	watching	TV?

How do we use the Future Continuous Tense?

The future continuous tense expresses action at a particular moment in the future. The action will start before that moment but it will not have finished at that moment. For example, tomorrow I will start work at 2pm and stop work at 6pm:

At 4pm tomorrow, I will be working.
past	present	future
4pm
		At 4pm, I will be in the middle of working.

When we use the future continuous tense, our listener usually knows or understands what time we are talking about. Look at these examples:

• I will be playing tennis at 10am tomorrow.
• They won't be watching TV at 9pm tonight.
• What will you be doing at 10pm tonight?

11. Future Perfect Tense

The future perfect tense is quite an easy tense to understand and use. The future perfect tense talks about the past in the future.

How do we make the Future Perfect Tense?

The structure of the future perfect tense is:

subject	+	auxiliary verb WILL	+	auxiliary verb HAVE	+	main verb
		invariable		invariable		past participle
		will		have		V3

Look at these example sentences in the future perfect tense:

	subject	auxiliary verb		auxiliary verb	main verb
+	I	will		have	finished	by 10am.
+	You	will		have	forgotten	me by then.
-	She	will	not	have	gone	to school.
-	We	will	not	have	left.
?	Will	you		have	arrived?
?	Will	they		have	received	it?

How do we use the Future Perfect Tense?

The future perfect tense expresses action in the future before another action in the future. This is the past in the future. For example:

• The train will leave the station at 9am. You will arrive at the station at 9.15am. When you arrive, the train will have left.

The train will have left when you arrive.
past	present	future
		Train leaves in future at 9am.
9 9.15
		You arrive in future at 9.15am.

Look at some more examples:

• You can call me at work at 8am. I will have arrived at the office by 8.
• They will be tired when they arrive. They will not have slept for a long time.
• "Mary won't be at home when you arrive."
  "Really? Where will she have gone?"

You can sometimes think of the future perfect tense like the present perfect tense, but instead of your viewpoint being in the present, it is in the future:

present perfect tense				future perfect tense
	| have | done | > |					will | have | done | > |
past	now	future		past	now	future

12.Future Perfect Continuous Tense

How do we make the Future Perfect Continuous Tense?

The structure of the future perfect continuous tense is:

subject	+	auxiliary verb WILL	+	auxiliary verb HAVE	+	auxiliary verb BE	+	main verb
		invariable		invariable		past participle		present participle
		will		have		been		base + ing

For negative sentences in the future perfect continuous tense, we insert not between will and have. For question sentences, we exchange the subject and will. Look at these example sentences with the future perfect continuous tense:

	subject	auxiliary verb		auxiliary verb	auxiliary verb	main verb
+	I	will		have	been	working	for four hours.
+	You	will		have	been	travelling	for two days.
-	She	will	not	have	been	using	the car.
-	We	will	not	have	been	waiting	long.
?	Will	you		have	been	playing	football?
?	Will	they		have	been	watching	TV?

How do we use the Future Perfect Continuous Tense?

We use the future perfect continuous tense to talk about a long action before some point in the future. Look at these examples:

• I will have been working here for ten years next week.
• He will be tired when he arrives. He will have been travelling for 24 hours

13.Past Future Tense

How do we use the Past Future Tense?

The past future tense is commonly used for conditional sentence or reported speech.

How do we make the Past Future Tense?

The structure for positive sentences in Past Future Tense is:

subject	+	auxiliary verb	+	main verb
		Should/ would		base

Example:

• If I were you, I should marry him (conditional sentence)
• She said that she would go abroad this month (reported speech)

The structure for negative sentences in the Past Future Tense is:

subject	+	auxiliary verb	+	not	+	main verb
		Should/ would				base

Example:

• He said that he would not attend the party that night
• If I were you, I should not marry her

The structure for question sentences in the simple past tense is:

auxiliary verb	+	subject	+	main verb
Should/ would				base

Example: Would you marry that women if you were poor?

Note:

Although the sentence like Would you help me or Would you come in, please! has same pattern with the structure for question sentences in the simple past tense, but it is not past future. This sentence which use Would is function as imperative sentence.

14.Past Future Continous Tense

How do we use the Past Future Continous Tense?

The Past Future Continous Tense is rarely used and it is only used for reported speech.

How do we make the Past Future Continous Tense?

The structure for positive sentences in Past Future Continous Tense is:

subject	+	auxiliary verb Would/ should	+	Auxiliary verb BE	+	main verb
						Present Participle
						base + ing

Example: They told us that they would be having dinner when visited them that night.

The structure for negative sentences in the Past Future Continous Tense is:

subject	+	auxiliary verb Would/ should	+	not	+	Auxiliary verb BE	+	main verb
								Present Participle
								base + ing

Example: She told me that she would not be making the cake when her husband bought

the cake in bakery shop.

The structure for question sentences in the Past Future continous tense is:

auxiliary verb Would/ should	+	Subject	+	Auxiliary verb BE	+	main verb
						Present Participle
						base + ing

Example: Would you be going when your father arrived at home?

15.Past Future Perfect Tense

How do we use the Past Future Perfect Tense?

The past future tense is commonly used for conditional sentence as main sentence that explain the unreal past

How do we make the Past Future Perfect Tense?

The structure for positive sentences in Past Future Perfect Tense is:

subject	+	auxiliary verb	+	auxiliary verb HAVE	+	main verb
		Should/ would		have		V3

Example:

• You would have met a lot of friends if you had attended the party last night.
• If it had not rained, we should have gone to the beach yesterday

The structure for negative sentences in the Past Future Perfect Tense is:

subject	+	auxiliary verb Would/ should	+	not	+	Auxiliary verb HAVE	+	main verb
								V3

Example:

You would not have met him if you had entered this room

The structure for question sentences in the Past Future Perfect tense is:

auxiliary verb Would/ should	+	Subject	+	Auxiliary verb HAVE	+	main verb
						V3

Example:

Would you have arrived on time if you had driven the car?

16.Past Future Perfect Continous Tense

How do we use the Past Future Perfect Continous Tense?

The Past Future Continous Tense is rarely used for conditional sentence or reported speech.

How do we make the Past Future Perfect Tense?

The structure for positive sentences in Past Future Perfect Continous Tense is:

subject	+	auxiliary verb Would/ should	+	Auxiliary verb HAVE	+	been	+	main verb
								Present Participle
								base + ing

Example:

She expected that her baby would have been sleeping for hours when she arrived home.

The structure for negative sentences in the Past Future Perfect Continous Tense:

subject	+	auxiliary verb Would/ should	+	not	+	Auxiliary verb HAVE	+	been	+	main verb
										Present Participle
										base + ing

Example:

She expected that her husband would not have been playing tape recorder when she read a novel.

The structure for question sentences in the Past Perfect Future continous tense is:

auxiliary verb Would/ should	+	Subject	+	Auxiliary verb HAVE	+	been	+	main verb
								Present Participle
								base + ing

Example:

Would you have been taking a bath when she came?