GRID OF TENSES

TENSE OBJECTIVE AUXILIARY VERB FORM EXAMPLE TIME EXPRESSIONS NOTES

Present When we talk We are working. Now, Right now, “Always”
Continuous about an action at Am He is playing. Today, At the expresses
the moment of Is V+ing moment. annoyance.
speaking; a are
temporary
situation.
Past Continuous When we talk Iwas watching TV Yesterday, Last It’s frequently
about actions in at 5:00 pm. ____, This morning, used for
progress in the Was V+ing this afternoon, narrating events
past. When ac Were I was talking when _____ ago. using WHEN,
action in progress she came in. WHILE.
was interrupted
by another action.
Simple Present When we talk AFF We work daily. Always, daily, every, In NEG / INT
about daily NET / INT Verb simple form from __to__, structure the
activities, habits, Do (3rd person “s” or She plays sometimes, never, verb is in simple
customs or facts. Does “es”) everyday. seldom, often, form.
usually, generally.
Simple Past When we talk We worked SAME AS PAST In NEG / INT
about completed NEG / INT AFF yesterday. CONTINUOUS structure the
actions in the Did Verb in past I bought a car last verb is in simple
past. year. form.
Idiomatic Future When we have We are going to Tomorrow, next The verb after
something Am Going to work tomorrow. ___, the following “to” is written is
planned. Is ___, the day after simple form.
Are tomorrow, in __,
tonight.
Simple Future When we are We will work a lot SAME AS IDIOMATIC When we are
predicting Will Verb simple form next week. FUTURE not sure if the
something. He will study at action will
the university happen.
next year.
Present When something We are having a SAME AS IDIOMATIC The time
Continuous as is already Am V+ing party tonight. FUTURE expression is
future. arranged. Is He is getting NECESSARY.
are married next
Friday.
Present Perfect When we talk He has seen that Recently, so far, for,
Simple about actions in Have Past Participle movies before. before, since, up to
an indefinite time Has We have worked now, yet, already,
in the past and a lot recently. just.
may continue.
Present Perfect An action that We have been Recently, a lot, Also to express
Continuous started in the past studying a lot. several, times. irritation, anger,
and continuous He has been annoyance,
up to the present . Have been V+ing calling you several explanation or
Continuous past Has been times. criticism.
actions which
have visible
results in present.
Past Perfect When we want to The plane had left By the time, when The first action
express the by the time I got is conjugated in
sequence of 2 Had Past participle to the airport. Past Perfect &
actions in the He had gone 2nd action in
past. when she arrived. Past simple.