TENSES
REVIEW
SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE
Simple Present Tense is used:
When you are referring to habitual actions--actions
that you always or never do
When you are referring to unchanging truths
When you are making general statements of fact
EXAMPLES:
(habit) He always comes late to class.
(unchanging truth) The sun rises in the east.
(general statement of fact) They are friendly.
Indicators (Adverbs of Time)
Always Whenever Everyday
Usually Often Frequently
Sometimes Rarely Occasionally
never
simple present tense
Form
I study I wait
You study You wait
S/he/it studies s/he/it waits
We study we wait
They study they wait
simple present tense
Diagram--time on a line
simple present tense
SIMPLE PAST TENSE
The Simple Past Tense is Used:
• When an activity or situation began and ended at a
particular time in the past--in other words, when an
activity or situation is completed in the past
• To refer to past habits
EXAMPLES
• (Completed action in the past) He was late to class
yesterday.
• (Completed action in the past) We arrived three
weeks ago.
• (Past habit) She always wrote a letter to her mother
on Sunday night.
Indicators (Adverbs of Time)
Last night, week, year, month, Saturday,
semester, etc.
Yesterday
ago
Simple Past Tense
Form
I studied I waited
You studied You waited
S/he/it studied S/he/it waited
We studied We waited
They studied They waited
Simple Past Tense
Diagram--time on a line
Simple Past Tense
THE PRESENT PERFECT
THE PRESENT PERFECT IS USED:
• When an activity happened at an unspecified time in the
past (before the present)
• When an activity has been repeated several times before
now
• When an activity was very recently completed before now
• When an activity is not completed in the past
EXAMPLES
• (unspecified time before now) They have already seen
that movie.
• (repeated activity before now) We have visited New York
City many times.
• (an action has recently been completed before now) I
have just eaten.
• (action not completed in the past) I have studied Spanish
for many years.
Indicators
Before Ever Never
So far Already Yet
Just Recently For
since
Present Perfect Tense
Form 1
have or has + past participle
I have studied . . . I have seen . . .
You have studied . . . You have seen . . .
S/he/it has studied . . S/he/it has seen . . .
We have studied . . . We have seen . . .
They have studied . . . They have seen . . .
Present Perfect Tense
Form 2
I've walked . . . I've grown . . .
You've walked . . . You've grown . . .
S/he/it's walked . . . S/he/it's grown . . .
We've walked . . . We've grown . . .
They've walked . . . They've grown . . .
Present Perfect Tense
Diagram 1--time on a line
Present Perfect Tense
Diagram 2--time on a line
Present Perfect Tense
THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS
TENSE
The Present Continuous Tense is Used:
• When an activity is in progress now at the
moment of speaking
• When an activity began before now and
continues into the future without stopping.
• When an activity is temporary.
• When an activity is developing and changing.
Examples
• I’m explaining something to the class right now.
• He’s taking 16 credits this semester.
• She is understanding English more and more
because she moved into the dorm.
Indicators
Right now, at this Still
moment
This year, week, As we speak
month, etc.
Present Progressive Tense
Form
I am studying I'm studying
You are studying You're studying
S/he/it is studying S/he/it's studying
We are studying We're studying
They are studying They're studying
Present Progressive Tense
Diagram--time on a line
Present Progressive Tense
FUTURE TENSE
The Future Tense is Used:
• To indicate that an activity or event will take
place at a time in the future
Examples
• When I’m retired, I’m going to travel.
• Next week, we will work on punctuation.
• He is going to get his car fixed tomorrow.
• Our plane departs at noon next Friday.
Indicators
Tomorrow
Next Saturday, week, month, year, etc.
Future
Form 1
I will stay I'll stay
You will stay You'll stay
S/he/it will stay S/he/it'll stay
We will stay We'll stay
They will stay They'll stay
Future
Form 2
I am going to stay I'm going to stay
You are going to stay You're going to stay
S/he/it is going to stay S/he/it's going to stay
We are going to stay We're going to stay
They are going to They're going to stay
stay
Future
Diagram--Time on a Line
Future
OTHER ENGLISH VERB
TENSES
Past Perfect
• This tense is not used a lot. It can often be
used interchangeably with the simple past
because these tenses do not differ much in
meaning. The past perfect tense refers to
activities that happened before a specific time
in the past.
• Example, He had visited her many times
before she died.
• Form: had + past participle
Past Continuous
• This tense is used to refer to activities
continuously in progress around a time in the
past.
• Example: They were eating when the taxi
arrived.
• Form: was or were + verb-ing
Past Perfect Continuous
• This tense is used when an activity was
continuously in progress before a specific time
in the past.
• Example: I had been thinking about her before
she called.
• Form: had + been + verb-ing
Present Perfect Continuous
• This tense is used to describe actions that
have been continuously in progress before
now. These actions are not completed.
• Example: I have been waiting here for the last
two hours.
• Form: have or has + been + verb-ing
Future Perfect
• The future perfect expresses the idea that an
activity will occur before some future time.
• Example: She will have finished dinner before
the game starts.
• Form: will + have + past participle
Future Continuous Tense
• This tense is used to refer to activities that will
be continuously in progress around some
future time.
• Example: We will be flying over New York at
noon tomorrow.
• Form: will + be + verb-ing
Future Perfect Continuous
• This tense is used to refer to activities that will
be continuously in progress before a future
time.
• Example: He will have been working for 3
hours before you arrive.
• Form: will + have + been + verb-ing
Overview of the English Verb Tense/Aspect System
Simple Perfect Progress- Perfect
(HAVE + ive Progress-
verb+en) (BE +
verb+ing) ive (HAVE
+ BEEN +
verb+ing)
Present * * *
Past *
Future *
