English Tenses Part 1 – Present Tenses

1. Present Simple
a. The sentence is in this form if an action is done regularly. Something done in the past,
still doing in the present and will still do in the future.
i. Do/does
1. Example: The clues are “always” and “every day.”
a. He is a driver.
i. He drives every day.
1. “drives” because “he” is singular and uses the
word “every day,” which means regularly. So,
the form is present simple.
ii. They drive every day.
1. “they” is a plural, so use “drive” instead.
2. Present Continuous
a. The sentence is in this form if an action is being done right now or as of this very
moment.
i. Am doing/is doing or are doing
1. Example: The clue is “right now.”
a. He is a driver.
i. He is driving right now.
1. The action is being done as of the moment, so
the sentence is in present continuous form.
3. Present Perfect Continuous
a. The sentence is in this form if the action happened or started in the past and is still
continuing in the present.
i. Have been doing/has been doing
1. Example: The clues are “since” and “for.”
a. He is a driver.
i. He has been driving for Mr. Cruz since 1997.
1. The action started from “1997” and still
continuing in the present, so it is in present
perfect continuous form.
4. Present Perfect
a. The sentence is in this form if the action started and ended in the past.
i. Have or has done/have been doing or has been doing
1. Example: The clues are “so far,” “already,” “not yet,” “recently,” “just,”
“ever,” “never,” and “for the past.”
a. He is a driver.
i. He has been a driver for the past 20 years.
1. The sentence did not indicate if he is still driving
or will still drive in the future. The “for the past
20 years” meant that the action started and
ended in the past and you counted until the
present, hence the “20 years.”
Quick Quiz: Determine first when the action happened.

1. I’m sorry. You can’t talk to him. He ____ a class.

a. Teaches
b. Is teaching
c. Has been teaching
d. Has taught
i. “Teaches” is wrong because it is referring to a regular action and does not relate
to the question as to why you can’t talk to him right now.
ii. The answer is “is teaching” because the action is happening as of the moment.
2. She ____ books for a living.
a. Writes
b. Is writing
c. Has been writing
d. Has written
i. The sentence is referring to her “work” so the action is being done regularly and
is in the present simple form.
ii. The answer is “writes.”
3. I ____ in this house since 1990. I don’t plan on leaving any time soon.
a. Live
b. Am living
c. Have been living
d. Have lived
i. The sentence suggests an action happened in the past and still happening at the
present.
ii. The clue is the word “since,” so the sentence is in present perfect continuous
(counted since 1990 up to the present) form.
iii. The answer is “have been living.”
4. Today’s train ride is now noteworthy. He ____ the train more than a hundred times this year.
a. Rides
b. Is riding
c. Has been riding
d. Has ridden
i. The clue is the word “this year” so the action happened and ended in the past.
ii. He rode the train in the past continuously and did it a hundred times more “this
year.”
iii. The answer is “has ridden.”

Note: Determine when the action happened:

1. Is it regularly done? (Present Simple)

2. Is it happening right now? (Present Continuous)
3. Did it happened in the past up until now? (Present Perfect Continuous)
4. Or did it happened and ended in the past? (Present Perfect)

Note: Present perfect tense is a little bit like past tense.

English Tenses Part 2 - Past Tenses

1. Past simple
a. If the action has already happened and emphasizes that the action is finished.
i. -d/-ed
1. Example: The clues are “time periods like”: “last week,” “a year ago,”
and “when I was young.”
a. He ____ me to the airport many years ago.
i. “Many years ago” means that the action happened one
time in the past and ended there.
ii. So, the answer is “drove.”
iii. Note that there are irregular verbs that does not end in
-d/-ed like “rode,” the past tense of “ride.”
2. Past Continuous
a. Refers to a continuing action or state that was happening over a period of time.
i. Was doing/were doing
1. Often used to describe conditions that existed in the past.
a. Example:
i. The sun was shining every day that summer.
ii. As I spoke, the children were laughing at my cleverness.
2. It can also be used to describe something that was happening
continuously in the past when another action interrupted it.
a. Example:
i. The audience was applauding until he fell of the stage.
ii. I was making dinner when she arrived.
3. It can shed light on what was happening at a precise time in the past.
a. Example:
i. At 6 o’clock, I was eating dinner.
4. It can also refer to a habitual action in the past.
a. Example:
i. She was talking constantly in class in those days.
3. Past Perfect Continuous
a. If an action started, continued, and also ended at a defined point in the past.
i. Had been doing
1. Example: The clues are “time period” + “when.”
a. He ____ the car for three hours when the phone rang.
i. The answer is “had been driving.”
ii. The clues are the time period (three hours) + “when.”
iii. In this case, he drove in the past (time period) and was
still driving “when” the phone rang.
iv. Its different from past continuous.
1. If the time period is only for a moment or a
second, like “half past two o’clock,” (2:30
AM/PM, so it’s only a minute) it is in past
continuous state; but if the time period is
 longer like “three hours,” it becomes past
perfect continuous. It also talks about the
duration of a past activity; hence, the time
period “three hours.”
v. Note: The action is not done yet or still happening when
another action happened in the past.

4. Past Perfect
a. If an action happened and ended before something new happened.
i. Had done
1. Example: The clue is “before.”
a. He ____ Mr. Santos home before we left for the airport.
i. The answer is “had driven.”
ii. The sentence is in past perfect because the action
already ended (had driven Mr. Santos home) before
another action happened (they left).
iii. Note: The action needs to be stopped before another
action starts in the past.
Quick Quiz:

1. I ____ for the train yesterday.

a. Was waiting
b. Waited
c. Had been waiting
d. Had waited
i. The clue is the time period (yesterday) which meant that the action is done only
once in the past.
ii. There is no duration that were talked about or if he/she continued waiting.
iii. The answer is “waited.”
2. Johnny ____ outside for a few hours before he took a nap.
a. Played
b. Had been playing
c. Was playing
d. Had played
i. The clue is the word “before” which meant that Johnny did an action and ended
in the past (playing) before another action (took a nap) happened.
ii. The answer is “had played.”
3. He ____ the train when the rain started.
a. Rode
b. Was riding
c. Had been riding
d. Had ridden
i. The clue is he is already inside the “train” which meant that the action was
happening continuously when another action happened (started raining).
ii. The answer is “was riding.”
English Tenses Part 3 – Future Tenses

1. Be going to
a. When an action is sure to happen, 100%.
i. Am/is or are going to
1. Example:
a. I am going to drive you to the airport. (No one else will)
i. Means that I have no hesitations/doubts that I will drive
you to the airport.
ii. If the sentence is sure to happen or already planned for
a while, it is in “be going to” form.
2. Future simple
a. If the action is a new decision/at the spur of the moment or a possibility, not 100% sure.
i. Will
1. Example:
a. I will drive you to the airport.
b. If it rains, I will probably drive you to the airport.
i. There is a condition (if it rains) which means that the
action (drive) is not guaranteed to happen.
c. Since dad isn’t here yet, I will drive you to the airport.
i. There is also a condition (since dad isn’t here yet) which
means that if his/her father was there, he would have
drove you to the airport instead of me.
3. Future continuous
a. If an action is done at a particular moment in the future.
b. The action will have started before that moment but it will not have finished at that
moment.
c. Usually has a time period within the sentence.
i. Will be doing
1. Example:
a. I will be driving you to the airport at 2:30 PM tomorrow.
i. The sentence suggests that the action will and still
continue to happen at a specific period of time which is
“2:30 PM tomorrow.”
4. Future perfect
a. If an action will happen and end/completed before another action/event happens.
b. The action must have a deadline.
i. Will have done
1. Example: The clues are “will have” + “past participle.”
a. I will have driven you to the airport by the time your dad lands.
i. The sentence suggests that you are already at the
airport (action ended) before another action happens
(the time your dad lands).
5. Future perfect continuous
a. If an action will happen in the future and will still continue to happen up until a point in
the future.
b. The activity will have begun sometime in the past, present, or in the future, and is
expected to continue in the future.
i. Will have been doing
1. Example: The clue is it usually has a duration.
a. I will have been driving you for three hours when we reach the
halfway point.
i. The sentence suggests that you and I will still continue
driving even if the event (halfway point) is achieved.
ii. “Three hours” is a duration.
iii. Note: It shows the duration or length of time that an
action is happening.
Quick Quiz:

1. I made a reservation two weeks ago. I ____ at that steak house on Saturday.
a. Will eat
b. Will be eating
c. Am going to eat
d. Will have eaten
i. The “I made a reservation two weeks ago” means that the action is already
decided and is guaranteed to happen in the future, so it is in “be going to” form.
ii. The answer is “am going to eat.”
iii. If you’re not sure to eat at that steak house, then use “will eat.”
2. Stop that or I ____ you.
a. Will spank
b. Am going
c. Will have spanked
d. Will be spanking
i. The sentence suggests a possibility because there is a condition (stop that or)
before another event (spank) happen.
ii. The answer is “will spank.”
3. If you don’t set your alarm, she ____ the entire house by the time you wake up.
a. Is cleaning
b. Will be cleaning
c. Will have cleaned
d. Will have been cleaning
i. The intention of the sentence suggests that an action will be done (cleaned the
house) by the time another action happens (you wake up), so it is in future
perfect tense.
ii. The answer is “will have cleaned.”
4. By next Monday, we ____ together on this movie for ten months straight.
a. Will be working
b. Will have been working
c. Are working
d. Are going to work
i. The clue here is the time period (by next Monday) which means that an action
already started in the past and is still continuing to happen in the present and
will still happen in the future, so it is in future perfect continuous tense.
ii. Also, there’s a duration (ten months straight) of the action (working together).
iii. The answer is “will have been working.”
Using Is, Are, Was, or Were

1. What’s the difference?

a. IS or ARE
i. Present tense
ii. Sometimes possible to use if asking something that is not happening at the
moment.
1. Example:
a. Are you going to the beach?
b. Are they planning to attend the wedding?
c. Is it going to be hot in there?
iii. The action/event that is talking about is not done yet.
1. Example:
a. Resh is my fiancée.
i. This indicates that I am still engaged to “Resh” as of the
moment.
b. WAS or WERE
i. Past tense
ii. Use when the event/action ended in the past.
1. Example:
a. Resh was my fiancée.
i. This indicates that the sentence happened and ended in
the past and that we are no longer engaged now.
c. What is the difference between IS and ARE?
i. IS
1. Singular subject
a. Example:
i. Helen is my best friend.
1. Because the subject (Helen) is singular and is
still best friend right now.
ii. ARE
1. Plural subject and You*
a. Example:
i. My teammates are my best friends.
1. Because the subject (teammates) is plural and is
still best friends right now.
ii. You are my best friend.
1. Because the subject is “you.” (always plural)
d. What is the difference between WAS and WERE?
i. WAS
1. Singular subject
2. Happened in the past
a. Example:
i. Helen was my best friend.
 1. Because the subject (Helen) is singular and it
happened in the past, not right now. (they’re
not best friends anymore)
ii. WERE
1. Plural subject and You*
2. Happened in the past
a. Example:
i. My teammates were my best friends.
1. Because the subject (teammates) is plural and it
happened in the past, not right now. (they’re
not best friends anymore)
ii. You were my best friend!
1. Because the subject is “you.” (always plural)
e. Flow of the decision-making
i. Has the action ended?
1. Yes
a. Is the subject singular or plural?
i. Singular
1. WAS
ii. Plural or You*
1. WERE
2. No
a. Is the subject singular or plural?
i. Singular
1. IS
ii. Plural or You*
1. ARE
Quick Quiz

1. The basketball players ____ there that night.

a. Is
b. Are
c. Was
d. Were
i. The answer is “were” because there is a context clue (that night) which
indicates that it happened in the past.
ii. Also, the subject (players) is plural.

2. Haley ____ the smartest dog I know.

a. Is
b. Are
c. Was
d. Were
i. The answer is “is” because there is a context clue (know) which indicates that
the action/event is in present tense.
ii. Also, the subject (Haley) is singular.
3. I don’t think you ____ going to win.
a. Is
b. Are
c. Was
d. Were
i. The answer is “are” because there is a context clue (don’t) which indicates that
the action/event is in present tense.
ii. Also, the subject is “you.”
4. The Runaways ____ first released in 2017.
a. The answer is “was” because there is a context clue (released) which indicates that it
happened in the past.
b. Also, the subject (The Runaways) is a proper noun and is considered as singular.
5. The actors ____ primarily young and from different backgrounds.
a. The answer is “were” because we are still talking about the actors of the show (the
Runaways) that was released in 2017. (still talking about the past)
b. Also, the subject (actors) is plural.
6. Lyrica Okano, one of the main characters, ____ of Japanese descent.
a. The answer is “is” because there is a context clue (Japanese descent) which indicates
that she is still Japanese right now. (you can’t change descents)
b. Also, the subject (Lyrica Okano) is singular.
7. This show and other smaller Marvel properties ____ available on demand on Hulu.
a. The answer is “are” because there is a context clue (available) which indicates that it is
in present tense.
b. Also, there are two subjects (The Runaways) and (other smaller Marvel properties). So,
it is plural.
8. Give it a try. You ____ not going to regret it.
a. The answer is “are” because there is a context clue (give it a try) which indicates that
the action has not happened yet.
b. Also, the subject (you) is considered as plural.
How to use Do, Does, or Did in Questions

1. What is the difference?

a. Do & Does
i. Present tense (action is not done yet).
ii. Try to add “right now” at the end of the sentence and if it still makes sense,
then it is in present tense.
1. Example:
a. Do you have my pen?
b. Does she have my pen?
b. Did
i. Past tense (started and ended in the past).
1. Example:
a. Did you get a high score in last week’s test?
i. There is a period of time “last week” which means that
the action is already done.
c. Do vs Does
i. Do
1. if the subject is I, You, We, They, or any Plural noun.
a. Example:
i. Do you have my pen?
1. The subject is “you.” So, use “do.”
ii. Does
1. If the subject is He, She, It, or any Singular noun.
a. Example:
i. Does she have my pen?
1. The subject is “she.” So, use “does.”
d. Flow of decision-making
i. Has the action ended?
1. Yes
a. DID
2. No
a. What is the subject?
i. He, She, It, or any Singular noun
1. DOES
ii. I, You, We, They, or any Plural noun
1. DO
Quick Quiz

1. ____ she really climbed that mountain last year?

a. Do
b. Does
c. Did
i. The answer is “did” because there is a context clue (last year) which indicates
that the action is done in the past.
ii. Also, the subject (she) is a singular noun.
2. ____ your mom knows that you’re here?
a. Do
b. Does
c. Did
i. The answer is “does” because the subject (your mom) is singular.
3. ____ we need to go there now?
a. Do
b. Does
c. Did
i. The answer is “do” because the subject (we) is plural and the action is not done
yet.
4. ____ you really have to leave right now?
a. The answer is “do” because there is a context clue (right now) which indicates that the
action is in present tense.
b. Also, the subject, “you,” is always treated as a plural.
5. ____ you give your mom the teacher’s note saying that you need to be here?
a. The answer is “did”. The sentence indicates that the action is in past tense because
“your mom” is at home/work and not in the school as of the moment.
6. ____ Ms. Cruz, your teacher, know that you’re leaving?
a. The answer is “does” because there is a context clue (leaving) which indicates that the
action is in present tense.
b. Also, the subject (Mr. Cruz) is singular.
7. ____ your parents plan to pick you up?
a. The answer is “do” because there is a context clue (plan) which indicates that the action
is in present tense.
b. Also, the subject (your parents) is plural.
8. Are you going to tell me the truth or ____ I need to call them to find out?
a. The answer is “do” because there is a context clue (need) which indicates that the
action is in present tense.
b. Also, the subject (I) is considered as plural.