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Tenses - Quick Visuals

The document outlines the four main types of tenses in English: Simple, Continuous, Perfect, and Perfect Continuous, each categorized into past, present, and future. It provides definitions and example sentences for each tense, illustrating how they are used to convey actions at specific times. The document serves as a comprehensive guide for understanding and constructing various tenses in English grammar.

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Geraldine Venter
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44 views7 pages

Tenses - Quick Visuals

The document outlines the four main types of tenses in English: Simple, Continuous, Perfect, and Perfect Continuous, each categorized into past, present, and future. It provides definitions and example sentences for each tense, illustrating how they are used to convey actions at specific times. The document serves as a comprehensive guide for understanding and constructing various tenses in English grammar.

Uploaded by

Geraldine Venter
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Simple Tenses

Simple tenses are used whenever we talk about a specific point in time

Past Present future

Past Simple Present Simple Future Simple


For actions that happened at For general statements of For actions that will happen
a point in time in the past. truth or to show actions at at a certain point in the
the present point in time future.

I ate an apple. I eat an apple. I will/shall eat an apple.


Continuous Tenses
Continuous tenses are used whenever we talk about a time when
something was happening

Past Present future

Past Continuous Present Continuous Future Continuous


For actions that were For actions that are For actions that will be
happening at a point in time happening now. happening for a length of
in the past. time in the future.

I was eating an apple. I am eating an apple. I will be eating an apple.


Perfect Tenses
Perfect tenses are used whenever we talk about an action that
happened and finished by a certain point in time.

Past Present future

Past Perfect Present Perfect Future Perfect


For an action that happened For an action that happened For actions that will happen
and finished by a certain in the past and finished and finish by a later time in
time in the past. before the present moment. the future.

I had eaten an apple. I have eaten an apple. I shall have eaten


an apple.
Perfect Continuous Tenses
Perfect Continuous tenses are used whenever we talk about a
length of time up to a certain point in time.

Past Present future

Past Perfect Present Perfect Future Perfect


Continuous Continuous Continuous
For an action that was For an action that was For actions that will be
happening up to a certain happening in the past up to happening up to a certain
time in the past. the present. . time in the future

I had been eating I have been eating an I shall have been


an apple. apple. eating an apple.
Present Tense
Tense rule sentence

Simple 1st column verb I eat an apple

have/has + 3rd I have eaten


Perfect
column verb an apple.

am/is/are + 1st column I am eating


Continuous
verb + ing an apple

am/is/are + 3rd I have been


Perfect Continuous
column verb + ing eating an apple.
Past Tense
Tense rule sentence

Simple 2nd column verb I ate an apple

had + 3rd column I had eaten


Perfect
verb an apple.

was/were + 1st column I was eating


Continuous
verb + ing an apple

had been + 1st column I had been


Perfect Continuous
verb + ing eating an apple.
Future Tense
Tense rule sentence
will/shall +
Simple I will/shall eat an apple
1st column verb

will/shall + have I shall have eaten


Perfect
+ 3rd column verb an apple.

will/shall + be + I shall be eating


Continuous
1st column verb + ing an apple

will/shall + have been + I shall have been


Perfect Continuous
1st column verb + ing eating an apple.

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