English tenses

1. ENGLISH TENSES
By Mark Mikail

2. PRESENT SIMPLE
Form - Subject + Verb
The Present Simple is the most basic tense in the English language. It is an interesting tense
because it can be used to express the future. Generally, though, we use it to describe the
present activities or to talk about routines or habits.
For example,
I eat lunch at 3 o’clock
I like to watch TV in the evening.
We use the Present Simple to talk about universal truths (for example, laws of nature) or
things we believe are, or are not, true. It's also used to generalize about something or
somebody.
For example,
Rome is the capital of Italy. – fact
Cats are lazy animals. – fact, generalization
Humans have three fingers. - fact (Remember, the sentence does not have to be true)
We also use this tense to describe actions that happen frequently. For example: habits
and routines.
For example,
I wake at 7:30 every day. - routine
I like to read a book every day. – habit

3. PRESENT SIMPLE
Use the Present Simple to talk about situations in life that last a relatively long time.
For example,
I live in Virginia.
My aunt is an engineer.
Use the Present Simple when an event is certain to happen in the future.
For example,
I will eat today.
I won’t burn my garbage.
You should use the Present Simple with state verbs.
For example,
I don’t like running.
I like pizza.

4. PRESENT CONTINUOUS
Form - Subject + is/are/am + Verb+ing
The Present Continuous is mainly used to express the idea that something is happening at
the moment of speaking. Another use of the tense is to talk about temporary actions or
future plans.
Most often, we use the Present Continuous tense to talk about actions happening at the
moment of speaking.
For example,
I am swimming.
I am riding my bike to school.
This tense is also used for activities continuing only for a limited period of time.
For example,
I am walking to school. (He/she will soon start to ride the bus to school)
He is writing a history book (He will soon start writing an adventure book)
We also use the Present Continuous when we are in the middle of doing something time-
consuming (something that takes time to complete). An example of such an activity is
writing a book, saving money or studying for an exam.
For example,
I am saving up to buy a new bike.
I am studying for tomorrow’s test.

5. PRESENT CONTINUOUS
Sometimes we use the Present Continuous to show that something is planned and will
be done in the near future.
For example,
I am flying to Japan on Monday.
She is going to the mall on the 1st of December to buy new shoes.
And the last use of this tense is to express irritation or anger over somebody or something
in the present with adverbs such as: always, continually or constantly.
For example,
He’s always making annoying sounds!
She’s continually singing that song over and over again!

6. PRESENT PERFECT
Form - Subject + has/have + Verb
The Present Perfect is used to express actions that happened at an indefinite time or that
began in the past and continue in the present. This tense is also used when an activity
has an effect on the present moment.
Use the Present Perfect to talk about actions that happened at some point in the past. It
does not matter when exactly they happened.
For example,
I have already eaten dinner.
I have been in Georgia.
You should not use this tense with time expressions like yesterday, a week ago, last year,
etc.
I have seen it yesterday.
We have gone to Paris last year.
We also use this tense to when an activity has an effect on the present moment.
For example,
He has fell off his bike. (That’s why his arm is bruised)
She has dropped her phone. (That’s why it is damaged)

7. PRESENT PERFECT
We often use the Present Perfect when we want to emphasize that an event continues in
the present.
For example,
Mary has lived here for two years.
He has done a lot of things in his life.

8. PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS
Form - Subject + HAS/HAVE + BEEN + Verb
We use the Present Perfect Continuous to show that something started in the past and
continues in the present.
For example,
I have been sleeping since 9 o’clock.
John has worked as a teacher for 7 years.
Use this tense also to talk about actions that began in the past and have recently
stopped.
For example,
I have been eating for ten minutes.
He has been watching TV for three hours!
We use this tense when an action or situation is temporary.
For example,
I have been living in Boston for two months.
I have been working as a waitress for the past week

9. PAST SIMPLE
Form - Subject + Verb (past form)
We use the Past Simple to talk about actions that happened at a specific time in the past.
The actions can be short or long. There can be a few actions happening one after
another.
The first use of the Past Simple to express actions that happened at a specific time in the
past. The actions can be short or long.
For example,
I ate lunch yesterday.
I sat down at the table, then I stood up and left the room.
Another use of this tense is talk about situations in the past.
For example,
Jade had to do extra homework.
He had a car crash in 2015.
The Past Simple can also be used with a few actions in the past happening one after
another.
For example,
He walked up to his teacher, said hello and gave his teacher a paper.
He entered the room, lit a cigarette and smiled at the guests.

10. PAST CONTINUOUS
Form - Subject + WAS/WERE + Verb (continuous form)
We usually use the Past Continuous to talk about activities that lasted for some time in the
past. The actions can be interrupted by something or can be happening at the same time.
We use the Past Continuous to talk about actions or situations that lasted for some time in
the past, and whose duration time is unknown or unimportant.
For example,
I was playing computer games.
He was running like crazy.
The Past Continuous is often used when one action in progress is interruped by another
action in the past. The Past simple is used in such sentences. We usually
use when or while to link these two sentences.
For example,
She was watching TV when her son walked into the room.
I was feeding the dog when someone knocked the door.
We also use this tense to talk about two or more activities happening at the same. We usually
use when orwhile to link the two sentences.
For example,
While John and Bob were looking out of the window, my brother played tag with his friends.
I was eating pizza and Barbara was eating a burger.

11. PAST CONTINUOUS
If we want to ask a polite question, we can use the Past Continuous.
For example,
I was wondering if you could open the window.
I was thinking you might help me with this problem.
Even though the sentences have a Past Continuous form, they refer to the present
moment. Their meaning is similar to the "could you" sentences, but they are more polite.

12. PAST PERFECT
Form - Subject + HAD + Verb (past form)
We use the Past Perfect tense to emphasize that an action in the past
finished before another action in the past started. This tense is also used in reported
speech, third conditional sentences, or to show dissatisfaction with the past.
The first use of this tense is to emphasize that one action in the past happened before
another action in the past.
For example,
I had finished my homework before I went playing football.
John had never been to London before we went there last year.
Use the Past Perfect with third conditional sentences.
For example,
If the car wasn’t broken, we wouldn’t of had been late.
Mary would of passed the test if she studied harder.
Use the Past Perfect with sentences in reported speech.
For example,
Mary said she had already seen this movie.
He asked if I had read Harry Potter.
We often use the Past Perfect to show our dissatisfaction with the past. Such
sentences typically start with "I wish ..." or "If only ...".
I wish I had taken more food. I'm hungry now.
If only I had taken more food. I'm hungry now.

13. PAST PERFECT CONTINUOS
The Past Perfect Continuous is used to talk about actions or situations that were in
progress before some other actions or situations. There are also other uses.
For example,
The boys had been quarreling for half an hour when we arrived home.
Vicky has been walking the dog for 15 minutes before she went to school.
Remember that this tense is also used in third conditional sentences.
For example,
If it hadn't been raining, we would have gone to the park.

14. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE PRESENT
PERFECT CONTINUOUS AND PAST PERFECT
CONTINUOUS
He has been playing for two hours.
He had been playing for two hours when I arrived.

15. FUTURE SIMPLE
Form - Subject + WILL + Verb (present form)
The Future Simple is used in many situations such as when making promises or predictions.
The first use of the Future Simple to make promises.
For example,
I promise I will buy you this toy.
I promise you’ll have a great day.
Use this tense also to talk about unplanned (spontaneous) decisions.
For example,
Don't worry! I will help you with this problem.
I will close the window. It's starting to rain.
We often use the Future Simple when making a prediction based on experience or intuition.
For example,
It will rain in a moment.
It will get more difficult.
The last use of this tense is interesting: we can also use the Future Simple to express habits.
For example,
She will bit her lip if she is thinking or if she's nervous about something.
He will always make noise when we are sleeping.

16. FUTURE CONTINOUS
We mainly use the Future Continuous to indicate that we will be in the middle of doing
something in a specified time in the future. There are also two other uses.
The first use of the Future Continuous is to express future action in progress.
For example,
In an hour, I will be sitting in front of my TV.
In the evening, I will be baking a birthday cake.
Use this tense also to make guesses about something in the present or future.
For example,
He won't be coming any time soon. He is still at the office.
Beatrice will be getting married very soon.
And the last use of the tense is to make polite questions about something or somebody.
For example,
Will you be coming home before or after 10 PM?
Will you be going to the supermarket? I have something to buy.

17. FURURE PERFECT
Form - Subject + WILL HAVE + Verb (past participle form)
We use the Future Perfect tense to talk about actions that will be finished before some point in
the future. We also use this tense to express situations that will last for a specified period of
time at a definite moment in the future. The last use is to express certainty that an action was
completed.
The first use of this tense is to talk about future actions that will be finished before some
specified point in the future.
For example,
Before they come, we will have cleaned up the house.
John will have eaten the whole cake, by the time the birthday party starts!
Another use of this tense is to talk about actions will last after a given point in the future.
For example,
By the next year, I will have known Monica for 30 years.
Patrick will have lived in Hong Kong for 20 years by 2012.
The last use is to express conviction that something happened in the near past.
For example,
The train will have left by now. We have to look for another way to get there. (I'm sure the train
has left)
The guests will have arrived at the hotel by now. (I'm sure the guests have arrived at the hotel)

18. FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS
Form - Subject + WILL HAVE BEEN + Verb (past participle form)
We use the Future Perfect Continuous tense to express situations that will last for a
specified period of time at a definite moment in the future. We also use this tense to
express certainty about the cause of some future situation.
We use this tense to express situations that will last for a specified period of time at a
definite moment in the future. It is important that we expect these situations to last longer.
For example,
Before they come, we will have been cleaning the house for 5 hours.
By the next year, Ben and his wife will have been living together for 50 years.
English speakers also use this tense when they want to express certainty about the
cause of some future situation.
For example,
By this time, he will have been working for 12 hours, so he will be very tired.
We will be making a rest stop in half an hour, because you will have been driving the car
for 6 hours by then.