Tenses Summary

SUMMARY OF TENSES

future present

past

We use tenses of verbs to refer to actions or situations in the present, in the past and in the future

future

There are different sorts of tenses: simple tenses

past

present

continuous tenses perfect tenses perfect continuous tenses

future present

present tenses present simple

past

present continuous present perfect present perfect continuous

present simple

present continuous

present perfect

present perfect continuous

FORM The present simple is formed with the infinitive of the main verb.

The negative and interrogative are formed with the present tense of the verb to do + infinitive.

Examples  I start ( he starts) work at 8.30 a.m.

When do I start work?

I don’t start work until 9.00 a..m. / He doesn’t start work until 9.00 a..m.

present simple

present continuous

present perfect

USE 1. for habitual and repeated actions

Example  I play blues harp and dobro guitar

present perfect continuous

present simple

present continuous

present perfect

present perfect continuous

USE 1. for habitual and repeated actions 2. with adverbs (or expressions) of frequency ( often – usually – sometimes -seldom – rarely – always – occasionally – never – twice a week - on Tuesdays – most of the time ....)

Example He often arrives late

present simple

present continuous

present perfect

present perfect continuous

USE 1. for habitual and repeated actions 2. with adverbs (or expressions) of frequency 3. Certain verbs are usually only used in the simple form

verbs of the senses

see- hear- smell – notice – recognize

verbs of emotions

want – desire – refuse – forgive – wish – care – love – hate – like – dislike

verbs of thinking

think – feel – realize – understand – know – mean – suppose – believe – expect – remember – forget

Example Do you see what I mean?

She likes my brother very much.

I suppose he realizes that now.

present simple

present continuous

present perfect

present perfect continuous

USE 1. for habitual and repeated actions 2. with adverbs (or expressions) of frequency 3. Certain verbs are usually only used in the simple form 4. for something that is permanently true

Example Water boils at 100째 C.

present simple

present continuous

present perfect

present perfect continuous

on the time diagram

past

now

I get up at 7.30 a.m. every day.

future

present simple

present continuous

present perfect

present perfect continuous

FORM This tense is formed with the present tense of the verb to be + present participle of the main verb.

Examples I’m watching television.

What are you doing?

He isn’t coming.

present simple

present continuous

present perfect

present perfect continuous

USE 1. For actions happening at the moment of speaking.

Example She’s reading the newspaper.

present simple

present continuous

present perfect

present perfect continuous

USE 1. For actions happening at the moment of speaking.

2. For a temporary state.

Example The company is reorganizing its services.

present simple

present continuous

present perfect

present perfect continuous

USE 1. For actions happening at the moment of speaking.

2. For a temporary state.

3. For a definite arrangement in the near future.

Example They’re signing the contract tomorrow.

present simple

present continuous

present perfect

present perfect continuous

USE 1. For actions happening at the moment of speaking.

2. For a temporary state.

3. For a definite arrangement in the near future.

Some verbs are not usually used in a continuous form verbs of senses

see – hear – smell – notice - recognize

verbs of emotion

want – desire – refuse – forgive – wish – care – love – hate – like - dislike

verbs of thinking

think – feel – realize – understand – know – mean – suppose – believe – expect – remember - forget

verbs of possessing

own – owe – belong - possess

some other verbs

seem – appear (seem) – contain – consist – keep (continue) - matter

present simple

present continuous

present perfect

present perfect continuous

on the time diagram

past

now

I’m adjusting the rotating speed

future

present simple

present continuous

present perfect

present perfect continuous

FORM This tense is formed with the present tense of the verb to have + past participle of the main verb.

Examples I’ve finished.

Where have you been?

I haven’t talked to him.

present simple

present continuous

present perfect

present perfect continuous

USE 1. Actions in the recent past with ‘just, recently, already, at last, lately’

Example He has just immersed the temperature probe into the molten steel.

present simple

present continuous

present perfect

present perfect continuous

USE 1. Actions in the recent past with ‘just, recently, already, at last, lately’ 2. General experience with ‘ever – never – before – so far’ Example

This is the highest carbon ratio I’ve ever seen.

present simple

present continuous

present perfect

present perfect continuous

USE 1. Actions in the recent past with ‘just, recently, already, at last, lately’ 2. General experience with ‘ever – never – before – so far’ 3. The indefinite past : we are interested in what happened, not in when it happened.

Example I have seen the report. (I know what it is about.)

He has sold the company.

They have had lunch.

present simple

present continuous

present perfect

present perfect continuous

USE 1. Actions in the recent past with ‘just, recently, already, at last, lately’ 2. General experience with ‘ever – never – before – so far’ 3. The indefinite past : we are interested in what happened, not in when it happened.

4. Actions starting in the past and continuing to the present, with ‘for’ or ‘since”.

Example The operation has been suspended for two months.

The firm has had a Belgian branch since October last year.

present simple

present continuous

present perfect

present perfect continuous

on the time diagram relationship with the present moment

past

now

I ‘ve just arrived.

future

present simple

present continuous

present perfect

present perfect continuous

on the time diagram

past

?

? ?

now

Have you been to France?

future

present simple

present continuous

present perfect

present perfect continuous

on the time diagram

past

now

They have revised their report.

future

present simple

present continuous

present perfect

present perfect continuous

on the time diagram

past

now

future

We have conducted experiments on this phenomenon for almost two years.

present simple

present continuous

present perfect

present perfect continuous

FORM This tense is formed with the present perfect of the verb to be + present participle of the main verb.

Examples I ‘ve been writing code for our new data-mining program.

Has she been trying to contact me?

She hasn’t been writing at all.

present simple

present continuous

present perfect

present perfect continuous

USE We use this tense for actions started in the past, continuing to the present and probably continuing into the future. We often use it with “for” or “since”.

Examples I’ ve been trying to persuade him for ten years now.

We ‘ve been practicing this routine since last Wednesday.

present simple

present continuous

present perfect

present perfect continuous

on the time diagram

past

now 1984

future

2004

I ‘ve been driving driving lorries for twenty years.....

In this sentence, the duration is emphasized, either positively or negatively.

So I know what I’m talking about!

So it’s high time I quit.

present simple

present continuous

present perfect

present perfect continuous

on the time diagram

past

now 1984

future

2004

I ‘ve driven a Volkswagen for twenty years.....

In this sentence, the duration is indicated, but the car brand is emphasized.

Clearly I have confidence in this car.

future present

past simple past continuous past perfect

past

past perfect continuous

past tenses

past simple

past continuous

past perfect

past perfect continuous

FORM This tense is formed by adding -ed to the infinitive. The negative and interrogative are formed with the past tense of the verb to do + infinitive of the main verb

Examples They arrived at head quarters an hour ago.

When did he finalize this deal?

I didn’t finish until 12 o’clock.

past simple

past continuous

past perfect

past perfect continuous

USE 1. For actions completed at a definite time in the past.

Example  We signed the contract last Friday at 2 o’clock.

past simple

past continuous

past perfect

past perfect continuous

USE 1. For actions completed at a definite time in the past.

2. For actions which are already completed in the past: the time is understood but not stated.

Example  Did you arrive in time?

past simple

USE

past continuous

past perfect

past perfect continuous

1. For actions completed at a definite time in the past.

2. For actions which are already completed in the past: the time is understood but not stated.

3. The ‘unreal past tense’ is used after the verb ‘to wish’ and after words and phrases such as ‘if only; it’s time; suppose’ etc.

The simple past tense implies that the speaker knows that the wish or the idea is impossible. Note that the wish refers to the present time.

Examples If I only knew his name.

I wish I were at home now.

If I were in his shoes, I would fix his wagon without much scruples.

It’s time I went home.

past simple

past continuous

past perfect

past perfect continuous

on the time diagram

past

15.30

now

I arrived at 15.30 sharp.

future

past simple

past continuous

past perfect

past perfect continuous

FORM This tense is formed with the past tense of the verb to be + present participle of the main verb.

Examples I was watching TV at 8 o’clock yesterday.

Where were you looking for my glasses this time?

I wasn’t eavesdropping at all!

past simple

past continuous

past perfect

past perfect continuous

USE 1. To emphasize the continuity of the past action.

Examples She was playing tennis with a friend.

He was discussing production planning for the coming week.

past simple

past continuous

past perfect

past perfect continuous

USE 1. To emphasize the continuity of the past action.

2. To describe an action in progress at a certain time in the past.

Examples At 6 p.m. I was still sleeping.

At a quarter past nine I was having breakfast.

Prices were going up all the time.

past simple

past continuous

past perfect

past perfect continuous

USE 1. To emphasize the continuity of the past action.

2. To describe an action in progress at a certain time in the past. past 3. To describe an interrupted past action.

Examples When he arrived, I was studying the quarterly reports.

past simple

past continuous

past perfect

past perfect continuous

USE 1. To emphasize the continuity of the past action.

2. To describe an action in progress at a certain time in the past.

3. To describe an interrupted past action .

4. To express repeated past actions which caused irritation, annoyance. ( with always, forever) Examples He was always trying to influence the personnel director.

She was forever paring her nails during meetings.

past simple

past continuous

past perfect

past perfect continuous

on the time diagram

past

now

I was working all day yesterday.

future

past simple

past continuous

past perfect

past perfect continuous

on the time diagram

past

now

future

I was working all day yesterday.

yesterday past

now I worked all day yesterday.

future

past simple

past continuous

past perfect

past perfect continuous

on the time diagram

past

now

future

1. I was working all day yesterday. yesterday past

now 2. I worked all day yesterday.

future

While (1) emphasizes the continuity of the action, (2) only indicates that the action took place yesterday.

past simple

past continuous

past perfect

past perfect continuous

on the time diagram

past

now 8.30 p.m.

I was watching TV at 8.30 last night.

future

past simple

past continuous

past perfect

past perfect continuous

on the time diagram 8.30 p.m. past

now

future

3. I was watching TV at 8.30 last night.

8.30 p.m. past

now

future

4. I watched TV at 8.30 last night.

Whereas 3. indicates that the action started before and continued after a certain point in time, 4. indicates that the action happened (started) at 8.30

past simple

past continuous

past perfect

past perfect continuous

on the time diagram

I was browsing through your report ...

past

now

when he knocked at my office door.

future

past simple

past continuous

past perfect

past perfect continuous

FORM This tense is formed with the past tense of the verb to have + past participle of the main verb.

Examples I had never seen so many measuring tools.

What assistance had he given?

He hadn’t expected this outcome.

past simple

past continuous

past perfect

past perfect continuous

USE 1. We use this tense to describe one past action happening before another past action.

Example The customer had left the shop by the time I found his order form.

past simple

past continuous

past perfect

past perfect continuous

USE 1. W e use this tense to describe one past action happening before another past action.

2. We use it when necessary to indicate the sequence of two actions.

Example He had already cleared the screen when I got behind his desk.

past simple

past continuous

past perfect

past perfect continuous

USE 1. W e use this tense to describe one past action happening before another past action.

2. We use it when necessary to indicate the sequence of two actions.

3. We often us it when the second action is understood, but not stated.

Example I hadn’t realized!

(until you told me.)

past simple

past continuous

past perfect

past perfect continuous

on the time diagram past

had dinner

watched TV

now

future

1. When I had had dinner, I watched TV.

past

had dinner

watched TV

now

future

2. I had dinner before I watched TV. In (1) the sequence of actions is expressed by the past perfect tense; whereas in (2) the sequence of actions is indicated by the use of before

past simple

past continuous

past perfect

past perfect continuous

FORM This tense is formed with the past perfect tense of the verb to be + present participle of the main verb.

Examples She had been working as a secretary for two years when she was promoted.

What had she been writing all day?

He hadn’t been listening to that tape for that long.

past simple

past continuous

past perfect

past perfect continuous

USE 1. We use this tense to describe a continuous past action happening before another past action.

We often use it with for + time period.

Example We had been waiting for thirty minutes when they arrived. Â

past simple

past continuous

past perfect

past perfect continuous

USE 1. We use this tense to describe a continuous past action happening before another past action.

We often use it with for + time period.

2. We use this tense to emphasize the continuity or duration of the past action.

Example  I had been waiting for my exam results for six weeks. (before I got them.)

past simple

past continuous

past perfect

past perfect continuous

on the time diagram

past

10 minutes

now

future

1. I had been waiting for 10 minutes when she arrived.

past

now

2. I waited for 10 minutes before she arrived.

Whereas in (1) the past perfect continuous indicates both the sequence of the actions and the continuity of the first action; in (2) the sequence of the actions is indicated by before. (1.) emphasizes the duration.

future

future tenses

present

future simple future continuous future perfect future perfect continuous going to past

present continuous present simple

future simple going to ...

future continuous present

future perfect present simple

future perfect continuous

continuous

USE We use this tense to express a pure future. Actions expressed in the simple future are bound to happen because of the course of time. This means that the speaker has no power over the events, that he cannot control what will happen. For this reason this tense is also called the uncertain future..

Examples He will be sixteen years old next Friday.

The baby will be born next month

future simple going to ...

future continuous present

future perfect present simple

future perfect continuous

continuous

USE 1. We often use this tense with particular verbs; such as think – know – believe – suppose – expect – hope to express beliefs, convictions, hope, expectations, knowledge and opinions about the future.

Examples I think Brazil will win.

I don’t suppose she will be promoted now

future simple going to ...

future continuous present

future perfect present simple

future perfect continuous

continuous

USE 1. We often use this tense with particular verbs; such as think – know – believe – suppose – expect – hope to express beliefs, convictions, hope, expectations, knowledge and opinions about the future. future 2. We often use it with particular adverbs such as: probably – possibly –perhaps to express uncertainty about the future.

Examples He will probably ask the general manager.

This matter will probably not be raised before the commission’s first meeting

future simple going to ...

future continuous present

future perfect present simple

future perfect continuous

continuous

USE 1. We often use this tense with particular verbs; such as think – know – believe – suppose – expect – hope to express beliefs, convictions, hope, expectations, knowledge and opinions about the future.

2. We often use it with particular adverbs such as: probably – possibly –perhaps to express uncertainty about the future. future 3. The simple present is used in conditional clauses and time clauses. The simple future is used in the main clause (not in the if-clause).

Examples He ‘ll help you if you ask him.

I ‘ll tell him the news as soon as I see him.

He ‘ll be arrested the moment he sets foot on Schengen soil.

future simple going to ...

future continuous present

future perfect present simple

future perfect continuous

continuous

FORM This tense is formed with the present tense of the verb to be + going to + infinitive of the main verb.

Examples I’ m going to watch this football match on TV tonight.

What are you going to do about this ?

She isn’t going to give this party next week

future simple going to ...

future continuous present

future perfect present simple

future perfect continuous

continuous

USE 1. We use this tense to talk about present intentions and plans for future actions.

Examples I ‘m going to pass my exams next month.

I ‘m going to spend two weeks in Spain this summer.

future simple going to ...

future continuous present

future perfect present simple

future perfect continuous

continuous

USE 1. We use this tense to talk about present intentions and plans for future actions .

2. We also use going to in order to express subjective certainty on the part of the speaker.

Examples This boat is going to sink.

It’s going to rain, by the look

future simple going to ...

future continuous present

future perfect present simple

future perfect continuous

continuous

USE 1. We use this tense to indicate definite future arrangements, actions planned in the near future. We nearly always use a future time expression with it.

Examples He ‘s starting his new job next Monday.

I’ m taking the 11 o’clock train to Berlin

future simple going to ...

future continuous present

future perfect present simple

future perfect continuous

continuous

USE 1. We use this tense to indicate definite future arrangements, actions planned in the near future. We nearly always use a future time expression with it.

Note: do not confuse intention ( to be + going to + verb) and arrangement (to be + present participle).

Examples I’m going to stay in London. = intention I’m going to London next weekend = arrangement

future simple going to ...

future continuous present

future perfect present simple

future perfect continuous

continuous

FORM This tense is formed with the infinitive of the main verb. The negative and interrogative are formed with the present tense of to do + infinitive Examples The plane takes off at 7.30 local time.

The match begins at 14.00 hours.

You leave from Kennedy airport at noon, and arrive in Paris at 15.00 hours GMT.

future simple going to ...

future continuous present

future perfect present simple

future perfect continuous

continuous

USE We use this tense to talk about planned future actions. We usually use it to describe travel plans, time tables, departures, arrivals. Â Examples The bus leaves at 15.30.

The reception starts at 19.00 hours.

The ferry leaves Dover at 12.30 tomorrow and we arrive at Calais at 13.15.

future simple going to ...

future continuous present

future perfect present simple

future perfect continuous

continuous

FORM This tense is formed with the future simple of to be + present participle of the main verb.

Examples We’ ll be flying to Rome this time next week.

What will you be doing this time next week?

They won’t be sitting in the classroom at 6 o’clock tomorrow.

future simple going to ...

future continuous present

future perfect present simple

future perfect continuous

continuous

USE We use this tense for actions that will be in progress at a certain time in the future.

Examples At 11.45 next Friday, I ‘ ll be doing my chemistry exam.

I’ ll be hiking through the States this time next year.

future simple going to ...

future continuous present

future perfect present simple

future perfect continuous

continuous

on the time diagramÂ

past

now

This time next week I’ll be taking my driving test.

future

future simple going to ...

future continuous present

future perfect present simple

future perfect continuous

continuous

USE 1. The future continuous is also used to express long-term arrangements, especially for travelling.

Examples The band will be travelling through Scandinavia at the end of the month. They will be giving three performances there.

future simple going to ...

future continuous present

future perfect present simple

future perfect continuous

continuous

USE 1. The future continuous is also used to express long-term arrangements, especially for travelling.

2. The future continuous is also used to ask very polite questions about future activities. By using the future continuous tense, the speaker asking the questions shows that he does not want to influence the other person’s decision in any way at all.

Examples Where will you be having dinner, Sir? (secretary to boss) What will you be having, Madam? (waiter to customer)

future simple going to ...

future continuous present

future perfect present simple

future perfect continuous

continuous

USE 1. The future continuous is also used to express long-term arrangements, especially for travelling.

2. The future continuous is also used to ask very polite questions about future activities. By using the future continuous tense, the speaker asking the questions shows that he does not want to influence the other person’s decision in any way at all.

3. The future continuous is also used to make deductions about Examples what is happening at the moment of speaking.

He will be working in his garden now. Otherwise, he would have heard the phone.

She hasn’t begun making up the beds. She will still be doing the washing up.

future simple going to ...

future continuous present

future perfect present simple

future perfect continuous

continuous

FORM This tense is formed with will + have + past participle of the main verb.

Examples They ‘ll have finalized their business by noon.

Will they have copied all that material by Friday morning?

They won’t have organized this course by the end of this year.

future simple going to ...

future continuous present

future perfect present simple

future perfect continuous

continuous

USE We use this tense to describe actions which we know will (or will not) be completed by a certain time in the future.

Examples I ‘ll have finished this book by the end of the week.

future simple going to ...

future continuous present

future perfect present simple

future perfect continuous

continuous

on the time diagram

past

Examples

future

now end of next week

By the end of next week, I’ll have finished my exams.

future simple going to ...

future continuous present

future perfect present simple

future perfect continuous

continuous

FORM This tense is formed with the future perfect tense of to be + present participle of rthe main verb.

Examples By the end of this year, we ‘ll have been experimenting with this polymer for more than three months.

How long will you have been living in that shack by the end of this year?

I won’t have been living here for more than five years by the end of this year.

future simple going to ...

future continuous present

future perfect present simple

future perfect continuous

continuous

USE We use this tense to describe continuous and repeated actions which begin before a certain time in the future and will probably continue after that time.

Examples By the end of this academic year, I’ll have been teaching for 30 years.

future simple going to ...

future continuous present

future perfect present simple

future perfect continuous

continuous

on the time diagram

past

now

future

end of this academic year

Example By the end of this academic year, I’ll have been teaching for 30 years.