ENGLISH TENSES CHART
| TENSE | USE | FORM / SIGNAL WORDS
|
| Simple Present | Facts and generalizations Water boils at 100 Cº Children love cartoons. Schedules and time tables (future) My train leaves at 5.30 For repeated actions I see my grandparents twice a week. Usual actions He works as a Waiter in a restaurant Non-continuous Verbs know, like, hate, want, love, need, belong, mean, understand, remember, prefer… | Verb + s / es / ies for ( he / she / it ) A: He speaks. N: He does not speak. Q: Does he speak? every day, always, often, normally, usually, regularly, sometimes, occasionally, seldom, on Sundays, at weekends generally, never… every day/ week/ month… once / twice / three times… a week/ day / month/ year… First... then.. afterwards |
| Present Continuous | Now (continuous or in progress) We're studying the English tenses now. Near future She's visiting the doctor tomorrow morning. Repetitions and irritations (with always) They are always complaining about the same thing. | BE + verb + ing A: He is speaking. N: He is not speaking. Q: Is he speaking? now, just, at the moment, look !, right now, still at 3 p.m. right now, at present, today, these days, nowadays, currently, presently in this moment, …. this year/ month/ week…, tonight, tomorrow, next week / month…, in a minute, in a couple of days |
| Simple Past | For completed actions or series of completed actions in the past He closed the door, went to bed and turned off the light. Actions which start and stop in the past We watched TV last night. Habits in the past When he was a child, he drank too much milk. | Verb + ed ( regular ) Irregular verbs should be learnt.. A: He spoke. N: He did not speak. Q: Did he speak? Before(conj.).... yesterday, the day before yesterday, last week/month/year, a few minutes/two hours/five years ago |
| Past Continuous | After 'while' in the past While I was cooking dinner, he was laying the table. Continuous actions in the past Last week, we were working in a science project. Repetition and irritation with 'always' in past The children were always screaming. | Past of 'BE' + verb + ing A: He was speaking. N: He was not speaking. Q: Was he speaking? at ten o'clock last night |
| Present Perfect | Unspecified time before now We have driven along the coast. Talking about past actions with an effect in the present I have found a wallet in the street. Here it is. Accomplishments Science has progressed a lot. With the superlative and ever She's the most intelligent person I have ever met. | Have / has + past participle A: He has spoken. N: He has not spoken. Q: Has he spoken? this week, this month, this year, never so far, until now, several/four/many times |
| Present Perfect Continuous | Used to emphasize the duration of the present perfect actions I've been working in the same school since 1983. | Have/has + been + verb + ing A: He has been speaking. N: He has not been speaking. Q: Has he been speaking? this week, this month, this year, never so far, until now, several/four/many times |
| Past Perfect | A completed action before an action in the past The school had already closed when I arrived.
He didn't go to bed until the last TV programme had finished. By the time we arrived home, they had served the dinner. After she had taken a shower, she went to bed. Past wish If only they had stayed with us. | Had + past participle A: He had spoken. N: He had not spoken. Q: Had he spoken? After (conj.)... up to that time in the past. before, by the time, already until / till as soon as |
| Simple Future | Will: Voluntary action It's hot in here. I'll open the windows. Offers I'll carry the suitcase if you like. Promises I'll buy you a present for your birthday. Predictions It'll be windy tomorrow. Be going to: Plans They're going to build a new bridge in autumn. Intentions and decisions I'm going to eat less. Predictions with physical evidence It's very hot today. We are going to sweat. | Will + verb or Be going to + verb A: He will speak. N: He will not speak. Q: Will he speak? I think I hope, tonight, tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, later, next week/month/year, in 2005, for the next 2 years/days/months A: He is going to speak. N: He is not going to speak. Q: Is he going to speak? in the next few days, |
| Future Perfect | For completed actions before something in the future We'll have flown to New York by next week. In two years’ time, he will have graduated. By the time we arrive to class, the teacher will have handed out the test papers. | Will have + past participle A: He will have spoken. N: He will not have spoken. Q: Will he have spoken? by (a future point in time), by this time next year in a week |
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