THE TENSES - ALL AT ONCE
SIMPLE CONTINUOUS
Forms:
Verb (Without to)
Add -s or -es for She, He and it.
Also made with do or does
Ex:
PRESENT
I live here She lives here
He does live here
Common Adverbs and Expressions:
Usually, Often, Rarely, Hardly Ever, Always,
Occasionally, Seldom, Never, Frequently
Uses:
1. Facts Im a young man.
2. Likes, opinions I like football.
3. Routines, habits I drink coffee every
morning.
4. Condition and time clauses. You will
have dessert if you study first.
Forms:
Verb in the past form (ending with -ed for
the regulars).
Also made with did + verb in present form
Ex:
I lived here I took the book
PAST
I did live here
Common Adverbs and Expressions:
Yesterday, the day before, last, the other day,
before, ago
Uses:
1. A finished action in the past I ate pasta
yesterday.
2. Several actions in the past I got home,
ate dinner and went to sleep.
Forms:
Will + Verb in the present form.
To be + going to + verb in the present form.
Ex:
I will study for the text. You are going to be
ok.
FUTURE
Common Adverbs and Expressions:
Tomorrow, soon, next week, someday
Uses:
1. Decisions I will buy a car.
2. Offers I will help you.
3. Prediction The economy will collapse.
4. Plans Im going to eat pizza.
PERFECT SIMPLE
Forms:
To be + verb ending in -ing
Ex:
I am writing a novel. He is looking for a job.
They are singing at the club.
Common Adverbs and Expressions:
Now, right now, at the moment, at this time
Uses:
1. An action in progress right now. I am
watching TV.
2. An action happening around now. Its
getting serious in Ukraine.
3. An intention, plans. Im leaving for
Baltimore tomorrow.
Forms:
To be + Verb ending in -ing
Ex:
I was living in France last year. You were
watching TV when I called.
Common Adverbs and Expressions:
Yesterday, still, at this time yesterday, the whole
day
Uses:
1. An action in progress in the past I was
studying for my test.
2. Two or more parallel actions You were
eating when I came home.
Forms:
Will be + verb ending in -ing
To be + going to be + verb ending in -ing
Ex:
I will be waiting for you right here.
Im going to be waiting for you right here.
Common Adverbs and Expressions:
At this time tomorrow, still, the whole day
tomorrow
Uses:
1. An action will be in progress at some point
in the future. I will be living in the US next
summer.
PERFECT CONTINUOUS
Forms:
To have (or has) + Past Participle
Ex:
I have seen that movie before. You have Ex:
done that many times.
Common Adverbs and Expressions:
Just, ever, never, recently, yet, already,
before, for, since
Uses:
1. A past action with a result in the present
I have lost the keys. I cant find them.
2. An action started but its not finished yet
We have been friends since forever.
3. Experiences I have never done
skydiving before.
4. A finished action but unfinished period
Ive seen him this afternoon.
Forms:
Had + Past Participle
Ex:
I had eaten already when you came
home.
Common Adverbs and Expressions:
By, when, by the time
Uses:
1. An action which had finished before
some other action happened in the
past. I had left already when she
called.
Forms:
Will have + Past Participle
To be + going to have + Past Participle
Ex:
I will have done it by 5pm. Im going to
have worked there for 6 years now.
Common Adverbs and Expressions:
For, before, by
Uses:
1. An action finished before other action
in the future. Ill have eaten by 4pm.
2. An action that will keep going on. Ill
have lived in the US for 4 years
tomorrow.
Forms:
To have been (or has been) + Verb ending in
-ing
I have been living in Catalunya for 3 years.
Common Adverbs and Expressions:
For, since
Uses:
1. Recent repeated actions in time I have
been going to Galicia every summer.
Forms:
Had been + Verb ending in -ing
Ex:
I had been waiting for this day for years.
Common Adverbs and Expressions:
For, since
Uses:
1. An action that had been taking place
and was interrupted in the past I had
been cleaning that building for years until
they fired me.
2. Show cause and effect in the past She is
tired because she had been studying for
hours.
Forms:
Will have been + Verb ending in -ing
To be + going to have been + verb ending in
-ing
Ex:
I will have been living here for 6 years
tomorrow. Im going to have been living
here for 6 years tomorrow.
Common Adverbs and Expressions:
For, in, as
Uses:
1. An action will continue to go on in the
future She will have been studying
English for 5 years in April.
2. Show cause and effect in the future -
Shell be fine in York as shell have been
living there for 2 years next April.