Tense Helper

Present Simple Present Continuous

air air air air air
myh myh myh myh myh
ash ash ash ash ash He is brushing his teeth
Iw Iw Iw Iw Iw

PAST NOW FUTURE PAST NOW FUTURE

I wash my hair every day. He can’t answer now, he is brushing his

Use this for repeated actions, permanent teeth.
situations or general truths. Use this for actions in progress now,
temporary situations and changing trends.

Past Simple and Past Continuous

I was having a bath

PAST Matt phoned NOW FUTURE

I was having a bath when Matt phoned.

Use these together to say something happened in the middle of something else.

Present Perfect Simple Present Perfect Continuous

I have been reading this book
I finished at 8.00pm I have finished!

PAST NOW FUTURE PAST NOW FUTURE

At last! I have finished my homework. I have been reading this book all evening.
Use this to talk about an action completed Use this to talk about an action that began in
in the past. We are interested in the results the past. The action is important. It does not
of the action, not the action itself. Also to matter if the action is completed. Also to say
say how much or how many times. how long (for an activity that is still happening).

Past Perfect Simple and Past Simple

Paula went home I arrived (Paula had already gone)

PAST NOW FUTURE

When I arrived at the party, Paula had already gone home.

Use these together to talk about two actions in the past. One happened before the other.

Future predictions
0% won’t / isn’t going to
The
isn’t likely to probably won’t
chance of
50% might might not
something
is likely to will probably
happening
100% will / is going to
We use words like these to talk about the possibility of something happening.