REVIEW OF SIMPLE AND CONTINUOUS TENSES
FORM USES
PRESENT SIMPLE
(+)Subject + Root of the verb +
s/es
(-) Subject + do/does+ not + root
of the verb
(¿) Do / does + subject + root of
the verb
PRESENT CONTINUOUS
(+)Suject +am/are/ is+ verb -ing
(-)Subject + am/are/ is+ not +
verb –ing
(?) Am /are/is + subject+ verb
-ing
PAST SIMPLE
(+)Subject +verb+ ed/irregular
verb
(-) Subject +did not+ root of
verb
(?) Did + subject + root of the
verb
Past continuous
(+)Subject+was/were+verb –ing
(-) Subject+ was/ were + not
+verb ing
(?) was/were + subject + verb
ing.
Future
(+)Subject+ will + root of verb
(-) Subject + will +not +root of
the verb.
(?) will + subject + roof ot the
verb.
Going to + infinitive
Subject + am/are/ is ´+ going to
+ infinitive
Future continuous
(+) Subject+ will be + verb –ing
(-) Subject + will not be + verb
ing
(?) Will + subject + be+ verb ing
Present perfectsimple
(+) Subject + have/has +past
participle
EXAMPLES
a. a habitual action She takes her son to school
b. general truths everyday.
c. stative verbs The sun sets in the west.
d. future (talking about I don´t believe his story
timetables and We leave at two o´clock
schedules) tomorrow.
a. an action in progress in Someone is makingba noise
the time of speaking outside.
b. an incomplete action
still in progress, usually I´m waiting for the train to
temporary. arrive.
c. A planned action that
will take place in the We are meeting tom tonight
near future.
d. To criticize or complain
about habitual He is always making rude
behaviour (with: comments to my friends.
always,forever.
a. a completed action that He finished school 15 years ago.
took place in the past. He played basketball yesterday.
I didn´t interview her for the job.
b. Several actions in the
past (one after another) He felldown, knocked his head
and fainted.
a. an action in progress at The team was practising at 4.30
a specific time in the pm yesterday.
past.
b. Two incomplete actions John was waiting at the school
taking place while I was waiting at home.
simultaneously.
c. An imcomplete action The children were cleaning their
in the process of rooms when their father came
hapening, interrupted home.
by acompleted action in
the past.
a. an action in the future- We´ll call you at the weekend.
often predicted.
b. Suggestions, offers, I´ll answer the phone.
request Will you close the window,
please?
a. an action oin the future often She´s is going to buy a new car
planned in a month´s time
a. when we know I´ll be doing my homework
something will be in between 6.00 and 7.00 pm
progress at a time in the tomorrow night.
future.
b. Something that has They will be showing the same
been prearranged film this time next week.
a. an action that took place at I have lost her phone number.
an unstated time in the My watch has stopped.
past but has present
relevance.
(-) Subject + have/has + not
+past participle
(?) Have/has + subject +past
participle.
Present perfect continuous
(+) Subject + have/has
+been+verb -ing
(-) Subject + have/has + not+
been + verb -ing
(?) Have/has + subject+been
+verb ing.
Past perfect simple
(+)Subject + had +past participle
(-) Subject + had + not +past
participle
(?) Had + subject +past
participle.
Past perfect continuous
(+)Subject + had + been+verb
ing
(-) Subject + had+ been + not +
verb ing
(?) Had + subject + been+verb
ing.
Future perfect simple
(+) Subject+ will have + past
participle
Future perfect continuous
(+) Subject+ will have been+
verb -ing
b. An action that began in the
past and continues up to
the present, usually with
for and since.
c. With certain time
expressions such as just,
already,yet, ever,never,
this morning, this week.
a. an action that began in
the past and continues
until the present
without interruption
(with for and since)
b. for an action that has
just finished and still
influences the present.
a. an activity that
hapenned before
another activity/ time
in the past.
a. an action which was in
progress before a second
action /definite time in the past,
and which was completed before
then
An activity that will be
completed by acertain time in
the future.
An activity that has begun and
will still be in progress by a
specific time in the future.
I´ve worked with him for the last
ten years.
She has lived in Spain since
1980.
He has just arrived.
I have already finished the job.
Have you ever been to England?
We have been waiting for over
three hours.
They have been sitting there
since eight o´clock this morning.
Ian has been running (He´s tired)
Shelly has been swimmming
(Her hair is still wet)
By the time I arrived, all the
children had gone to bed.
When I arrived at the station the
train had left.
The grass was wet because it had
been raining all night long
By tomorrow, the painters will
have finished the house.
By the end of the year, I will
have been working here for 20
years.