Simple Continuous Perfect simple Perfect continuous

to be + -ing to have + pa.pa. (-ed) to have been + -ing

He always plays the piano. Today, he is playing the piano. He has never played the piano. He has been playing the piano
for two hours now.
Present infinitive (+s) am/are/is + -ing form has/have + pa.pa. has/have been + pa.pa.

1 habits 1 action going on now 1 events in the past with 1 stress on duration, how
2 facts 2 certain appointment in the result or connection in or long something has been
3 feelings future with the present going on
4 thoughts 3 sometimes stress on 2 experiences during a
duration period of time up until now
(“have you ever…?”)

He played the piano first, then He was playing the piano He had never played the piano He had been playing the piano
he blew his flute. yesterday at 11 AM. before the day his mother gave for two hours when I asked him
him one. to stop.

Past infinitive + ed was/were + -ing form had + pa.pa. had been + pa.pa.

1 actions in the past 1 actions/events in the 1 stress on duration, how

1 actions going on at a given
2 chain of actions in the past further past (= actions that long something had been
moment in the past
were going on before going on up until a given
2 sometimes stress on
another action/event in a moment in the further
duration
more recent past). past.

He will play the piano after he He will be playing the piano He will have played the piano Tomorrow, he will have been
finishes his homework. tomorrow at our party. before the twelve o’ clock news. playing the piano for twenty
years.

Future will + infinitive will be + -ing form will have + pa.pa. will have been + ing-form

1 certainty about the future 1 actions that will be going 1 something that will have 1 stress on duration, how
2 predictions/future opinions on at a given moment in happened before a given long something will last up
3 decisions on the spot the future moment in the future until a given moment in the
4 promises 2 asking someone politely future
5 requests about their future plans
6 offers
7 propositions
J. Degraeve - 2013
What tense to use?

Ask yourself 2 questions:

1. What period are we talking about?

a. Now?  Present (simple or continuous)
b. In the past?  Past (simple or continuous)
c. In the future?  Future (simple or continuous)
d. Period up to now  Present perfect (simple or continuous)
a given moment in the past  Past perfect (simple or continuous)
a given moment in the future  Future perfect (simple or continuous)

2. Is there emphasis on duration or is it going on at that moment?

a. Yes  Continuous
b. No  Simple

J. Degraeve - 2013