Use and Structure of sentences
Tense Used for
Simples present a) A present state of affairs.
b) A general fact.
c) Habitual actions.
d) Future timetables.
Present continuous a) A specific action that is occurring.
b) A general activity that takes place
over a period of time.
c) Future arrangements.
Simple past a) An action that began and ended at
a particular time in the past.
b) An action that occurred over a
period of time but was completed
in the past.
c) An activity that took place
regularly in the past.
Past continuous a) Interrupted actions.
b) A continuous state or repeated
action in the past.
c) Events planned in the past.
Future (going to) a) Expressing a future intent based
on a decision made in the past.
b) Predicting an event that is likely
to happen in the future.
c) Predicting an event that is likely
based on the present conditions.
Future (will) a) Making a decision at the time of
speaking.
b) Predicting an event that is likely
Example sentences
a) My sister lives in Washington.
b) The sun rises in the east.
c) I listen to the radio in the
mornings.
d) My flight leaves at 10:00.
a) Andrew is watching TV (right
now).
b) My sister is living in
Washington.
These days. I’m taking it easy.
Sue’s condition is improving.
c) I’m inviting Emma to the party
on Friday.
a) The mail came early this
morning.
b) Dad worked in advertising for
ten years.
c) We jogged every day before
class.
a) I was sewing when the
telephone rang.
b) She was looking very ill.
I was meeting lots of people at
that time.
c) Nancy was leaving for Chicago
but had to make a last-minute
connection.
a) Jim is going to bring his sister
tonight.
b) You’re going to pass the test.
Don’t worry.
c) I don’t feel well. I’m going to
faint.
a) I’ll call you after lunch.
b) You will pass the test. Don’t
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 to happen in the future.
c) Indicating willingness to do
something.
a) An action that will be ongoing at
Future continuous a particular time in the future.
b) Future actions which have already
been decided.
Present perfect a) An action that happened at an
unspecified time.
b) An action that has recently
occurred.
c) An action that began in the pass
and continues up to the present
(often used with “for” or “since”).
d) An action that happened
repeatedly before now.
Present perfect a) An action that began in the past
continuous and just recently ended.
b) An action that began in the past
and continues in the present.
c) An action repeated over a period
of time in the past and continuing
in the present.
d) A general action recently in
progress (no particular time is
mentioned).
Past perfect a) A past action that occurred before
another past action.
b) An action that was expected to
occur in the past.
Past perfect a) An action that occurred before
continuous another past action
worry.
c) If I don’t feel better soon, I will
go to the doctor.
a) At noon tomorrow. I´ll be
taking the children to their
piano lessons.
b) I’ll be wearing my black
evening dress to the dinner.
a) She has never climbed a
mountain.
I´m sorry. I have forgotten your
name.
b) He’s just gone to sleep.
c) Jack has lived in Maine all her
life.
I’ve been here since Monday.
He’s known her for two weeks.
d) We have flown across the
Pacific four times.
I’ve failed my driver’s test
twice.
a) Have you been raking the
lawn? There’s grass all over
your pant legs.
b) Laura has been studying for
two hours.
c) Simon has been smoking since
he was thirteen.
d) I’ve been thinking about going
to college next year.
a) Tom had left hours before we
got here.
b) I had hoped to know about the
job before now.
a) They had been playing tennis
before the storm broke.
His eyes hurt because he had
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 . been reading for eight hours.
b) I had been expecting his
b) An action that was expected to change in attitude.
occur in the past.

Future perfect a) An action that will be completed a) By next July, my parents will
before a particular time in the have been married for fifty
future. years.

Future perfect a) Emphasizing the length of time a) By May, my father will have
continuous that has occurred before a specific been working at the same job for
time in the future. thirty years.