TENSES – A SUMMARY © Craig Cameron-Fisher – Time4London – November 2020

TENSE SUBJECT AUXILIARY VERB MAIN VERB OBJECT

present simple I study English
present continuous I am studying English
present perfect I have studied English
present perfect continuous I have been studying English
past simple I studied English
past continuous I was studying English
past perfect I had studied English
past perfect continuous I had been studying English
future simple I will study English
future continuous I will be studying English
future perfect I will have studied English
future perfect continuous I will have been studying English

FOR THE PRESENT

present simple
The present simple tense is used when we talk about things that happen continually in the present,
like every day, every week, every month, etc.; we also use the present simple tense for things that
are factual. The format for present simple sentences is subject + verb (infinitive) + object.
Some examples: We study English. You go to school every day. Lions eat meat. I don’t eat meat.
present continuous
The present continuous is used to show that an ongoing action is happening now, either at the
precise moment of speech or ‘now’ in a larger sense. It can also be used to show that an action is
going to take place in the near future. It is formed with the subject plus the present continuous
tense of the auxiliary verb to be (am, is, are) plus the present particle form (-ing) of the main verb.
Some more examples:
I am studying English. He is swimming.
We are playing football this afternoon and it is raining.
We are not going to the party tonight, because it is raining; we are staying at home all day.
Note: All continuous tense forms involve the present particle form (-ing).

present perfect
The present perfect tense refers to an action or state that either occurred at an indefinite time in the past
(e.g. we have talked about this before) or which began in the past and has continued to the present
(e.g. he has grown impatient over the last hour). It is formed by have/has + the past particle form
of the main verb. Here are a few more examples:
I have studied English; I have been to Paris; I’ve lost my purse!;
We have seen this movie already; There’s been an accident - the boy has broken his leg!
Note: All perfect tense forms involve the auxiliary verb ‘to have’ in one form or another.
present perfect continuous
We use the present perfect continuous to show that something started in the past and has continued
up until now. This tense is formed by have/has + been + the present particle form (-ing) of the
main verb. Sometimes, additional phrases can be added as ‘tags’ to the beginning or end of the
sentence, to express duration: "for five minutes," "for two weeks," and "since Tuesday" are examples
of durations which can be used with the present perfect continuous. Here are some more examples:
I have been studying English for two months; Dario has been talking for the last hour.
As it’s perfect it involves the auxiliary verb ‘to have’ in one form or another.
As it’s present, it uses the present version of that auxiliary verb - ‘have’ or ‘has’.
As it’s continuous, it uses the present particle form (-ing).

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 TENSES – A SUMMARY © Craig Cameron-Fisher – Time4London – November 2020

IT’S ALL IN THE PAST

past simple
The past simple tense is the basic form of past tense in English, used to talk about an action completed
in a time before now. The time of the action can be in the recent past or the distant past, and duration is
not important. Like other simple forms, it can be used to talk about facts, e.g. He died in 1496.
I studied English; I played football; I went to the park. (The past simple tense form of regular verbs are
marked by the ending -d or -ed; however, ‘go’ is an irregular verb. In this example, the speaker completed
their action of going to the park, so they use the past simple form of the irregular verb ‘to go’ – ‘went’.)
All past forms use the past version of either the auxiliary verb, or the main verb if there is no auxiliary.

past continuous
The past continuous is used to show that an ongoing past action was happening at a specific
moment of interruption, or that two ongoing actions were happening at the same time.
The past continuous is formed from the past tense of ‘to be’ (was/were) and the present particle
form (-ing) of the main verb. Other examples of this tense are:
We were watching television when the electricity was cut off.
He was playing football when he sprained his ankle.
As it’s past, it uses the past version of the auxiliary verb ‘to be’ (was/were).
As it’s continuous, it uses the present particle form (-ing).

past perfect
The past perfect is used to make it clear that one event happened before another in the past.
It does not matter which event is mentioned first - the tense makes it clear.
The formula for the past perfect tense is had + past participle.
It doesn't matter if the subject is singular or plural; the formula doesn't change.
Often, the word ‘before’ or the phrase ‘by the time’ is used to introduce the later event.
Some examples of the past perfect tense:
I had studied English before I came to England.
She thought they had met before, but she realised she had seen him before in a film.
The plane had left by the time we got to the airport;
I had already written a letter of complaint by the time the airline apologized.
As it’s perfect it involves the auxiliary verb ‘to have’ (in the past form ‘had’).
As it’s past, it uses the past version of its auxiliary verb (‘had’) plus the past participle of
the main verb.
past perfect continuous
We use the past perfect continuous to show that something started in the past and continued up until
another time in the past. Once again, additional phrases can be added as ‘tags’ to one end of the
sentence, to express duration: "for five minutes," "for two weeks," and "since Tuesday" are examples
of durations which can be used. The past perfect continuous is made from had been and -ing.
I’d been working there for a year before I left. Had you been waiting long before the taxi arrived?
We had been trying to open the door for five minutes when Jane found her key.
Molly had been missing for several hours. It had been raining hard for a while and the streets
were very wet. Her friends had been thinking of calling the police… when she walked in, safe
and sound.
As it’s perfect it involves the auxiliary verb ‘to have’ in one form or another.
As it’s past, it uses the past version of that auxiliary verb, ‘had’, plus the past participle of ‘to be’, ‘been.
As it’s continuous, it uses the present particle form (-ing).
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 TENSES – A SUMMARY © Craig Cameron-Fisher – Time4London – November 2020

The Shape of Things to Come

future simple
The future simple refers to a time later than now, but – like the simple tenses – it can express facts
and certainty (in so far as we can ever be certain of the future…)
For example: It will rain in Britain tomorrow.
The future simple can also be used to talk about personal future plans which we fully intend to realise
and make happen. For example: I will study English.
The format for future simple is subject + will + verb + direct object. In this example, the subject is ‘I’,
my future intention is indicated by will, the action I’ll be carrying out is indicated by the verb ‘study’,
and the direct object, or the thing that's receiving the action of the verb, is ‘English’.
In another example: Marie will walk home. The subject is ‘Marie’, her future intention is indicated
by will, the action she’s carrying out is ‘walk’, and the direct object is ‘home’.
Note: All future tense forms involve the auxiliary ‘will’.
future continuous
The future continuous refers to an unfinished action or event that will be in progress at a time later
than now; future events that will be in progress at a specific time in the future. We often use this
structure to make a contrast between a present event and a future event. For example:
This time next week, we will be lying on the beach;
This time tomorrow, I will be celebrating my birthday;
Tomorrow, I will be starting work at 2pm and finishing at 6pm;
At 4pm tomorrow, I will be working.
The format for the future continuous is subject + will + be + -ing.
As it’s future, it involves the auxiliary ‘will’.
As it’s continuous, it uses the present particle form (-ing).
future perfect
The future perfect is used for actions that will be completed before some other point in the future.
When we use this tense, we are projecting ourselves forward into the future, then looking back at an
action that will be completed sometime in between those times. It’s often used with a time expression.
The format is subject + will/won't have + past participle (+ time indicator).
Note, however, that the time indicator can be used at either the beginning or end of the sentence.
For example:
The parade will have ended by the time Chester gets out of bed /
By the time Chester gets out of bed, the parade will have ended;
By eight o'clock, I won’t have left work. / I won’t have left work by eight o'clock.
As it’s future, it involves the auxiliary ‘will’.
As it’s perfect, it involves the auxiliary verb ‘to have’.
future perfect continuous
The future perfect continuous is used to talk about an activity which could have begun sometime in
the past, present, or in the future, but is expected to continue in the future.
The format consists of will + have + been + the verb's present participle (verb root + -ing).
Often, there will be an introductory or ‘tag’ clause indicating the future time, linked using the word ‘by’.
For example: By June, I will have been working as an ESOL teacher for four years. – or -
I will have been working as an ESOL teacher for four years by June.
As it’s future, it involves the auxiliary ‘will’.
As it’s perfect, it involves the auxiliary verb ‘to have’.
As it’s continuous, it uses the present particle form (-ing).
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 TENSES – A SUMMARY © Craig Cameron-Fisher – Time4London – November 2020

Complete this table:

TENSE SUBJECT AUXILIARY VERB MAIN VERB OBJECT

present simple I English
present continuous I English
present perfect I English
present perfect continuous I English
past simple I English
past continuous I English
past perfect I English
past perfect continuous I English
future simple I English
future continuous I English
future perfect I English
future perfect continuous I English

FOR THE PRESENT

present simple
1. When is the present simple tense used?
The present simple tense is used when a verb talks about things that happen continually in
the present, or when we talk about things that are factual.
2. What is the format for the present simple tense?
The format is subject + verb (infinitive) + object.
3. Write two examples.
We study English. You go to school every day. Lions eat meat. I don’t eat meat.
present continuous
4. When is the present continuous used?
The present continuous is used to show that an ongoing action is happening now, either at the
precise moment of speech or ‘now’ in a larger sense. It can also be used to show that an
action is going to take place in the near future.
5. How is it formed?
It is formed with the subject plus the present continuous tense of the auxiliary verb to be (am,
is, are) and the present particle form (-ing) of the main verb.
6. Write two examples.
He is swimming. We are playing football this afternoon.
We are not going to the party tonight; we are staying at home all day.
7. What do you notice about ALL continuous verb forms?
All continuous verb forms involve the present particle form (-ing).

present perfect

8. What does the present perfect tense refer to?

The present perfect tense refers to an action or state that either occurred at an indefinite time in
the past, or which began in the past and has continued to the present.

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 TENSES – A SUMMARY © Craig Cameron-Fisher – Time4London – November 2020

9. How is this tense formed?

This tense is formed by have/has + the past particle form of the main verb.
10. Write two examples.
I have studied English. I have been to Paris. I have lost my purse!
We have seen this movie already. There has been an accident; the boy has broken his leg!
11. What do you notice about ALL perfect verb forms?
All perfect verb forms involve the auxiliary verb ‘to have’ in one form or another.
present perfect continuous
12. What do we use the present perfect continuous to show?
We use the present perfect continuous to show that something started in the past and has
continued up until now.
13. How is this tense formed?
This tense is formed by have/has + been + and the present particle form (-ing) of the main
verb.
14. What additional phrases can sometimes be added?
Sometimes, additional phrases can be added as ‘tags’ to the beginning or end of the sentence,
to express duration.
15. Give an example of a duration.
Examples of durations which can be used with the present perfect continuous are
"for five minutes," "for two weeks," and "since Tuesday".
16. Write two examples of sentences in the present perfect continuous tense.
I have been studying English for two months; Dario has been talking for the last hour.
17. What three things should the present perfect continuous have, if it follows the colour coded
rules that we’ve seen?
As it’s perfect it involves the auxiliary verb ‘to have’ in one form or another.
As it’s present, it uses the present version of that auxiliary verb - ‘have’ or ‘has’.
As it’s continuous, it uses the present particle form (-ing).

IT’S ALL IN THE PAST

past simple
18. What is the past simple tense?
The past simple tense is the basic form of past tense in English.
19. How is it used?
It is used to talk about an action completed in a time before now.
20. Does it talk about the recent past, the distant past, or both?
The time of the action can be in the recent past or the distant past.
21. Is duration important?
Duration is not important.
22. How are the past simple forms of regular verbs usually marked?
The past simple tense form of regular verbs are usually marked by the ending -d or -ed.
23. Write two examples of sentences in the past simple tense.
I studied English. I played football. I went to the park.
24. What do you notice about ALL past forms?
All past tense forms use the past version of either the auxiliary verb, or the main verb if there is
no auxiliary.

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 TENSES – A SUMMARY © Craig Cameron-Fisher – Time4London – November 2020

past continuous
25. What is the past continuous used to show?
The past continuous is used to show that an ongoing past action was happening at a specific
moment of interruption, or that two ongoing actions were happening at the same time.
26. How is the past continuous formed?
The past continuous is formed from the past tense of ‘to be’ (was/were) and the
present particle form (-ing) of the main verb.
27. Write two examples of sentences in the past continuous.
We were playing football when he sprained his ankle.
We were watching television when the electricity was cut off.
28. As it’s both past and continuous, what standard features of these two forms does it use?
As it’s past, it uses the past version of the auxiliary verb ‘to be’ (was/were).
As it’s continuous, it uses the present particle form (-ing).

past perfect
29. How is the past perfect used?
The past perfect is used to make it clear that one event happened before another in the past.
30. Does it matter which event is mentioned first?
It doesn’t matter which event is mentioned first - the tense makes it clear which one happened first.
31. What is the formula for the past perfect?
The formula for the past perfect tense is had + past participle.
32. Does it matter if the subject is singular or plural?
It doesn't matter if the subject is singular or plural; the formula doesn't change.
33. Write two examples of sentences in the past perfect tense.
I had studied English before I came to England.
She thought they had met before, but she realised she had seen him before in a film.
The plane had left by the time we got to the airport; I had already written a letter of complaint
before the airline apologized.
34. As it’s both past and perfect, what standard features of these two forms does it use?
As it’s perfect it involves the auxiliary verb ‘to have’ (in the past form ‘had’).
As it’s past, it uses the past version of its auxiliary verb (‘had’) plus the past
participle of the main verb.
past perfect continuous
35. What do we use the past perfect continuous to show?
We use the past perfect continuous to show that something started in the past and continued
up until another time in the past.
36. What sorts of phrases can be added to one end of the sentence?
Once again, phrases can be added as ‘tags’ to one end of the sentence, to express duration.
37. How is the past perfect continuous made? What is the format?
The past perfect continuous is made from had been and the -ing form of a verb.

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 TENSES – A SUMMARY © Craig Cameron-Fisher – Time4London – November 2020

38. Write two examples of sentences in the past perfect continuous tense.
I had been working there for a year before I left.
Had you been waiting long before the taxi arrived?
We had been trying to open the door for five minutes when Jane found her key.
Molly had been missing for several hours. It had been raining hard for a while and the streets
were very wet. Her friends had been thinking of calling the police… when she walked in, safe
and sound.
39. As it’s both past, perfect, and continuous, what standard features of these three forms does it
use? As it’s perfect it involves the auxiliary verb ‘to have’ in one form or another.
As it’s past, it uses the past version of that auxiliary verb, ‘had’, plus the past
participle of ‘to be’, ‘been’.
As it’s continuous, it uses the present particle form (-ing).

The Shape of Things to Come

future simple
40. What does the future simple refer to?
The future simple refers to a time later than now, but – like the present simple – it can express
facts and certainty. It can also be used to talk about personal future plans which we fully intend
to realise and make happen.
41. Which other tenses can express facts and certainty?
The present simple, the past simple.
42. What is the format for the future simple?
The format for future simple is subject + will + verb + direct object.
43. Write two examples of sentences in the future simple tense.
Marie will walk home. I will study English.
44. What auxiliary word to ALL future tense forms involve?
All future tense forms involve the auxiliary ‘will’.
future continuous
45. What does the future continuous refer to?
The future continuous refers to an unfinished action or event that will be in progress at a time
later than now; future events that will be in progress at a specific time in the future. We
often use this structure to make a contrast between a present event and a future event.
46. Write two examples of sentences in the future continuous tense.
This time next week, we will be lying on the beach;
This time tomorrow, I will be celebrating my birthday;
Tomorrow, I will be starting work at 2pm and finishing at 6pm; so at 4pm tomorrow, I will be
working.
47. What is the format for the future continuous?
The format for the future continuous is subject + will + be + -ing.
48. As it’s both future and continuous, what standard features of these two forms does it use?
As it’s future, it involves the auxiliary ‘will’.
As it’s continuous, it uses the present particle form (-ing).

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 TENSES – A SUMMARY © Craig Cameron-Fisher – Time4London – November 2020

future perfect
49. What is the future perfect used for?
The future perfect is used for actions that will be completed before some other point in
the future. When we use this tense, we are projecting ourselves forward into the future and
then looking back at an action that will be completed sometime in between these two times.
50. What expression or indicator is often used with this tense?
It is often used with a time expression.
51. What is the format of the future perfect?
The format is subject + will/won't have + past participle + time indicator.
52. Does the indicator always come at the end of the sentence?
No, the time indicator can be used at the beginning of the sentence as well.
53. Write two examples of sentences in the future perfect tense.
The parade will have ended by the time Chester gets out of bed /
By the time Chester gets out of bed, the parade will have ended;
By eight o'clock, I won’t have left work / I won’t have left work by eight o'clock.
54. As it’s both future and perfect, what standard features of these two forms does it use?
As it’s future, it involves the auxiliary ‘will’.
As it’s perfect, it involves the auxiliary verb ‘to have’.
future perfect continuous
55. How is the future perfect continuous used?
The future perfect continuous is used to talk about an activity which could have begun
sometime in the past, present, or in the future, but is expected to continue in the future.
56. Was is the format of the future perfect continuous?
The format consists of will + have + been + the verb's present participle (verb root + -ing).
57. What word is often used with this tense, to introduce a clause indicating the future time?
Often, there will be an introductory or ‘tag’ clause indicating the future time, linked using the
word ‘by’.
58. Write two examples of sentences in the future perfect continuous tense.
By June, I will have been working as an ESOL teacher for four years. – or -
I will have been working as an ESOL teacher for four years by June.
By _______ I will have been studying English for _____ years. – or -
I will have been studying English for _____ years by _____.
59. As it’s future, perfect, and continuous, what standard features of these three forms does it use?
As it’s future, it involves the auxiliary ‘will’.
As it’s perfect, it involves the auxiliary verb ‘to have’.
As it’s continuous, it uses the present particle form (-ing).
60. Change the following present simple sentences to the past simple and future simple tenses.

PRESENT SIMPLE PAST SIMPLE FUTURE SIMPLE

I study English. I studied English. I will study English.
I play guitar. I played guitar. I will play guitar.
I write poetry. I wrote poetry. I will write poetry.
I wake up at 7.00 am. I woke up at 7.00 am. I will wake up at 7.00 am.