VERB TENSES

Simple Present – Simple Past – Simple Future - Present Continuous – Past Continuous – Future
Continuous – Present Perfect – Past Perfect – Future Perfect – Present Perfect Continuous – Past
Perfect Continuous – Future Perfect Continuous
 Simple Present – to describe
habit/routine

Now

I eat bread every morning

Past Future
 Simple Present – to describe General
Truths (verdades absolutas)

Now

❑ The Earth has round shape.

❑ Babies cry. Past Future
❑ Plants give us oxygen.
 Simple Present – Regular Schedule Event

Now

My husband plays soccer Every

Saturday at 10 AM. Past Future
 Simple Present – Sports Commentaries and
News Headlines

Sports Commentaries:
❑ He scores;
Now
❑ He shoots;
❑ He passes the ball;
❑ She throws the ball
Past Future
News Headlines:
❑ Pfizer vaccine neutralizes Brazil
variant in lab study as experts warn of
rapid spread.
❑ Custom T-shirt maker saves its
business with early pivot to masks.
 Simple Past – to describe a Finished
Event

Now

❑I finished my homework.
❑The meeting happened Past Future
yesterday.
❑I went to the gym last
Friday.
 Simple Past – to describe a habit or a
routine in the past

Now

❑I studied Spanish in Past Future

College
in College
Simple Past – to describe series of completed events
in the past

Now

Past Future
❑Last night I finished work, I
ate dinner and watched TV. Last night
Event n° 2 Event n° 3
 Simple Future – to make prediction
(using “will”)

Now

❑I will finish my degree next

year. Past Future
O uso do “will” pode demonstrar uma
predição do que provavelmente Next year
acontecerá.
 Simple Future – to make a promise
(“will”)

Now

Past Future
❑I will call you tomorrow
tomorrow
O uso do “will” pode demonstrar
uma decisão espontânea feita no
momento da fala.
 Simple Future – Intentions/Predictions/Commands
(use of “going to”)
❑ INTENTIONS
We use ”be going to” to talk about future plans and intentions. Now
Usually the decision about the future plans has already been
made:
1. She’s going to be a professional dancer when she grows
up.
2. I’m going to look for a new place to live next month.

❑ PREDICTIONS Past Future

We use be going to to predict something that we think is
certain to happen or which we have evidence for now:
Grows up
1. It’s going to rain again soon ( the speaker can probably
see dark rain clouds.)
2. Look out! He’s going to break that glass.

❑ COMMANDS
We use be going to when we give commands or state that
something is obligatory:
[parent to a child]
1. You’re going to pick up all those toys right now. This
room is a mess!
 Simple Future – Offering/volunteering to
do something

Now

Past Future
The phone is ringing…

❑I’ll get it! (imediate future)

 Present Continuous – Ongoing Event
(evento em andamento)

Now

Past Future
I am walking alone on this dark
and scary street.
 Present Continous – a planned future
action

Now

I am going to the beach Past Future

tomorrow
Present Continous – Other uses

❑expresses irritation or a negative emotion when used with words

like always, forever,constantly which is placed between the
auxiliary (to be) and the main verb.
She is constantly complaining about her sister.
The dogs are always bringing in mud.
❑to express a trend
More and more people are becoming vegan.
Everyone is getting tattoos
 Past Continous – an ongoing past action

Now

main verb in
the present
participle
(ending + ing)
Past Future
I was drinking coffee.
auxiliary verb “to be”
in the past simple
(was/were)
 Past Continuous – Indicates something was going on
when another event happened interrupting it

Now

?
Past Future
I was taking a shower when he called.
?
 Past Continous – Parallel actions

Now

auxiliary verb “to be”

in the past simple
(was/were) conjuction

Past Future
I was writing an e-mail while she
was chatting behind me.
 Future Continous – an ongoing future
action

Now

Past Future
I will be eating lunch outside
 Future Continuous – an ongoing future action
interrupeted by another action

Now

?
?
Past Future
We will be eating lunch When you arrive.

2nd verb is in the present simple

Future Continous – Other uses

❑to talk about planned events in the future

We will be meeting with the suppliers tomorrow.
❑to express predictions on future trends
We’ll all be having holidays on Mars in 50 years.
❑with ‘until’ ("até”) to express an action that will continue over a
period of time from now
They will be training for the marathon until 11 a.m.
Present Perfect – to talk about life experience. An event happened in
the past (unspecific time) which has a connection with the present
time.

Now

?
Past Future
I have been to France
Present Perfect – repeated actions in the past,
often with quantity words (often with words of
quantity i.e numbers, many).

Now

I have eaten lobster three times in Past Future

my life.
 Present Perfect – from past to now (the action
started in the past and may still be going on)

Now

Past Future
I have worked in this company
since 2009.
Present Perfect – Other uses

❑in the negative it can express an action that remains uncompleted

Sophie has not finished her job yet.
❑to talk about an experience or accomplishment
He has never played baseball.
She has accomplished the task.
❑to talk about change over time
The office has been reorganized since I last visited.
❑often used after a superlative
This is the tastiest pizza I have ever eaten.
 Past Perfect – A completed action before
another action.

Now

Past Future
I had written the letter before
she apologized.
The 2nd action is
in the past simple.
 Past Perfect – duration of a completed
action

Now

Past Future
I had waited for one hour before
he arrived at the restaurant. Duration:
one hour
Past Perfect – Other uses

▪ with indirect speech (also called reported speech)

She told the her mother that she had not cleaned up the mess in
her bedroom.
▪ with ‘if’ conditional clauses
If I had not washed my car, it probably would not have rained
today.
If she had eaten her dinner, her mother would have let her have
chocolate.
▪ to express regret about something in the past
I wish I had listened to my parents advices.
He wished he hadn’t spent all his money on gifts for his new
girlfriend.
 Future Perfect – a future action
completed before another future action

Now

They will have spent all their Past Future

money by this time next year.
Future Perfect – to express that an action will be
finished sometime in the future using a specific
time.
Now

The meeting will have finished Past Future

by midday (12am). Midday (12am)
 Present Perfect Continuous – an action
started in the past and continuing now

Now

main verb
present
participle
(ending
Past Future
+ing)

I have been learning English.

 Present Perfect Continuous – duration
(from past to now)

Now

main verb
present
participle
(ending
+ing)
They have been eating for more Past Future
than 30 minutes! Duration (30
minutes).
duration

Obs.: O foco é no tempo

de duração!
 Present Perfect Continuous – other uses

▪ with for and since to indicate a time period for an action that
started in the past
Since last February I have been taking cookery classes.
Mary has been seeing a new doctor for the last two months.
▪ to talk about an action started in the past and that may or may
not be continuing in the present
I have been taking cookery classes. (and I am still taking the classes)
The choir have been singing all afternoon (and are still singing now).
The choir have been singing all afternoon and are taking a break now.
 Past Perfect Continuous – ongoing action
interrupted by another action.

Now

Past Future
I had been eating when she arrived.
2nd verb is in the
past simple

Obs.: É comum neste tempo

verbal ver palavras como
When – For – Since – Before.
 Future Perfect Continuous – used to express the duration
of an on-going future action

Now

Past Future
I will have been eating for 10 minutes
10 minutes
duration (duration)
Simple Present

▪ affirmative: subject + verb base (+s/+es for 3rd person singular)

▪ for the following forms the auxiliary ‘to do’ in the Present Simple (do/does) is used:
negative: subject + auxiliary + not + verb base
question: auxiliary + subject + verb base
negative question: auxiliary + subject + not + verb base.
Affirmative negative questions negative questions
I run I do not run do I run? do I not run?
you run you do not run do you run? do you not run?
he/she/it runs he/she/it does not run does he/she/ it run? does he/she/ it not run?
we run we do not run do we run? do we not run?
you run you do not run do you run? do you not run?
they run they do not run do they run? do they not run?
Simple Past

▪ affirmative: subject + verb base +ed / +d / irregular

▪ the forms below use the auxiliary verb to do in the Past Simple (did):
negative: subject + auxiliary + not + verb base
question: auxiliary + subject + verb base
negative question: auxiliary + subject + not + verb base
affirmative negative questions negative questions
I waited I did not wait did I wait? did I not wait?
you waited you did not wait did you wait? did you not wait?
he/she/it waited he/she/it did not wait did he/she/it wait? did he/she/it not wait?
we waited we did not wait did we wait? did we not wait?
you waited you did not wait did you wait? did you not wait?
they waited they did not wait did they wait? did they not wait?
Simple Future

▪ affirmative: subject + will + verb base

negative: subject + will + not + verb base
question: will + subject + verb base
negative question: will + subject + not + verb base

affirmative negative questions negative questions

I shall / will clean I shall / will not clean shall I clean? shall I not clean?
you will clean you will not clean will you clean? will you not clean?
he/she/it will clean he/she/it will not clean will he/she/it clean? will he/she/it not clean?
we will clean we will not clean shall we clean? shall we not clean?
you will clean you will not clean will you clean? will you not clean?
they will clean they will not clean will they clean? will they not clean?
Present Continuous

▪ affirmative: subject + auxiliary (to be) + main verb -ing

negative: subject + auxiliary + not + main verb
questions: auxiliary + subject + main verb
negative questions: auxiliary + subject + not + main verb

affirmative negative question negative question

I am eating I am not eating am I eating? am I eating?
you am eating you are not eating are you eating? are you eating?
he/she/it is eating he/she/it is not eating is he/she/it eating? is he/she/it eating?
we am eating we are not eating are we eating? are we eating?
you am eating you am not eating are you eating? are you eating?
they am eating they are not eating are they eating? are they eating?
Past Continuous

▪ affirmative: subject + auxiliary (to be) + main verb -ing

negative: subject + auxiliary + not + main verb
question: auxiliary + subject + main verb
negative question: auxiliary + subject + not + main verb

affirmative negative questions negative questions

I was writing I was not writing was I writing? was I not writing?
you were writing you were not writing were you writing? were you not writing?
he/she/it was writing he/she/it was not writing was he/she/it writing? was he/she/it not writing?
we were writing we were not writing were we writing? were we not writing ?
you were writing you were not writing were you writing? were you not writing?
they were writing they were not writing were they writing were you not writing ?
Future Continuous

▪ affirmative: subject + will + be + main verb -ing

negative: subject + will + not + be + main verb
question: will + subject + be + main verb
negative question: will + subject + not + be + main verb

affirmative negative questions negative questions

I will be washing I will not be washing will I be washing? will I not be washing?
you will be washing you will not be washing will you be washing? will you not be washing?
he/she/it will be washing he/she/it will not be will he/she/it be washing? will he/she/it not be
we will be washing washing will we be washing? washing?
you will be washing we will not be washing will you be washing? will we not be washing?
they will be washing you will not be washing will they be washing? will you not be washing?
they will not be washing will they not be washing?
Present Perfect

▪ affirmative: subject + auxiliary + main verb –ed/-d/irregular.

negative: subject + auxiliary + not + main verb
questions: auxiliary + subject + main verb
negative questions: auxiliary + subject + not + main verb

affirmative negative questions negative questions

I have seen I have not seen have I seen? have I not seen?
you have seen you have not seen have you seen? have you not seen?
he/she/it has seen he/she/it have not seen has he/she/it seen? has he/she/it not seen?
we have seen we have not seen have we seen? have we not seen?
you have seen you have not seen have you seen? have you not seen?
they have seen they have not seen have they seen? have they not seen?
Past Perfect

▪ affirmative: subject + had + main verb

negative: subject + had + not + main verb
question: had + subject + main verb
negative question: had + subject + not + main verb
affirmative negative questions negative questions
I had left I had not left had I left? had I not left?
you had left you had not left had you left? had you not left?
he/she/it had left he/she/it had not left had he/she/it left? had he, she, it not left?
we had left we had not left had we left? had we not left?
you had left you had not left had you left? had you not left?
they had left they had not left had they left? had they not left?
Future Perfect

▪ affirmative: subject + will + have + verb

negative: subject + will + not + have + verb
question: will + subject + have + verb
negative question: will + subject + not + have + verb

affirmative negative questions negative questions

I will have arrived
you will have arrived
he/she/it will have arrived
we will have arrived
you will have arrived
they will have arrived
I will not have arrived will I have arrived? will I not have arrived?
you will not have arrived will you have arrived? will you not have arrived?
he/she/it will not have will he/she/it have arrived? will he/she/it not have
arrived will we have arrived? arrived?
we will not have arrived will you have arrived? will we not have arrived?
you will not have arrived will they have arrived? will you not have arrived?
they will not have arrived will they not have arrived?
 Present Perfect Continuous

▪ affirmative: subject + auxiliary (to have) + auxiliary (to be) + main verb -ing
negative: subject + auxiliary (to have) + not + auxiliary (to be) + main verb
questions: auxiliary (to have) + subject + auxiliary (to be) + main verb
negative questions: auxiliary (to have) + subject + not + auxiliary (to be) + main verb

affirmative negative questions negative questions

I have been talking I have not been talking have I been talking? have I not been talking?
you have been talking you have not been talking have you been talking? have you not been talking?
he/she/it has been talking he/she/it has not been talking has he/she/it been talking? has he/she/it not been
we have been talking we have not been talking have we been talking? talking?
you have been talking you have not been talking have you been talking? have we not been talking?
they have been talking they have not been talking have they been talking? have you not been talking?
have they not been talking?
Past Perfect Continuous

▪ affirmative: subject + had + been + main verb -ing

negative: subject + had + not + been + main verb
question: had + subject + been + main verb
negative question: had + subject + not + been + main verb

affirmative negative questions negative questions

I had been asking I had not been asking had I been asking? had I not been asking?
you had been asking you had not been asking had you been asking? had you not been asking?
he/she/it had been asking he/she/it had not been had he/she/it been asking? had he/she/it not been
we had been asking asking had we been asking? asking?
you had been asking we had not been asking had you been asking? had we not been asking?
they had been asking you had not been asking had they been asking? had you not been asking?
they had not been asking had they not been asking?
Future Perfect Continuous

▪ affirmative: subject + will + have + been + verb -ing

negative: subject + will + not + have + been + verb
question: will + subject + have + been + verb
negative question: will + subject + not + have + been + verb
affirmative negative questions negative questions
I will have been jumping I will not have been jumping will I have been jumping? will I not have been jumping?
you will have been jumping you will not have been jumping will you have been jumping? will you not have been jumping?
he/she/it will have been jumping he/she/it will not have been will he/she/it have been will he/she/it not have been
we will have been jumping jumping jumping? jumping?
you will have been jumping we will not have been jumping will we have been jumping? will we not have been jumping?
they will have been jumping you will not have been jumping will you have been jumping? will you not have been jumping?
they will not have been jumping will they have been jumping? will they not have been
jumping?