Verb Tenses – Summary

Leading forms
Infinitive Simple Past Past Participle
See Saw Seen
Be Was Been
Love Loved Loved
Like Liked Liked
Etc… Etc… Etc…

Present Simple Past Simple Present Perfect

Present Continuous Past Continuous Present Perfect Continuous
Future Past Perfect
Future Continuous Past Perfect Continuous
Future with “goingto” Future Perfect Simple
Conditional Future Perfect Continuous
Imperative Conditional Perfect

Present Simple

The present simple is used to express actions, which are habitual. It is  I usually have a drink after work.
often used with adverbs or adverbial phrases of frequency, e.g.:  We watch football every Saturday.
usually, sometimes, often, seldom, always, never, on Sundays.  He lives in Paris.

Verbs of feeling and thinking

Verbs of feeling and thinking are only used in the simple form, e.g.  Can you see it? Do you understand?
see, hear, smell, believe, know, understand, think (when  Does she know him? I don't believe you.
expressing an opinion).  I think it's a good idea.
Present Continuous

The present continuous is used to describe actions, which are taking  Don't disturb me – l'm working.
place at the time of speaking (now):  She's having a bath at the moment can you phone later?

or around the time of speaking (but not at this precise moment).  We're trying to find somewhere to live.
 I'm reading Animal Farm

It is used to express fixed arrangements, usually in the near future.  What are you doing tonight? I'm going to the pub.
Note: the time of the action, e.g. tomorrow, next year, is always  I'm meeting my father for lunch next week.
stated or understood.
Present Perfect Simple

1. The present perfect simple is used to describe an action in the past  I've been to America.
when no time or date is stated.  He's seen that film before

2. It is used with just to describe a recently completed action.  I've just written a letter.
 She's just left – I'm afraid you've missed her.

3. It is used with since and for to describe an action, which began in  He's lived here since l955.
the past and is still continuing. Since is used for a specific point in the  I’ve been in London since 12th June.
past. For is used for a period of time.  He's lived here for 25 years.
 I’ve been in London for two months.

4. It is used with already.  I've already done the washing up.

5. It is used with (not)... yet.  I haven't finished yet.

 They haven't discussed it yet.
 Have you done it yet?
6. It is used with time expressions, e.g. never, always, often, seldom,
to mean “up to now”.  I’ve always loved Garbo's films.
 They've never been abroad.
Present Perfect Continuous

1. The present perfect continuous is used with since and for to  I've been living in Germany since 1976.
describe an action beginning in the past and still continuing. Since is  He's been waiting since 6.30.
used for a specific point in the past. For is used for a period of time.  I've been learning English for six months.

2. It is used to describe an action, which began in the past and has just  I've been working hard all morning. (but now I've finished)
ended.  She's been trying to contact him since 9.00. (and now she's
succeeded)

3. When the number of times an action is completed is stated, the  He's drunk four bottles of beer this evening.
present perfect simple is always used  I've typed six letters this morning.

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but when the length of time of the action is emphasized, the present
perfect continuous is used.
 He's been drinking all evening.
4. In the negative, the present perfect simple is usually used  I've been typing since 9.00.

 I haven't eaten caviare since I was in Moscow.

but when the negative action is itself continuous, the present perfect  I haven't listened to Mozart for several months
continuous is used.
 I haven't been feeling well lately.
 He hasn't been working very hard this week.

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Past Simple

The past simple is used to describe an action which took place at a  I went to Rome last month
specific time in the past and is often used with time expressions in  We saw a good film yesterday.
the past, e.g. yesterday, last week, last year, six days ago.
 I've been to Rome.
Note: compare the present perfect (no time stated) with the past  I went to Rome last month.
simple (time stated).

It is used to describe an action, which took place for a period of time in  I lived in Australia when I was a child.
the past, but is now finished.

Note: compare the present perfect with the past simple.  I've lived in Paris for two years. (I still live there.)
 I lived in Paris for two years. (I live in London now.)
Past Continuous

The past continuous is used to describe an action continuing at a  Did you phone at 10.00? I was working upstairs then.
specific point in the past, while not stating when it began or finished.

It is used to describe an action continuing in the past, which is  I was having a bath when the phone rang.
interrupted, by another action.

It is used to describe a scene in the past with no specified time limits.  It was getting dark.
 The wind was blowing strongly.
Past Perfect Simple

The past perfect simple is used to describe an action taking place  He died in 1957. His wife had died five years earlier.
before a specific point in the past about which we are already  By 10.00 last night I had already written six letters.
speaking.  When she arrived he had just left.

It is used with after to describe a sequence of actions.  After I had finished, I went outside.
 After he had made the coffee, he sat down.

Note: when is often used with the past simple, instead of the past  When he took off his hat they saw that he was bald.
perfect simple, to connect two past consecutive actions, but only
when it is clear that one followed the other. There is often an idea of
result.
Past Perfect Continuous

The past perfect continuous is used to describe an action, which  By 7.00 I had been waiting for half an hour, and she still hadn't
continued up to, and after, a specific point in the past. come. (so I went on waiting)

It is used for an action, which continued up to a specific point in the  We had been waiting for hours when the train finally arrived.
past and then ended.

When the number of times an action is completed is stated, the past  I had smoked thirty cigarettes
perfect simple is always used,

but when the length of time of the action is emphasized, the past  I had been smoking all day.
perfect continuous is used.

In the negative, the past perfect simple is usually used but when the  When she arrived I hadn't finished my work.
negative action is itself continuous, the past perfect continuous is  I hadn't been sleeping well, so I went to see the doctor last
used. week.
Future

shall is the grammatically correct form to use with I and we, but now  Shall we go to Scotland for our holiday this year?
is only used for formal English and to make a suggestion or to offer  Shall I open the door for you?
to do something.

will is often used to express a fact or forecast.  There will be storms over western England tomorrow.
 I'll earn more money in my new job.

It is used to offer to do something. See also shall above.  I'll do the shopping for you.
 I'll get the supper tonight.

It is used to make a request.  Will you open the window, please?

It is used for a polite invitation.  Will you sit down?

 Will you have some more tea?

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The Future Continuous

The future continuous is used to describe an action taking place  I'll be working all day tomorrow.
within a stated period of time in the future.  She'll be teaching from 2.00 until 4.30

It is used to describe an action continuing at a given point of time in  When we get to London it will probably be raining.
the future, but the action will begin before and end after that point.  This time next week I'll be lying on a beach in Yugoslavia.

It is used to describe a routine future action.  I'll be seeing him tomorrow anyway, so I can give it to him then.
 I suppose you'll be going to Spain as usual this year.
Future with “going to”

going to is commonly used in the future to express intention.  I'm going to sell my car next week.
 She's going to have a party in June.
 What are you going to do now?

It is used to forecast an event in the near future.  It's going to rain.

 There's going to be trouble.
 I'm going to be sick.

The present continuous is used to express fixed arrangements  I'm meeting some friends for a drink tomorrow evening.
usually in the near future.  He's flying to Berlin at 6.00 on 17th December.

The present simple is used to express future travelling arrangements  We leave tonight at 6.00 from Kings Cross Station.
or a timetable arrangement.  What time does he arrive in London?
 The concert starts at 8.00.
Future Perfect Simple

The future perfect simple is used to describe an action, which will be  This time next year, I'll have finished my job in London.
in the past at a given point of time in the future.  What will we have achieved by the year 2020?
 By the end of this year I still won't have earned enough for a
new car.

Future Perfect Continuous

The future perfect continuous is used to describe an action at a  When it's finished, he'll have been working on this project for
certain point in the future, which will have begun in the past, and will four years.
either have just finished or still be continuing.  By 2010 I'll have been living in London for ten years.

In the negative, the future perfect simple is usually used  I won't have finished by 9.00 tonight.

but when the negative action is itself continuous, the future  By Wednesday they won't have been speaking to each other
continuous is used. for three weeks.
Conditional

The conditional is used to talk about a possibility.  I would take a long holiday, if I won the £1.000.

There is a special form used to give advice.  If I were you, I wouldn’t buy that house.
Conditional Perfect

The conditional perfect is used to talk about a past possibility which  If I had seen the red traffic light, I would have stopped.
didn’t happen or which can’t be reversed.  I wouldn’t have married John, if I had met you before.
Imperative

The imperative is used to tell somebody, especially a child, to do  Don’t touch the electric fire!
something, in a very direct and familiar way except when it is used  Keep out.
formally on public notices.  Do not walk on the grass.

Note: Polite requests are made with could, would, can or will.  Could you open the window please?
 Would you lend me your pen?
 Can you fetch the order book? (stronger)
 Will you bring me that file? (stronger)

I hope you enjoy learning the verb tenses…

See you around, dudes!!!

TMBC