The English

PRESENT Tenses
forms, main uses and signal words
PAST FUTURE
PRESENT SIMPLE PAST SIMPLE FUTURE SIMPLE
 Affirmative:  Affirmative:  Affirmative:

Subject + Verb (+s/es/ies) Regular verbs: Subject + Verb + d/ed/ied Subject + will + Verb

 Negative:  Negative:  Negative:

Subject + do/does + not + Verb Subject + did + not + Verb Subject + will + not + Verb
SIMPLE

 Interrogative:  Interrogative:  Interrogative:

Do/Does + Subject + Verb ? Did + Subject + Verb ? Will + Subject + Verb ?

► with facts (general truths.) ► finished action in the past. ►to predict future events.
► with repeated actions (routine.) ► series of finished actions in the past. ►to express a decision, offer or
■every day/usually/always/when/… ■ yesterday/last week/a month ago/… promise.
■ tomorrow/soon/next
year/someday/…
PRESENT CONTINUOUS PAST CONTINUOUS FUTURE CONTINUOUS
 Affirmative:  Affirmative:  Affirmative:

Subject + am/is/are + Verb + ing Subject + was/were + Verb + ing Subject + will + be + Verb + ing

 Negative:  Negative:  Negative:

CONTINUOUS

Subject + am/is/are + not + Verb + ing Subject + was/were + not + Verb + ing Subject + will + not + be + Verb + ing

 Interrogative:  Interrogative:  Interrogative:

Am/Is/Are + Subject + Verb + ing ?
► action in progress right now.
► future plan or intention.
■now/right now/at the moment/…
Was/Were + Subject + Verb + ing ?
► two or more parallel past actions
► continuous (interrupted) past action
■ while(+past cont.)/when(+past smpl.)
Will + Subject + be + Verb + ing ?
►action that’ll be happening at some point.
►future expectations or
predictions.
■ this time next week/still/at 7 tomorrow/...

PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE PAST PERFECT SIMPLE FUTURE PERFECT SIMPLE

 Affirmative:  Affirmative:  Affirmative:

Subject + have/has + past participle Subject + had + past participle Subject + will + have + past participle

 Negative:  Negative:  Negative:

PERFECT SIMPLE

Subject + have/has + not + Subject + had + not + past participle Subject + will + not + have +
past participle Interrogative: past participle

 Interrogative: Had + Subject + past participle ?  Interrogative:

Have/Has + Subject + past participle ? Will + Subject + have + past participle ?
► action that finished very recently. ► past action 1 finished before past action ►action1 will finish in future before action2.
► finished action in an unfinished period. 2. ►action will finish before a given future point
■already/for/since/just/ever/never/yet/... ► with “wish” for regrets/unreal events. ■ by the
■ by the time/by(+time)/before/after/when/... time/by(+time)/before/when/till/until/
…
PERFECT

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS

CONTINUOUS

 Affirmative:  Affirmative:  Affirmative:

Subject + have/has + been + Verb + ing Subject + had + been + Verb + ing Subject + will + have + been +
 Negative: Verb + ing

Subject + have/has + not + been +  Negative:  Negative:

Verb + ing Subject + had + not + been + Verb + ing Subject + will + not + have + been +

 Interrogative: Verb + ing

Have/Has + Subject + been +  Interrogative:

Verb + ing ? Interrogative:
Will + Subject + have + been +
Had + Subject + been + Verb + ing ? Verb + ing?
► past action that continues in present. ► action continued to a point in past. ►action will continue to given future point.
► repeated actions that occurred lately. ► to show the cause of a past effect. ►to show the cause of a future
■since/for/all day/every day/recently/… ■ before/after/for/since/when/because/… effect.
■ by the
time/by(+time)/before/when/for/till/until/
…

Key ●=the tense forms / ►=common uses / ■=common signal words

Common I am=I’m / is=’s / are=’re / is not=isn’t / are not=aren’t / was not=wasn’t / were not=weren’t / do not=don’t /
Contractions does not=doesn’t / did not=didn’t / have=’ve / has=’s / have not=haven’t / has not=hasn’t / will=‘ll / will not=won’t