Tense When to use(使用時機)
Present Simple tense: simple tense is used to describe…
simple (1) Telling a situation right now(現在的狀況)
tense (2) An unchanging fact, general truth(公認事實)
(現在簡單) (3) Periodical event(週期, 頻率)
(4) Emotion verbs (like, hate, love...) (愛好,厭惡)
(5) Tell a story, movie…(說故事,電影, 劇情等)
(6) Things on timetables(時刻表上的未來)
Present Present continuous tense is used to describe…
Continuous (1) Something happen right now(正在發生)
Tense (2) Temporary events(一段期間所做的事)
(現在進行) (3) Things in the near future (very certain)
(短暫的未來, 非常確定的計畫)
(4) complaint (with always/never)(抱怨)
Present Present perfect tense is used to describe…
Perfect (1) Something finished in the past that’s linked to
Tense now (過去完成的事物,與現在有關)
(現在完成) (2) personal experience(個人經驗)
(3) The lasting of an action(動作的延續)
Past simple Past simple tense is used to describe…
tense (1) Things in the past (no relation to right now)
(過去簡單) - Past periodical event(過去的週期, 頻率)
- Past fondness, dislike, love(過去的愛好)
How to use Examples(例子) Signal words(關鍵字)
S + V +(O) (1) What do you do? always, never, usually, sometimes,
V-s (third person single (2) The sun rises in the east and sets in the west. often, hardly ever, seldom, rarely, on
三單) (3) She goes to the hospital twice a year. the whole; on Tuesdays, in the
V-es (sh/ch/x/s/o) /He always haves an egg in mornings. mornings,
V-ies (delete y, add ies) (4) I love fishing. / I hate dancing. every…(day/Saturday/August/winter)
(when the word before (5) The Snow White eats an apple and pass out. ; once a… / twice a… / three times
“y” is a vowel, no deed (6) The plan leaves at 7:30. a… (day/month/year)…..
to delete. Ex :plays)
S + BeV.+ Ving (1) Listen! I am talking to you / at the moment, at present, now, right
V-ing Look! The car is coming now, today, tonight, these days, this
Playing/ eating/ (2) I am preparing for my exams this week. year, currently / Listen!, Watch out!,
dringking… (3) Mary is moving to the USA next month; I Look!, Excuse me, tomorrow, next
V (delete e add ing) will miss her. (4) She is always complaining month, at 5 o’clock, this afternoon,
Ex: create creating but not taking action tomorrow morning….
S+ have +Vpp + O (1) I have gone to Japan, so don’t call me these already, yet, still, just, so far, lately,
S(third person single) days / She had gone to sleep already. recently, for, since, never, ever, all my
+ has + Vpp +O (2) I have been to many different countries. / I life
have read many books about animals How many times? once, twice, 3
(3) I have been talking for forty minutes. / I times…
have been here for an year.
S + V(past form) + O (1) When I was little, I woke up very early Before/ last +(month/week/year/
V+ed (2) I loved fishing with my classmate date…)/ in any time points in the past/
when I was a student. When …/ (time length) ago
Am> was (3) Mammoths were one of the largest
(2)used to - Past situation (過去的情況) Is> was mammals in the world four thousand years
Anything that happen in the past and has no Are> were ago.
connection to now can be used with past simple (4)I used to love dancing before I broke
tense(任何過去所發生與現在無關皆可使用) my leg.
Past Past continuous tense is used to describe… S + was/were + ving (1) I was doing the dishes at 7 this When/while/ At…(time points)/ this
continuous 1. An action at the exact time in the past When/while…, S + morning. (morning/evening/afternoon)/ As/
tense (過去準確時間所發生的事) BeV +ving (2) I was doing my homework when my during….
(過去進行) 2. Two things happen at the same time in the When/while + S mother came home.
past (+when/ while) +Bev +ving, + … (3) While I was having dinner, my dog
(過去兩件事發生在同一時間) jumped out the wall.
Past Past perfect tense is used to describe… S+ had+ Vpp + O,+ -I had left when you came. By+ time point / before/ after / when/
perfect -The sequence of things in the past S + V+ed -She had arrived at the party when I came. at the time/ as soon as/ As/ …
tense (過去兩件的事順序比較, 過去的過去,一定有兩 - By the time you came, the party had
(過去完成) 個時間點做比較) already started.
(there must be two actions being compared)
Future Will VS. be going to S + will/be going to (1) Will: probably, maybe, perhaps,
simple The same: Used in prediction (預測時相同) + VR + O A: Do you want to go to the party? likely, one day, in the future, in
tense Different: B: Umm... I don’t know. Maybe I will go 2080…, I think / believe / expect, in
(未來簡單) “will” is less certain, used in one’s immediate (uncertain) my opinion, I’m sure, I hope / wish /
reaction. No plan (will (較不確定 有當下反應的 (2) I think it is going to rain. promise/ guarantee…
意思, 沒有計畫) / I think I will rain. (very similar)
“be going to” is used to show certainty and (3) I am going to move to Thailand next Be going to: look at …, watch out!;
express an idea of a plan (較確定, 有計畫) week. (have a plan) my intention / plan is …/
(some grammar books say that these two words are (4) I think I will be home late. No need to
different even when used in prediction, but I think the wait for me.
 difference is so minor that it can be ignored)

Present Used to describe a continuing action right now & S + have / has+ been (1) Oh my god! I have been waiting for How long? since / for, all (day, week,
perfect complaint (用於動作的延續&抱怨) + Ving you for an hour, and you just ditch me morning), the whole (day, week,
continuous (similar to present perfect tense, focusing more on without any explanation. night)…
(現在完成 the lasting of an action)(與現在完成式類似) (2) I have been an English teacher for
進行) years. I love teaching.
Past Used to describe a continuing action in the past S + had + been + (1) I had been staying in the hotel for a How long…? , As, since/for / By/
perfect & complaint (過去動作的延續, 抱怨, ) Ving + S+Ved+ O month when you finally came. before/ after/ already/ yet/ still/….
continuous Two time point must be indicated to show the (2) By 1945, WWII had been going on for
(過去完成 sequence, similar to past perfect tense 8 ears.
進行) 一定會有兩個時間點做比較, 和過去完成相似
future An action still happens at a time point in the S + Will be Ving (1) It’s our anniversary! When you come When/ while/ at the time/ at the
progressive future,.(未來的時間點上仍然發生) when/at the time… tomorrow, I will be making delicious moment/ As….
(未來進行) meal.
(2) They will be discussing the topic in the
meeting tomorrow.
Future (1) An finished action that happens in the future. Before/by/when/… + (1) I believe that human will have gone to By the time/ before/ after/ when/ since
perfect (2) Continuing action that takes place until future S + will have + the moon by 2050 / for /already / yet / still/ …
(未來完成) time point. It is still happening Vpp… (2) When you visit me, I will have lived in
the USA for an year have You have my
words
Future An action that still happen in the future time Before/by/when/… + (1) He is so inefficient! At the time I talk By the time/ before/ after/ when/ since
perfect point. Emphasize the lasting of an action S + will have been + to him, I guess he will have been dealing / for /already / yet / still/ I think,
progressive (Very similar to future perfect tense. Not used Ving for/since … with it for hours. believe…
(未來完成 very often) (2) By the time the sun rises, I will have
 進行) been sleeping for 10 hours.

For better learning:

(1) When you learn tenses, please familiarize yourself with “when to use”, since it is the key of using correct tenses. Though I have included the most commonly seen usages,
there can be exceptions. Ask teachers or people who know how to use. (contact me if you want).
(2) The last five groups of tenses are not used very often especially the last one. In everyday English, there are other expressions used more constantly and sound more natural.
For beginners, it is more important for you to learn the former seven and the correspondent passive voices.
(3) Signal words are just for reference, they are not the only clues, nor are they the most reliable. Before you decide what tense you want to use, check the usage and maybe do
more reading and learn from different materials. Cheers!