English tenses

These are examples of the English tenses. The table is provided to help you recall the different
tenses studied in previous lessons. For more detailed explanations you should visit the Grammar
Study Pages and study the different tenses.

Other links related to English tenses

Tenses | Forms and Explanations

Exercises on tenses.

Explanations Present Simple

Action that is repeated every Friday. Habitual
I visit my uncle every Friday
action.
Cats hate mice.
Facts that are believed to be true. Generalizations
The sun rises in the morning.
Scheduled events in the near future The plane takes off at 10 o'clock tonight
Explanations Present Progressive
Action that takes place now / at the moment I am working on my computer
Near future I am leaving tomorrow
Explanations Present Perfect
To talk about experiences I have been to Italy.
Past action that has the result in the present. She has read that book.
Action which started in the past and continued up
I have lived in this town for 12 years.
to now.
Explanations Present Perfect Progressive
To show that something started in the past and
He has been sleeping for the last 3 hours
has continued up until now.
To talk about an action that started in the past The grass is wet because it has been raining all
and stopped recently. day long.
To talk about an action that started in the past I have been watching TV for 2 hours / since you
and is continuing now. left.
Explanations Past Simple
Completed action in the past. She left yesterday.
To talk about an action that started in the past
She woke up, had a shower and left.
and stopped recently.
To talk about an action that started in the past
If I had a million dollar, I would help the poor.
and is continuing now.
An action taking place in the middle of another
She was playing when the accident occurred.
action.
Explanations Past Progressive
Actions happening at the same time in He was reading a newspaper while his wife was
the past. preparing dinner.
 Sh was reading a book when the light went off, had a
Interrupted action in the past.
shower and left.
Explanations Past Perfect Simple
Completed action before another
She had left when I arrived.
action in the past.
Explanations Past Perfect Progressive
To show that something started in the
past and continued up until another They had been playing soccer when the accident occurred
action stopped it.
To show that something started in the
I had been living in that town for ten years before I
past and continued up until another
moved to New York.
time in the past.
We use the Past Perfect Continuous
before another action in the past to I was so tired. I had been working for 6 hours.
show cause and effect.
Explanations Future  Simple
Instant decisions I've left the door open; I'll close it.
We use the simple future , when we
She'll pass the exam. She's hardworking.
predict a future situation
We use the simple future with: "I
(don't) think...", "I expect...", "I am It will probably rain tonight
sure...", "I wonder...", "probably".
Conditional sentence type one If I have enough time, I'll watch the film.
Explanations Future Progressive
Action that will be taking place at
When you arrive, I'll be sleeping .
some time in the future.
Explanations Future Perfect
Completed action before another
By tomorrow, I will have finished the work.
action in the past
Explanations Future Perfect Progressive
It is used to show that an action will
She will have been working for over 8 hours by the time
continue up until a particular event or
her children arrive.
time in the future.

Tenses | Forms and Explanations

Exercises on tenses.

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