Tense Form Meaning/Use Signal words

Present ● +: He/she/it take final 1. Habits and routines. Adverbs of

Simple “s”, “es” or “ies”. 2. Facts and frequency:
● -: auxiliaries generalizations. ● always,
don’t/doesn’t + inf. 3. Describing people ● usually/normall
● ?: (Wh) + auxiliary + S (personality, y,
+ Inf. appearance, nationality, ● sometimes,
jobs). ● often,
4. Permanent situations. ● seldom,
5. Timetable or schedule. ● hardly ever,
6. Definitions. ● rarely,
7. Timeless present. ● never.

Present ● +: is/are + -ing (present 1. Actions in progress at ● At the moment.

Continuous participle). the moment of speaking. ● Right now.
● -: is/are + not + -ing. 2. Temporary situations. ● Now.
● ?: (Wh) + is/are + S + 3. Changing situations. ● Currently.
-ing. 4. Future arrangements ● Every month.
(appointments). Social, ● Every + …
clinic, travel. ● This + …
5. Annoying situations ● Today.
(always). ● These days.
6. Describing a picture. ● Next + …
● The following +
...

Past Simple ● + : -d/-ed/-ied (regular 1. Definite finished actions ● … ago.

verbs) or second in a specific time in the ● last …
column (irregular past. ● in + point of the
verbs). 2. Sequence of events past.
● - : auxiliary didn’t + (writing). Important ● the previous …
bare inf. situations (finished). ● Yesterday.
● ? : (Wh) + did + S + 3. Past habits/situations ● This … (it has
bare inf. which are no longer true to be finished).
(stative). Modal
expression “used to” and
time reference at the
end.
4. Past repeated actions
(dynamic). Modal
expression “would” and
time reference at the
beginning.

Past ● + : was/were + -ing. 1. Describe scenes/settings ● While.

Continuous ● - : was/were + not + in stories. ● When.
-ing. 2. Interrupted actions. ● At that
● ?: (Wh) + was/were + S 3. Parallel actions. moment.
+ -ing. 4. Progressive situations in ● Then.
a specific moment in the ● Suddenly.
past. ● Always.
5. Annoying situations
(always).

Past Perfect ● + : Had + past 1. To speak about “early ● By the time.

Simple participle. past”: one action was ● When.
● - : Hadn’t + past finished before another ● Before.
participle. one in the past. ● After.
● ? : (Wh) + had + S + 2. To make a sequence of ● As a result.
past participle. events clear (before, ● That is why.
after). ● Since.
3. Resultative: one past ● As,
situation is the result of a ● Because.
past event.

Present ● + : have/has + past 1. To speak about 1. Ever, never,

Perfect participle. experiences. superlatives,
Simple ● - : have/has not + past 2. Actions in the past with the first time,
participle. no time reference. the only time,
● ?: (Wh) + have/has + S 3. Habits/States over a once.
+ past participle. period of time (for, 3. for, since.
since). 4. just, already,
4. Recently finished actions yet, recently,
(just, already, yet). lately, so far,
5. Actions finished or not at up to now,
the moment of speaking. this…
6. Resultative: to introduce 6. that is why,
results of a situation because, that’s
which started in the past the reason
and finished now. Events why.
with a present influence.
*Emphasis on
completion, the
action is finished
(Stative:
be/like/seem/
appear/have/own/se
nses). How many
times?

Present ● +: Have/has + been + 1. Resultative: results of an ● Recently.

Perfect present participle (-ing). action which began in ● Lately.
Continuous ● - : Have/Has + not + the past and will ● All day.
been + present continue in the future ● All …
participle. (unfinished: dynamic). ● The whole …
● ? : (Wh) Have/Has + S *Emphasis on ● For.
+ been + present duration, the action ● Since.
participle. is incomplete. How
long?
2. Actions/activities over a
period of time.

Future forms

Will + bare ● + : will + bare infinitive. 1. Promises.

infinitive ● - : won’t + bare 2. On-the-spot decisions.
infinitive. 3. Certain situations that
● ? : (Wh) + will + S + will occur in the future.
bare infinitive. 4. Predictions without
evidence (guesses).

Be going to ● + : am/is/are + going to 1. Predictions based on

+ bare + bare infinitive.
infinitive ● - : am/is/are + not +
going to+ bare
infinitive.
● ? : (Wh) am/is/are + S
+ going to + bare
infinitive.
Present ● +: is/are + -ing (present
Continuous participle).
● -: is/are + not + -ing.
● ?: (Wh) + is/are + S +
-ing.
Modal Verbs ● May + bare infinitive.
(May/Might) ● Might + bare infinitive.
Future ● + : will + be + present
Continuous participle (-ing).
● - : won’t be + present
participle.
● ? : (Wh) + will + S + be
+ present participle.
Future ● + : will have + past 1. To speak about actions
Perfect participle.
● - : won’t have + past
participle.
● ? : (Wh) will + S + have
+ past participle.
evidence (logical
deductions).
2. Plans and intentions.
1. Fixed future
arrangements (social,
travel).
2. Appointments.
Weak probability (May is Probably
slightly more likely).
1. To speak about actions
that will/won’t be in
progress at a time in the
future.
2. As the present
continuous to say that an
action is already
planned/arranged.
● In + time (at
that will/won’t be finished the end of a
at a time in the future. period).
● By + time (at
the latest,
before).