Simple present

Form: with he/she/ it we add S to the verb

With I/you/we/ they we keep the verb in its base form
Negative: with he/she/ it I use doesn’t after the
subject. Example: she doesn’t like the lights
I don’t like the lights.
Question: I should use does or do at the very
beginning of the sentence
Example: Does she drink Pepsi?
Note: I should remove the S from the verb when I
use does.
Usage: I use it with facts and routines or habitual
actions.
Present continuous:
Form: verb to be in present i.e. am/is/are+ ing to the
verb…. With I ---→ am
He/ she/ it ---→ is
We/you/they ---→ are
Negative: I am not; she/he/is not/ we/you/they are
not….
Question: Am I, is he/she/it, Are you/we/they.
Usage: 3 rules:
• Something that is happening at the moment of
speaking.
• Something that will happen in the near future.
• Something that is in progress.
Example: I am working on my project.

Present perfect:
Form: have/ has + past participle (V3) eat ate eaten
I use have with I/you/we/they
I use has with he/she/it
Negative: hasn’t / haven’t + past participle, after the
subject example: I haven’t done my homework yet.
Question: I should put has/have at the very
beginning of the sentence example: Have you done
your homework?
Usage: 3 rules
• Something that started in the past and continued
to the future time i.e. it is not done yet.
• With changes. Example: She has become more
attractive/ she has worn her hair short.
 • With Experience. Example: I have taught
English before. / we have travelled to England
before.

Present perfect continuous.

Form: has/have + been + v.ing
Negative: subject/ has / have + not + been + v.ing
Question: has/ have + subject + been + v.ing
Usage: Period of time started in the past and
continued to the present. Example I have been
studying English for 2 hours.

Simple past
Form: add (ed) to the verb if it is regular or change it
to the (V2) if it is irregular i.e. eat ate eaten.
Negative: Subject + didn’t+ base of the verb.
Example: I didn’t finish my homework yesterday.
Question: Did + Subject + base form of the verb.
Example: Did you finish your homework yesterday?
Usage: one action started and finished in the past.
Past continuous:
Form: Subject+ was/were+ v.ing
I/ he/ she/ it ---→ was
You/ we / they --→ were
Negative: Subject + wasn’t/weren’t + v.ing
Question: Was/ Were + Subject + v.ing
Usage: 3 rules
• Action that took period of time in the past
example: I was watering the plants this morning.
• 2 actions happened in the past at the same time.
Example: I was explaining the lesson while
Nadine was listening.
• 2 actions happened in the past but one action
interrupted the other, for example: I was
explaining the lesson when the zoom session
ended.
Note: The verb that started first should be in past
continuous and the verb that interrupted it should
be in simple past.
Past perfect:
Form: had + past participle of the verb
Example: I had been in my room before you
entered it.
Question: Had + Subject+ verb in past participle
Example: Had you been in your room before I
entered.
Negative: Subject + Had+ not + verb in past
participle
Example: I hadn’t been in my room before you
entered.
Usage: when two actions happened in the past
one before the other. (no interruptions)

Past perfect continuous

Form: had+ been + v.ing
Negative: subject + had + not + been + v.ing
Question: Had + subject + been + v.ing
Usage: I use it with a period of time that happened
in the past and continues to the future.
 Simple future.
Form: Subject + will + bare form of the verb/
Subject + be going to + bare form of the verb.
Be: Am / is / are
Will: less certain.
Be going to: more certain.
Question: Will + subject + bare form of the verb.
Negative: Subject+ will + not + bare form of the
verb.
Usage: something that will happen in the future.
Future continuous:
Form: subject + will + be + v.ing
Question: will + subject + be + v.ing
Negative: Subject+ will + not + be + v.ing

Usage: 3 rules
• Action that will take a period of time in the future
example: I will be watering the plants soon.
• 2 actions that will happen in the future at the
same time. Example: I will be explaining the
lesson while Nadine will be listening.
• 2 actions that will happen in the future but one
action will interrupt the other, for example: I will
be explaining the lesson when the zoom session
ends.
Note: The verb that will start first should be in
future continuous and the verb that interrupted it
should be in simple present.

Future perfect:
Form: will + have+ past participle of the verb
Example: I’ll already have arrived at the hotel
when you get there.
Question: will + Subject+ have+ verb in past
participle
Example: Will they have finished when we get
there?
Negative: Subject + will+ not + have + verb in past
participle
Example: My boss won’t have left the office by that
time.
Usage: when two actions that will happen in the
future one before the other. (no interruptions)
Future perfect continuous
Form: subject + will + have + been + v.ing
Example: He will have been travelling for 18 hours
when we see him.
Negative: subject + will + not + have + been +
v.ing
Example: By August, I won't have been smoking
for a year.
Question: will + subject + have + been + v.ing
Example: Will you have been working all day when
I see you tomorrow?
Usage: I use it with a period of time that will
happen in the future.