nw University of Applied Sciences

Northwestern Switzerland
English Grammar
Tenses

Verb tenses in English include the idea of:

Time Past, present, future

Aspect Simple, continuous (progressive), perfect

THE SIMPLE TENSES

TENSE EXAMPLES MEANING

PRESENT SIMPLE a) It snows in Alaska. In general, the simple present
expresses events or situations
b) Tom watches television every that exist always, usually,
1-:0;HH:
day. habitually; they exist now, have
1 existed in the past, and probably
c.) The sk.. 'I ·,s b \ ue....
will exit in the future.

I
PAST SIMPLE c) It snowed yesterday. At one particular time in the past,
this happened. It began and
d) Tom watched television last ended in the past.
� night.

I
FUTURE SIMPLE e) It will snow tomorrow. At one particular time in the future,
It is going to snow tomorrow. this will happen.
)(. f) Tom will watch television
tonight.
Tom is going to watch
television tonight.

THE CONTINUOUS ( PROGRESSIVE) TENSES

Form: be + -ing (present participle)

Meaning: The continuous tenses give the idea that an activity is in progress during a particular time.
The tenses say that an activity begins before, is in progress during, and continues after
another time or action.

·+
PRESENT CONTINUOUS a) Tom is sleeping right now. It is now 11:00. Tom went to sleep
at 10:00 tonight, and he is still
0 V
asleep. His sleep began in the
past, is in progress at the present
time, and probably will continue.

PAST CONTINUOUS b) Tom was sleeping when I Tom went to sleep at 10:00 last

I
arrived. night. I arrived at 11:00. He was
still asleep. His sleep began
�I
� V before and was in progress at a
particular time in the past. It
continued after I arrived.

FUTURE CONTINUOUS c) Tom will be sleeping when we Tom will go to sleep at 10:00

I
arrive. tomorrow. We will arrive at 11:00.
The action of sleeping will begin
-!
bi'V�v'- before we arrive, and it will be in
progress at a particular time in the
future. Probably his sleep will
continue.

School of Business, UAP, Windisch; Kluser 10.09.2022

nw University of Applied Sciences
Northwestern Switzerland
English Grammar
:Tenses

THE PERFECT TENSES

Form: have + past participle

Meaning: The perfect tenses all give the idea that one thing happens before another time or event
and is linked to it in some way.
TENSE EXAMPLES MEANING
PRESENT PERFECT a) Tom has already eaten. Tom finished eating sometime
before now. The exact time is not

G=f
important.

PAST PERFECT b) Tom had already eaten when First Tom finished eating. Later

I
his friend arrived. his friend arrived. Tom's eating
was completely finished before
another time in the past.
�

I
FUTURE PERFECT e) Tom will already have eaten First Tom will finish eating. Later
when his friend arrives. his friend will arrive. Tom's eating
will be completely finished before
� another time in the future.

THE PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSES

Form: have + been + -ing (present participle)

Meaning: The perfect continuous tenses* give the idea that one activity is in progress immediately
before, up to, until another time or event. The tenses are used to express the duration of
the first activity.

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS a) Tom has been studying for Activity in progress: studying
two hours. When? Before now, up to now.

'1
How long? For two hours

PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS b) Tom had been studying for Activity in progress: studying

I
two hours before his friend came. When? Before another event in
the past.
How long? For two hours
bO�

I
FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS c) Tom will have been studying Activity in progress: studying
for two hours by the time his friend When? Before another event in
arrives. the future.
I 0�
Q '-""'" How long? For two hours.

School of Business, UAP, Windisch; Kluser 10.09.2022