TENSES USES EXAMPLES

SIGNAL
WORDS
 11 SIMPLE PRESENT
22 PRESENT CONTINUOUS

33 SIMPLE PAST
44 PAST CONTINUOUS

TENSES 55 PRESENT PERFECT

66 PRESENT PERFECT
CONTINUOUS
77 PAST PERFECT

88 FUTURE
 I/ You/ we / they (or plural noun) +

SIMPLE PRESENT
FORM verb
He / she / it (or singular noun) + verb
+ -s (or –es)
1) General truth
Two and two make four.
2) Permanent situations
I live in London.
3) Habits
USEs  She plays tennis everyday.
4) Future timetables
Our plane arrives at 4 p.m.
5) Future in time clauses
I will leave when it stops raining.

Everyday / sometimes /
SIGNAL always / never / often / when /
WORDS until / as soon as / usually /
first / then / next
 To be in the present (am –

PRESENT CONTINUOUS
FORM is – are) + verb + -ing

1) Unfinished actions now

I am working now.
2) Future plans
I am leaving to Paris
USEs
tonight.
3) Temporary situations
 She is living in Paris at
the moment.

Today - now - at the

SIGNAL moment - these days -
WORDS nowadays
 To HAVE in the present (have
FORM – has) + past participle (PP)

PRESENT PERFECT
1) Unfinished actions
I have known Joe since 2010.
I have known him for 11 years
They haven’t finished the task yet.
2) Finished actions
USEs I haven’t seen Tom this week.
 He has already left,
3) Life experiences
 She has never been to Rome.
4) News / recent events
They have just arrived
Since – for – so far – this week
SIGNAL
– this year – yet – already -
WORDS
just – never – ever - recently
 PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS
To HAVE in the present (have
FORM – has) + been + verb + -ing

1) Finished actions
I have been working the whole
day (That’s why I’m tired).
2) Unfinished actions
(emphasis on the duration)
USEs They have been living in Paris
for 5 years.
3) Temporary situations
 She has been going to the
gym a lot recently.

SIGNAL The whole day – all day –

WORDS since – for – recently -
FORM Regular verbs: Infinitive + -ed
Ireegular verbs

SIMPLE PAST 1) Finished actions:

I went to the pub
yesterday.
 Last night, they talked
USEs
about the project.
2) Unreal things
If I won the lottery, I would
buy a villa.

Yesterday – ago – last

SIGNAL week / year - previouly –
WORDS 2nd conditional – I wish -
 To be in the past (was –
FORM were) + verb + -ing

PAST CONTINUOUS
1) overlapping actions
I was walking to the bank
when I met jack.
2) Describing long actions
in the past.
USEs
They were watching TV
all day.
3) Some past habits
 She was constantly
singing.

When – while – all day – the

SIGNAL whole night – constantly –
WORDS for hours – in those days
FORM Had + past participle (PP)

PAST PERFECT
1) Action finished before
another past action
When we arrived, the film had
started.
2) Unreal things in the past.
USEs
I wish I hadn't gone to bed so
late!
If they had respected the
rules, they wouldn’t have been
punished.

SIGNAL When – before – after – 3rd

WORDS conditional – wish –
 To be in the present (am –
FORM is – are) + verb + -ing

1) Future prediction
I think it will rain.
FUTURE 2) promises, requests and
offers
I will help you with the homework.
USEs 3) Future conditionals
 If it doesn't rain, we will go to the park.
4) Intentions and predictions
It’s getting darker. It is going to
rain

Today - now - at the

SIGNAL moment - these days -
WORDS nowadays