Present Tenses | Past Tenses | Future Tenses | Examples

The Present Tenses

Present Simple

Present Simple

Used to say what someone usually does

I always study English on Tuesday.

Present Progressive/Continuous

Present Progressive

Used to say what someone is doing now

I am studying English now

Present Perfect Simple

Present Perfect Simple

Used to show unfinished time

I have studied English twice this week.

Present Perfect Progressive/Continuous

Present Perfect Progressive

Used to say how long someone has been doing something.

I have been studying English for 2 years. I have been studying English since 1997.

The Past Tenses

Simple Past

Simple Past

Used to show a completed action

I studied English last Saturday.

Past Progressive/Continuous

Past Progressive

Often used to say when something was being done or what was happening when something else happened

I was studying English last Monday when my friend rang. I was studying English at 5pm last Monday.

Past Perfect Simple

Past Perfect Simple

The past of have done.  Used to say when something was done by.

I had done my English homework by 6.30 pm last Saturday.

• I had done my English homework by the time I ate dinner last Saturday.

Past Perfect Progressive/Continuous

Past Perfect Progressive

The past of have been. Used to show how long something was done for by a certain time.

I'd been doing my English homework for 30 minutes when my friend rang last Saturday. I'd been doing my English homework for 30 minutes by 1 pm last Saturday.

The Future Tenses

The future can be indicated in several different ways in English. It is often created with the use of auxiliaries: "She will be a student.", "She is going to drive a new car."

English can even create the future by using the simple present (used for timetables,programs etc.), "The train arrives at 10pm" or the present progressive (used for future plans), "He is collecting his mother from the station tonight."

Simple Future (uses will or shall or going to + base form)

Simple Future (Some uncertainty)

Decide to do something at the time of speaking

I think I'll do my English homework tonight.

Simple Future (Certain)

Have already decided or arranged to do something

I am going to study English next Saturday.

Future Progressive/Continous (uses will be, shall be or going to be +-ing form)

Future Progressive (Some uncertainty)

The English lesson should begin at 7.30 and end at 9.15, so the person should be studying at 7.30 (but the lesson might start late).

I will be starting my English lesson at 7.30 pm.

Future Progressive (Certain)

The English lesson begins at 7.30 and ends at 9.15, so he's certain to be studying when his friend arrives at 8.00

I am going to be studying English when my friends arrive at 9.00 pm.

Future Perfect Simple (uses will have or shall have + past participle)

Future Perfect Simple

Used to say something will already be complete by a time.

I will have already done my English homework by the time I eat dinner on Saturday.

Future Perfect Progressive/Continuous (uses will have been or shall have been + -ing form)

Future Perfect Progressive

Used to say how long something will have been happening in the future by a certain time.

I will have been studying English for 30 minutes when my friends arrive.

Some Examples

To break

To build

To buy

To die

To drink

To drive

To eat

To grow

To make

To spend

To teach

To throw

To wear

To win

 

 

 

More English Grammar