Verb Tenses
TENSE / FORM / USE / EXAMPLEPresent Simple
/ Infinitive (+s 3rd pers. sing.) / Facts (permanent states)
Habits/routines
With the verb say (used in quoting books, signs, etc.)
With state verbs[1] / Dogs bark / Water boils at 100°C.
Flowers blossom in the spring.
We study English every day.
“What does the recipe say?” “It says cook for 30 minutes”.
“What does Jim say in his letter?”
This book belongs to me.
I don’t think Chris likes Jane.
Present Continuous
/ Am/is/are + present participle / Action in progress now (temporary activity)
Action generally in progress around now (this week, this year)
Annoying habits
Changing trends / I am talking to you.
She’s studying English.
Are you enjoying your holiday?
You’re always complaining!
The weather is getting worse.
More and more companies are closing down.
The cost of living is getting higher and higher.
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Verb Tenses
TENSE / FORM / USE / EXAMPLEPresent Perfect Simple1
/ Have/has + past participle / Something happened (or never happened) before now at an unspecified time in the past. The adverbs so far, always, since, often, ever, never, already, yet, still, just are often used.
Repetition of an activity performed so farin my life
With for and since to describe a situation that began in the past and is still true / I have (just) been to the doctor’s.
Have you (ever) been to China?
“Haven’t you finished your translation yet?” “No, I still haven’t finished it”.
I’ve (already) read that book.
I have read 4 chapters so far.
I’ve been to Paris many times
Peter has lived in London since 2005.
We have been here for 2 hours.
I have liked mystery books since I was a child.
Present Perfect Continuous
/ Have/has + been + present participle / To describe the duration of an activity that began in the past and is still continuing or has just finished[2]
General activity in progress recently / We have been studying English since 9.30 (and we are still studying).
Susan’s been cleaning the house all morning (and she’s still cleaning).
It’s been snowingall week, I’m so glad it’s stopped now!
I’ve been cleaning the house, can’t you tell? (I’ve finished, the house is clean and I’m all dusty).
I’ve been thinking about studying French.
I’ve been working a lot lately.
I’ve been wondering what happened to you! (I haven’t heard from you for ages).
TENSE / FORM / USE / EXAMPLE
Past Simple
/ Past form (infinitive + ed) or irregular form[3] / Activities completed in the past at a specified time (explicit)
When specific time is asked about
Activities that took place at a definite time, but this time is not mentioned (implicit) / I went to the cinema yesterday.
When did you go to the cinema?
When was Napoleon born?
The train was late!
Why did you choose to study English?
I bought these shoes in the sales.
Past Continuous
/ Was/were + present participle / Activities in progress in the past (often interrupted by another event) Or
Two (or more activities) in progress at the same time.
A gradual development (mostly literary descriptions)
Changing trends in the past (cf present continuous) / I was having a shower when the phone rang.
I was having a shower while my husband was mowing the lawn.
It was growing darker and the clouds were closing in.
It was getting later and later.
Past Perfect Simple
/ Had + past participle / Activities completed before another action or time in the past / When I arrived, the film had already started.
Jane had forgotten to close the door and so the dog ran away.
After the guests had left, I went to bed.
Past Perfect Continuous
/ Have/has + been + present participle / Duration of an activity that was in progress before another activity or time in the past / I had been living in Rome living for four years before I met my husband.
Sally finally arrived at 6.30. I had been waiting for her since 5.30!
TENSE / FORM / USE / EXAMPLE
Used to
Would / Used to + infinitive
neg. didn’t use to + infinitive
formal: used not to + infinitive
Would + infinitive / Past situation (no longer true)
Repeated actions or states in the past
Repeated action in the past (descriptions and reminiscences) / I used to like tennis. (I don’t any more).
I used to live in London.
I used to play tennis every day.
Every day he would get upand go running in the park.
When I was young, I would visit my grandparents every Sunday.
Unfulfilled events in the past / Was/were going to go to + infinitive
Was/were thinking of + gerund
Was/were about to + infinitive
Was/were to have taken part / Events that were intended to take place but did not happen / I was going to (intended to) call you yesterday, but I forgot.
Phil and Wendy were thinking of getting married this spring, but they decided to wait until next year.
Mary was about to email Vera but she started surfing the net instead.
Keith was to have taken part in the Olympics, but he broke his leg.
TENSE / FORM / USE / EXAMPLE
Future will
/ Will + infinitive / Predictions
Intention at moment of decision
Making assumptions
With I think, I don’t think[4], I expect, I don’t expect, I’m sure, I’m not sure, will definitely, definitely won’t, perhaps / The economic situation will improve soon.
You will all pass your exams.
The phone is ringing. I’ll answer it.
I’ll have a mixed salad please.
That will be Mike on the phone.
I think Christie will win the race.
I don’t expect he’ll see you at such short notice.
It definitely won’t rain today.
Perhaps I’ll see you at the party?
Future going to / Going to + infinitive / Intentions and plans
Prediction with “evidence” / I’m going to take driving lessons next month. (I’ve already decided to do so)
I’m going to be an English teacher.
Look at those black clouds, it’s going to rain.
Look out! The milk’s going to boil over.
Future shall[5] / Shall + infinitive (used only with I and we) / Making suggestions, offer to do something
Requests for instructions or suggestions
Tag question with let’s
Determination / Shall we go to the cinema?
Shall I open the window?
What shall we do about the situation?
What shall I do with your mail?
Let’s play Trivial Pursuit, shall we?
I shall not cut my hair!
We shall fight for our freedom!
TENSE / FORM / USE / EXAMPLE
Future present continuous / Am/is/are + present participle / Scheduled arrangements in the future (not used with state verbs) / I’m meeting Sam tomorrow afternoon.
Tom is playing tennis with Peter on Saturday.
I’m having my hair cut next Wednesday.
Future present simple / Infinitive (+s 3rd pers. sing.) / Formal arrangements (events established by “authorities) / My plane leaves at 9am tomorrow.
The course starts on January 21nd.
Future continuous / Will be + present participle / Events which will be happening in the future / I will be leaving for New York this time next week.
Mary will be helping me tomorrow.
If you arrive before 8 o’clock, I’ll still be having my breakfast.
Will you be having a break at 10.30? If so, I’ll join you.
Future perfect simple
/ Will have + past participle / An activity that will be completed before another time or event in the future / In five years time, you will have finished university and you will be working.
By the end of this year I will have saved enough money to buy a car.
Future perfect continuous
/ Will have been + present participle / The duration of an activity that will be in progress before another time or event in the future / By the end of May, I will have been teaching you for 8 months.
When we finish at 12.30, we will have been studying for 3 hours.
Be due to / Be due to + infinitive / Reference to a scheduled time (meaning: expected to happen, scheduled to happen) / The plane is due to arrive in 10 minutes.
The lesson is due to start at 9.30.
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[1] Examples of state verbs:be, believe, belong, consist, contain, depend, doubt, fit, hate, have, know, like, love, matter, mean, need, own, prefer, realize, remember, seem, suppose, suspect, understand, want, wish.
1The adverbs ever, never, already, yet, still, just, always,often, sofar, lately, recently are typically used with the present perfect.
[2] Note that as with the present continuous, the present perfect continuous cannot normally be used with state verbs, only action verbs
[4] We don’t usually say I think he won’t come or I expect she won’t be there, but we say I don’t think he’ll come and I don’t expect she’ll be there.
[5] In the past, will was used for intention: I will write to him (I intend to write to him) and shall was used when there was no intention I shall be 30 next birthday; We shall have the exam results tomorrow. Nowadays, will is normally used in both cases.