Copy of English Tenses

ENGLISH TENSES

Present

Present Simple

Future

Future Simple

Past Simple

will / be going to

Use the Simple Past to express the idea that an action started and finished at a specific time in the past.

Going to

It expresses an intention for the future

It expresses a decision the person made before the action

It is something you plan for the future

"Your shoes are dirty".

" I know, I'm going to clean them."

She studied French last year

Examples:

Angela doesn't want to live here anymore. She is going to procure a new house

We invited them to the party, but they didn't get the message

Present Perfect

I study English every day.

Past Perfect

Future Perfect

When we use the Present Perfect, there is a connection with the present. The action in the past has a result NOW

I am an English student now.

The Past Perfect expresses the idea that something occurred before another action in the past. It can also show that something happened before a specific time in the past.

Present perfect x Past Perfect

Vitória had visited her grandparents before she went to the mall

Present perfect

Past Perfect

Examples

I will have studied every tense when I finish this course.

Mariana didn't want to go to the cinema because she had seen the movie

Action verbs

Non-action verbs

Examples of no action verbs:

see, feel, taste, smell, hear,

have, want, like, love, hate

think, guess, know, understand

always

Camila had learned French and she travelled with her friends to Paris

every day

Examples

now

past

now

past

often

Maria Clara passed the test because she had studied very much

never

Present Simple

Actions that are repeated

once a month

Something happens right now

I usually walk to work.

etc.

I watch TV every night.

Leticia didn't bring her books.

That's the third time she has forgotten them

Helena has studied a lot this semester

She went there and didn't return

Fernanda loves "Twilight". She has seen it seven times!

Second time, third, fourth, etc...

Indira has gone to Oxford to study Arts. We always talk on live chat.

She hasn't had a vacation this year

Have you read "Alice in Wonderland"?

- No, I haven't

I've drunk four cups of coffee today

"I'm a little nervous. It's the first time I've driven a car."

He went there and returned

Gabriel has been to Australia. He brought me a present

Arthur is 18 years old. He is learning how to drive a car:

We use the present perfect with: "today", "this year", "this week", etc when these periods are not finished yet.

Have you ever eaten caviar? (in your life)

Gone x Been to

First time in your life

The house was dirty. They hadn't cleaned it yet

Examples:

The house is dirty. They haven't cleaned it yet

"Have you studied some languages, Ana?"

"Yes, I have studied three languages so far."

"Really? Have you ever spoken Italian?"

"Yes, I have spoken Italian several times."

"What about Mandarin?"

"No, I haven't learned it yet."

(she has learned three languages)

past

present

I am happy. [right now]

Check this example conversation:

We go to the movies on the weekend.

Examples:

This tastes delicious! [right now]

Have you ever...?

Please listen to me. [right now]

Result: Only in the present I discovered I have lost my keys

What's in the newspaper today?

- I don't know. I haven't read it yet

Yet = it shows that the speaker is expecting something to happen

She has never played golf

She played golf yesterday

I have seen Ana this morning

I saw Ana this morning

Is Susan coming to the cinema with us?

- No, she has already seen the film

past

now

Already = we use it to say that the subject did the action sooner than expected

past

now!

past

the past!

today

a period of time that continues until now

"They have bought a car."

"They bought a car last week"

a finished time in the past

Are you hungry, Luana? - No, I have just eaten an apple

Isabelle has just opened the door

"I've lost my keys!"

"I lost my keys yesterday!"

Has Cristina Left?

When did Cristina leave?

Conditions that are always true

"When" isn't important - what's important is the ACTION itself - read the book

Just = a short time ago

Now!

The past!

Present Perfect

Simple Past

Simple Past

Present Perfect

I didn't know that woman. I had never seen her before

Who is that woman? I've never seen her before

Just, Already, Yet

Past Simple x Present Perfect

(Spoken)

Water flows downhill.

Susan loves chocolate.

Examples:

Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.

The exam begins at 9 a.m. tomorrow

Past

Present Continuous

An action is happening during a period that includes the present moment

A frequent activity about which we feel some emotion - [with adverbs: always, forever, constantly, etc]

(Spoken)

Something is happening right now

Cindy is studying hard this month.

[right now]

They are eating dinner at home.

Aunt Mary is always complaining.

Examples:

I'm driving my car to work this week.

[right now]

We are watching TV.

Examples:

I'm forever losing my keys!

Examples:

[right now]

Eric is listening to music.

My brother is writing a book.

Past Perfect Continuous

The exam begins at 9 a.m. tomorrow

They're constantly kissing each other.

Present Perfect Continuous

Present Continuous

I had been studying English for two years before I moved to the U.S.

Future Perfect Continuous

I am studying English now

I am taking a photography course this year

Future Continuous

I have been studying English since 2005.

I will have been studying for over two hours by the time you arrive.

Action happening at a certain time in the past

I started walking

I finished walking

I was walking

Two actions happening at the same time (in the past)

It puts emphasis on the course of an action in the past

when

past

present

while

as long as

While I was playing, my brother was washing the car

When Vanessa arrived, the teacher was finishing the explanation

Examples:

I will be studying when you arrive.

I was using the computer last night

When I called Victor, he was driving his car

While Lara was writing the letter, the boys were sleeping

Examples:

Were we watching that movie last month?

I am going to be studying when you arrive.

Past Continuous

She wasn't studying English when you called yesterday.

They were having a romantic dinner at a fancy restaurant