Past Tenses
Simple Past: the event is in the past, the event is completely finished, we say (or understand) the time and/or place of the event. If we say the time or place of the event we must use the simple past tense; we cannot use the present perfect. |
Past Continuous: Expresses an action at a particular moment in the past. The event can be short or long. The action has started before that moment but has not finished at that moment. Also when we describe the background situation in stories. |
Past perfect: Expresses an action in the past before another action in the past. This is the past in the past. |
Past Perfect continuous: It's like the past perfect tense, but it expresses longer actions in the past before another action in the past. Ex: when I arrived, Ram had been waiting for 2 hours. |
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Present tenses
Simple present: We use the simple present tense when: the action is general the action happens all the time, or habitually, in the past, present and future the action is not only happening now the statement is always true. |
Present continuous: We use the present continuous tense to talk about: action happening now action in the future Present continuous tense for action happening now a) for action happening exactly now I am eating my lunch. past present future The action is happening now. Look at these examples. Right now you are looking at this screen and at the same time... ...the pages are turning. ...the candle is burning. ...the numbers are spinning. b) for action happening around now The action may not be happening exactly now, but it is happening just before and just after now, and it is not permanent or habitual. We can also use the present continuous tense to talk about the future—if we add a future word (tomorrow, next year,...)! We only use the present continuous tense to talk about the future when we have planned to do something before we speak. We have already made a decision and a plan before speaking. |
Present perfect: There is always a connection with the past and with the present. There are basically three uses for the present perfect tense: experience change continuing situation For experience: We often use the present perfect tense to talk about experience from the past. We are not interested in when you did something. We only want to know if you did it. Connection with past: the event was in the past. Connection with present: in my head, now, I have a memory of the event; I know something about the event; I have experience of it. For change: We also use the present perfect tense to talk about a change or new information ("I have bought a car" = last week I didn't have a car). For continuing: We often use the present perfect tense to talk about a continuing situation. This is a state that started in the past and continues in the present (and will probably continue into the future). This is a state (not an action). We usually usefor or since with this structure. Connection with past:. the situation started in the past Connection with present:.the situation continues in the present. For & Since with Present Perfect Tense We often use for and since with the present perfect tense. We use for to talk about a period of time—5 minutes, 2 weeks, 6 years. We use since to talk about a point in past time—9 o'clock, 1st January, Monday. |
Present Perfect Continuous: There is usually a connection with the present or now. There are basically two uses for the present perfect continuous tense: 1 to talk about a recent activity when the effects of that activity can still be seen; 2 to emphasise how long an action has been going on for, or that it has been repeated many times. Ex: 1) A: Why are you crying? B: I have been chopping onions. 2) I've been trying to get through to Max all morning but he doesn't have his phone switched on. |
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Future tenses
Simple future: Used when there is no plan or decision to do something before we speak. We make the decision spontaneously at the time of speaking. |
Future continuous: Expresses an action at a particular moment in the future. The action will start before that moment but it will not have finished at that moment. Ex: I will be playing tennis at 10am tomorrow (I will start to play at 9 am and finish at 11 am). |
Future perfect: Expresses an action in the future before another action in the future. This is the past in the future. Ex: the train will leave the station at 9am. You will arrive at the station at 9.15 am. When you arrive, the train will have left. |
Future perfect continuous: we use it to talk about a long action before some point in the future. Ex: I will have been working here for 10 years next week. |
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