VERB TENSES

Present tenses

Present simple

 
1Habits or situations that happen regularly.

• I wash my hair every day.
• I never go to the library.
• She‘s always late.

2Permanent situations, or things that are always or usually true.

• I don’t drink coffee.
• She‘s very tall.
• I have two brothers.

Present continuous

 
1Actions in progress, happening now or ‘around now’.

• I can’t talk now. I‘m brushing my teeth.
• I finished your book and I‘m reading a new one now.

2Temporary actions.

• My car’s in the garage. I‘m taking the bus this week.
• I‘m not training because I have an injury.

3Future arrangements.

• I‘m meeting Sally at 7.
• We are leaving early tomorrow.

Present perfect

 
1Recent events –we don’t say when. (Common with already, yet, just, recently, today, this week, etc.)

• She‘s had an accident.
• Have you finished yet?
• He‘s changed jobs recently.
• Have you seen Peter today?

2Past experiences –we don’t say when. (Common with never, ever, before, superlative + ever, number of times until now.)

• We‘ve been to Italy.
• Have you ever eaten insects?
• This is the best food I‘ve ever eaten.
• I‘ve read this book three times.

3Unfinished situations from past until now. (Common with how long, for, since, all + time, lately.)

• How long have you been here?
• We have been married for 20 years.
• I‘ve liked chocolate all my life.
• I‘ve been very busy lately.

Past tenses

Past simple

 
1Actions completed in the past.

• I saw Jimmy yesterday.
• She moved to Chester two years ago.

2Actions in chronological order in a story.

• When I arrived home, I took off my shoes and turned on the TV.

3Past habits or situations that were true in the past.

• We often played in the park after school.
• He lived with his grandparents when he was a child.

Past continuous

 
1Actions in progress at a certain time in the past.

• What were you doing yesterday at 7?
• When he arrived, I was sleeping.
• They were arguing when I last saw them.

2At the beginning of a story to describe the scene.

• It was getting dark and I was walking to the pub when suddenly …

Future tenses

will + infinitive

 
1Decisions that we take at the moment of speaking.

• “We don’t have sugar.” “Don’t worry, I‘ll buy some.”
• I‘ll have a burger and chips, please.

2Predictions about what we think will happen.

• I think he‘ll win the election.
• You will be a good doctor.

3Offers (I will or Shall I/Shall we…?).

• I‘ll carry that bag for you.
• Shall I help you with those bags?

4Promises.

• I will always love you.
• Don’t worry. I will pay you back next week.

be going to + infinitive

 
1Intentions or plans.

• Please, pass me the remote. I‘m going to watch TV.
• This summer I‘m going to look for a job.

2Predictions about what we see is going to happen (present evidence).

• Slow down! We‘re going to have an accident.
• The doctor said I‘m going to have a girl.