Verb Tenses

Verb Tenses Tense

Present Simple

Present Continuous

Past simple

Past continuous

Future simple

Be going to

Uses a. Daily routines He works in a bank b. General truths The sun sets in the west c. Timetables and programmes The plane arrives at 8.30 a. For actions taking place at the moment of speaking. She’s having a shower at the moment. b. For temporary actions I’m looking for a job these days c. For actions that have been arranged in the near future They’re moving into their new house next week.

Time expressions Adverbs of frequency (usually, always, never…), every day/month/year, in the morning… at the weekend. Now, at the moment, at present, these days, still, nowadays, today, tonight… (except for future use)

a. Complete actions in the past Yesterday, then, I went camping last month … ago, last b. Past habits night/week…, in Kitchens were very different a hundred 1997… years ago. a. An action in progress in the past What were you doing at 7 o’clock last night? b. An action in progress interrupted by While, when, as, another one. all He was walking down the street when morning/evening… he ran into an old friend. c. Simultaneous past actions She was talking on her mobile phone while she was driving to work a. Predictions I think Erica will pass the exam b. On-the-spot decisions Tomorrow, the day I’ll take this leg of lamb. after tomorrow, b. Promises tonight, soon, next I will tell you everything soon. week/year…, in a week/month…, in a. Plans and intentions in the future two/three I’m going to buy a new house days/weeks… b. Predictions when there is evidence that something will happen Look at the clouds! It’s going to rain

Tense

Future Continuous

Future perfect

Present Perfect

Present Perfect Continuous

Past perfect

Past perfect continuous

Uses

Time expressions

a. An action which will be in progress in the future This time next This time next week I’ll be week/year/month… sunbathing in the sun. and other time b. An action which will definitely happen expressions with future in the future as the result of a routine reference or arrangement. I’ll be seeing Julie later. For an action which will be finished before a stated future time. Before, by, by then, by She will have finished by 8 o’clock the time, until, till a. An action which started in the past and continues up to the present. She has lived in this house for three years. For, since, already, b. An action that has recently finished yet, always, just, ever, She has just washed her hair. never, so far, today, c. An action which is not over at the this week/month…, moment of speaking. how long, lately, She has taken fifteen pictures today recently d. An action happening at an unstated time in the past. The Taylors have bought a sailing boat. a. To put emphasis on the duration on an action which started in the past and continues up to the present. Sam has been talking on the phone For, since, how long, for half an hour. lately, recently, all b. An action which started in the past morning/year… and lasted for some time. The action may have finished or may still be going on. She has been walking all morning. An action happening before another Before, after, already, past. just, for, since, till, until, She had finished work when she when, by, by the time, met her friends. never To put emphasis on the duration of an action which started and finished in the past before another past. They had been looking for a house for six months before they found one they liked.

For, since, how long, before, until