Revision of the tenses

Tense Structure Uses Example

Present Subject + Actions in Progress: It describes actions e.g I am writing this letter.
Continuous am/is/are + that are occurring at the present moment. e.g She is staying with her friend for a
present participle Temporary Actions: It can be used to few days.
(verb + -ing) describe temporary actions that may not e.g They are meeting for lunch
be habitual. tomorrow.
Future Arrangements: It can be used e.g I am studying for my exam.
for future events that are already planned
or arranged.
Past Simple For regular Completed Actions: The past simple is e.g Yesterday, I visited the museum.
verbs, the past used to talk about actions or events that e.g First, I woke up; then, I had
simple is formed are finished and no longer happening. breakfast.
by adding '-ed' to Sequential Actions: It is used to e.g When I was a child, I played
the base form of describe a series of completed actions or soccer every day.
the verb. events in a specific order.
e.g She was very happy when she
Habits or Routines in the Past: It can
be used to talk about past habits or received the news.
regular actions. e.g I lived in London for five years.
Past States or Conditions: The past e.g The Titanic sank in 1912.
simple can describe a state or condition e.g Once upon a time, there was a
in the past. brave knight.
Duration in the Past: It can be used to e.g They met each other last night.
express the duration of an action or
situation in the past.
Past Facts or Generalizations: The past
simple tense can be used to state facts or
make generalizations about the past.
Events in a Story or Narrative: Past
simple is commonly used in storytelling
to recount events.
Specific Time in the Past:
It is often used with specific time
expressions to indicate when an action
occurred.
Present Subject + Have / Actions that Occurred in the Past, but e.g "I have lived in this city for five
Perfect Has + Past has a Result in the Present (now) The years." (I still live here.)
Participle present perfect emphasizes the e.g We can't find our luggage. Have
connection between a past action and the you seen it? (The luggage was lost in
present moment. It implies that there is a the past, do you know where it is now?)
relevance or result in the present. e.g I have been to Spain three times.
Unspecified Time in the Past: It is used (At some unspecified time in the past, I
when the exact time of the action in the went to Spain).
past is not specified, but its impact or e.g I have just finished my book.
relevance to the present is emphasized. e.g Has she ever tried Chilean wine
Recent Actions (just) It is used for before? (in her life)
actions that have just been completed or e.g I've never eaten sushi before. (in my
are considered recent in the past. life)
 Talking about general experiences e.g Are Carlos and Rodrigo here? No,
(ever, never) It usually refers to an event they haven't arrived yet. (they're still
happening at some moment in your life. not here now)
Events that have not occurred up to e.g I've already graduated from
now (yet) University. (I expected to graduate at a
Events that occurred before you later date.)
expected (already) e.g Mike has worked at the Buchanans
Events that began in the past and Mansion for 3 years.
haven't changed (for, since) (Mike started working at Buchanans
mansion 3 years ago and he still works
there now.)
e.g I have worked here since 2010.

Present Perfect Subject+has/have Duration of an Action: The present e.g I have been working on this project
continuous been+present perfect continuous is used to emphasize for three hours.
participle (base the duration of an action that started in e.g She has been studying all day.
form + -ing) the past and continues up to the present e.g The room is messy because I have
moment. been cleaning.
Ongoing or Repeated Actions: It is e.g He has been living with us while his
often used for actions that have been house is being renovated.
happening continuously or repeatedly
over a period.
Result in the Present: Like the present
perfect tense, the present perfect
continuous emphasizes the connection
between the past action and the present,
highlighting the result or effect of the
ongoing activity.
Temporary Actions: It can be used for
temporary actions that have been
ongoing but are expected to end.
Past perfect Subject + had + Sequential Actions: Describes an action e.g He had already eaten when I arrived.
past participle of that was completed before another action e.g She had left before the storm started.
the main verb. in the past. e.g By the time the guests arrived, she
Time Expressions: Often used with had already prepared the meal.
time expressions like 'before,' 'after,' 'by e.g I realized I had left my keys at home
the time,' etc. when I reached the office.
Past Perfect Subject + had Ongoing Actions: Describes an action e.g I had been studying for hours before
Continuous been + present that had been ongoing for some time the exam.
participle (base before another action or point in the past. e.g He had been playing the guitar for
form + -ing) of Emphasizing Duration: Often used to years before he joined the band.
the main verb. emphasize the duration of an activity. e.g She was out of breath because she
had been running.