Tenses

Tense Form Rules Time expressions

Present A: S+vb (la pers a 3a adaugam - - permanent situation Advb. Of frequency
Simple s My mother works at the bank. always
/-es) - repeated/habitual actions usually
N: S + don’t/doesn’t + vb He wakes up at 6:50 every day. often
I: Do/Does + S + vb? - To talk about a general truth sometimes
Water boils at 100 degrees C. occasionally
- To talk about future actions related to timetables rarely
and programmes seldom
Our plane leaves at 10:00 am tomorrow. hardly ever
- In sport commentaries never
Messi shoots and he scores! constantly
- In exclamatory sentences with Here…/There… They are usually positioned:
Here comes the bride!  Before the main verb:
There he is. Richard never comes
Here comes uncle James! to work late.
 After the verb be: He
is often away on the
weekends.

every day
every week
in the morning/spring
at the weekend
once three months
Present A: S + TO BE + vb-ing - To describe actions happening now now
Continuous N: S + am not/isn’t/aren’t+vb- Robert is talking to his boss right now. at the moment
ing - To describe temporary situations at present
I: TO BE + S + vb-ing? I’m staying with my aunt for a few days. today
- To talk about actions which happen repeatedly and these days
are annoying (with “always” “constantly” this week/year/month
“continually”) next week/year/month
You are always taking my stuff. tonight
- To describe situations which are tomorrow
changing/developing around the present time.
Air pollution is increasing in our city.
- To talk about future arrangements.
I’m visiting some friends at the weekend.

Present A: S + have + vb (ed/V3 for - Actions which happened in the past, but the exact just
Perfect irregular verbs) time is not mentioned. yet
Simple N: S + haven’t/hasn’t + vb I have already washed my car. already
(ed/V3) - Actions which started in the past and continue up ever
I: Have/Has + S + vb (ed/V3)? to the present (emphasis on the action) never
Mary has had her dog since September. before
- Actions that happened in the past and finished, but always
the results are obvious in the present. how long
Mother has cooked dinner. = it is ready for
- Recently completed actions since
We have just finished dinner. recently
with adjectives in the superlative form and expressions lately
like: the only/first/second…etc. once
It’s the first time I have received an e-mail from my old twice
friend, Markus. so far
 !!! We use the Past Simple for actions that were completed in the past and the exact time is mentioned.
!!! The difference between Past Simple and Present Perfect Simple:
I tasted Mexican food last night. => Past Simple (the time is mentioned)
I have tasted Mexican food. => Present Perfect Simple
- We use for and since for actions that started in the past and continue up to the present.
- For + a period of time (I’ve had this car for 5 years.)
- Since + a point in time (I’ve had this car since 2017.)
!!! We commonly use AS SOON AS with the PAST SIMPLE
Present Perfect Simple + since + Past Simple = Julia has changed jobs 3 times since she came to London.
Present A: S + have/has been + vb-ing - To emphasise the duration of a state or action for
Perfect N: S + haven’t/hasn’t been + which started in the past and continues up to the since
Continuous vb-ing present. how long
I: Have/has + S + been + vb- I have been learning English for 6 years. all day/week
ing? - For actions which happened over a period of time
in the past and may have finished, but the results
are obvious in the present.
We have been walking around all day. That’s why we
are so tired.
- To show annoyance resulting from a recent action.
Who has been wearing my jacket?
 !!!! We use the Present Perfect Simple to emphasise the result of an action, but the Present Perfect Continuous to
emphasise the duration of an action.
I have called him three times this morning. PPS
I have been calling him since 9 a.m. PPC
Past A: S + vb (-ed/V2) - To describe a completed action in the past (the yesterday
Simple N: S + didn’t + vb (-ed/V2) time is mentioned) in 2008
I: Did + S + vb (-ed/V2)? Yesterday, I bought flowers for my mother. years ago
- To describe two or more actions that happened one last week/month/night
after the other in the past.
I walked up to the till, paid and then left the shop.
- To describe past habits/repeated actions in the past
(often used with adverbs of frequency)
When I was younger, I often went jogging in the park.
- To describe permanent situations in the past.
Maya lived with her grandparents when she was young.
- To describe an action in the past that interrupted a
longer action in progress.
I was sleeping when the phone rang.
Past A: S + was/were + vb-ing - To describe an action in progress at a certain time
Continuous N: S + wasn’t/weren’t + vb-ing in the past
I: Was/Were + S + vb-ing? What were you doing at 9 pm last night?
I was having dinner.
- To describe actions that were happening at the
same time in the past (usually with while/as)
While mother was cooking dinner, father was reading a
book.
- To describe background scenes to a story
 There were a lot of people at the station. Some were
talking on their phones, others were sleeping and a few
were walking up and down.
- To describe an action in progress in the past that
was interrupted by another action
While I was driving, I saw a cat in the street.
Past A: S + had + vb (-ed/V3) - To describe an action which was completed before already
Perfect N: S + hadn’t + vb (-ed/V3) a specific point of time in the past ever
Simple I: Had + S + vb (-ed/V3)? I had done my homework by midnight. never
- To describe an action that was completed before before
another action in the past. The second action is in
just
the Past Simple. when
The film had already started when we got to the cinema. by the time
after
by
Past A: S + had been + vb-ing - To emphasise the duration of an action that was in already
Perfect N: S + hadn’t been + vb-ing progress before another action or a specific point by the time
Continuous I: Had + S + been + vb-ing? of time in the past for
He had been living in London for 15 years when he since
moved back to Italy. after
- To refer to an action whose duration caused visible before
results at a later point of time in the past when
They were tired because they had been cleaning the how long
house all day.
Future A: S + will + vb (inf) - To make predictions about the future, usually with
WILL N: S + won’t + vb (inf) perhaps or after the verbs believe, think, hope,
I: Will + S + vb (inf)? expect, be sure, etc
She will probably be here tomorrow.
 - To talk about spontaneous decisions
I will cook fish for dinner
- For promises
I’ll be on time, don’t worry!
- For offers and requests
I’ll do the washing-up after dinner.
Will you help me clean my room?
- For threats and warnings
I won’t speak to you again!
Future BE A: S + be going to + vb (inf) - To talk about future plans tomorrow
GOING N: S + am not/isn’t/aren’t going I am going to study Biology next year. tonight
TO to + vb (inf) - To make predictions based on evidence next month/year/week
I: Am/Is/Are + S + going to + The clouds are grey. It’s going to rain. this month/year/Saturday
vb (inf)?
Future A: S + will be + vb-ing - To talk about actions that will be in progress at a
Continuous N: S + won’t be + vb-ing certain/specific time in the future
I: Will + S + be + vb-ing? At 9 am tomorrow she will be flying to Egypt.
Future A: S + will have + vb (-ed/V3) - To talk about actions that will be completed before by + a point in time
Perfect N: S + won’t have + vb a specific time or another action in the future. The by the time
Simple (-ed/V3) action which follows the first one is in the Present by then
I: Will + S + have + vb Simple. before
(-ed/V3)? She will have returned by the time you leave.
Future A: S + will have been + vb-ing - To show the duration of an action up to a certain by
Perfect N: S + won’t have been + vb- point of time in the future. The action may
Continuous ing continue further.
I: Will + S + have been + vb- By midnight we will have been flying for seven hours.
ing?