Present Simple

Structure and Usage

The present simple is used to express daily routines and habits. Adverbs of frequency such as 'usually', 'sometimes', 'rarely', etc. are often used with the present simple. This tense is often used with the following time expressions: always, usually, sometimes, etc. ... every day ... on Sundays, Tuesdays, etc. Basic Construction Positive Subject + Present Tense + object(s) + time Expression Frank usually takes a bus to work. Negative Subject + do / does + not (don't / doesn't) + verb + object(s) + time Expression They don't often go to Chicago. Question (Question Word) + do / does + subject + verb + object(s) + time Expression How often do you play golf?

Present Continuous
Present Continuous for Action at the Moment Structure and Usage

One use of the present continuous tense is for action that is occurring at the moment of speaking. Remember that only action verbs can take the continuous form. This tense is often used with the following time expressions: ... at the moment ... now ... today ... this morning / afternoon / evening Basic Construction Positive Subject + be + verb + ing + object(s) + time Expression She's watching TV at the moment. Negative Subject + be + not (isn't, aren't) + verb + ing + object(s) + time Expression They aren't having fun this morning. Question (Question Word) + be + subject + verb + ing + object(s) + time Expression What are you doing? TENSE Present Continuous FORMS: He's (is) working at the moment. They aren't (are not) coming this evening. What are you doing? USES: Actions happening at the present moment. Near future intention and scheduling. More

Present Continuous for Current Projects Structure and Usage

Use the present continuous to describe projects and actions that are happening around the present moment in time. Remember that these projects have begun in the recent past and will end in the near future. This usage is especially popular for talking about current projects at work or for specific hobbies. This tense is often used with the following time expressions: ... at the moment ... now ... this week / month Basic Construction Positive Subject + be + verb + ing + object(s) + time Expression We're working on the Smith account this month. Negative Subject + be + not (isn't, aren't) + verb + ing + object(s) + time Expression He isn't studying French this semester. Question (Question Word) + be + subject + verb + ing + object(s) + time Expression Which account are you working on this week?

Present Continuous for Scheduled Events Structure and Usage

One use of the present continuous tense is for scheduled future events. This usage is especially useful when talking about appointments and meetings for work. This tense is often used with the following time expressions: ... tomorrow ... on Friday, Monday, etc. ... today ... this morning / afternoon / evening ... next week / month ... in December, March, etc. Basic Construction Positive Subject + be + verb + ing + object(s) + time Expression I'm meeting our CEO at three o'clock this afternoon. Negative Subject + be + not (isn't, aren't) + verb + ing + object(s) + time Expression Shelley isn't attending the meeting tomorrow. Question (Question Word) + be + subject + verb + ing + object(s) + time Expression When are you discussing the situation with Tom?

Past Simple
Structure and Usage

The past simple is used to express something that happened a past point in time. Remember to always use a past time expression, or a clear contextual clue when using the past simple. If you do not indicate when something happened, use the present perfect for unspecified past. This tense is often used with the following time expressions: ... ago ... in + year / month ...yesterday ...last week / month / year ... when .... Basic Construction Positive Subject + Past Tense + object(s) + time Expression I went to the doctor's yesterday. Negative Subject + did + not (didn't) + verb + object(s) + time Expression They didn't join us for dinner last week. Question (Question Word) + did + subject + verb + object(s) + time Expression When did you buy that pullover? TENSE Simple Past FORMS: She went to Paris last week. They didn't (did not) drive to work. Where did she get that hat? USES: Actions happening at a defined moment in the past. More

Past Continuous
TENSE Past Continuous FORMS: I was watching TV when you called. He wasn't (was not) working when she arrived. What were you doing when I called? USES: Interrupted past action, action happening at a specific moment in time in the past. More Past Continuous for Exact Times in the Past Structure and Usage

The past continuous tense is used to describe what was happening at a specific moment in time in the past. Do not use this form when referring to longer periods of time in the past such as 'last March', 'two years ago', etc. Use the past continuous with times of the day in the past. This tense is often used with the following time expressions: ... at 5.20, three o'clock, etc. Basic Construction Positive Subject + was / were + verb + ing + object(s) + time Expression We were meeting with Jane at two o'clock yesterday afternoon. Negative Subject + was / were + not (wasn't, weren't) + verb + ing + object(s) + time Expression They weren't playing tennis at five o'clock on Saturday. Question (Question Word) + was / were + subject + verb + ing + object(s) + time Expression What were you doing at two-thirty yesterday afternoon?

Past Continuous for Interrupted Action Structure and Usage

Use the past continuous to express what was happening when something important happened. This form is almost always used with the time clause '... when xyz happened'. It is also possible to use this form with '... while something was happening' to express two past actions that were occurring simultaneously. This tense is often used with the following time expressions: ... when xyz happened ... while xyz was happening. Basic Construction Positive Subject + was / were + verb + ing + object(s) + time Expression Sharon was watching TV when she received the telephone call. Negative Subject + was / were + not (wasn't, weren't) + verb + ing + object(s) + time Expression We weren't doing anything important when you arrived. Question (Question Word) + was / were + subject + verb + ing + object(s) + time Expression What were you doing when Tom gave you the bad news?

Future
TENSE Future with Going to FORMS: He's (is) going to fly to Boston next week. They're (are) not going to invite the Browns. Where are you going to stay? USES: Future intent or planned action More Future with Going to for Future Plans

The future with 'going to' is used to express future plans or scheduled events. It is often used instead of the present continuous for future scheduled work events. Either form can be used for this purpose. This tense is often used with the following time expressions: ... next week / month ... tomorrow ... on Monday, Tuesday, etc. Basic Construction Positive Subject + be + going to + verb + object(s) + time Expression Tom is going to fly to Los Angeles next on Tuesday. Negative Subject + be not (isn't, aren't) + going to + verb + object(s) + time Expression They aren't going to attend the conference next month. Question (Question Word) + be + subject + going to + verb + object(s) + time Expression When are you going to meet Jack?

Future with Going to for Future Intent Structure and Usage

The future with 'going to' is used for future intent. Remember that you can express a future intent without expressing the exact future time that something will occur. This use of the future with 'going to' can be used to discuss future study plans, career plans, and more. This tense is often used with the following time expressions: ... next week / month ... tomorrow ... on Monday, Tuesday, etc. Basic Construction Positive Subject + be + going to + verb + object(s) + time Expression Anna is going to study medicine at university. Negative Subject + be not (isn't, aren't) + going to + verb + object(s) + time Expression They aren't going to develop any new projects for the next few years. Question (Question Word) + be + subject + going to + verb + object(s) + time Expression Why are you going to change your job?

TENSE Simple Future FORMS: I'll (will) meet you at the airport tomorrow. He won't (will not) be able to come. Will they visit us soon? USES: Decisions made at the moment about the future, future predictions, future promises More Future with Will for Promises and Predictions Structure and Usage

The future with 'will' is used to make future predictions and promises. Often the precise moment the action will occur is unknown or not defined. This tense is often used with the following time expressions: ... soon ... next month / year / week Basic Construction Positive Subject + will + verb + object(s) + time Expression The government will increase taxes soon. Negative Subject + will not (won't) + verb + object(s) + time Expression She won't help us much with the project. Question (Question Word) + will + subject + verb + object(s) + time Expression Why will they reduce taxes?

Present Perfect
TENSE Present Perfect FORMS: I've (have) seen Mick three times this week. She hasn't (has not) been to New York. How long have you worked at Smith's? USES: 1)To express an action that was begun in the past and continues into the present. 2) To express an action that happened in the UNspecified past. 3) To express a recent action that has a present effect. More Present Perfect for Past to Present States and Actions Structure and Usage

Use the present perfect to express a state or repeated action that began in the past and continues into the moment of speaking. The present perfect or the present perfect continuous can often be interchanged. The main difference between these two forms is that the present perfect continuous is generally used to express the length of the current activity up to the present moment in time. This tense is often used with the following time expressions: ... for + amount of time ... since + specific point in time Basic Construction Positive Subject + have / has + past participle + object(s) + time Expression I have lived in Portland for four years. Negative Subject + have / has not (haven't, hasn't) + past participle + object(s) + time Expression Max hasn't played tennis since 1999. Question (Question Word) + have / has + subject + past participle + object(s) + time Expression Where have you worked since 2002?

Present Perfect to Express Recent Events Structure and Usage

The present perfect is often used to express recent events that affect the present moment. These sentences generally use the time expressions 'just', 'yet', 'already', or 'recently' to express this connection. Remember that if you give a specific time in the past, the past simple is required. This tense is often used with the following time expressions: just yet already recently Basic Construction Positive Subject + have / has + just / recently + past participle + object(s) Henry has just gone to the bank. Negative Subject + have / has not (haven't, hasn't) + past participle + object(s) + time Expression Peter hasn't finished his homework yet. Question (Question Word) + have / has + subject + past participle + object(s) + time Expression Have you spoken to Andy yet?

Present Perfect for Unspecified Past Events Structure and Usage

The present perfect is often used to express events that occurred in the past at an unspecified moment. This form is often used to express cumulative life experiences up to the present moment. Remember that if you use a specific past time expression, choose the past simple. This tense is often used with the following time expressions: twice, three times, four times, etc. ever never Basic Construction Positive Subject + have / has + past participle + object(s) Peter has visited Europe three times in his life. Negative Subject + have / has not (haven't, hasn't) + past participle + object(s) + time Expression I haven't played golf many times. Question (Question Word) + have / has + subject + (ever) + past participle + object(s) Have you ever been to France?

Present Perfect Continuous

TENSE Present Perfect Continuous FORMS: She's (has) been waiting for over three hours. They haven't (have not) been studying for long. How long have you been working on that problem? USES: To express the duration of a continuous activity begun in the past and continuing into the present. More Present Perfect Continuous Structure and Usage

The present perfect continuous is used to express how long a current activity has been going on. It is often used in context to provide a reason for a present result. Remember that continuous forms can only be used with action verbs. This tense is often used with the following time expressions: ...since + specific point in time ... for + amount of time Basic Construction Positive Subject + has / have + been + verb + ing + object(s) + time Expression He's been cleaning house for two hours. Negative Subject + has / have not (hasn't / haven't) + been + verb + ing + object(s) + time Expression Janice hasn't been studying for too long. Question (Question Word) + has / have + subject + been + verb + ing + object(s) + (time Expression) How long have you been working in the garden?

Past Perfect
TENSE Past Perfect FORMS: I'd (had) already eaten before they came. She hadn't (had not) been to Rome before that trip. Had you ever seen such a crazy lady before that? USES: To express an action that happens before another action in the past. More Past Perfect Structure and Usage

The past perfect is used to express something that happened before another point in time. It is often used to provide context, or an explanation for a specific action or result. This tense is often used with the following time expressions: ... before already once, twice, three times, etc. ... by the time Basic Construction Positive Subject + had + past participle + object(s) + time Expression She had already eaten by the time the children came home. Negative Subject + had not (hadn't) + past participle + object(s) + time Expression They hadn't finished their homework before the teacher asked them to hand it in. Question (Question Word) + had + subject + past participle + object(s) + time Expression Where had you gone before the class began?

Past Perfect Continuous

TENSE Past Perfect Continuous FORMS: She'd (had) been waiting for three hours when he finally arrived. I hadn't (had not) been sleeping for long when I heard the doorbell ring. How long had you been playing tennis when she arrived? USES: To express the duration of a continuous activity begun before another activity in the past.More Past Perfect Continuous Structure and Usage

The past perfect continuous is used to describe how long an activity had been going on before something else happened. It is often used to provide context, or a reason for a specific action. This tense is often used with the following time expressions: ... for X hours, days, months, etc ... since Monday, Tuesday, etc. Basic Construction Positive Subject + had + been + verb + ing + object(s) + time Expression She had been waiting for two hours when he finally arrived. Negative Subject + had not (hadn't) + been + verb + ing + object(s) + time Expression They hadn't been working long when the boss asked them to change their focus. Question (Question Word) + had + subject + been + verb + ing + object(s) + time Expression How long had Tom been working on that project when they decided to give it to Pete?

Future Continuous
TENSE Future Continuous FORMS: I'll (will) be cooking dinner when you arrive. They won't (will not) be living in Paris this time next year. What will you be doing next week at this time? USES: Future action at a specific moment in the future. More Future Continuous Usage and Construction

The future continuous is used to talk about an activity that will be in progress at a specific point in time in the future. For example, We'll be having lunch on the beach this time next week. This tense is often used with the following time expressions: ...this time tomorrow / next week, month, year ...tomorrow / Monday, Tuesday, etc. / at X o'clock ... in two, three, four, etc. / weeks, months, years time Basic Construction Positive Subject + will + be + verb + ing + object(s) + time Expression Peter will be doing his homework this time tomorrow. Negative Subject + will not (won't) + be + verb + ing + object(s) + time Expression Sharon won't be working in New York in three weeks time. Question (Question Word) + will + subject + be + verb + ing + object(s) + time Expression What will you be doing this time next year?

Future Perfect
TENSE Future Perfect FORMS: We'll (will) have lived here for twenty years by 2005. She won't (will not) have finished her homework by the time we arrive. How long will you have lived in France by the end of next year? USES: To express what will have happened or how long something will have happened up to a certain point in the future. More Future Perfect Structure and Usage

Use the future perfect tense to express what will happened by a certain time in the future. The future perfect tense is often used to express achievements or work done by a future point in time. This tense is often used with the following time expressions: ... by Monday, Tuesday, etc. ... by the time ... ... by five o'clock, two-thirty, etc. Basic Construction Positive Subject + will + have + past participle + object(s) + time Expression They will have finished the report by tomorrow afternoon. Negative Subject + will not (won't) + have + past participle + object(s) + time Expression Mary won't have answered all the questions by the end of this hour. Question (Question Word) + will + subject + have + past participle + object(s) + time Expression What will you have done by the end of this month?

Future Perfect Continuous

TENSE Future Perfect Continuous FORMS: He'll (will) have been sleeping for a few hours by the time we arrive. She won't (will not) have been working for long by 5 o'clock. How long will you have been driving by 6 o'clock? USES: To express the duration of an activity up to a point of time in the future. More Future Perfect Continuous Structure and Usage

The future perfect continuous is used to express the duration of an action up to a future point in time. This tense is not commonly used in English. This tense is often used with the following time expressions: ... by / ... by the time ... Basic Construction Positive Subject + will + have + been + verb + ing + object(s) + time Expression We will have been studying for two hours by the time he arrives. Negative Subject + will not (won't) + have + been + verb + ing + object(s) + time Expression He won't have been working long by two o'clock. Question (Question Word) + will + subject + have + been + verb + ing + object(s) + time Expression How long will you have been working on that project by the time he arrives?