Tense How to make When is it used Signals words

Present simple Verb or he/she/it + -s - Talk about facts Every day, never,
- Habits always, usually, often
- Schedules (trains, buses)

Present Am/is/are + verb + -ing - Something is happening at the moment Right now, at the
continuous moment.

Present Perfect Have/has + past - Something happened in the past and you can still For, since, already, just,
participle see the result. yet, now, ever, never

- Something started in the past and is still going on.

Present Perfect Have/has + been + past - To describe that an action started in the past and for, since, the whole
continuous participle is still going on in the present. (open past) day, all day
- The describe that a habit started in the past and
continuous in the present
- Something that has just stopped and of which the
result is clearly present.
Past simple Verb + -ed (Regular - Something happened in the past. (closed past) Yesterday, last year, in
verbs) 2006, last summer
Catch caught (irregular
verbs)
Past Was/were + verb + -ing - Something happened at a certain point in the past While, when
continuous - Something that was happening while something
else happened (combination past simple)
Past Perfect Had + past participle - Something happened in the past before another After, before, for, since
action in the past. PP for the earlier events.
Past Perfect Had + been + past - Something began in the past and continued at a for, since, the whole
continuous participle later moment in the past. day, all day
- Something that had just stopped and of which the
result is clearly visible. (explanation)
Future Will/shall + verb - When you promise to do something (in the future Tomorrow, next week,
- When you think something is going to happen in next summer, etc.
the future
Future Am/is/are going to + verb - Plans in the (near) future Tonight, soon
- When you are sure something will happen. You
have proof or made the plan.

Past continuous present continuous will

Past Present Future

Past perfect present perfect

Past simple present simple be + going to