TENSES

TENSE TIMELINE

ALREADY HAPPENED HAPPENING NOW WILL HAPPEN

PAST PRESENT FUTURE

 PAST PRESENT FUTURE

Simple Tenses Simple Past Simple Present Simple Future

Progressive Or Present
Past Continuous Future Continuous
Continuous Tenses Continuous

Perfect Tenses Past Perfect Present Perfect Future Perfect

Past Perfect Present Perfect Future Perfect

Perfect Progressive
Continuous Continuous Continuous
PRESENT
TENSE
 PRESENT TENSE

SIMPLE PRESENT PRESENT

PRESENT CONTINUOUS PERFECT
+s, +es, +ies, am v+ing CONTINUOUS
is v+ing have/has been v+ing
are v+ing has/have v+past participle
 SIMPLE PRESENT
a fact or habit

EXAMPLE
He studies grammar every day.
We will eat after he gets here.

KEY WORDS
always, usually, often, sometimes, seldom,
rarely, never, every day, on Sundays, etc.
 PRESENT CONTINUOUS
To talk about actions in the present, or things that are
still going on or happening now.

EXAMPLE
I can't talk on the phone. I am eating lunch.

KEY WORDS
now, right now, this quarter, etc.

Note: the Present Continuous and simple present can also be used for a future
meaning with scheduled events.

I am meeting her in the library tomorrow at 10 am.

The plane leaves at 6 p.m.
 PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS
Thing happenings in the past that explain or affect the
present. The verbs have and has are used as “helping”
or auxiliary verbs to form the present perfect tense

EXAMPLE
I have been eating since four o'clock.
I’ve just finished my shower.

KEY WORDS
for, since, lately
 PAST
TENSE
 PAST TENSE

SIMPLE PAST PAST PAST

PAST CONTINUOUS PERFECT PERFECT
CONTINUOUS
+d, +ed, +ied, was v+ing had v+past participle had/have been v+ing
change, not changed were v+ing
 SIMPLE PAST
at one time in the past, this happened; activity
completed in the past

EXAMPLE
I ate dinner yesterday.

KEY WORDS
yesterday, last week, last month, this morning (when
meaning is past), etc.
 PAST CONTINUOUS
an activity in progress at a particular time in the past

EXAMPLE
I was eating when you called.

KEY WORDS
while, when
 PAST PERFECT
an activity which was completed before another
activity in the past

EXAMPLE
I had already eaten when they arrived.

KEY WORDS
already, before, when, by the time
FUTURE
TENSE
 FUTIRE TENSE

SIMPLE FUTURE FUTURE

FUTURE (be going to) CONTINUOUS
Shall – I, We Going to +root Will be v+ing
Will – all

FUTURE FUTURE PERFECT

PERFECT CONTINUOUS
Will have v+past Will have been v+ing
 SIMPLE FUTURE (WILL)
(activity that will happen in the future)
will: used for prediction & willingness

EXAMPLE
I will study after I finish eating.
The phone is ringing. I’ll answer it.

KEY WORDS
tomorrow, next week, next month, etc.
 FUTURE (BE GOING TO)
(activity that will happen in the future)
be going to: used for prediction and prior plan

EXAMPLE
I am going to study from six to nine.

KEY WORDS
tomorrow, next week, next month, etc.
 FUTURE CONTINUOUS
(activity which will be in progress at a particular time
in the future)

EXAMPLE
She will be studying when we arrive.
I’ll be staying with my cousin for several weeks.

KEY WORDS
for
 FUTURE PERFECT
(an activity which will be finished before another time
or activity in the future)

EXAMPLE
I will have finished studying by the time you arrive.

KEY WORDS
when, by the time
 FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS
(activity in progress in the future before another
activity in the future)

EXAMPLE
I will have been studying for two hours by the time my
parents come.

KEY WORDS
for, by the time
 Notes by:

Rahmawati Osman
For
RELP 2016