VERB TENSES
PAST PRESENT
Describes an action/event that
occurred in the past and does
not continue to happen at all.
P P F {is/are/am + going to +
SIMPLE
A flea jumped from the dog to
the cat.
Describes actions ongoing in
the past or ongoing action took
place and completed at some
point before the time of
speaking.
PROGRESSIVE {was/were + verb + ing}
P P F P
When the recess bell rang, Jesse
was writing a long lecture on
the board.
Actions that took place &
ended in the past or an action
ended before another past
action.
PERFECT {had + past participle}
P P
P F
Miriam arrived at 5pm but Mr.
Cruz closed the store.
Continuing action began in the
past before another past
action began.
{had been + verb + ing}
PERFECT
P P F P
PROGRESSIVE
The toddlers had been running
around when the teacher got
mad.
FUTURE
Describes an action that is
occurring at the moment of
speaking, habitual, or
expresses general truth
such as scientific fact.
P P F verb}
Rectangles have four sides.
Ayna watches cartoons
every Friday.
Allows you to say that
something is in progress as
you speak and occasionally
used to refer to a future
event when used with a
conjunction, adverb or
adverbial phrase.
{is/are + verb + ing}
P F
Nora is looking for her pet.
The doors are opening in 10
minutes.
Refers to action that has
been completed at the
present or indefinite time. It
may be habitual/continued
action.
{has/have + past participle}
P F
She has worn glasses all the
time.
Describes an action that
begins in the past and
continues in the present.
{has/have been + verb +
ing}
P F
The dog has been barking
for three hours; I wonder if
someone will call the owner.
Refers to actions that
will take place after the
act of speaking.
{ will/shall + verb}
P P F
They will meet us at the
café.
Continuing action at
some point in the future.
{will be/shall be + verb +
ing }
P P F
The glee club will be
performing at a
celebration of town’s
centenary.
Refers to an action that
will be completed
sometime in the future
before another action
takes place.
{will/shall have + past
participle}
P P F
I will have eaten my
snack at 5pm before I
teach at 6pm.
Continuing action that
will be completed at
some specified time in
the future.
{will/shall have + been +
verb + ing)
P
P F
I will have been studying
Greek for 3 years by the
end of this term.