Tenses chart

USES
Present
simple
STRUCTURE
1. Routines and actions Pronoun + Verb
that take place
in the infinitive
regularly.
(he/she/it + s/es)
+ whatever you
2. Actions that follow
want to say
other actions.
KEY WORDS
Adverbs of
frequency (e.g
often, always,
usually, never,
seldom)
EXAMPLE
1. I have English lessons 3 times
a week.
2. I go to the supermarket and
then I go to buy orange juice.
3. I get up every day at 7 am.
3. Things that are
generally true.
Present
continuous
1. Things that are
happening right now.
2.Things that are
temporarily true.
Pronoun + Verb
to be + Verb in
the infinitive+ing
+ whatever you
want to say
Now, at the
moment, right
now, listen!,
look! Just now
4. I’m learning about Asian
cooking.
People are not writing emails as
they used to do a few years ago.
4. A new pattern or
habits.
1.Actions that took
place in the past and
finished (in a specific
time)
2. Several actions that
were completed in the
past.
Pronoun + Verb
(regular/irregular)
in the past +
whatever you
want to say
Yesterday, last
week, last
month, this
morning
Used to
3. Past habits
Past
continuous
1.An action in the past
which interrupts
another action
2. It is raining right now.
3. I’m going to visit my parents
next month.
3.Future plans.
Past simple
1. We are making a chart on
English tenses.
1. I ate dinner yesterday
2. I went to the supermarket, then
grab my groceries and I forgot my
wallet
3. I used to read magazines
Pronoun +
While, when
Was/Were + Verb
in the infinitive +
ing…
1. I was eating when you called
2.To emphasize that
something lasted for a
while
2. I was writing my thesis for six
months.
Actions in progress in
(a specific time in) the
past
3. Paula wasn’t living in Spain in
2005.
Present
perfect
1. Actions that started
in the past and has
relevance to or
continues to the
present
2.Actions which
happened in an
unknown time in the
past
Pronoun + have + already , yet,
Verb past
just, ever,
participle + …
never, times,
since + a
particular time,
for + a duration
of time.
1.I have been here since 8 a.m.
/ I have eaten Indian food two
times.
2.He has mowed the lawn
I have flown a lot to Europe
Present
perfect
continuous
Duration of an activity
that was in progress
before now
Pronoun + have + for , since,
been + Verb in
lately,
the infinitive + ing
+…
I have been eating a lot of
vegetables lately.
Past perfect
An activity which was
completed before
another activity in the
past
Pronoun + had +
kw + verb past
participle
I had already eaten when they
arrived.
Already, before,
by the time
I had already drunk when you
invited me to the party.
To show the order of
past events. To make it
clear which action
happened first.
Past perfect
continuous
An activity in progress
before another activity
in the past.
Pronoun + had +
been + Verb in
the infinitive + ing
for , since
I had been eating for two hours
before my friend arrived.
I had been buying funko pop
since november 2021
Future (Will)
Activity that will happen
in the future. We used
“will” for predictions.
Pronoun + Will +
Verb in the
infinitive
Tomorrow, next
week, next
month
I will study after I finish eating
Future (be
going to)
We used (be going to)
for prediction and prior
plan
Pronoun + Verb
to be + Going to
+ Verb in the
infinitive + ….
Tomorrow, next
week, next
month
I’m going to study from six to
nine.