TENSES

TENSE TIMELINE
ALREADY HAPPENED

PAST

HAPPENING NOW

PRESENT

WILL HAPPEN

FUTURE

PAST

PRESENT

FUTURE

Simple Tenses

Simple Past

Simple Present

Simple Future

Progressive Or
Continuous Tenses

Past Continuous

Present
Continuous

Future Continuous

Perfect Tenses

Past Perfect

Present Perfect

Future Perfect

Perfect Progressive

Past Perfect
Continuous

Present Perfect
Continuous

Future Perfect
Continuous

PRESENT
TENSE

PRESENT TENSE

SIMPLE
PRESENT

PRESENT
CONTINUOUS

+s, +es, +ies,

am v+ing
is v+ing
are v+ing

PRESENT
PERFECT
CONTINUOUS
have/has been 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.
Ive just finished my shower.
KEY WORDS
for, since, lately

PAST
TENSE

PAST TENSE

SIMPLE
PAST

PAST
CONTINUOUS

+d, +ed, +ied,

change, not changed

was v+ing
were v+ing

PAST
PERFECT

PAST
PERFECT
CONTINUOUS

had v+past participle had/have been 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
(be going to)

FUTURE
CONTINUOUS

Shall I, We
Will all

Going to +root

Will be v+ing

FUTURE
PERFECT

FUTURE 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. Ill 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.
Ill 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