PRESENT SIMPLE

Structure

+ subject verb (-s) complement(s)

- subject dont/doesnt verb complement(s)
? do/does subject verb complement(s)?
Usage

Daily routines
Timetables and schedules
Things that are always true
Things that happen regulary
Verbs which describe states or feelings even if they mean now

Examples

I like football
I dont like football
Do you like football?

PAST SIMPLE
Structure

+ subject verb (in past) complement(s)

- subject didnt verb complement(s)
? did subject verb complement(s)?
Usage

Finished past actions

Examples

I ate soup
I didnt eat soup
Did you eat soup?

PRESENT CONTINUOUS
Structure

+ subject to be verb (-ing) complement(s)

- subject to be + not verb (-ing) complement(s)
? to be subject verb (-ing) complement(s)?
Usage

Actions in progress at the time of speaking

Future arrangements (= be going to)

Examples

I am going to the party

I am not going to the party
Are you going to the party?
PAST CONTINUOUS
Structure

+ subject was/were verb (-ing) complement(s)

- subject was/were + not verb (-ing) complement(s)
? was/were subject verb (-ing) complement(s)?
Usage

Action in progress at a specific time in the past

Action in progress which was interrupted by another action (expressed in the
past simple)
With while for two actions happening at the same time
Describe the beginning of a story or anecdote

Examples

I was cooking dinner

I wasnt cooking dinner
Were you cooking dinner?

PRESENT PERFECT
Structure

+ subject to have verb (past complement(s)

participle)
- subject to have + not verb (past complement(s)
participle)
? to have subject verb (past complement(s)?
participle)
Usage

Past experiences not saying exactly when they happened

Recent past actions (often with just)
With yet and already

Examples

I have done something

I havent done anything
Have you done anything?

PAST PERFECT
Structure

+ subject had verb (past complement(s)

participle)
- subject had + not verb (past complement(s)
participle)
? had subject verb (past complement(s)?
participle)
Usage
 We are talking about the past and we want to talk about an earlier past
action. Compare:
o When John arrived, they went out (= first John arrived, then they
went out)
o When John arrived, they had gone out (= they went out before John
arrived)

Examples

She had already cooked the dinner when you called

She hadnt already cooked the dinner when you called
Had she already cooked the dinner when I called?

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

Structure

+ subject to have been verb (-ing) complement(s)

- subject to have + not been verb (-ing) complement(s)
? to have subject been verb (-ing) complement(s)?
Usage

Examples

PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS

Structure

+ subject had been verb (-ing) complement(s)

- subject had + not been verb (-ing) complement(s)
? had subject been verb (-ing) complement(s)?
Usage

Examples

FUTURE SIMPLE
Structure

+ subject will verb complement(s)

- subject wont verb complement(s)
? will subject verb complement(s)?
Usage

Examples

WHEN DO I HAVE TO USE?

Present continuous, be going to or will?

Present continuous: future arrangements (= be going to)

Be going to: future arrangements (= be going to), something is already
decided and make evident predictions
 Will: instant decisions, promises, offers, suggestions and predictions or talk
about future facts
o Shall instead of will in suggestions and offers when they are questions

Present perfect or past simple?

Present perfect: we dont specify the time

Past simple: the time is mentioned or understood
REPORTED SPEECH
Present simple Past simple
Present continuous Past continuous
Past simple
Present perfect Past perfect
Past perfect
Past continuous
Present perfect continuous Past perfect continuous
Past perfect continuous
Modals
will would
can could
may might
must/have to had to
would/could/might/should/ought to would/could/might/should/ought to