Verb Tense Chart

 The following chart shows the positive, negative and interrogative (question)
forms of all the principle tenses in English with a brief description of the
principle usage.
 This chart is principally for comparison purposes.

TENSE POSITIVE NEGATIVE QUESTION USE

They don't (do
Simple I play tennis on Does she know Habitual activities -
not) work in New
Present Mondays.
York.
him? States

Actions happening at a
She went to They didn't (did Where did she
Simple Past Paris last week. not) drive to work. get that hat? defined moment in the
past.
I'll (will) meet Decisions made at the
Simple you at the He won't (will not) Will they visit us moment about the
Future airport be able to come. soon? future, future predictions,
tomorrow. future promises
Actions happening at the
They aren't (are
Present He's (is) working What are you present moment. Near
not) coming this
Continuous at the moment. evening. doing? future intention and
scheduling.
Interrupted past action,
I was watching He wasn't (was What were you
Past action happening at a
TV when you not) working when doing when I
Continuous called. she arrived. called?
specific moment in time
in the past.
They won't (will
I'll (will) be What will you be
Future not) be living in Future action at a specific
cooking dinner doing next week
Continuous when you arrive. Paris this time at this time?
moment in the future.
next year.

Future with He's (is) going They're (are) not

Where are you Future intent or planned
to fly to Boston going to invite the
Going to next week. Browns.
going to stay? action
 I've (have) She hasn't How long 1)To express an action that
Present seen Mick (has not) have you was begun in the past and
Perfect three times been to worked at continues into the present.
this week. New York. Smith's? 2) To express an action that
happened in the UNspecified
past. 3) To express a recent
action that has a present
effect.
She hadn't
I'd (had) (had not) Had you ever
To express an action that
Past already been to seen such a
happens before another
Perfect eaten before Rome crazy lady
action in the past.
they came. before that before that?
trip.
She won't
How long will
We'll (will) (will not) To express what will have
you have
have lived have happened or how long
Future lived in
here for finished her something will have
Perfect twenty years homework
France by
happened up to a certain
the end of
by 2005. by the time point in the future.
next year?
we arrive.
They How long
Present She's (has) haven't have you To express the duration of a
been waiting (have not) been continuous activity begun in
Perfect for over been working on the past and continuing into
Continuous three hours. studying for that the present.
long. problem?
I hadn't
She'd (had) (had not)
How long
Past been waiting been To express the duration of a
had you
for three sleeping for continuous activity begun
Perfect hours when long when I
been playing
before another activity in the
Continuous tennis when
he finally heard the past.
she arrived?
arrived. doorbell
ring.
He'll (will) She won't
Future have been (will not) How long will
To express the duration of
sleeping for have been you have
Perfect a few hours working for been driving
an activity up to a point of
Continuous time in the future.
by the time long by 5 by 6 o'clock?
we arrive. o'clock.
Adapted from: http://esl.about.com/library/grammar/blgr_verbforms.htm?once=true&

LATTC Writing Center Rev. July 27, 2007 Title V Funded