This document provides a summary of English verb tenses including their uses, examples, and useful words associated with each tense. It covers the present simple, present continuous, past simple, past continuous, present perfect, past perfect, will future, going to future, future continuous, would simple conditional, and would perfect conditional tenses. For each tense, it lists when they are used and sample sentences to illustrate their forms and applications.

1. TensesforNewEnglishinUseESO-4
Tense Use Useful words Examples
Present simple  facts and permanent states (unit 0)  Snow melts at 0ªC.
 Water freezes at 32º Fahrenheit.
 habits and routines (unit 0)
 stative verbs are not used in the pres.
continuous (see, hear, like, think, want,
hope, feel, believe, know, understand…)
how often…?
always / sometimes /
often / never / usually
every day / once a week
/ twice a month
 Andy lives in Manchester.
 David watches television every day.
 We often have lunch together.
 How often does your mother drive to Madrid?
 She doesn’t play tennis on Monday.
 1st type conditional (unit 4) if  If I save money, I’ll buy a new mobile phone.
Present
continuous
 actions happening now (unit 0) now / at the moment  He’s watching television at the moment.
 for definite plans or arrangements in the
defined future (unit 0)
a future time expression  Liz is having lunch with her mum tomorrow.
 Mark and Tony are playing football on Sunday.
Past simple  for actions completed at a specific time
(unit 2/3)
when
yesterday / last week / in
1993
 She didn’t go to the cinema last Saturday.
 I was having a shower when the bell rang.
 They bought a new detached house in 2001.
 2
nd
type conditional if  If I lived in France I’d learn French.
Past continuous  for actions in progress at a particular time in
the past
while / as
at 9 o’clock (any time)
 I was having a shower when the bell rang.
 It started to rain while I was walking in the park.
Present perfect  for actions completed in the past that are
still relevant in the present (unit 3)
already / just
ever
yet
 It’s twelve o’clock and she’s already eaten her lunch.
 I’ve passed all my exams. I’m on holiday now.
 Have you seen Brokeback Mountain yet?
 We haven’t finished our reports yet.
 actions started in the past that continue up
to the present or completed at an
unspecified time (unit 3)
for / since
how long…?
 How long have you had your car?
 I’ve worked in London for two years.
 They have spent 100€ since last Saturday.
Past perfect  Actions done before a past time (unit 3 & 4) past time expression  I had finished the exercises when you arrived.
Will future  for instant decisions that we make at the
time of speaking (unit 1)
I think…  I need a holiday. I’ll phone the travel agent’s.
 I can’t finish in time. I think I’ll phone my sister.
 1
st
type conditional (unit 4) if  If I save money, I’ll buy a new mobile phone.
Going to future  for future plans and intentions when we
have already decided what to do (unit 1)
a future time expression  We’re going to have a picnic in the park tomorrow.
 She’s going to invite all her friends to her birthday party.
 predictions based on real facts (unit 1)  Look at the clouds! It’s going to rain.
Future
continuous
 For actions that will take place at a specific
time in the future
a future time expression  I will be watching a tennis match next Sunday afternoon.
 When you arrive, we will be studying.
Would simple
conditional
 2
nd
type conditional (unit 4) if  If I lived in France I’d learn French.
 I’d buy a new computer if I had more money.
Would perfect
conditional
 3
rd
type conditional, past events that could
have happened differently (unit 4)
if  If I had found the box, I would have given it to you.
 If it hadn’t rained last week, he would have gone surfing.