Tenses of the Verb

1. SIMPLE CONTINUOU
S
PERFECT PERFECT
CONTINUOUS
PRESEN
T
PAST
FUTUR
E
PRESENT
SIMPLE
PRESENT
CONTINUOUS
PRESENT
PERFECT
PRESENT
PERFECT
CONTINUOUS
PAST
SIMPLE
PAST
CONTINUOUS
PAST
PERFECT
FUTURE
PERFECT
CONTINUOUS
FUTURE
SIMPLE
FUTURE
CONTINUOUS
FUTURE
PERFECT
PAST
PERFECT
CONTINUOUS
TENSES SIMPLIFIED TABLE

2. PRESENT SIMPLE
Subject + verb
1. Habits and routines
Ex: I drink milk every night.
Faye goes to school from Monday to Friday.
2. Facts (true facts)
Ex: Smith works as a teacher.
Sun rises in the east.

3. PRESENT CONTINUOUS
Subject + am/is/are +verb (ing)
1. Actions happening now (at the time of speaking)
Ex: I am teaching English lesson now.
It is raining outside.
2. Temporary activities (action perform but will end soon)
Ex: She is learning to play the piano.
My grandma is staying with us for a couple of days.

4. PRESENT CONTINUOUS
Subject + am/is/are +verb (ing)
3. Changes taking place now
Ex: Tiktok video are becoming very popular these days.
Expert say that the Earth is getting warmer.

5. PAST SIMPLE
Subject + verb (past)
1. Completed actions in the past
Ex: I played chess with my friends last Saturday.
Jomarie gave me a present for our anniversary.
I received my SF delivery this morning.
My father built my race track last week.
VERB NOTE:
• regular
• Irregular (research
and memorize)

6. PAST SIMPLE
Subject + verb (past)
1. Completed actions in the past
Ex: I played chess with my friends last Saturday.
Jomarie gave me a present for our anniversary.
I received my SF delivery this morning.
My father built my race track last week.
VERB NOTE:
• regular
• Irregular (research
and memorize)

7. PAST CONTINUOUS
Subject + was/were +verb (ing)
VERB NOTE:
• regular
• Irregular (research and
memorize)
I was having dinner
…………….. x
past present future
telephone rang
1. Completed actions in the past
Ex: I played chess with my friends last Saturday.
Jomarie gave me a present for our anniversary.
It was raining when Mary left for school.
The light went off while the students were playing.

8. PRESENT PERFECT
Subject + has/have + verb (past participle)
1. Experiences
Ex: I have taught English to many learners..
Klein has visited Paris for four times.
We have seen five movies this month.
future
present
past
COMMON ERROR NOTE:
Use present perfect
together with definite
time expression
I have taught English to many learners when I was still a
teacher. (incorrect)
I taught English to many learners when I was still a
teacher.

9. PRESENT PERFECT
Subject + has/have + verb (past participle)
2. Recent actions or events (actions done just now)
Ex: I have finished my task.
Brielle has left her book.
The teacher has instructed his students what to do
with their project.
future
present
past
X
?
Brielle has left her book yesterday. (incorrect)
Brielle left her book yesterday. (correct)
The teacher has instructed his student what to do with their
project this morning.(incorrect)
The teacher instructed his student what to do with their
project this morning.(correct)

10. PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS
subject + has/have + been + verb (ing)
1. Actions that started in the past and are still continuing.
Ex: I have been waiting to see my teacher for 3
hours/since 3 pm.
He has been playing basketball since he was a
child/for 15 years.
I have been living in China since 2017/for 5 years.

11. OBSERVED the following sentences:
1. When we got to the mall, the concert started.
2. When we got to the mall, the concert had started.
PRESENT PERFECT
Subject + has/have + verb (past participle)

12. PAST PERFECT
OBSERVED the following sentences:
1. When we got to the mall, the concert started.
(simple past)
2. When we got to the mall, the concert had started.
(past perfect- we only use it to clarify which action
took place in the past of two past actions)

13. 1. Use it to clarify the first action with two past actions.
Ex: When we got to the mall, the concert had started.
I was full because I had eaten much earlier.
The man looked very familiar. I had seen him somewhere
PAST PERFECT
subject + had + verb (past participle)

14. 1. Use for the first continuous past action.
Ex: I felt really tired because I have been working all day.
He had been waiting for three hours when the doctor finally
arrived.
PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS
subject + had been + verb (ing)