This document provides information about various verb tenses and how they relate to time references. It defines the simple present, past, and future tenses and gives examples of how they are used to describe habitual actions, actions that occurred at a definite time in the past, and actions that will occur in the future, respectively. It also defines the present continuous, future continuous, present perfect, and present perfect continuous tenses and provides time references and examples of how each tense is used.

1. VerbtensesandTime reference
Simple
present (It is
used for
habitual
actions)
Every day, month, week, year; always;
sometimes; never; frequently, usually
George jogs three miles every day.
Mary always has salad for lunch.
I sometimes go to New York City.
Simple past
(It is used for
an action which
happened at a
definite time in
the past)
Yesterday; (years, weeks, months,
days, hours )ago; in (past year); last
(month, week, year)
Tom went to Los Angeles yesterday.
Charles Lindbergh flew to Paris in
1927.
Simple future
(will)
Tomorrow; in (future year, month,
week); on (future day); next (month,
week, year, name of day); (days,
months, weeks, years) from now; this
month, week, afternoon, year; some
day
Mary will go to Hawaii in two weeks.
Ed will drive to Toronto next
Saturday.
George will paint his house six days
from now.
Present
Continuous
(am/is/are +
verb +ing)
It is used for an
action which
was in progress
at a stated time
in the past
Now; right now; at this moment, this
morning, this afternoon etc
You are reading sentences about
verb tenses right now.
Many students are taking calculus
this semester.
Future
Continuous
(will
+be+verb+
ing)
It is used for an
action which
will be in
progress at a
stated future
time
At this time tomorrow At this time tomorrow, I will be
cleaning my house.
Present
Perfect
(has/have +
Past Participle)
It is used for an
action which
happened at an
unstated time
in the past or
for an action
that starts in
the past and is
not over at the
moment of
speaking
For; since; yet; never; always; so far; #
times; many times; lately; recently;
already
Sam has visited Hawaii many times.
Paul has been here for six hours.
Yoko has known Mary since 1994.
I have already written a letter to the
president.

2. VerbtensesandTime reference
Present
perfect
continuous
(has/have
+been+
verb+ing)
It is used to put
emphasis to
the duration of
an action
For; since; lately; recently Rita has been jogging for two hours.