this is taken from MSA comprehensive!

1. The Simple Tenses

2. Tense Usage Example
•Used to tell a general The earth revolves
truth or fact around the sun.
PRESENT •Used to show habit I always go to the gym.
(Add –s or –es •Used to show an existing The dress is worn out.
at the end if condition
the subject in •Used to explain a When the leaves of a
process plant receive sunlight,
the sentence photosynthesis is begins.
•Used in conditional
is singular) When he finishes his
meal, please tell me.
•Used to retell stories One man hits another,
(like in movies) then Juan , the hero,
comes to the rescue.
•Used to promote Brand X cleanses the
something (as in an skin like no other soap
advertisement can

3. Tense Usage Example
Action to indicate an The scouts decided to
action which is true only move the trip from May
in the past 5, to may 28.
PAST
 used in conditional If you did continue your
(verb with –d or – sentences to refer to a studies, you, might have
ed for regular probable or supposed been a lawyer.
verbs; verb events
changed in
Used to complement I really thought I could
spelling for other verbs which are dance well. (The verb
irregular verbs ) used in the past tense in thought complements
the sentences could.)
FUTURE Used to show simple She will dance in the
(verb with the modal will action or conditions in contest tomorrow.
or shall. the future

4. The Perfect Tenses

5. Tense Usage Example
Used to show an Fe has worked like a
action that happened dog ever since the
before and is still done supervisor came.
PRESENT up to the present
PERFECT
Used to show a She has been sick
state of being that since Friday.
(has/have + past was true before and
still is up to the
participle) present
Used to show an Once they have
event to be finished in written the book, we
the future will published it.
Used to show a The project has
recently concluded ended recently.
action with the help of
the adverb just,
already, or recently

6. Tense Usage Example
PAST PERFECT used in a past Andy had left
(had +past action that came when the teacher
before another came. (This
participle) past action means that Andy
(Therefore, „‟had‟‟ left first then the
is place in the first teacher came)
past action and
the other verb is
only in the simple
past.)

7. Tense Usage Example
The expression had I had had wine and
PAST PERFECT had is simply “had cheese before I ate
+past participle of the main dish.
(had + past participle) have.”
To understand how this Four years from now,
FUTURE PERFECT tense is used, imagine a Bea will have been a
person talking to license nurse. (This
(will have + past somebody. Then he
means that before the
takes him to the future
participle) four years laps, Bea
by giving time markers
preceded by “by” such already became a
as by tomorrow, by the licensed nurse.)
next decade, or other
such as ten years from
now, a few months from
now, etc. Then he uses
the future perfect tense
to show a completed
action before that certain
time,

8. The Progressive Tenses

9. Tense Usage Example
Used to show an on- She is strolling along
PRESENT going action at the with her friend in the
PROGRESSIVE moment. park.
(am/ is/ are +present
participle)
Used to show future My dad is leaving for
action. the U.S. tomorrow.
Used when Ricky was filing the
PAST PROGRESSIVE something was going papers when his
(was/were + present on at one point in time manager called him.
participle)
when another thing
happened

10. Tense Usage Example
This is similar to the By the time she
FUTURE future perfect tense. graduates, Anne will
PROGRESSIVE This also includes be receiving many
time markers awards.
(will be + present preceded by “by”
participle) such as by the year I will be sleeping by
ends, by the start of ten this this evening.
the week or other like
a week from now , a
few months from
now, etc. This tells the
continuous action that
is about to happen
when a certain time
comes.

11. The Perfect Progressive Tenses

12. Tense Usage Example
PRESENT PERFECT •Used to state an action a. Complaints
PROGRESSIVE that started in the past e.g. He has been waiting
(has been/ have been + and still continuing up to here for an hour.
present participle) the present b. Attempt to do things
e.g. I have been calling
you since Tuesday.
PAST PERFECT *used to state a past My brother-in-law had
PROGRESSIVE continuous action when been playing with his
(had been + present another past action band before he finally
participle) happened settled down in Chicago.
We had been eating
when the phone rang.
FUTURE PERFECT oUsed to tell an action By this afternoon, my
PROGRESSIVE that is predicted to relatives will have been
(will have been + present continuously happen arriving from the airport.
participle) when a certain time
comes A month from now, Jose
will have been travelling
in Athens.
.

13. Thank you!
--Olaybar--