There are three tenses, which are subdivided again to frame the sentences in different periods of time and in various contexts.

1. TYPES OF TENSES
3 TYPES:
Present
Past
Future
4 ASPECTS:
Simple
Continuous
Perfect
Perfect Continuous

3. Simple Present Tense is used:
When you are referring to
habitual actions--actions
that you always or never
do
When you are referring to
unchanging truths
When you are making
general statements of fact

4.  (habit) He always
comes late to class.
 (unchanging truth)
The sun rises in the
east.
 (general statement of
fact) They are
friendly.
 Always
 Whenever
 Usually
 Sometimes
 Never
 Often
 Rarely
 Everyday
 Frequently
 Occasionally

5. When an activity happened at an
unspecified time in the past (before the
present)
When an activity has been repeated
several times before now
When an activity was very recently
completed before now
When an activity is not completed in
the past

6. (unspecified time before now)
They have already seen that
movie.
(repeated activity before now)
We have visited New York City
many times.
(an action has recently been
completed before now) I have just
eaten.
(action not completed in the past)
I have studied Spanish for many
years.

7. Before
So far
Just
Since
Ever
Already
Never
Yet
Recently
For

8. When an activity is in progress now at
the moment of speaking
When an activity began before now and
continues into the future without
stopping.
When an activity is temporary.
When an activity is developing and
changing.

9. I am explaining something to the class
right now.
He is taking 16 credits this semester.
She is understanding English more
and more because she moved into the
dorm.

10. Right now, at this moment
This Year, week, month
etc.
As we speak
Still

11. This tense is used to describe actions
that have been continuously in progress
before now. These actions are not
completed.
Example: I have been waiting here for the
last two hours.

12. When an activity or situation began
and ended at a particular time in the
past--in other words, when an activity
or situation is completed in the past
To refer to past habits

13. (Completed action in the past) He
came late for class yesterday.
(Completed action in the past) We
arrived three weeks ago.
(Past habit) She always wrote a letter
to her mother on Sunday night.

14. Last night, week, month, year,
semester etc.
Yesterday
Ago

15. It can often be used interchangeably
with the simple past because these
tenses do not differ much in meaning.
The past perfect tense refers to
activities that happened before a
specific time in the past.
Example: He had visited her many times
before she died.

16. This tense is used to refer to activities
continuously in progress around a time
in the past.
Example: They were eating when the
taxi arrived.

17. This tense is used when an activity
was continuously in progress before a
specific time in the past.
Example: I had been thinking about her
before she called.

18. To indicate that an activity or event
will take place at a time in the future.
Example: Next week, we will work on
punctuation.
Indicators: Tomorrow, next week, next
year etc.

19. Sometimes the simple present tense
or
present continuous tense is used to
express a future meaning. Usually
these tenses are used when scheduled
events are being discussed.
I arrive I am arriving
You arrive You are arriving
S/he/it arrives S/he/it is arriving
We arrive We are arriving
They arrive They are arriving

20. The future perfect expresses the idea
that an activity will occur before some
future time.
Example: She will have finished dinner
before the game starts.

21. This tense is used to refer to activities
that will be continuously in progress
around some future time.
Example: We will be flying over New
York at noon tomorrow.

22. This tense is used to refer to activities
that will be continuously in progress
before a future time.
Example: He will have been working for 3
hours before you arrive.

23. Present simple tense
Use:
• for permanent
situations and states
• for repeated/habitual
actions
• for permanent truths or
law of nature
• for
timetables/programmes
• for reviews/sports/
commentaries/dramatic
narrative
Present continuous tense
Use:
• for temporary situations
• for actions happening at
or around the moment
of speaking
• for repeated actions
with “always”
expressing annoyance
or criticism
• for fixed arrangements
in the near future
• for changing or
developing situations

24. Present perfect
Use:
• for recently completed
actions
• for actions which
happened at an
unstated past time and
are connected with the
present
• for personal
experiences/changes
which have happened
• for emphasis on number
Present perfect continuous
Use:
• for actions started in the
past and continuing up
to the present
• for past actions of
certain duration having
visible results or effects
in the present
• for actions expressing
anger, irritation,
annoyance, explanation
or criticism
• for emphasis on
duration (for, since,
how long)

25. Past simple tense
Use:
 past actions which
happened one after the
other
 past habit or state
 actions which happened
at a definite past time
although the time is not
mentioned
Past continuous tense
Use:
• for action in the middle
of happening at a stated
past time
• for past action in
progress interrupted by
another past action. the
shorter action is in the
past simple and the
longer in the past
continuous.
• for two or more
simultaneous past
actions

26. Past perfect
Use:
• for past action which
occurred before another
action or before a stated
past time
• for complete past action
which had visible
results in the past
• the Past perfect is the
past equivalent of the
Present perfect
Present perfect
continuous
Use:
• for action continuing
over a period up to a
specific time in the past
• for past action of certain
duration which had
visible results in the
past
• the Past perfect
continuous is the past
equivalent of the
Present perfect
continuous

27. Future simple (will)
Use:
• for decisions taken at
the moment of
speaking
• for hopes, fears,
threats, offers,
promises, requests,
comments, etc.
• for actions or
predictions which may
(not) happen in the
future
• for thing we are not
sure about or haven`t
decided yet
Be going to
Use:
• for actions intended to
be performed in the
near future
• for planned actions or
intentions
• for evidence that
something will
definitely happen in the
near future
• for things we are sure
about or we have
already decided to do in
the near future

28. Future perfect
Use:
• for actions which will
be finished before a
stated future time
Future perfect
continuous
Use:
for duration of an
action which up to a
certain time in the
future.
Future continuous
Use:
• for the actions in
progress at a stated
future time
• for actions which are
the result of a routine

29. 1.He ____ to the swimming pool everyday because he likes
swimming.(goes/is going/has gone)
2.Please be quiet as the kids _______now.(sleep/have slept/are
sleeping)
3.She can not go for watching the movie as she _____ her homework
yet.(doesn’t do/isn’t doing/hasn’t done)
4.I burned my finger while I ______ breakfast.(was cooking/had
cooked/had been cooking)
5.By the time I came back, Mike and Jane _____,so I couldn’t tell them
about it.(were already leaving/had already left/had already been
leaving)
6.He _____for twenty years when he finally quit
smoking.(smoked/was smoking/had been smoking)
7.By the time you return, she _____for New York.(will be leaving/will
have left/will leave)
8.By 2020, he _____ as the director of this company for thirty
years.(will work/will be working/will have been working)
9.He ________ a brown leather jacket and scarf so you will recognize
him.(will have worn/will be wearing/will have been wearing)