The document provides information about verb tenses in English, including the past simple, present continuous, past continuous, present perfect, past perfect, present perfect continuous, and past perfect continuous. Key points covered include using the past simple to talk about finished actions, the present continuous to talk about ongoing actions now, and the past continuous to describe a longer action happening at the same time as another past action.

1. Past simplePast simplePast simplePast simple
To be verbsTo be verbsTo be verbs
+ S+was/were+...+ S+was/were+... S+–ed/irr.+...+ S+was/were+... S+–ed/irr.+...+ S+was/were+...
They werefriends
S+–ed/irr.+...
Iplayedyesterday.
+ They werefriends Iplayedyesterday.They werefriends Iplayedyesterday.Iplayedyesterday.
S+was/werenot+...
- S+was/werenot+... S+didnot+verb
- S+was/werenot+... S+didnot+verb
- S+was/werenot+...
Theyweren’tfriends.
S+didnot+verb
Ididn’tPLAY...
- Theyweren’tfriends. Ididn’tPLAY...
- Theyweren’tfriends. Ididn’tPLAY...
Was/were+S+...? Did+S+verb? Was/were+S+...? Did+S+verb? Was/were+S+...? Did+S+verb?
Weretheyfriends? DidIPLAY...?
?
Weretheyfriends? DidIPLAY...?Weretheyfriends? DidIPLAY...?
S= Subject (I, you, he, she, it, we, you, they)S= Subject (I, you, he, she, it, we, you, they)

2. Past simplePast simplePast simplePast simplePast simple
• We use the past simple to talk about• We use the past simple to talk about• We use the past simple to talk about
actions that are finished. We often use itactions that are finished. We often use itactions that are finished. We often use it
with time expressions like yesterday, lastwith time expressions like yesterday, lastwith time expressions like yesterday, last
week, last year...week, last year...week, last year...
We went to the park yesterday.We went to the park yesterday.We went to the park yesterday.
I didn’t go to the beach last summer.I didn’t go to the beach last summer.I didn’t go to the beach last summer.

3. present continuous past continuouspresent continuous past continuouspresent continuous past continuouspresent continuous past continuous
+ S+am/are/is+-ing+ S+am/are/is+-ing S+was/were+-ing+ S+am/are/is+-ing S+was/were+-ing+ S+am/are/is+-ing
Iamreading.
S+was/were+-ing
Iwasreading.
+ Iamreading. Iwasreading.Iamreading. Iwasreading.Iwasreading.
S+am/are/isnot+-ing
- S+am/are/isnot+-ing S+was/werenot+-ing
- S+am/are/isnot+-ing S+was/werenot+-ing
- Iamnotreading.
S+was/werenot+-ing
Iwasn’treading.- Iamnotreading. Iwasn’treading.- Iamnotreading. Iwasn’treading.
Am/are/is+S+-ing? Was/were+S+-ing?? Am/are/is+S+-ing? Was/were+S+-ing?? Am/are/is+S+-ing? Was/were+S+-ing??
AmIreading? WasIreading?
?
AmIreading? WasIreading?AmIreading? WasIreading?
S= Subject (I, you, he, she, it, we, you, they)S= Subject (I, you, he, she, it, we, you, they)

4. Present and past continuousPresent and past continuousPresent and past continuous
• We use the present continuous to talk about
Present and past continuous
• We use the present continuous to talk about
Present and past continuous
• We use the present continuous to talk about
what we are doing now. We can use timewhat we are doing now. We can use timewhat we are doing now. We can use time
expressions like now, at the moment, rightexpressions like now, at the moment, rightexpressions like now, at the moment, right
now.now.now.
You are learning English right now.You are learning English right now.
• We often use the past continuous with the• We often use the past continuous with the• We often use the past continuous with the
past simple. The past continuous talks aboutpast simple. The past continuous talks aboutpast simple. The past continuous talks about
a longer action which started first. We cana longer action which started first. We cana longer action which started first. We can
connect the two action with the word WHEN.connect the two action with the word WHEN.connect the two action with the word WHEN.
I was reading my book when the phoneI was reading my book when the phoneI was reading my book when the phone
rang.rang.rang.

6. Present and past perfectPresent and past perfectPresent and past perfect
• We use the present perfect to talk about
Present and past perfect
• We use the present perfect to talk about
Present and past perfect
• We use the present perfect to talk about
actions that occurred in an unspecifiedactions that occurred in an unspecifiedactions that occurred in an unspecified
time in the past that are still true now.time in the past that are still true now.time in the past that are still true now.
• We can use it with words like:• We can use it with words like:• We can use it with words like:
– EVER: means “in your life up to now”.– EVER: means “in your life up to now”.
– FOR: how long something lasted. With periods of time.– FOR: how long something lasted. With periods of time.FOR: how long something lasted. With periods of time.
– SINCE: when something started. With specific point.– SINCE: when something started. With specific point.– SINCE: when something started. With specific point.
–– ALREADY: something has happened sooner than– ALREADY: something has happened sooner than
expected.expected.expected.
–– YET: something expected has not happened.– YET: something expected has not happened.

7. present perfect continuous past perfect continuouspresent perfect continuous past perfect continuous
+ S+have/has+been+-ing
+ S+have/has+been+-ing S+had+been+-ing+ S+have/has+been+-ing S+had+been+-ing+ Shehasbeenwriting.
S+had+been+-ing
Shehadbeenwriting.
+ Shehasbeenwriting. Shehadbeenwriting.Shehadbeenwriting.
- S+have/hasnot+been+-ing S+hadnot+been+-ing.
- S+have/hasnot+been+-ing S+hadnot+been+-ing.
- Shehasn’tbeenwriting. Shehadn’tbeenwriting.- Shehasn’tbeenwriting. Shehadn’tbeenwriting.- Shehadn’tbeenwriting.
Have/Has+S+been+-ing? Had+S+been+-ing?
?
Have/Has+S+been+-ing? Had+S+been+-ing?
?
Have/Has+S+been+-ing?
Hasshebeenwriting?
Had+S+been+-ing?
Hadshebeenwriting?
? Hasshebeenwriting? Hadshebeenwriting?
? Hasshebeenwriting? Hadshebeenwriting?
S= Subject (I, you, he, she, it, we, you, they)S= Subject (I, you, he, she, it, we, you, they)

8. Present perfect continuousPresent perfect continuousPresent perfect continuous
• We use the present perfect continuous to
Present perfect continuous
• We use the present perfect continuous to• We use the present perfect continuous to
talk about something that started in thetalk about something that started in thetalk about something that started in the
past and which is still happening now orpast and which is still happening now orpast and which is still happening now or
finished recently.finished recently.finished recently.
•• We can use it with for and since. We can• We can use it with for and since. We can
also use time expressions like all the week,also use time expressions like all the week,also use time expressions like all the week,
all day, all morning...all day, all morning...all day, all morning...
I have been playing the piano since 2007.I have been playing the piano since 2007.I have been playing the piano since 2007.