Infographics of all 12 essential tenses for English language teachers and learner

1. English Grammar Usage Infographic
Reference: Murrphy, R. (1992) Essential English Grammar, Cambridge University Press.
A pictorial explanation of Essential English Grammar.
Muhammad Yusuf
Abdul Rafay Yusuf
Abdul Wasay Yusuf

2. PRESENT
SIMPLE
FUTUREPRESENT
ALWAYS
TRUE
The sun rises
from the East
PERMANENT
SITUATION
I live in
Karachi
SITUATION
NOW
Hebreaksmy
window’sglass
HABITS
Ibrushmyteeth
twice aday
FUTURE
TIMETABLE
The match
starts at 10
pm.
FUTURE IN
TIME
CLAUSES
Iwon’tgountil
youleave

3. PRESENT
CONTINOUS
PRESENT
ANNOING
HABBIT
You are forever
losing your keys
UNFINISHED
ACTION NOW
I am reading now
TEMPORARY
HABITS
He is playing a lot
these days
TEMPORARY
SITUATION
I am living in
Lahore
FUTURE
DEFINITE
FUTURE PLAN
I am meeting
with my boss
tomorrow

4. PRESENT
PERFECT UNFINISHED
FINSHED
HOW LONG
I have known tahir
since 1996.
PRESENT
RESULT
I lost my keys
UNFINISHED
WORD TIME
I have seen him this
week
LIFE EXPERIENCE
I have been to
Islamabad
NEW RECENT
EVENT
The principal has
given the result

5. PRESENT PERFECT CONTINOUS
UNFINSHED FINISHED
HOW LONG
He has been living in Hyderabad since 2004
TEMPORARY SITUATION
I have been going to gym a lot recently
PRESENT RESULT
I have been reading (that is
why I am tired)

6. PAST
SIMPLE
PRESENT /
FUTURE
PAST
DETAIL OF
NEWS
I have hurt my
arm . I fell off
a ladder
ACTION
IN
STORIES
He sat down
and ordered
Biryani
FINISHED
TIME
WORD
I went
cinema
yesterday
FINISHED
TIME
PERIOD
Quaid –e-
Azam founded
Pakistan
REAL OR
IMAGINARY
THINGS
If I won
lottery, I
would buy a
house

7. STORY BACKGROUND
Bird were singing and Sun was
shinning. She sat down
Use with simple past
EMPHASIS OF LENGTH OF
ACTION
I was in the garden all the day
Use with: all days, all evening, for
hours
SOME PAST HABITS
She was constantly reading
Use with:always,forever,constantly,at
that time, in those days,
OVERLAPPING ACTION
I was walking to airport and I met Ali
Use with:when+simple past,two
o’clock,7 pm
PAST
CONTINUOUS

8. PAST
PERFECT
ACTION BEFORE PAST
ACTION
When we arrived, film has
started
HOW LONG TO A POINT IN
PAST
When he had graduated , he had
in London for six year
Use with:when+simple past,for+time
UNREAL THING IN PAST
I wished I hadn’t lost my
key
Use with third conditional
wish

9. PAST PERFECT CONTINOUS
HOW LONG TO A POINT IN
PAST
She was working in this company when
she met Shahid
Use with:when+simple past,for+time
RESULT AT THE TIME IN PAST
The footpath was wet. It had been
raining.
Use with : simple past

10. FUTURE SIPMPLE
Will FUTURE PREDICTION
The rain will stop at 8am.I think the
cricket match will start at 11 am
PROMISES / REQUESTS / REFUSALS
/ OFFERS
She will help me with my project.
FUTURE CONDITIONALS
If it does not rain, we will play football
on the ground.
use with : the first condition
BE
GOING
TO
PLANS AND INTENTIONS
A: We've run out of food.
B: I know. I'm going to buy.
FUTURE PREDICTION
The sky is getting dark with black
clouds. It is going to rain.

11. FUTURE CONTINOUS
HOW LONG TO A POINT IN
FUTURE
The principal will be making a
statement later.
Use with: later, tonight, next
week on the 2nd of
September.
OVER LAPPING ACTION
I’LL be playing games on my
computer when you arrive.
Use with: when + Present simple,
at 9pm.

12. FUTURE PERFECT
ACTION FINISED BEFORE A POINT
IN THE FUTURE
By ten o’clock, I will stop playing
video games
Use with: By Three o ’ clock, by
Monday , when + present simple
, by the time + present simple
HOW LONG TO A POINT IN
FUTURE
By the next month, we will
have been married for 16
years.
Use with: when + present
simple, by the time + present
simple, for + time

13. FUTURE PERFECT
CONTINUOUS
HOW LONG TO A POINT IN
FUTURE
In March , he will have been
teaching for twelve years.
Use with: when + present
simple, by the time + present
simple, for + time
ACTION FINISED BEFORE A POINT
IN THE FUTURE
When I see you, I’ll have been
finishing my homework, so I’ll be
tired.
Use with: when + Present simple,
by the time + Present simple