Present Simple

The Present Simple expresses actions or states that are seen as permanent, regular, or universally true. It gives a sense of stability and timelessness. 

Form:

1. Affirmative: Subject + base verb (+ -s/-es for 3rd person singular)

• • I work / She works

2. Negative: Subject + do/does + not + base verb

• I don’t work / She doesn’t work

3. Question: Do/Does + subject + base verb?

• Do you work? / Does she work?

Main usages

1. Habits and routines: We use it for actions that happen regularly, often with adverbs of frequency (always, often, usually, never).

• I usually get up at 7.

• She goes to the gym twice a week.

2. General truths / facts: It describes scientific laws, facts, and things that are always true.  

• Water boils at 100°C.

• The sun rises in the east.

3. Permanent states / characteristics: The Present Simple expresses situations that are stable over time or unchanging.

• He lives in London.

• She works as a lawyer.

4. Scheduled events (timetables): It is often used for official or fixed timetables, even when referring to the future.

• The train leaves at 6 tomorrow.

• My flight departs at noon.

5. Narrative style (commentary, headlines, jokes, storytelling): Writers and speakers use it to make stories more vivid and immediate. Headlines also prefer Present Simple for brevity.

• So, I walk into the room and everyone stares.

• Teacher enters, students fall silent.

• Government announces new reforms.

6. With state verbs: Verbs of possession (have, belong), emotion (like, love, hate), thinking (believe, know, understand), and senses (seem, appear) are typically used in Present Simple, since they describe states rather than actions.

• I know the answer.

• This car belongs to me.

Present Continuous

The Present Continuous highlights actions that are temporary, in progress, or developing. It gives a sense of movement and change. 

Form:

1. Affirmative: Subject + am/is/are + verb -ing

   • I am working / She is working / They are working

2. Negative: Subject + am/is/are + not + verb -ing

   • I’m not working / She isn’t working / They aren’t working

3. Question: Am/Is/Are + subject + verb -ing?

   • Am I working? / Is she working? / Are they working?

Main usages

1. Actions happening now / around now: Used for things happening right at the moment of speaking or within the present period.

• She’s talking to her friend.

• I’m reading a fascinating book these days.

2. Temporary situations: Unlike the Present Simple (permanent), it indicates that a situation is not permanent and only lasts for a limited time.  

• I’m staying with my aunt for a few weeks.

• They’re working in Madrid this month.

3. Developing / changing situations: It is used to show dynamic changes, trends, or gradual developments.

• The climate is getting warmer.

• Your English is improving a lot.

4. Future plans (personal arrangements): Refers to near-future events that are already planned or decided, often with a specific time.

• We’re meeting John tomorrow.

• I’m flying to Paris next week.

5. Repeated annoying actions with “always/constantly”: Shows irritation or exaggeration when actions are repeated too often.

• He’s always forgetting his keys.

• You’re constantly interrupting me!

Contrast: Present Simple vs. Present Continuous

The choice between them often depends on whether the situation is seen as permanent/regular (Present Simple) or temporary/in progress (Present Continuous).

Present simple

I live in Rome.

She works in a bank.

Water boils at 100°C.

The train leaves at 7.

He always arrives on time.

Present continuous

I’m living in Rome for the summer.

She’s working in a bank until she finds something better.

The water is boiling! Quick!

We’re leaving at 7.

He’s always arriving late these days.

Contrast

Permanent vs. temporary

Regular job vs. temporary arrangement

General truth vs. action happening right now

Fixed timetable vs. personal arrangement

Habit (neutral) vs. repeated annoyance

Past Simple

The Past Simple describes completed actions, situations, or states in the past. It gives a sense of finished time. 

Form:

1. Affirmative: Subject + verb-ed (regular) / irregular form

   • I worked / She went

2. Negative: Subject + did not (didn’t) + base verb

   • I didn’t work / She didn’t go

3. Question: Did + subject + base verb?

   • Did you work? / Did she go?

Main usages

1. Completed actions/events in the past: The action is finished, and we often mention a specific time.

• She visited Rome last summer.

• I watched a great film yesterday.

2. Sequences of actions (narratives): Events follow one another in chronological order.

• He opened the door, walked into the room, and sat down.

3. Past states: Describes situations that were true in the past but are not anymore.

• They lived in Madrid when they were children.

• I believed in ghosts when I was young.

4. Past habits (neutral, without emphasis): Can describe repeated actions in the past, often with adverbs of frequency.

• I often played football after school.

• She always forgot her homework.

Past Continuous

The Past Continuous highlights ongoing or interrupted actions in the past. It provides background or context. 

Form:

1. Affirmative: Subject + was/were + verb -ing

   • I was working / They were working

2. Negative: Subject + was/were + not + verb -ing

   • I wasn’t working / They weren’t working

3. Question: Was/Were + subject + verb -ing?

   • Was I working? / Were they working?

Main usages

1. Action in progress at a point in the past: The focus is on the duration, not completion.

• At 8 pm last night, I was reading.

• She was working in the garden all afternoon.

2. Interrupted actions: Past Continuous sets the background, while Past Simple expresses the action that interrupts.

• I was having a shower when the phone rang.

• They were playing football when it started to rain.

3. Background description in narratives: It paints the setting or atmosphere for a story.

• People were chatting, music was playing, and the sun was shining.

4. Two actions happening simultaneously: Two ongoing activities unfolding at the same time.

• While I was cooking, she was setting the table.

Present Perfect Simple

The present perfect simple is used to describe actions or states that occurred at an unspecified time in the past, but are relevant or have an effect on the present moment. It often connects past actions to the present.

Form: have/has + past participle

• • I have finished my homework.

  • She has lived here for five years.

Main usages

1. Life experiences (unspecified time): Describes something that has happened at some point in your life, without saying when. The focus is on the experience itself, not the time.

• I’ve been to Japan twice. 

2. Present relevance / result now: The past action has an effect or result in the present moment.

• I’ve lost my keys.

3. Unfinished time periods: Used when the time period hasn’t ended.

• We’ve studied a lot this week.

4. Repeated actions up to now: Shows frequency of actions over time.

• I’ve watched that film three times.

5. With “for” and “since”:

   • For + period of time → I’ve lived here for 10 years.

   • Since + point in time → I’ve lived here since 2010.

Present Perfect Continuous

The present perfect continuous is used to describe actions or situations that started in the past and are still continuing in the present, or were recently completed but have a connection to the present moment. It emphasizes the duration or ongoing nature of the action. 

Form: have/has + been + verb -ing

• • I have been studying for hours.

  • She’s been working here since June.

Main usages

1. Activity started in the past and still continuing: Focuses on duration or ongoing nature.

• We’ve been waiting for over an hour. 

2. Recent activity with present evidence: Explains why something is true now.

• You’re out of breath — have you been running?

3. Temporary actions: Suggests the action is limited in time.

• I’ve been living with a friend while looking for a flat.

Contrast: Present Perfect Simple vs. Present Perfect Continuous

The choice between them often depends on whether we focus on the result (Present Perfect Simple) or the process (Present Perfect Continuous).

• I’ve read the book. (completed, result)

• I’ve been reading the book. (ongoing or unfinished, focus on process)

Past Perfect Simple

The past perfect simple is a verb tense used to describe an action that was completed before another action or event in the past. It emphasizes the earlier of two past actions, showing which one happened first.

Form: had + past participle

• • I had finished dinner before she arrived.

Main usages

1. Action completed before another past action: Shows clear sequence of past events.

• The train had left before we got to the station. 

2. Reported speech (backshift): Used to shift tenses when reporting what someone said.

• She said she had already seen the film.

3. Unreal past (conditionals): Used in third conditionals to imagine different outcomes.

• IIf I had known, I would have called you.

Past Perfect Continuous

The past perfect continuous is a verb tense used to describe an ongoing action that was happening before another action or event in the past, emphasizing the duration or continuity of the action.

Form: had + been + verb -ing 

• • They had been working all day before they finally stopped.

Main usages

1. Emphasising duration before another past event: Highlights how long something was happening.

• She had been waiting for two hours when the bus came. 

2. Cause of a past situation: Explains why something happened in the past.

• He was tired because he had been studying all night.

Future Perfect Simple

The future perfect simple is used to describe an action that will be completed at a specific point in the future. It emphasizes the completion of an action before a certain time or event in the future.

Form: will + have + past participle 

• • By this time tomorrow, I will have finished the report.

Main usages

1. Action that will be completed by a certain future time: to express that something will be finished or achieved before a certain future moment.

• By the time you arrive, I will have cooked dinner.

2. For future predictions or assumptions:  To make a prediction or assumption about something that will be completed in the future.

• By next year, I will have saved enough money for a vacation.

3. To indicate the completion of a future action before another future action: to state that an action will be completed before another future event happens.

• He will have graduated by the time I start my new job.

Future Perfect Continuous

The future perfect continuous is used to describe an action that will be ongoing in the future and will have been happening for a certain duration by a specific point in the future. It emphasizes how long something will have been happening up until that time. 

Form: will + have + been + verb -ing 

• • He’ll have been studying for hours.

Main usages

1. To emphasize the duration of an ongoing action up until a future point: to focus on how long an action will have been happening by a specific future time.

• In two weeks, she will have been studying English for a year.

2. To predict or estimate how long something will have been happening in the future: to make predictions or assumptions about how long something will have been happening by a certain future point.

• By next month, they will have been traveling for six months.

3. To express repeated or ongoing actions that will continue into the future: to suggest that an activity will continue for a period of time, possibly with repetition, up to a future moment.

• In a few hours, I will have been waiting for over two weeks for this package.

Future Simple

The future simple is used to describe actions that will happen at some point in the future. It is the most basic way to express future events and is typically used for predictions, plans, decisions, or spontaneous actions that occur in the future.

Form: 

1. Affirmative: Subject + will + base verb → I will call you.

2. Negative: Subject + will not (won’t) + base verb → I won’t forget.

3. Question: Will + subject + base verb? → Will you come?

Main usages

1. Predictions without current evidence: Used to make a general guess about the future, often based on opinion rather than proof.

• I think it will rain tomorrow. (no current evidence, just expectation)

• One day, people will live on Mars. (general future idea)

2. Spontaneous decisions: Used when you decide to do something at the moment of speaking.

• I’m thirsty — I’ll get a glass of water. (decision made now, not before).

3. Promises, offers, refusals: Used to express commitment, willingness, or refusal.

• I’ll help you with your project. (offer)

• Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone. (promise/refusal)

Future Continuous

The future continuous tense is used to describe actions that will be happening at a specific time in the future. It emphasizes the ongoing nature of the action at that time.