TIME
| TENSE FORM
| USAGE
| EXAMPLE
| TIME EXPRESSIONS
|
PRESENT
| Present Simple
| Describes habits or routines, gives facts, or expresses opinions.
| He usually drives to work.
| always, sometimes, usually, never, often, rarely, seldom
|
Present Continuous
| Describes actions or situations in progress, at the moment of speaking.
| The birds are singing now.
| now, at this moment, today
|
Present Perfect
| Describes actions or situations that developed in the past and continue into the present, with the possibility of continuing into the future.
| They have owned the restaurant since 1982.
| yet, already, just, ever, never, today, this week, this year, this morning, this afternoon, this evening, during the last two years, since I left school
|
Present Perfect Continuous
| Describes actions that began in the past and continue into the present, with the possibility of continuing into the future.
| They have been working at that restaurant for eight years.
| for, since, all day, for 4 years, since 1993, how long?, the whole week
|
PAST
| Past simple
| Describes an action or situation completed in the past.
| Where didyou go on vacation last summer?
| yesterday, last week, last year, this morning, this afternoon, during the summer, at six o'clock, five minutes ago
|
Past Continuous
| Describes an action in progress in the past, in the recent past, at a specific time, or when another event occurred.
| While the other divers were still taking pictures, Javier swam to the surface.
| at six, nine o'clock, etc. during, while, when
|
Past Perfect
| Describes an action or situation completed before another event or time in the past.
| When we arrived, the concert had already finished.
| after, before, already, as soon as, just, yet, until, till, by the time that
|
Past Perfect Continuous
| Describes a continuous action that was in progress before another event or time in the past.
| He had been diving for several years before this happened.
| before, when
for, since, the whole day, all day
|
Present Perfect
| Describes an action or situation that occurred either at an unspecified time or a recent time in the past. The exact time is never given, but a period of time may be expressed.
| He has had surgery and has already regained most of his hearing.
| yet, already, just, today, this morning, this afternoon, this evening
|
| Used to
| Describes habitual actions or situations in the past; indicates a situation that no longer exists.
| Javier used to scuba dive often.
| when I/he/she was five/six/a child/etc., in my childhood, in my early days/years, etc.
|
Would
| Describes repeated actions or habits in the past.
| He wouldalways take his camera with him.
| when I/he/she was five/six/a child/etc., in my childhood, in my early days/years, etc.
|
FUTURE
| Future Simple
| Expresses predictions, promises, threats, warnings, hopes, requests, on-the-spot decisions.
| We will stay overnight in Madrid.
| tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, tonight, soon, next week/month/year, in a week/ month/ year.
|
Future Continuous
| Describes actions that will be in progress during a specific time in the future.
| At this time on Saturday, we will be touring the Prado Museum.
| at this time, at five o’clock tomorrow, etc.
|
Future Perfect
| Describes situations or actions that will be finished before another event or time in the future.
| At the end of this trip, we will have visited Spain five times.
| before, by, by then, by the time, until/till
|
Future Perfect Continuous
| Describes continuous actions that will be in progress before another event or time in the future.
| By the end of this trip, we will have been trying to learn Spanish for five years!
| by…for.
|
Present Simple
| Describes actions that occur according to timetables (planes, trains, classes, etc.), programmes, etc.
| The plane takes off at 2:05 p.m.
| at two/three/etc. o’clock, at half past four/etc.
|
Present Continuous
| Describes actions that we have already arranged to do in the near future, especially when the time or place have been decided.
| We are flying to Madrid on Friday.
| on Monday/ Tuesday/etc., next week, at two/ three o’clock, etc.
|
Be Going to
| Denotes actions we have already decided to do in the near future, expresses plans, intentions, predictions if there is evidence that something will happen in the near future.
| Then we are going tovisit Seville.
| tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, tonight, soon, next week/month/year, in a week/ month/ year.
|
Future in the Past
| expresses the idea that in the past you thought something would happen in the future.
| They said that they would meet us in Spain
| when, the next day.
|