Very often, students find English tenses the most complicated aspect of the language. Even if there are not so many forms, it can sometimes be hard to get them right. Here is a summary of the most common forms, to help you learn tenses and understand when and how to use them.
The present simple is used to talk about things in general, or events that occur repeatedly. A few examples:
The present continuous is used to describe something that is happening at the time of speaking/writing, and hasn’t finished yet. A few examples:
The present perfect is built using have/has followed by the past participle of the verb. The present perfect expresses a past action/event that has a connection/effect on the present. It is also used to describe something that started in the past, but it is still continuing now, as well as enquiring about things that might have (or have not) happened from some time in the past until now. Here are some sentences where the present perfect is used:
The present perfect continuous is built using have/has been followed by the -ing form of the verb. It is used to describe something that has just (or recently) stopped, with a direct connection to the present time. It can also be used to describe an action that is still happening at the time of speaking/writing. A few examples:
The past simple is used to describe something that happened in the past, and is completed at the time of speaking/writing. It is also used to describe people that lived in the past (as opposed to people that are still alive, which would require the present simple). A few examples:
The past continuous is built using was/were followed by the -ing form of the verb. It is used to describe an action/event that started in the past, and was still happening at a certain time in the past. It is often used in combination with the past simple, to describe events that occurred while an action was in progress. Here are some examples:
The past perfect is built with had followed by the past participle of the verb. It is used to establish a time relation between a past action/event, and something that happened before it. A few examples:
The past perfect continuous is built with had been followed by the -ing form of the verb. I is used to describe an action/event that occurred for a period of time in the past, before something else happened. A few examples:
In English, future actions/events can be expressed in a variety of ways, and this is one of the reasons why students often find it difficult to learn tenses.
The present continuous is used to describe future arrangements. However, for timetables and third-party programs the present simple is typically used. For example:
The be going to form is used to express a future action which has already been decided, while will is used to describe a future action that is being decided at the time of speaking/writing. Similarly, will can be used to describe future happenings or situations. However, be going to is typically used to describe an event that is likely to happen based on the current situation. Here are some examples:
In our summary to help you learn tenses, we certainly can’t forget to mention when to use the future continuous (will be followed by the -ing form of the verb), and the future perfect (will have followed by the past participle). The future continuous can be used to express future actions (or to inquire about someone else’s future plans), while the future perfect is used to describe events that will be already completed before a certain time in the future. A couple of examples:
Last but not least, it is worth noting that after when/while/if/before etc., the present is used (rather than will). A couple of examples:
At ESO, our qualified teachers can help you learn tenses, and master every aspect of the English language. Don’t take our word for it, book your trial lesson now!