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Present Simple Tense

Affirmative Negative InterrogativeSubject + Verb (1)

I drinkYou drink

He drinksShe drinksIt drinks

We drinkYou drinkThey drink

Subject + do not (don’t) /does not (doesn’t)+

verb (1)

I do not drinkYou do not drink

He does not drinkShe does not drinkIt does not drink

We do not drinkYou do not drinkThey do not drink

 

Do/Does + Subject + verb (1)?

Do I drink?Do you drink?

Does he drink?Does she drink?Does it drink?

Do we drink?Do you drink?Do they drink?

 

Uses Examples

Habitual actions repeated actions

I go to the gym on Monday and FridayMy friend often draws nice posters.

Permanent statesThings in general

The Sun rises in the East.

Feelings and emotions (like, hate, want, hope, etc.)

I like your T-shirt. I want a blue one

Verb of senses (hear, taste, see, smell, sound and taste

Listen! I hear some music in the house

fixed arrangements, scheduled events The plane flies to London every Monday.

sequence of actions in the present First I get up, then I have breakfast.

instructions Open your book on page 34.

with special verbs I understand English.

Time markers: every day, always, often, frequently, usually, sometimes, rarely, never

Present Continuous (Progressive) TenseAffirmative Negative Interrogative

Subject + am/is/are + verb + ing

I am sleeping You are sleeping

He is sleeping She is sleepingIt is sleeping

We are sleepingYou are sleepingThey are sleeping

Subject + am/is/are + not + verb + ing

I am not sleeping You are not sleeping

He is not sleepingShe is not sleepingIt is not sleeping

We are not sleepingYou are not sleepingThey are not sleeping

Am/is/are + Subject + verb + ing?

Am I sleeping?Are you sleeping?

Is he sleeping?Is she sleeping?Is it sleeping?

Are we sleeping?Are you sleeping?Are they sleeping?

 

Uses Examples

actions happening at the moment of speaking fixed plan in the near future

temporary actionsactions happening around the moment of speaking (longer actions)

trends

repeated actions which are irritating to the speaker (with always, constantly, forever)

Peter is reading a book now.

She is going to Basel on Saturday.

His father is working in Rome this month.

My friend is preparing for his exams.

More and more people are using their computers to listen to music.

Andrew is always coming late.

Time markers and signal words: now, right now, at the moment, Look! Listen!

Past Simple Tense

Affirmative Negative InterrogativeRegular verbs

Subject + verb (2)

I playedYou played

He playedShe playedIt played

We playedYou playedThey played

Irregular verbs

Subject + verb (2)

I wentYou went

He wentShe wentIt went

We wentYou wentThey went

Subject + didn’t + verb (1)

I did not play/ go You did not play / go

He did not play /goShe did not play / goIt did not play / go

We did not play / goYou did not play / goThey did not play / go

Did I play /go?Did you play / go ?

Did + Subject + verb (1)?

Did he play / go?Did she play / go?Did it play / go?

Did we play / go?Did you play / go?Did they play / go?

Uses Examples

action finished in the past I visited Berlin last week.

series of completed actions in the past First I got up, then I had breakfast.

together with the Past Progressive/Continuous - The Simple Past interrupted an action which was in progress in the past.

They were playing cards when the telephone rang.

Time markers: yesterday, last week, a month ago, in 2002

Past Continuous Tense

Affirmative Negative InterrogativeSubject + was/were + verb +

ing

I was dancingYou  were dancing

He was dancingShe was dancingIt was dancing

We were dancingYou were dancingThey were dancing

Subject + wasn’t/weren’t + verb + ing

I was not dancingYou  were not dancing

He was not dancingShe was not dancingIt was not dancing

We were not dancingYou were not dancingThey were not dancing

 

Was/were + verb + ing?

Was I dancing ?Were you dancing ?

Was he dancing?Was she dancing?Was it dancing?

Were we dancing?Were you dancing?Were they dancing?

 

Uses Examples

action that was in progress at a special time in the past

Peter was reading a book yesterday evening.

two actions were happening at the same time (the actions do not influence each other)

Anne was writing a letter while Steve was reading the New York Times.

together with the Simple Past

While we were sitting at the breakfast table, the telephone rang. (The action in the Simple Past interrupted the action in the Past Progressive.)

repeated actions irritating the speaker (with always, constantly, forever)

Andrew was always coming late. (I don't like it.)

Time markers: while

Present Perfect Simple Tense

Affirmative Negative InterrogativeSubject + have/has + verb

(3)

I have eaten You have eaten

He has eatenShe has eatenIt has eaten

We have eatenYou  have eatenThey  have eaten

Subject + haven/t/hasn’t + verb (3)

I have not eatenYou have not eaten

He has not eatenShe has not eatenIt has not eaten

We have not eatenYou have not eatenThey have not eaten

 

Have/has + Subject + verb (3)?

Have I eaten?Have you eaten ?

Has he eaten?Has she eaten?Has it eaten?

Have we eaten?Have you eaten?Have they eaten?

 

Uses Examples

Result of an action in the past is important in the present. It is not important when this action happened. When we use a specific time in the past - e.g. yesterday - then we use the Simple Past.)

I have cleaned my room. (It is clean now.)Has Peggy ever been to Tokyo?

Recently completed actions He has just played handball.

State beginning in the past and still continuing - mostly with since (point of time) or for (period of time)

We have lived in Canada since 1986. (We still live there.)

together with lately, recently, yetI have been to London recently. (no

specific point of time)He has not written the e-mail yet. (He has not done it.)

Time markers: just, yet, never, already, ever, so far, up to now, recently, since, for

Present Perfect Continuous Tense

Affirmative Negative InterrogativeSubject + have/has + been +

verb + ing

I have been waiting You have been waiting

He has been waitingShe has been waitingIt has been waiting

We have been waitingYou  have been waitingThey  have been waiting

Subject + haven’t/hasn’t + been + verb + ing

I have not been waitingYou have not been waiting

He has not been waitingShe has not been waitingIt has not been waiting

We have not been waitingYou have not been waitingThey have not been waiting

 

Have/has + subject + verb + ing?

Have I been waiting?Have you been waiting ?

Has he been waiting?Has she been waiting?Has it been waiting?

Have we been waiting?Have you been waiting?Have they been waiting?

 

Uses Examples

Actions beginning in the past and still continuing (focus is on the action) - mostly with since (point of time) or for (period of time)

I have been waiting for you for three hours. (It was a long time.)

Recently completed actions (focus is on the action)

She has been watching too many videos. (It was too much time.).

Time markers: all day, the whole day, since, for, Questions with how long

Past Perfect Simple Tense

Affirmative Negative InterrogativeSubject + had + verb (3)

I had eaten You had eaten

He had eatenShe had eatenIt had eaten

We had eatenYou  had eatenThey  had eaten

Subject + hadn’t + verb (3)

I had not eatenYou had not eaten

He had not eatenShe had not eatenIt had not eaten

We had not eatenYou had not eatenThey had not eaten

 

Had + Subject + verb (3)?

Had I eaten?Had you eaten ?

Had he eaten?Had she eaten?Had it eaten?

Had we eaten?Had you eaten?Had they eaten?

 

Uses Examples

Together with the Simple Past

When two past actions are combined - the first action, which was completed before the second one began, is put into Past Perfect.

Mary had read the book before she watched a film.After Amy had gone home it started to rain.

the past equivalent of the Present Perfect

He had played hockey.

Time markers: There are no unambiguous "signal words" or time markers in the Past Perfect. We often use the Past Perfect together with the Simple Past. Watch out when two actions in the past are combined:

first action (completed before the second one began): Past Perfectsecond action: Simple Past

Past Perfect Continuous Tense

Affirmative Negative InterrogativeI had been waiting

You had been waiting

He had been waitingShe had been waitingIt had been waiting

We had been waitingYou  had been waitingThey  had been waiting

I had not been waitingYou had not been waiting

He had not been waitingShe had not been waitingIt had not been waiting

We had not been waitingYou had not been waitingThey had not been waiting

 

Had I been waiting?Had you been waiting ?

Had he been waiting?Had she been waiting?Had it been waiting?

Had we been waiting?Had you been waiting?Had they been waiting?

Uses Examples

Habitual actions how long something had been happening before something else happened

I had been waiting for Susan for 2 hours when she arrived.

Going to future

Affirmative Negative InterrogativeI am going to travel

You are going to travel

He is going to travel She is going to travel

It is going to travel

We are going to travelYou are going to travelThey are going to travel

I am not going to travelYou are not going to travel

He is not going to travelShe is not going to travelIt is not going to travel

We are not going to travelYou are not going to travelThey are not going to travel

Am I going to travel ?Are you going to travel?

Is he going to travel?Is she going to travel?Is it going to travel?

Are we going to travel?Are you going to travel?Are they going to travel?

 

Uses Examples

planned actions in the future We are going to sing at the party.They are going to fly to South Africa.

You are certain that sth. is going to happen in the future.

The Sun Look at that car! It is going to crash into the yellow one.

Time markers: There are no "clear" signal words or time markers for the going to-future.

So analyse the type of the action in the sentence. Then decide which future form should be used in the sentence.

Future Simple Tense

Affirmative Negative InterrogativeI will survive

You will survive

He will surviveShe will surviveIt will survive

We will surviveYou will surviveThey will survive

I will not surviveYou will not survive

He will not surviveShe will not surviveIt will not survive

We will not surviveYou will not surviveThey will not survive

 

Will I survive?Will you survive?

Will he survive?Will she survive?Will it survive?

Will we survive?Will you survive?Will they survive?

 

Uses Examples

Habitual actions repeated actions

I go to the gym on Monday and FridayMy friend often draws nice posters.

Future actions happen without the speaker's intention (birthday, weather, etc.)

The sun will shine tomorrow.Peter will be 15 next Tuesday.

Predictions, assumptions (I think, I hope, I'm sure, I'm afraid)

I think Sue will arrive in Paris at 6 pm.

Spontaneous actions (not planned) Hang on! I'll have a word with you.

Time markers: There are no "clear" signal words or time markers for the will-future. Words like "tomorrow" only indicate that a future form is used. So you have to think of the type of the action in the sentence. Then you can decide which future form should be used in the sentence.

Future Continuous Tense

Affirmative Negative InterrogativeI will be waiting

You will be waiting

He will be waitingShe will be waitingIt will be waiting

We will be waitingYou  will be waitingThey  will be waiting

I will not be waitingYou will not be waiting

He will not be waitingShe will not be waitingIt will not be waiting

We will not be waitingYou will not be waitingThey will not be waiting

 

Will I be waiting?Will you be waiting ?

Will he be waiting?Will she be waiting?Will it be waiting?

Will we be waiting?Will you be waiting?Will they be waiting?

Uses Examples

An action will be in progress at a certain time in the future. This action has begun before the certain time.

When I come to school, the other kids will be waiting for me.

Something happens because it normally happens.

We'll be going to the disco on Saturday.

Time markers: for example: tomorrow, on Saturday etc.

Future Perfect Simple Tense

Affirmative Negative InterrogativeI will have eaten

You will have eaten

He will have eaten She will have eaten

It will have eaten

We will have eaten You  will have eaten They will have eaten

I will not have eatenYou will not have eaten

He will not have eatenShe will not have eatenIt will not have eaten

We will not have eatenYou will not have eatenThey will not have eaten

 

Will I have eaten?Will you have eaten ?

Will he have eaten?Will she have eaten?Will it have eaten?

Will we have eaten?Will you have eaten?Will they have eaten?

 

Uses Examples

something will already have happened before a certain time in the future

I will have written the letter by tomorrow.

Future Perfect Continuous Tense

Affirmative Negative InterrogativeI will have been waiting

You will have been waiting

He will have been waiting She will have been waiting

It will have been waiting

We will have been waiting You  will have been waiting They will have been waiting

I will not have been waiting You will not have been waiting

He will not have been waitingShe will not have been waitingIt will not have been waiting

We will not have been waitingYou will not have been waiting

They will not have been waiting

 

Will I have been waiting?Will you have been waiting ?

Will he have been waiting?Will she have been waiting?Will it have been waiting?

Will we have been waiting?Will you have been waiting?Will they have been waiting?

 

Uses Examples

something that will have already begun and will be continuing in the future

I will have been swimming for an hour by 6.30.

Simple Conditional (I)

Affirmative Negative InterrogativeI would drink

You would drink

He would drinkShe would drinkIt would drink

We would drinkYou would drinkThey would drink

I would not drinkYou would not drink

He would not drinkShe would not drinkIt would not drink

We would not drinkYou would not drinkThey would not drink

 

Would I drink?Would you drink?

Would he drink?Would she drink?Would it drink?

Would we drink?Would you drink?Would they drink?

 

Uses Examples

We use it for something that might happen.We use it in the main clause in type II of the Conditional sentences.

I would fly to Sydney if I had the money.

Conditional ProgressiveAffirmative Negative Interrogative

I would be sleepingYou would be sleeping

He would be sleeping She would be sleepingIt would be sleeping

We would be sleepingYou would be sleepingThey would be sleeping

I would not be sleeping You would not be sleeping

He would not be sleepingShe would not be sleepingIt would not be sleeping

We would not be sleepingYou would not be sleepingThey would not be sleeping

Would I be sleeping?Would you be sleeping?

Would he be sleeping?Would she be sleeping?Would it be sleeping?

Would we be sleeping?Would you be sleeping?Would they be sleeping?

 

Uses Examples The conditional progressive refers to an action that might take place.

Conditional progressive is used for actions that might take place and puts emphasis on the course of an action. It is used in the main clause of conditional sentences type 2

I would be traveling around the world.

If he had a lot of money, he would be traveling

around the world.

If I were free, I would be watching the movie.

If the music were better, everybody would be dancing.

I would be having a good time if I

met my friends.

Conditional PerfectAffirmative Negative Interrogative

I would have eatenYou would have eaten

He would have eatenShe would have eatenIt would have eaten

We would have eatenYou would have eatenThey would have eaten

I would not have eatenYou would not have eaten

He would not have eatenShe would not have eatenIt would not have eaten

We would not have eatenYou would not have eatenThey would not have eaten

Would I have eaten?Would you have eaten?

Would he have eaten?Would she have eaten?Would it have eaten?

Would we have eaten?Would you have eaten?Would they have eaten?

 

Uses Examples We use it for something that might have happened in the past.We use it in the main clause in type III of the if clauses.

I would have phoned you if you hadn't switched your mobile off.

Conditional Perfect Progressive

Affirmative Negative InterrogativeI would have been sleeping

You would have been sleeping

He would have been sleeping She would have been sleepingIt would have been sleeping

We would have been sleepingYou would have been sleeping

They would have been sleeping

I would not have been sleepingYou would not have been

sleeping

He would not have been sleeping

She would not have been sleeping

It would not have been sleeping

We would not have been sleeping

You would not have been sleeping

They would not have been sleeping

Would I have been sleeping?Would you have been sleeping?

Would he have been sleeping?Would she have been sleeping?Would it have been sleeping?

Would we have been sleeping?Would you have been sleeping?Would they have been sleeping?

 

Uses Examples

We use it in the main clause in type III of the if clauses.

Maria would have been singing if there had been more people in the church.