Past Present Future

Simple An action that ended at a point in the past. An action that exists, is usual, or is A plan for future action.
repeated.
cooked cook / cooks will cook
Example He cooked yesterday. He cooks dinner every Friday. He will cook tomorrow.
Time clue yesterday every morning / day / etc. tomorrow
last year/ month/ etc. always tonight
before usually next week/month/etc.
for five weeks/days/etc. frequently soon
one year/ month ago sometimes in the future
Progressive An action was happening (past progressive) An action that is happening now. An action that will be happening over time,
be + main verb +ing when another action happened (simple in the future, when something else happens.
past).
was / were cooking am / is / are cooking will be cooking
Example He was cooking when the phone rang. He is cooking now. He will be cooking when you come.
Time clue while now when
when right now after
this week/minute/etc. as soon as
before
Perfect An action that ended before another action An action that happened at an unspecified An action that will end before another
have + main verb or time in the past. time in the past. action or time in the future.
had cooked has / have cooked will have cooked
Example He had cooked the dinner when the phone He has cooked many meals. He will have cooked dinner by the time you
rang. come.
Time clue before until now by the time you go (somewhere)
already since by the time you do (something)
by the time ever already
until then/last week/etc. never
after many times/ weeks/years/etc.
for three hours/ minutes/etc/
Perfect Progressive An action that happened over time, in the An action occurring over time that started An action occurring over time, in the future,
have + be + main verb + past, before another time or action in the in the past and continues into the present. before another action or time in the future.
ing past.
had been cooking has / have been cooking will have been cooking
Example He had been cooking for a long time before he He has been cooking for over an hour. He will have been cooking all day by the time
took lessons. she gets home.
Time clue before for the past year/ month/ etc. by the time
for one week/hour/etc. for the last 2 months/ weeks/etc. for ten days/weeks/etc.
since up to now by
for 6 weeks/hours/etc.
since
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