FORM

PRESENT SIMPLE
Root of verb, root + s, es
(-) do, does not + verb
root
(?) do, does + S + verb
root
PRESENT CONTINUOUS
Am/is/are + verb ing
(-) am/is/are not + verbing
(?) am/is/are + S+ verbing

USES
a- habitual actions
b- general truths
c- future (timetables)

EXAMPLES
She goes to school
everyday.
The sun sets in the west.
We leave at two oclock
tomorrow.

a- an action in progress at
the moment of speaking
b-temporary situations
c- a planned action that
will take place in the near
future

Im waiting for the train to

arrive.

PAST SIMPLE
Verb -ed, irregular verbs
(-) did not + root of the
verb
(?) did + S + root of the
verb
PAST CONTINUOUS
Was/were + verb-ing
(-) was/were not + verbing
(?)was/were + S + verbing
PRESENT PERFECT
SIMPLE
Have/has + past participle
(-) have/has not + past
participle
(?) have/has + S + past
participle
PRESENT PERFECT
CONTINUOUS
Have/has + been + verbing
(-) have/has
not+been+verb-ing
(?) have/has +S+
been+verb-ing
PAST PERFECT SIMPLE
Had + past participle
(-) had not + past
participle
(?) had +S + past
participle
PAST PERFECT
CONTINUOUS
Had been + verb-ing
(-) had not been + verbing

a- a completed action that

took place at a definite
time in the past

He finished school 15
years ago.

a- an action in progress at
a specific time in the past

The team was practising

at 4:30 yesterday.

a- an action that began in

the past and continues up
to the present
b- an action that took
place at an unstated time
in the past, but has
present relevance
a- an action that began in
the past and continues
until the present without
interruption

She has lived in Spain

since 1980.

a- an activity that
happened before another
activity in the past,
emphasis on the duration

By the time I arrived, all

the children had gone to
bed.

a- an action which was in

progress before a second
action, emphasis on the
duration

The grass was wet

because it had been
raining.

I am staying at a hotel.
We are meeting Paul
tonight.

I have lost her phone

number.

We have been waiting

here for over three hours.

(?) had +S+ been + verbing

FUTURE
Will + verb root
(-) will not + verb root
(?) will +S+ verb root

a- opinion predictions

BE GOING TO
Am/is/are going to + verb
root

a- plans and intentions

b- predictions based on
what we can see

FUTURE CONTINUOUS
Will be + verb-ing
(-) will not be + verb-ing
(?) will + S + be + verbing
FUTURE PERFECT
Will have + past participle
(-) will not have + past
participle
(?) will + S + have + past
part.

a- when we know
something will be in
progress at a time in the
future.

Ill be doing my homework

between 6.00 and 7.00
tomorrow night.

a- an action that will be

completed by a certain
time in the future

By tomorrow the painters

will have finished the
house.

b- instant decisions
c- facts about the future

I think Liverpool will win

the league.
Ill have an ice-cream,
please.
Ill be 16 on my next
birthday.
Im going to work hard
next year
That dog is going to eat
our chocolate.