ENGLISH TENSES

TENSE PRESENT PAST FUTURE

Simple I work. I worked. I will work.

"infinitive"
definitions routines, habits, an action completed in spontaneous decisions
generally true the past at a specific time predictions
teaching idea daily routines dreams fortune telling
key words usually, always last night next year
Now Now Now
time line --X-X-X-X-X-X-I-X-X-X-X-X-> ---------X---------------I----------> ------I----------------X----------->

Continuous I am working I was working. I will be working

"to be"
definitions an action that began in an action in progress an action in progress
the past & is continuing that is completed at a that is completed in the
to the point of speaking specified time in the past future at a specified time
teaching idea charades alibis future plans
key words right now when, while over the weekend
Now Now Now
time line ----- X----------I---------------> ---X----------X-----------I--------->------I----------X----------X----->

Perfect I have worked. I had worked. I will have worked.

"to have"
definitions an action that began in an action that is completed an action that is completed
the past & continues to in the past before another at a specified time in the
the present completed action future
teaching idea book review mysteries what will you have done?
key words how many, this week already, by the time by 2050
Now Now Now
time line ----- X----------X---------------> ---X----------X-----------I--------->------I----------X----------X----->

Perfect Continuous I have been working.
"to have" + "to be"
definitions emphasizes the continuous
or repetitive nature of an
action that began in the
past & continues to the
present
teaching idea what have you been doing
lately?
Now
time line ----- X----------X--------------->
I had been working.
emphasizes the continuous
or repetitive nature of an
action that is completed
before another past action
what had you been doing
before?
Now
---X----------X-----------I--------->------I----------X----------X----->
I will have been working.
emphasizes the continuous
or repetitive nature of an
action that is completed
at a specific time in the
future
what will you have been
doing by?
Now