TENSE USED FOR EXAMPLE

1. Simple present 1. A present state of affairs 1. My sister lives in

2. A general fact Washington
3. Habitual actions 2. The sun rises in the
east
3. I listen to the radio
every morning
2. Simple past An action or a state that began and 1. The mail came early
ended at a particular time in the past this morning
2. I was shy in high
school
3. Future (will) 1. Making a decision at the 1. I’ll call you after lunch
time of speaking 2. You will pass the test.
2. Predicting an event that is Don’t worry
likely to happen in the future 3. If I don’t feel better
3. Indicating willingness to do soon, I’ll go to the
something doctor
4. Future (going to) 1. Expressing a future intent 1. Jim is going to bring
based on a decision made in his sister tonight
the past 2. You are going to pass
2. Predicting an event that is the test. Don’t worry
likely to happen in the future 3. I don’t feel well. I am
3. Predicting an event that is going to faint
likely to happen based on
the present conditions

5. Present A specific action that is occurring Andrew is watching TV now

continuous (right now)
6. past continuous Ongoing actions that were 1. I was sewing when the
interrupted telephone rang
2. While I was sewing,
the telephone rang
7. Future An action that will be 1. At noon tomorrow, I’ll
continuous ongoing at the particular be taking the children
time in the future to their piano lessons
2. I’ll be attending law
school for the next
three years

8. Present perfect 1. An action or a state that 1. He has been ill

happened at an unspecific
time
2. An action that has recently
occurred
3. An action that began in the
past and continues up to the
2. He has just gone to
sleep
3. He has known her for
two weeks
4. I have failed my
driver’s test twice
 present (often used with for
or since)
4. An action that happened
repeatedly before now
9. Past perfect A past action that occurred before
another past action
10. Future perfect An action that will be completed
before a particular time in the future
11. Present perfect 1. An action that began in the
continuous past and has just recently
ended
2. An action that began in the
past and continues in the
present
3. A general action recently in
progress (no particular time
is mentioned)
12. Past perfect A continuous action that occurred
continuous before another past action
13. Future perfect An action emphasizing the length of
continuous time that has occurred before a
specific time in the future
Tom had left before we got
there
By next July, my parents will
have been married for 50
years
1. Have you been raking
the lawn? There are
leaves all over your
shoes
2. Laura has been
studying for two hours
3. I’ve been thinking
about going to college
next year
His eyes hurt because he had
been reading for eight hours
By may, my father will have
been working at the same job
for 30 years