The Simple Tenses

Past
Present
Future
The Simple Past Tense
We use the simple past to
indicate exactly when an
action or event took place in
the past.

I visited my sister yesterday.
We went out to dinner last night.
The simple past is used to
describe actions and/or events
that are now completed and no
longer true in the present.

I graduated from MHS in 1998.
I saw a movie every weekend
when I was a teenager.
The Simple Present Tense
This tense also
expresses general truths
or facts that are timeless.


Snow falls in the December in China.
Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.
Expresses a habit or often
repeated action. Adverbs of
frequency such as, often,
seldom, sometimes, never, etc.
are used with this tense.


She goes to work everyday.
They always eat lunch together.
The Simple Future Tense
Future tense expresses an action or
situation that will occur in the
future. This tense is formed by using
will/shall with the simple form of
the verb.
The President will finish his term in
two years.
The future tense can also be
expressed by using am, is, or are
with going to.
The surgeon is going to perform the
first bypass in Minnesota.
We can also use the present tense
form with an adverb or adverbial
phrase to show future time.
The president speaks tomorrow.
The Perfect Tenses
Past
Present
Future
The Present Perfect Tense
The present perfect is also used to
talk about an event that was
completed in the past, but the specific
time of the event is not important.
He has lived in Marilao for two
years.
Present perfect tense describes an
action that happened at an indefinite
time in the past or that began in the past
and continues in the present.
Women have voted in presidential
elections since 1921.
The researchers have travelled to
many countries in order to collect
more significant data.
The Future Perfect Tense
We will have finished the exam by
the time class ends tomorrow.

will have finished the
exam
class ends
By the time the troops arrive, the
combat group will have spent
several weeks waiting.
Future perfect tense describes an
action that will occur in the future
before some other action. This
tense is formed by using will have
with the past participle of the verb.
The Past Perfect Tense
The Titanic had received many warnings
before it hit the iceberg.
I had already eaten when my friend
stopped by to visit.

it hit
my friend stopped by
had received
had eaten
The Progressive Tenses
Past
Present
Future
The Present Progressive Tense
The sociologist is examining the effects
that racial discrimination has on
society.
Present progressive tense describes
an ongoing action that is happening
at the same time the statement is
written.
This tense is formed by using
am/is/are with the verb form ending
in -ing.
He cant talk. He is fixing the
sink right now.
She is typing a paper for her
class.
The Past Progressive Tense
The past progressive is often used
with the simple past to show that one
action was in progress when another
action occurred.
I was taking a bath when the
doorbell rang.
They were eating dinner when the
neighbors stopped by for a visit.
The Future Progressive Tense
Dr. Joy will be presenting ongoing
research on gay language next
week.
Future progressive tense describes
an ongoing or continuous action
that will take place in the future.
This tense is formed by using
will be or shall be with the verb
form ending in -ing.
The Perfect Progressive Tenses
Past
Present
Future
She had been driving around the city for
three hours before she finally found the
right office.

she found the
right office
had been
driving
The Past Perfect Progressive
Tense
This tense is used to
emphasize the duration of an
action that was completed
before another action or event
in the past.
Before the budget cuts, the
students had been participating
in many extracurricular activities.