Verb Tenses

The formulas for conjugating various verb tenses are listed below along with an
explanation of when to use each verb tense.
Simple Present: base form of the verb (for third-person singular add s or
es!.
- "se to describe customar# or habitual actions and general truths.
$ wal% to school ever# da#. (habitual action!
The earth is round. (general truth!
Present Progressive: am & is & are ' present participle (-ing!.
- "se to describe actions occurring now in the present time.
$ am wearing m# new raincoat.
Present Perfect: have & has ' past participle.
- "se to describe actions that began in the past and continue to the
present with the sense that it will continue in the future.
(ohn has wor%ed at the boo%store since last summer.
- "se to describe actions that occurred more than once or repeatedl# in
the past.
)ruce has sung at ever# concert held at the school.
- "se to describe actions that happened at an un%nown past time.
*ur friends have travelled to Paris.
- "se to describe a completed action given extra emphasis.
+es we have studied for the test.
- "se to describe a recent action given extra emphasis.
The bo#s have just found the coins.
Present Perfect Progressive: have & has ' been ' present participle (-ing!.
- "se to describe actions that have been performed recentl#.
$ have been pic%ing cherries.
- "se to describe actions that have started in the past and have
continued into the present.
$ have been wal%ing for two hours.
Simple Past: base form ' -ed for regular verbs. ,an# verbs have an irregular
past-tense form. To find the past-tense form of a verb loo% up its base form in
#our dictionar#.
- "se to describe actions that too% place at a specific time in the past.
$ ate brea%fast #esterda#.
- "se to describe actions that occurred over a period of time in the past
but are no longer occurring in the present.
$ sang ever# da# when $ was in high school.
Past Progressive: was & were ' present participle (-ing!.
- "se to describe an action that was occurring at a specific point in time
in the past.
-ave was ta%ing a shower when the phone rang.
- "se to describe an action that lasted for a period of time in the past.
+annic% was dancing while .drian was pla#ing his guitar.
Past Perfect: had ' past participle.
- "se to describe an action that was completed b# a definite time or
before another action was completed in the past.
$ had finished dinner b# six o/cloc%.
.fter he had stepped on the nail his foot began to hurt.
Past Perfect Progressive: had ' been ' present participle (-ing!.
- "se to emphasise the duration of an action that was completed before
another action in the past.
0aura had been waiting for the bus for twent# minutes when it
finall# arrived.
Simple 1uture: will & shall ' base form.
- "se to describe actions that are expected to ta%e place after the
present.
2egan will sing at the concert on 1rida#.
1uture Progressive: will ' be ' present participle (-ing!.
- "se to describe actions that will be in progress in the future.
$ will be cheering loudl# when The 2uttles wal% onstage.
1uture Perfect: will ' have ' past participle.
- "se to describe actions that will be completed before another future
action or before a specific future time.
The Smiths will have painted their house before #ou arrive.
3atalie will have eaten five donuts b# the end of the night.
1uture Perfect Progressive: will ' have ' been ' present participle (-ing!.
- "se to describe actions that have been in progress for a period of time
in the future before another event or time in the future.
.s of ,a# .drian will have been pla#ing in the band for twent#
#ears.