essential english tenses revision page 1

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Essential English Tenses Revision – Page 1
Example:
Times:
Forms:
Auxiliary Verbs:
Typical Times:
Uses:

Example:
Times:
Forms:
Auxiliary Verbs:
Typical Times:
Uses:

Present Simple
I eat breakfast every morning.
regular time / future
infinitive
s form - he, she, it (third person)
use infinitive for questions and negatives
do / do not (don’t)
does / does not (doesn’t)
if main verb is BE, use am, are, is
every… / once a…
adverbs of frequency (e.g. often)
regular actions / facts
future - timetables
zero conditional (regular time)

Past Simple
I ate breakfast yesterday.
past (finished time)
past tense
infinitive (for questions and negatives)
-ed (regular verbs) / if irregular, learn the form(s)
did / did not (didn’t)
if main verb is BE, use was, were

Present Perfect
I have eaten breakfast today.
unfinished time / from the past up to now
past participle (3rd form)
-ed (regular verbs) / if irregular, learn the form(s)

yesterday / last… / …ago
finished actions in the past
to tell stories / news
second conditional (unreal future)

today / this…
for + number / since + time / already / yet
recent actions (just)
life experience (have you ever…? / never)
action is past, but the time is not finished

Present Continuous
I’m eating breakfast now.
now / at the moment

future (including time phrase)
ing form (present participle)
am (I’m) / am not (I’m not)
are (’re) / are not (aren’t)
is (’s) / is not (isn’t)
now
at the moment / at present
currently / presently
temporary continuous actions
arrangements (future + time)
repetition with always

Past Continuous
I was eating breakfast yesterday.
past (finished time)

Present Perfect Continuous
I have been eating breakfast.
unfinished time / from the past up to now

ing form (present participle)
was / was not (wasn’t)
were / were not (weren’t)

ing form (present participle)
have (’ve) been / have not (haven’t) been
has (’s) been / has not (hasn’t) been

yesterday / last… / …ago
when / while

an action is progress just before a past simple action
interrupted actions in the past
to set the scene in the past
repetition with always

today / this… / all… / over the last… / just
recently / lately (no specific time)

Big Grammar Book Intermediate Book 1

have (’ve) / have not (haven’t)
has (’s) / has not (hasn’t)

continuous actions in recent past
temporary actions
experience