30920 review of tenses

Present
simple
Be (present)
+verb+ING.

To verb+s (for the
singular).

Form

Present
continuous.

Tense

Present
perfect.

Have(or has)
+verb(past
participle).
Have (or has)
been+verb+ING.

Present
perfect
progressive.
Past simple.

Example
c) It snows in Alaska.

d) I watch TV every
day.
a) It’s raining.
b) The population is
rising very fast.
I have never been to
London.
a)

Meaning
a)General truth/statement.
b) Habit.
a)Action taking place around the
time of speaking.
b) Changing situtation.

Past action/event related to
the present.(focus on the
result.)
a)Action in the past, result in the
present.
b)Focus on the action.
c)Action continuing in the present.

Complete action/event in the
past.

My hands are dirty because I’ve
been repairing the car..
He’s been writing a letter.

She’s been reading a book.

a)they watched TV yesterday.
b)He went to New York last
year.

a)An action was in progress in the past
when another happened in the middle
of it.
b)We don’t know if the action

b)
c)

a)He was sleeping when I
arrived.
b)They were dancing.

Words that may
accompany.

now

Now, today …

Always, usually,
habitually…

now

now

Representation

?

Last
night/year/month...
yesterday, previously…
While, when, as …

now

now

It’s the first time, just,
since (+date), for (+
period),yet,ever,never...
Since, for, over (+
period)…
now

Not completed
1
2

Already…

(regular) verb +
ED or (irregular)

verb in the past.
Was/were + verb
+ ING.

now

Past
continuous.

2

2
burst

1
completed

Probably, sure, think,
expect …

1
finish

Had+verb (past
participle).

We use it to say how long
something had been happening
before something else happened.

now

Adverbial of time.
(tonight, tomorrow…)

Two actions in the past
happening one before the
other.

Past
perfect.
Had been + verb
+ ING.

now

Adverbial of time.

now

Past perfect
progressive.

now

He had finished his
homework when I burst
into his room.
It had been raining all
night.

Future with
“will”.

a) prediction.
b) Decision taken at the time
of speaking.
a)Evidence.
b)intention/decision already
taken previously.
Planning/arrangement.
Future with
“going to”.

Will + verb (in the a) watch your steps or
base infinitive).
you’ll fall.
b) I’ll have a lemonade.
Be(in the present)+ a)look at those black clouds. It’s
going to rain.
going to
b) I’m going to fly to Spain next
(+advrbial of
summer.
Present
Alex is getting married
continuous +
next month.
advrebial of time.
Future with

the
continuous

TEACHER : Medimegh Imed