| Past | Present | Future | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simple | was/were did | am/is/are do/does | am/is/are going to do will |
| Perfect | had done | have done | will have done |
| Progressive | was/were doing | am/is/are doing | will be doing |
| Perfect Progressive | had been doing | have been doing | will have been doing |
Present Simple#
Usage 1(past - present - future)#
- state objective facts
- describe habits and routines
- express repeated actions
- this usage not limited to present time
| Positive | It always rains in November. They work for a big company. |
| Negative | do/does + not It doesn’t always rain in November. They don’t work for a big company. |
| Question | do/does + subject Does it always rain in November? Do they work for a big company? |
Usage 2(future)#
- express future scheduled events & timetables
- train schedules
- school timetables
- TV programs etc.
| Positive | The museum opens at 10:00 tomorrow. Classes begin next week. Join’s plane arrives at 6:05 P.M. next Monday. |
| Negative | same as usage 1 |
| Question | same as usage 1 |
| Frequently used verbs | arrive, leave, start, begin, end, finish, open, close, be |
Past Simple#
Describe actions that happened in the past and are now finished(did) or states that existed in the past(was/were).
| Positive | Tom watched TV last night. Emily was at the office this morning. |
| Negative | did not Tom didn’t watch TV last night. Emily wasn’t at the office this morning. |
| Question | did + subject Did Tom watch TV last night? Was Emily at the office this morning? |
Future Simple#
Be going to(Usage 1)#
Plan or intention to do something in the future.
PastA(She decided to do it) -> Now(She is going to do it) -> Future
| Positive | She is going to buy a new car. She is gonna buy a new car. |
| Negative | am/is/are + not She is not going to buy a new car. She isn’t gonna buy a new car. |
| Question | am/is/are + subject Is she going to buy a new car? Is she gonna buy a new car? |
Be going to(Usage 2)#
Express a prediction based on present evidence.
Now(There are dark clouds) -> Future(It is going to rain)
| Positive | Look at those dark clouds. It is going to rain. Look at those dark clouds. It’s gonna rain. |
| Negative | am/is/are + not Look at those dark clouds. It is not going to rain. Look at those dark clouds. It’s not gonna rain. |
| Question | am/is/are + subject Look at those dark clouds. Is it going to rain? Look at those dark clouds. Is it gonna rain? |
Will do(Usage 1)#
Express a willingness to do something or a spontaneous decision.
Now(I will do it) -> Future
| Positive | It’s heavy. I will help you. I will help you with your homework. |
| Negative | will + not = won’t I will not help you with your homework. I won’t help you with your homework. |
| Question | will + subject Will you help me with my homework? Will you help me? |
Will do(Usage 2)#
Express a prediction about the future based on what we think or believe.
Now(I think it will happen) -> Future
| Positive | The weather will turn cold tonight. |
| Negative | will + not = won’t The weather will not turn cold tonight. The weather won’t turn cold tonight. |
| Question | will + subject Will the weather turn cold tonight? |
Present Progressive#
Usage 1#
Describe actions that are happening at the moment of speaking or around the present time.
| Positive | They are watching TV |
| Negative | am/is/are + not They are not watching TV. |
| Question | am/is/are + subject Are they watching TV? |
Usage 2#
The action is not happening at the moment of speaking, but it is happening around the present time.
| Positive | He is learning English this days. |
| Negative | same as Usage1 |
| Question | same as Usage1 |
Usage 3#
Describe future arrangements or plans that have already been made.
| Positive | He is having dinner with me tonight. |
| Negative | am/is/are + not He is not having dinner with me tonight. |
| Question | am/is/are + subject Is he having dinner with me tonight? |
| Must add a time expression to indicate the future, such as “tonight”, “tomorrow”, etc. |
Usage 4#
Use with ‘always’ to express annoyance or irritation about a repeated action.
| Positive | He is always losing his keys. She is always complaining about her job. |
| Negative | N/A |
| Question | N/A |
Past Progressive#
Usage 1#
Describe actions that were happening at a specific time in the past.
| Positive | I was studying at 8 last night. |
| Negative | was/were + not I was not studying at 8 last night. |
| Question | was/were + subject Were you studying at 8 last night? |
Usage 2(present)#
Polite request or offer.
| Positive | I was wondering if you could help me with my homework. |
Present Perfect#
Usage 1#
The past action has a connection to the present.
Past(I have just had some food) -> Now(I am not hungry)
| Positive | Do you want to have dinner? No, I have just had some food. |
| Negative | have/has + not No, I have not just had some food. |
| Question | have/has + subject Have you just had some food? |
Usage 2#
Describe an action/state that started in the past and continues or repeats to the present.
| Positive | I have lived here for 10 years. I have worked in this company since 2010. |
| Negative | have/has + not I have not lived here for 10 years. I have not worked in this company since 2010. |
| Question | have/has + subject Have you lived here for 10 years? Have you worked in this company since 2010? |
| Special questions | how long How long have you lived here? How long have you worked in this company? |
Past Perfect#
Usage 1#
The past action happened before another past action. PastA(She had done it) -> PastB(She did it)
| Positive | When Sarah arrived at the party, Paul had already gone home. |
| Negative | had + not When Sarah arrived at the party, Paul had not gone home. |
| Question | had + subject Had Paul already gone home when Sarah arrived at the party? |
Usage 2#
The action happened in PastA has a connection to PastB. PastA(She had done it) -> PastB(She was happy)
| Positive | We had just had lunch. We weren’t hungry. |
| Negative | had + not We had not just had lunch. |
| Question | had + subject Had we just had lunch? |
Usage 3#
Describe an action happened in PastA and continues or repeats to PastB.
| Positive | By 2020, I had lived in this city for 10 years. |
| Negative | had + not By 2020, I had not lived in this city for 10 years. |
| Question | had + subject Had you lived in this city for 10 years by 2020? |
| Special questions | how long How long had you lived in this city by 2020? |
Future Progressive#
Usage 1#
An action that will be in progress in the future
| Positive | Don’t call me after 10, I will be sleeping. |
| Negative | will + not = won’t I won’t be sleeping. |
| Question | will + subject Will you be sleeping? |
- am/is/are doing: At 10 o’clock yesterday, Tina was in her office. She was working.
- was/were doing: It’s 10 o’clock now. She is in her office. She is working.
- will be doing: At 10 o’clock tomorrow, she will be in her office. She will be working.
Usage 2#
to express intention/plan
| Positive | I will be meeting him tomorrow. |
| Negative | will + not = won’t I won’t be meeting him tomorrow. |
| Question | will + subject Will you be meeting him tomorrow? |
those all can express intention/plan:
- will be doing: He will be taking a test next week.
- am/is/are doing: He is taking a test next week.
- am/is/are going to do: He is going to take a test next week.
Usage 3#
Making a polite inquiry is more tactful than using will do, as it doesn’t interfere with the speaker’s own plan.
| Positive | N/A |
| Negative | N/A |
| Question | Will you be staying in this evening? Are you going to staying in this evening? Will you be staying in England? Will you stay in England? |