English Grammar: Verb Tenses

Posted on Nov 1, 2024 in English

Future Tenses

Will

Use: Expresses medium/long-term future actions.

  • Decisions made at the time of speaking (e.g., “I’ll help you.”)
  • Predictions based on subjective opinion (e.g., “I think it will rain.”)

Common adverbs: I think, I hope, I’m afraid, I promise, I expect

Going to

Use: Expresses something almost certain.

  • Plans or intentions decided before speaking.
  • Imminent actions with clear evidence.

Present Continuous

Use: Definite plans for the future.

  • Includes specific details like time, place, and date (e.g., “We’re going to Barcelona on Thursday, February 26th at 10 AM.”)

Future Continuous

Use: Actions in progress at a specific future time (e.g., “At 6 PM, I’ll be studying English.”)

Common adverbs: later, tonight, tomorrow, soon, next week

Future Perfect

Use: Actions completed by a specific future time (e.g., “By 6 PM, I will have finished studying English.”)

Common adverbs: by the time, before, by then, by 3:00 AM

Past Tenses

Past Simple

Use: Completed past actions.

  • Consecutive actions (e.g., “She picked up her books and then her jacket.”)
  • Specific finished times (e.g., “We lived in Soria two years ago.”)

Common adverbs: ago, yesterday, then, in 1995, before, last night/week/month

Past Continuous

Use: Actions in progress at a specific past time.

  • Interrupted actions (e.g., “I was eating when…” )
  • Simultaneous actions (e.g., “He was eating while calling Paul.”)
  • Setting the scene (e.g., “It was raining when…”)

Common adverbs: when, while, all morning/day/week/summer

Past Perfect

Use: Actions completed before another action in the past (e.g., “I had already eaten when he arrived.”)

Present Tenses

Present Perfect Simple

Use: Connects past actions to the present.

  • Life experiences (e.g., “Have you ever been to Paris?”)
  • Unspecified past time (e.g., “I have washed the car.”)
  • Actions starting in the past and continuing to the present (e.g., “I have lived here for ten years.”)

Common adverbs: for, since, already, just, ever, never, so far, up to now, today, this week/month/season, lately, recently, all day, all morning, yet, still

Present Perfect Continuous

Use: Continuous actions lasting for a period of time.

  • Duration of an activity (e.g., “She has been playing tennis.”)
  • Temporary activities (e.g., “She has been working here since…”)
  • Actions with present consequences (e.g., “I’m tired. I’ve been working all day.”)

Used to

Use: Past habits or states that no longer exist.

  • Affirmative: Subject + used to + verb (infinitive)
  • Negative: Subject + did not use to + verb (infinitive)
  • Question: Did + subject + use to + verb (infinitive)

Get Used to

Use: Becoming accustomed to something.

Form: Subject + be + getting used to + verb (-ing) (e.g., “I’m getting used to working in an office.”)

Be Used to

Use: Being familiar with or accustomed to something.

Form: Subject + be + used to + verb (-ing) (e.g., “I’m used to working in an office.”)