Mastering English Verb Tenses
Simple Present
Simple Present is used to express routines, habits, and general truths. It can also express future time in a sentence, concerning events that are on a definite schedule (time). It states that something was, is, or will be true.
- I/you/we/they: Subject + verb base + complement.
- Subject + do/does not + verb base + complement.
- He/she/it: Subject + verb (s, es) + complement.
- Does/Do + subject + verb base + complement?
Present Progressive
Present Progressive expresses an activity that is in progress at the moment of speaking. It is a temporary activity that began in the past, is continuing at present, and will probably end at some point in the future. It can also express when the idea of the sentence concerns a planned event or a definite intention.
Subject + to be + gerund. Subject + to be + not + gerund. To be + subject + gerund?
Simple Past
Simple Past indicates that an activity or situation began and ended at a particular time in the past.
Subject + verb (2) + complement. Subject + did/was/were not + verb base + complement. Did/was/were + subject + verb?
Stative Verbs
Stative Verbs describe states, not actions, and are rarely used in progressive tenses. (e.g., know/knowing, like/liking, understand/understanding).
Present Perfect
Present Perfect describes situations that began in the past and continue up to now. It can talk about events that have happened before now.
Since (date). For (period).
Subject + have/has + verb (3) + since/for + complement. Subject + have/has + not… Have/has + subject…?
Present Perfect Progressive
Present Perfect Progressive expresses how long an activity has been in progress. It expresses the duration of an activity that began in the past and continues in the present.
Subject + have/has been + gerund + predicate. Subject + haven’t/hasn’t + been + gerund + predicate. Have/has + subject + been + gerund + predicate?
Past Perfect
Past Perfect expresses an activity that was complete before another activity or time in the past. It is commonly used in reported speech.
Subject + had + verb (3) + complement. Subject + had not + verb (3) + complement. Had + subject + verb (3) + complement?
Simple Future
Simple Future
- WILL: Predictions, willingness or offer to help, decisions made at the moment of speaking.
Subject + Will + verb base + complement. Subject + won’t + verb base + complement. Will + subject + verb base + complement?
- BE GOING TO: To express prior plans, predictions based on evidence.
Subject + be going to + verb base + complement. Subject + be + not + going to + verb base + complement. Be + subject + going to + verb base + complement?
Future Progressive
Future Progressive expresses an activity that will be in progress at a time in the future.
- WILL: Subject + will be + gerund + complement. Subject + won’t be + gerund + complement. Will + subject + be + gerund + complement?
- BE GOING TO: Subject + be (am/is/are) + going to + be + gerund + complement. Subject + be (am/is/are) + not + going to + be + gerund + complement. Be (am/is/are) + subject + going to + be + gerund + complement?
Expressing the Future in Time Clauses
Clauses: Groups of words that contain a subject and a verb.
- Dependent: Cannot be understood by itself. (time: before, when, until) (The first one takes a comma).
- Independent: Can be understood by itself.