Mastering English Verb Tenses: Simple, Continuous, Perfect

Posted on Jan 24, 2025 in English

Present Simple

Forms:
  • I talk, you talk, he/she/it talks, we talk, they talk
  • I don’t talk, he/she/it doesn’t talk
  • Do you talk? Does he/she/it talk?
Uses:
  1. Things that happen habitually. Adverbs of frequency are often used: always, every day, usually, often, sometimes, rarely, never
  2. Generalities or scientific facts. He doesn’t eat vegetables. Elephants live in Africa.
  3. Scheduled events in the near future. The train leaves at 10:00. The party is tonight.
  4. Instructions. Open the window. Eat the vegetables! Do your homework.

Present Continuous

Forms:
  • I am talking, you are talking, he/she/it is talking, we are talking, they are talking
  • I am not talking, you aren’t talking, he/she/it isn’t talking
  • Am I talking? Are you talking? Is he/she/it talking?
Uses:
  1. Something that is happening at this very moment. Now, at the moment. Is it raining?
  2. Something happening currently, but not necessarily at this exact moment. Used with: currently, lately, these days
  3. Something that is decided and will definitely happen in the near future
  4. Situations about to occur
Note: Some verbs are not typically used in the continuous form: be, want, need, know, prefer, remember, understand, care, see, hear, smell, believe, belong, cost, seem, exist, own, like, dislike, love, hate, fear, envy, mind

Past Simple

Forms:
  • To be: was/were, wasn’t/weren’t, Was/Were + subject?
  • Other verbs: regular verbs add -ed, irregular verbs have unique past forms, didn’t + base form of verb, Did + subject + base form of verb?
Uses:
  1. Actions that started and finished in the past: last year, yesterday, last night
  2. A series of actions in the past
  3. Repeated and habitual actions in the past
  4. Actions that lasted for a long period of time in the past
  5. Generalities or facts in the past

Past Continuous

Forms:
  • I was talking, you were talking, he/she/it was talking, we were talking, they were talking
  • I was not (wasn’t) talking, you were not (weren’t) talking, he/she/it was not (wasn’t) talking
  • Was I talking? Were you talking? Was he/she/it talking?
Uses:
  1. Long actions interrupted by another action. While is used with the continuous form, and when is used with the simple form.
  2. Actions at a specific time in the past: in 2005, at 10:00 PM
  3. To emphasize the duration of an action: all evening, all night

Used To

Forms: (Only past simple)
  • I used to play basketball when I was younger.
  • She didn’t use to play basketball when she was younger.
  • Did you use to play basketball when you were younger?

Present Perfect Simple

Forms:
  • have/has + past participle (verb 3rd form), haven’t/hasn’t + past participle
  • have/has + subject + past participle?
Uses:
  1. Actions that started in the past and continue to the present: I have lived in Badajoz for 20 years.
  2. Recent actions in the past with consequences in the present: I have broken my leg.
  3. Life experiences without specifying when they happened: I have been to London 3 times.
I have just finished. Recently (at the end), lately (at the beginning), already (affirmative), yet (negative or interrogative, and at the end)
I have already seen her. I haven’t seen her yet. Have you ever been to London? I have never been to London.

Future

Will

Forms:
  • I will go, she won’t go, will you go?
Uses:
  1. General predictions based on our opinion
  2. Instantaneous decisions

Be Going To

Forms:
  • She is going to travel, they aren’t going to travel, are you going to travel?
Uses:
  1. Predictions about the future based on evidence or proof: Look at that car! It is going to have an accident.
  2. Plans and intentions made in advance: I am going to have dinner.

Present Continuous

Forms:
  • You are talking
Uses:
  1. Appointments or fixed plans that are very likely to happen: I am having dinner tonight at 10:00 PM.