| Tense | Usage | Auxiliary | Verb Form | Examples | Time Expressions |
|---|
| Past Simple | Indicates an action completed at a definite time in the past. | did | -ed (regular verb) or irregular | - I did my homework yesterday.
- I didn’t work today.
| Last, ago, yesterday |
| Past Perfect | Indicates a past action completed before another past action. | had | Past participle | - She had met him before the party.
- We had not reserved the room.
| Before, after, already, just, for, since, until, when, never, by |
| Past Continuous | Indicates an action that started in the past and continued for a certain time period. | Was/Were | Base form + ing | - I was playing with my brother.
- I was not playing with my brother.
| While, when, as, all morning, all evening |
| Past Perfect Continuous | Indicates a past action that started in the past and continued to happen after another action or time in the past. | Had been | Base form + ing | - He had been drinking milk when mom walked in.
- We hadn’t been living there long.
| Already, just, never, for, since |
| Present Simple | Indicates an action that happens in the present, but it isn’t necessary for the action to happen right now. | Do/Does | Base form + es/s or base form | - You speak English.
- You don’t speak English.
| Every day, sometimes, always, often, usually, rarely, never |
| Present Perfect | Indicates an event that started in the past and the impact of the event is now continuing. | Have/Has | Past participle | - She has lived here all her life.
- She hasn’t lived here all her life.
| For, since, already, yet, ever, never, just, recently |
| Present Continuous | Indicates an action that is in progress at the time of speaking or at the present time. | Am/Is/Are | Base form + ing | - I’m not talking.
- They’re learning.
| Now, at the moment, today, these days, currently |
| Present Perfect Continuous | Indicates that something started in the past and is continuing at the present time. | Have/Has been | Base form + ing | - My dad has been repairing the kitchen.
- My dad has not been repairing the kitchen.
| All day, since, lately, all morning, for |
| Future Simple | Indicates actions that will occur in the future. | Will/Shall/Going to | Base form | - She’ll write the email after lunch.
- Alice won’t help us decorate for the party.
| Tomorrow, tonight, next year, in a month, soon |
| Future Perfect | Indicates an action that is expected to be completed before a certain time in the future. | Will have | Past participle | - He will have done it by this evening.
- He won’t have done it by this evening.
| Before, by, until |
| Future Continuous | Indicates an action that will be in progress at some definite time in the future. | Will be | Base form + ing | - I will be singing in the concert tomorrow.
- I will not be singing in the concert tomorrow.
| This time next week, this time next year, this time next month |
| Future Perfect Continuous | Indicates an action that will continue up until a point in the future. | Will have been | Base form + ing | - We will have been working at the school.
- We will not have been working at the school.
| By, by the time, for |
