Académique Documents
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PAST
PRESENT
FUTURE
Simple past
Simple
present
Simple future
Progressive
or
continuous
tenses
Past continuous
Present
continuous
Future
continuous
Perfect
tenses
Present perfect
Simple
tenses
Future perfect
Past perfect
Perfect
progressive
Present perfect
continuous
Past perfect
continuous
PRESENT TENSES:
Future perfect
continuous
Simple present
(a fact or habit; with time clauses when time is future);
He studies grammar every day.
We will eat after he gets here.
Key words: always, usually, often, sometimes, seldom, rarely, never, every day, on Sundays, etc.
also stative (non-progressive) verbs: know, understand, believe, feel, think,** remember, forget, want,
need, prefer, mean, love, like, hate, have,** hear, feel,** see,** smell,** taste,** seem, look,** cost,
owe, be**
**These verbs also have other meanings which can be progressive
Present continuous
(an activity in progress at the present time--probably started in the past and will continue)
I can't talk on the phone. I am eating lunch.
Key words: now, right now, this quarter, etc.
Note: the Present progressive and simple present can also be used for a future meaning with
scheduled events.
I am meeting her in the library tomorrow at 10 am.
The plane leaves at 6 p.m.
PAST TENSES:
Simple past
(at one time in the past, this happened; activity completed in the past)
I ate dinner yesterday.
Key words: yesterday, last week, last month, this morning (when meaning is past), etc.
Past continuous
Present perfect
(something that started in the past and has relevance to or continues to the present;
activity in past, but no time is mentioned; emphasis on repetition of activity in the past)
I have eaten Indian food two times.
I have had this rucksack for five years.
I have been here since 8 a.m.
Key words: already, yet, just, ever, never, ___ times, since + a particular time, for + a duration of time
Past perfect
(an activity which was completed before another activity in the past)
I had already eaten when they arrived.
Key words: already, before. by the time
FUTURE TENSES:
Future continuous
(activity which will be in progress at a particular time in the future)
She will be studying when we arrive.
Ill be staying with my cousin for several weeks.
Key words: for
Future perfect
(an activity which will be finished before another time or activity in the future)
I will have finished studying by the time you arrive.)
Key words: when, by the time