12 ENGLISH TENSES

SIMPLE CONTINUOUS PERFECT PERFECT CONT.

PRESENT FUNCTIONS Habit, General Facts Ongoing event, Action arranged in Experience, emphasis on result, Emphasis on duration, action
future, temporary action action started in the past and started in the past and has/hasn’t
has/hasn’t finished yet. finished yet.
ACTIVE (+) S+V / Vs-es (+) S+be+Ving (+)S+have/has+V3 (+)S+has/have+been+Ving
(-) S+don’t/doesn’t+V1 (-) S+not+be+Ving (-) S+have/has+not+V3 (-)S+have/has+not+been+Ving
(?)Do/Does+S+V1? (?) To-be+S+Ving? (?)Have/Has+S+V3? (?)Have/Has+S+been+Ving?
PASSIVE (+) S+to-be+V3 (+)S+to be +being+V3 (+)S+has+been+V3 (+)S+have/has+been+being+V3
KEY / TIME Usually, always, often, every Now, today, at the moment, right - Since, for
day, every time. now.
PAST FUNCTIONS Action in the past Action going on at certain time in Action taking place before a Action taking place before a certain
the past. certain time in the past, emphasis time in the past, emphasis on
While: actions taking place on the on facts duration (sometimes
same time.( Past cont. while past interchangeable with Past Perf.)
Cont.)
When/While: interrupted action in
the past.
(Past Cont., when Past simple)
(Past simple, while Past Cont.)
ACTIVE (+)S+V2 (+)S+was/were+Ving (+)S+had+V3 (+)S+had+been+Ving
(-)S+didn’t+V1 (-)S+was/were+not+Ving (-)S+had+not+v3 (-)S+had+not+been+Ving
(?)Did+S+V1? (?)Was/Were+S+Ving? (?)Had+S +V3? (?)Had+S+been+Ving?
PASSIVE (+)S+was/were+V3 (+)S+was/were+being+V3 (+)S+had+been+V3 (+)S+had+been+being+V3
KEY / TIME Yesterday, last year, 2days ago Yesterday evening, last year in June, Before (+past simple) Since, for + before (+past simple)
at 2 a.m. this morning
FUTURE FUNCTIONS Instant decision, conditional Action going on at certain time in Action that will be finished at Event will continue up until a
type 1, prediction the future. certain time in the future / before particular event or time in the
another action in the fut. future.
ACTIVE (+)S+will+V1 (+)S+will+be+Ving (+)S+will+have+V3 (+)S+will+have+been+Ving
(-)S+will+not+V1 (-)S+will+not+be+Ving (-)S+will+not+have+V3 (-)S+will+not+have+been+Ving
(?)Will+S+V1? (?)Will+S+be+Ving? (?)Will+S+have+V3? (?)Will+s+have+been+Ving
PASSIVE (+)S+will+be+V3 (+)S+will+be+being+V3 (+)S+will+have+been+V3 (?)S+will+have+been+being+V3
KEY / TIME Tomorrow, next week. Tomorrow evening, next year in By the time (+simple present) For (+duration) + by the time
September. By (adv. of time future) (+simple present) OR
For (duration) + by (+adv. of time
future)