When learning English, even the most determined beginners have difficulty with times. Indeed, in English, unlike Russian, there are as many as 12 species-temporal forms. Despite this, the system of English tenses is logical, orderly and strictly obeys the laws of grammar.
Learning all the rules for using verbs seems at first glance very difficult. But this is only at first glance. The easiest and most effective way to master all 12 tenses is to use tables that concisely and clearly present the material on the formation and use of tenses in the English language.
Why 12?
Everyone knows from school that there are only three tenses in Russian - present / past / future. In English, there are also three of them - present / past / future, but each tense, depending on the duration of the action, can be 4 types: simple, continuous, perfect and perfect continuous. As a result, 12 temporary forms come out.
| Simple/Indefinite
An action that occurs "in general" or an action that repeats from day to day. | continuous/
Progressive An action that takes place at a certain moment, a certain period of time, or an action planned for the near future | Perfect
The completed action with the result is available at the time of speech. | Perfect Continuous
An action that began and lasted until the moment of speech or ended immediately before this moment. |
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| present | I walk | I am walking | I have walked | I have been walking |
| Past | I walked | I was walking | I had walked | I had been walking |
| Future | I shall walk | I shall be walking | I shall have walked | I shall have been walking |
Table of times formation with examples
| present | Past | Future | |
| Simple | Auxiliary ch.: do / does End: -, -s Formula: V (+s) — I don't play — He doesn't eat | Auxiliary chapter: did Ending: -ed, - Formula: V2 — I did not play — He didn't eat | Auxiliary ch.: will / shall Ending: - Formula: will/shall + V — I won't play — He won't eat |
| continuous | Auxiliary verb: be (is / am / are) Formula: am/is/are + Ving — I am not playing — He is not eating | Auxiliary ch.: was / were windows-e: -ing Formula: was/were + Ving — I wasn't playing — He wasn't eating Was I playing? Was he eating? | Auxiliary ch.: will be / shall be Okon-e: -ing Formula: will/shall + be + Ving I will be playing He will be eating — I won't be playing — He won't be eating Will I be playing? Will he be eating? |
| Perfect | Auxiliary ch.: have / has windows-e: -ed Formula: have/has + V3 — I have not played — He has not eaten Have I played? | Auxiliary ch.: had windows-e: -ed Formula: had + V3 — I had not played — He had not eaten | Auxiliary ch.: will have / shall have windows-e: -ed Formula: will/shall + have V3 I will have played He will have eaten — I won't have played — He won't have eaten Will I have played? Will he have eaten? |
| Perfect Continuous | Auxiliary ch.: have been / has been windows-e: -ing Formula: have/has + been + Ving I have been playing He has been eating — I haven't been playing — He has not been eating Have I been playing? Has he been eating? | Auxiliary ch.: had been windows-e: -ing Formula: had been + Ving I had been playing He had been eating — I had not been playing — He had not been eating Had I been playing? Had he been eating? | Auxiliary ch.: will have been / shall have been windows-e: -ing Formula: will/shall + have been + Ving I will have been playing He will have been eating — I won't have been playing — He won't have been eating Will I have been playing? Will he have been eating? |
Table of tense usage
| present | Past | Future | |
| Simple | 1) Regular, repetitive action I always do my homework. 2) Laws and natural phenomena, scientific facts The sun rises in the east. 3) Everyday situations Do you want to spend a lot of money here? 4) Stories, anecdotes, reviews, sports commentary Then the knight gets on his black horse and rides away. 5) Train timetables, cinema screenings The plane from New York arrives at 16:45. | 1) A fact or a single completed action in the past The Titanic sank in 1912. I went to Greece five years ago. 2) Past actions that took place in chronological order. I got up, took a shower, brushed my teeth, got dressed and went out to have coffee. 3) Repeated action in the past I took French courses when I was ten. | 1) Simple action in the future He will read this book. 2) An action that will continue in the future for a certain period of time Will you be my best friend? 3) Sequence of actions in the future He will meet me and tell me the situation. 4) Recurring actions in the future She will visit them a few times while she is in Great Britain. 5) Assumptions about the future I'm afraid she won't come today. 6) Decision made at the moment of the conversation I will have chips, and you? 7) Promises, requests, offers, threats Be quiet, everything will be OK. |
| continuous | 1) An action taking place at a given moment or period of time I can't hear what she is talking about now. He is reading a new story by Edgar Allan Poe. 2) An action covering a time period in the present He is studying at the University. 3) Changing situation Is your French getting better now? 4) Any planned action (indicating the place and time) They are meeting their friend at 6 at the café. 5) An action that will take place in the near future (with verbs of motion) The family is moving to the other town. 6) Expression of a negative characteristic Ann is always making a noise when I'm reading. | 1) A long-term action that happened in the past at a certain moment I was playing computer game at 7 o'clock. 2) Two or more long-term actions that took place in the past at the same time Mary was playing piano and her little sister was dancing. 3) A long action in the past, interrupted by another (short) action. As she was sleeping, somebody knocked at her door. 4) Description of the setting or atmosphere Sam entered the room. The smell of cigarettes was filling it. 5) Expression of a negative characteristic The dog was constantly playing in the kitchen. | 1) An action that will take place at a certain point in the future: This time next Monday I shall be flying to Tahiti. 2) An action that will certainly take place in the future Jhon won't be meeting you tomorrow, because he is ill. 3) A polite question about the interlocutor's plans for the near future, in particular when we need this person to do something for us Will you be reading the magazine for a long time? My friend needs it urgently. |
| Perfect | 1) An action completed in the past, the result of which is related to the present They have bought a new TVset, so they may sell the old one. 2) An action that started in the past and continues in the present I have known Kate since school years. 3) In subordinate clauses of time after such conjunctions as after, when, before, as soon as, till, until, in order to convey a future action that will end before the start of the action referred to in the main clause We'll serve you a pancake only after you have eaten the soup. | 1) An action that happened before a specific moment in the past By the end of the month he had learned to read. Fortunately the mist had diffused before we left the house. 2) An action that began in the past and lasted before or during another moment in the past I found out that Lisa and Steve had not met since our graduation party. 3) In such phrases as “barely”, “only”, “didn’t pass and ... how”, “didn’t have time and ... how”. She hadn't said a sentence when somebody interrupted her. They had scarcely finished supper when Susy brought a big choclate cake. | 1) A future action that will end before a certain point in the future He'll have translated the text by noon. By the time they come home, grany will have cooked lunch. 2) Past intended action ("must be", "probably") The students will have noticed the speaker's negative attitude to any form of discrimination. |
| Perfect Continuous | 1) An action that began in the past, lasted for some time and continues in the present Mother has been cooking dinner for two hours already. 2) A long action in the past that ended immediately before the moment of speech, and the result of which affects the present The roads are wet. It has been raining all the night. | 1) A long-term action that began before a certain moment in the past and continues at that moment Mary had been singing for an hour when he came. 2) A long-term action that began before a certain moment in the past and ended right before it Students had been discussing some important topics and they looked upset after that long conversation. | 1) A future continuous action that will begin before another future moment or action and will continue at that moment He will have been working at the thesis for a month when Jack join him |
Help words
In English, there are many so-called "hint words" or word-signs that can suggest which tense should be used in a given sentence. The ability to recognize such words greatly helps in choosing tenses. But one should take into account the fact that some of these sign words can be used in several groups of tenses.
| Past | present | Future | |
| Simple / Indefinite | yesterday last year/month, etc one year/month ago | every morning/day, etc. always usually frequently/often sometimes | tomorrow today |
Tenses in English represent perhaps the greatest difficulty to understand, remember and apply. Today we give you some tips that will make your life easier and allow you to master the tenses in the most efficient way.
We note right away that we do not consider the formation of tenses: as practice shows, this is not a problem for English learners. It’s easy enough to learn schemes, but it’s by no means easy to understand the use of tenses. So let's get started...
- Understanding the names
There are, in principle, only three tenses in English - Present (present), Past (past) and Future (future). However, the situation is complicated by the fact that each named time can have four types. Those. The present tense has four kinds, the past and the future also have four kinds. What types of times are there?
The first type of times is called Simple (simple). Thus, there are , Past Simple (past simple) and Future Simple (future simple).
The second type of tenses is called Continuous (continuous, long). Accordingly, times can be (present continuous), Past Continuous (past continuous) and Future Continuous (future continuous).
The third kind is called Perfect. Thus, there are (present perfect), Past Perfect (past perfect) and Future Perfect (future perfect).
The last type of tenses combines the names of the previous two and is called Perfect Continuous (perfectly extended). Accordingly, times can be (present perfect continuous), Past Perfect Continuous (past perfect continuous) and Future Perfect Continuous (future perfect continuous).
As you can see, you need to remember, on the one hand, the names of tenses (Present, Past, Future), on the other hand, their types (Simple, Continuous, Perfect, Perfect Continuous).
By the way, in many textbooks the first two types of times may be called differently. Instead of Simple, you can find the term Indefinite, and instead of Continuous - Progressive. You should be aware that these terms are interchangeable.
The name of a specific time consists of the name of the time itself and its type, for example: Present Simple, Past Continuous, etc.
- Understanding and remembering meanings
The next key point you need to remember is that each type of time has its own meaning. Next, we will analyze each type separately.
Remember the meaning of the form Simple - a) a simple action, a fact; b) regular, repetitive action. Simple conveys its meaning to specific tenses. So, Present Simple means: a) a simple action, a fact in the present tense; b) a regular, repetitive action in the present tense. For example: “The earth revolves around the sun” is a fact, so when translating this sentence into English, we will use Present Simple. Another example: “This boy is often sick” is a regular, repetitive action, so when translating into English, we will also use Present Simple.
Past Simple means: a) a simple action, a fact in the past; b) a regular, repeated action in the past. For example: “Moscow was founded by Yuri Dolgoruky” is a fact of the past, therefore, when translating this sentence into English, we will use Past Simple. Another example: “As a child, I was often sick” is a regular, repetitive action, so when translating into English, we will also use the Past Simple.
Future Simple means: a) a simple action, a fact in the future; b) a regular, recurring action in the future. For example: “Next year I will move to Germany” is a designation of the fact of the future, so we use the Future Simple. “He will often visit you” is a regular, repetitive action, hence the Future Simple again.
So, we figured out Simple, now let's move on to Continuous. Everything is much simpler here. Remember the most basic meaning - the process. It is the meaning of the Continuous process that conveys specific times.
Present Continuous denotes a process in the present. For example: “He is sleeping now” is a process in the present tense, so when translating into English, we will resort to Present Continuous.
The Past Continuous denotes a process at a certain point in the past. For example: "Yesterday at six o'clock he was sleeping."
Future Continuous denotes a process at a certain point in the future. For example: "Tomorrow at six o'clock he will sleep."
Now consider Perfect. Remember the key value of this type - the result. This value is passed to specific times.
The Present Perfect denotes the result so far. For example: “I wrote a letter. I am free." The act of writing a letter is no longer performed, it is over, but by now the result has remained from it - a letter ready to be sent.
Past Perfect denotes the result to a certain moment in the past. For example: "I wrote a letter in the evening." In the evening, the act of writing a letter was no longer performed, it was over, but the result remained of it - a letter ready to be sent.
The Future Perfect denotes the result to a certain moment in the future. For example: "I will write a letter by evening." In the evening, the action of writing a letter will no longer be performed, it will be completed, but the result will remain of it - a letter ready to be sent.
And finally, let's turn to Perfect Continuous. Remember the main meaning - a process that lasts a specified amount of time. This value will be passed to specific times.
So, Present Perfect Continuous denotes a process that lasts a specific time and continues at the present moment. For example: "He has been sleeping for three hours."
Past Perfect Continuous denotes a process that lasted a specified amount of time until a certain point in the past. For example: "He slept for three hours when you returned." There is a moment of the past in this sentence - your return. Until that moment, the process was going on - he was sleeping. The process lasted the specified amount of time - three hours.
Future Perfect Continuous refers to a process that will last a certain amount of time until some point in the future. For example: "He will sleep for three hours before you return."
To finally understand the tenses of the English language, we recommend watching a lecture on this topic (in Russian). This lecture discusses in detail the question of the formation and use of tenses of the active voice.
Used: to express a regular, regularly repeated action.
Formed: from the infinitive of the semantic verb (without to); in the 3rd l. units numbers ending -s(Verbs to have And to be have special forms of conjugation).
do(does):
Not reads much.
Does he read much?
He does not read much.
Continuous (continued)
Used: to express an action that is happening at the moment, at the moment of speech.
Formed: from an auxiliary verb to be present participle of the semantic verb (participle I) .
In interrogative placed before the subject.
In the negative particle not placed after auxiliary verb.
Is not reading.
Is he reading?
He is not reading.
Perfect (perfect)
Used: to express a completed (or still ongoing) action, the result of which is connected with the present.
Formed: from an auxiliary verb have (has) past participle of the semantic verb (participle II).
In interrogative
In the negative particle not placed after the auxiliary verb.
Hasn't already come.
Has he come?
He has not come yet.
Perfect-Continuous (perfect-continued)
Used: to express an action that began in the past and continues in the present.
Formed: from an auxiliary verb to be in the shape of Present Perfect (have been; has been)
In interrogative auxiliary verb in sentences have or has placed before the subject.
In the negative particle not placed after the first auxiliary verb.
Has not been working here for 5 years.
Has he been working here for 5 years?
He has not been working here for 5 years?
Past (past)
Simple (Indefinite)
Used: to express an action that happened in the past.
By way of education past simple English verbs are divided into standard and non-standard.
Interrogative and negative sentences are formed with an auxiliary verb do in the shape of (did):
Not came yesterday.
Did he come yesterday?
He did not come yesterday.
Continuous (continued)
Used: to express an action that took place at a specific point in time in the past.
Formed: Past Simple (was, were) participle I of the semantic verb.
Interrogative and negative Present continuous:
Was not reading when they came.
Was he reading when they came?
he was not reading when they came.
Perfect (perfect)
Used: to express an action that ended before another action or a specific moment in the past.
Formed: from an auxiliary verb have in the shape of Past Simple (had) participle II of the semantic verb.
Interrogative and negative sentences are formed in the same way as in Present Perfect:
Didn't have finished his work by 6 o'clock.
Had he finished his work by 6 o'clock?
He had not finished his work by 6 o'clock.
Used: to express an action that began at a certain moment in the past and continued for some time before the start of another action.
Formed: from the auxiliary verb to be in the form Past Perfect (had been) participle I of the semantic verb.
Interrogative and negative sentences are formed in the same way as in Present Perfect Continuous:
Not had been working here for 5 years when the war broke out.
Future (future)
Simple (Indefinite)
Used: to express an action that will happen in the future.
Formed: from auxiliary verbs shall(for the 1st person singular and plural) and will(for other persons and numbers).
In interrogative auxiliary verb in sentences shall And will placed before the subject.
In the negative the particle not is placed after the auxiliary verb.
Will not come tomorrow.
Will he come tomorrow?
He will not come tomorrow.
Continuous (continued)
Used: to express an action that will take place at a certain time in the future.
Formed: from auxiliary verbs shall or will, which are placed before the auxiliary verb to be (without to) Participle I of the semantic verb.
In interrogative In sentences, the first auxiliary verb is placed before the subject.
In negative - not placed after the first auxiliary verb:
Not will be working here from 10 till 12 tomorrow.
Will he be working here from 10 till 12 tomorrow?
He will not be working here from 10 till 12 tomorrow.
Perfect (perfect)
Used: to express an action that will be completed by a certain point in time in the future.
Formed: from auxiliary verbs shall or will semantic verb in the form present perfect.
In interrogative auxiliary verb in sentences shall or will placed before the subject.
In the negative particle not placed after these verbs:
Not will have finished his work by Monday.
Will he have finished his work by Monday?
He will not have finished his work be Monday.
Perfect-Continuous (perfect-continued)
Used: to express an action that, having begun at a certain moment, will still continue at some point in the future.
Formed: from auxiliary verbs shall or will verb to be(in the shape of present perfect) Participle I of the semantic verb.
Interrogative and negative sentences are formed in the same way as others Future Tenses:
By the end of the year he will have been working here for 2 years.
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Past Simple Past Indefinite Tense
Sentence examples
At the checked-in desk I showed my passport and suitcases, took the boarding pass and proceeded to the departure lounge. At the check-in desk, I showed my passport and my suitcases, took my boarding pass and went to the waiting room. Molly took some flour, poured in a glass of water, added three eggs and mixed everything. Molly took some flour, poured in a glass of water, added 3 eggs and mixed everything. I want to go somewhere
Sentence examples
What music did you like when you were 11 years old? What kind of music did you like at 11? When I was a little boy I wanted to be a pilot. When I was a boy, I wanted to be a pilot. She used to play tennis when she was at school. She played tennis when she was in school.
Sentence examples
The Olympic Games in London took place in 2012. I moved to Milan two years ago and started working there. I moved to Milan two years ago and started working there. Thomas Edison made the world's first electric light in 1887. Thomas Edison made the world's first electric light bulb in 1887.
Sentence examples
Mozart wrote more than 600 pieces of music. Mozart wrote over 600 pieces of music. We didn't hear the phone. We didn't hear the phone.
Sentence examples
The train was going to Manchester from 6 to 8 PM. The train was on its way to Manchester between 6 and 8 pm. He was sitting by the window and was sipping a glass of wine the whole evening. He sat by the window and sipped a glass of wine all evening.
Sentence examples
While I was waiting for the bus, it started to rain. While I was waiting for the bus, it started to rain. The car started to make strange sounds when I was driving back home. The car started making strange noises when I was driving home.
Sentence examples
Ann was watching TV while Jane was doing physical exercises. Anna was watching TV while Jane was exercising. They were discussing the company's plans while the secretary was typing a letter. They discussed the company's plans while the secretary typed the letter.
Sentence examples
It was a quiet summer evening in Provence. The sun was going down, the colors were mellowing, the light breeze was blowing, the leaves were whispering and the lavender odor was coming into the house. It was a quiet summer evening in Provence. The sun was setting, the colors were softer, a light breeze was blowing, the leaves were rustling, and the smell of lavender entered the house.
Sentence examples
The police arrived quickly but the robbers had already gone. The police arrived quickly, but the robbers had already fled. When she got the salary she realized that her boss had given her a pay rise. When she received her salary, she realized that her boss had raised her salary.
Sentence examples
The flowers faded because no one had watered them. The flowers withered because no one watered them. His skin was red and hurt him as he had got a sunburn. His skin was red and painful as it he got sunburn.
Sentence examples
Had you been smoking for 20 years before you decided to give up? Did you smoke for 20 years before you quit? The children had been playing outside the whole day before it started to rain. The children played outside all day before it started to rain.
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Circumstances of time
The key to success for the correct use of past tenses is the knowledge of special marker words that refer to a specific time. It is they who can help if we find it difficult to determine what time to use in an English sentence. Each time has its own words-indicators of time. The main ones are shown in the summary table below.
