Verb Tense Chart
Signal words. Examples affirmative Examples negative Examples interrogative. Simple Present. Every day sometimes. Then • something happens repeatedly • how often something happens • one action follows another • things in general • with verbs like (to love, to.
“We have done that in 2014.” (Maybe You Need A Verb Tense Chart)
Vocabulary “I got my back at UQAM”Present Simple
The present simple is used to express daily routines and habits. Adverbs of frequency such as 'usually', 'sometimes', 'rarely', etc. are often used with the present simple.
This tense is often used with the following time expressions:
always, usually, sometimes, etc.
.. every day
.. on Sundays, Tuesdays, etc.
Basic Construction
Subject + Present Tense + object(s) + time Expression
Negative
Subject + do / does + not (don't / doesn't) + verb + object(s) + time Expression
Question
(Question Word) + do / does + subject + verb + object(s) + time Expression
If you are a teacher, see this guide on how to teach the present simple.
Present Continuous for Action at the Moment
One use of the present continuous tense is for action that is occurring at the moment of speaking. Remember that only action verbs can take the continuous form.
This tense is often used with the following time expressions:
.. at the moment
.. now
.. today
.. this morning / afternoon / evening
Basic Construction
Subject + be + verb + ing + object(s) + time Expression
Negative
Subject + be + not (isn't, aren't) + verb + ing + object(s) + time Expression
Question
(Question Word) + be + subject + verb + ing + object(s) + time Expression
Present Continuous for Current Projects
Use the present continuous to describe projects and actions that are happening around the present moment in time. Remember that these projects have begun in the recent past and will end in the near future. This usage is popular for talking about current projects at work or hobbies.
This tense is often used with the following time expressions:
Basic Construction
Positive
Subject + be + verb + ing + object(s) + time Expression
Negative
Subject + be + not (isn't, aren't) + verb + ing + object(s) + time Expression
Question
(Question Word) + be + subject + verb + ing + object(s) + time Expression
Present Continuous for Scheduled Events
One use of the present continuous tense is for scheduled future events. This usage is especially useful when talking about appointments and meetings for work.
This tense is often used with the following time expressions:
.. tomorrow
.. on Friday, Monday, etc.
.. today
.. this morning / afternoon / evening
.. next week / month
.. in December, March, etc.
Basic Construction
Subject + be + verb + ing + object(s) + time Expression
I'm meeting our CEO at three o'clock this afternoon.
Subject + be + not (isn't, aren't) + verb + ing + object(s) + time Expression
Question
(Question Word) + be + subject + verb + ing + object(s) + time Expression
If you are a teacher, use this guide on how to teach the present continuous.
Past Simple
The past simple is used to express something that happened a past point in time. Remember to always use a past time expression, or a clear contextual clue when using the past simple. If you do not indicate when something happened, use the present perfect for unspecified past.
This tense is often used with the following time expressions:
.. ago
.. in + year / month
..yesterday
..last week / month / year.. when ..
Basic Construction
Subject + Past Tense + object(s) + time Expression
Negative
Subject + did + not (didn't) + verb + object(s) + time Expression
Question
(Question Word) + did + subject + verb + object(s) + time Expression
Past Continuous for Exact Times in the Past
The past continuous tense is used to describe what was happening at a specific moment in the past. Do not use this form when referring to longer periods of time in the past such as 'last March', 'two years ago', etc.
This tense is often used with the following time expressions:
Basic Construction
Positive
Subject + was / were + verb + ing + object(s) + time Expression
We were meeting with Jane at two o'clock yesterday afternoon.
Subject + was / were + not (wasn't, weren't) + verb + ing + object(s) + time Expression
They weren't playing tennis at five o'clock on Saturday.
(Question Word) + was / were + subject + verb + ing + object(s) + time Expression
What were you doing at two-thirty yesterday afternoon?
If you are a teacher, see this guide on how to teach the past continuous tense.
Past Continuous for Interrupted Action
Use the past continuous to express what was happening when something important happened. This form is almost always used with the time clause '.. when xyz happened'. It is also possible to use this form with '.. while something was happening' to express two past actions that were occurring simultaneously.
This tense is often used with the following time expressions:
Basic Construction
Positive
Subject + was / were + verb + ing + object(s) + time Expression
Sharon was watching TV when she received the telephone call.
Subject + was / were + not (wasn't, weren't) + verb + ing + object(s) + time Expression
We weren't doing anything important when you arrived.
(Question Word) + was / were + subject + verb + ing + object(s) + time Expression
What were you doing when Tom gave you the bad news?
If you are a teacher, see this guide on how to teach the past simple tense.
Future with Going to for Future Plans
The future with 'going to' is used to express future plans or scheduled events. It is often used instead of the present continuous for future scheduled events. Either form can be used for this purpose.
This tense is often used with the following time expressions:
.. next week / month
.. tomorrow
.. on Monday, Tuesday, etc.
Basic Construction
Subject + be + going to + verb + object(s) + time Expression
Negative
Subject + be not (isn't, aren't) + going to + verb + object(s) + time Expression
They aren't going to attend the conference next month.
(Question Word) + be + subject + going to + verb + object(s) + time Expression
Future with Will for Promises and Predictions
The future with 'will' is used to make future predictions and promises. Often the precise moment the action will occur is unknown or not defined.
This tense is often used with the following time expressions:
Basic Construction
Positive
Subject + will + verb + object(s) + time Expression
English Verb Tense Chart
Negative
Subject + will not (won't) + verb + object(s) + time Expression
Question
(Question Word) + will + subject + verb + object(s) + time Expression
Future with Going to for Future Intent
The future with 'going to' is used for future intent or plans. You can express a future intent without expressing the exact time that something will occur.
Basic english grammar free download. This tense is often used with the following time expressions:
.. next week / month
.. tomorrow
.. on Monday, Tuesday, etc.
Basic Construction
Subject + be + going to + verb + object(s) + time Expression
Negative
Subject + be not (isn't, aren't) + going to + verb + object(s) + time Expression
They aren't going to develop any new projects for the next few years.
(Question Word) + be + subject + going to + verb + object(s) + time Expression
If you are a teacher, see this guide on how to teach future forms.
Present Perfect for Past to Present States and Actions
Use the present perfect to express a state or repeated action that began in the past and continues into the present.
This tense is often used with the following time expressions:
.. for + amount of time
.. since + specific point in time
Basic Construction
Subject + have / has + past participle + object(s) + time Expression
Negative
Subject + have / has not (haven't, hasn't) + past participle + object(s) + time Expression
Question
(Question Word) + have / has + subject + past participle + object(s) + time Expression
Present Perfect to Express Recent Events
The present perfect is often used to express recent events that affect the present moment. These sentences often use the time expressions 'just', 'yet', 'already', or 'recently.' If you give a specific time in the past, the past simple is required.
This tense is often used with the following time expressions:
Basic Construction
Positive
Subject + have / has + just / recently + past participle + object(s)
Negative
Subject + have / has not (haven't, hasn't) + past participle + object(s) + time Expression
Question
(Question Word) + have / has + subject + past participle + object(s) + time Expression
Present Perfect for Unspecified Past Events
The present perfect is often used to express events that occurred in the past at an unspecified moment or cumulative life experiences up to the present. Remember that if you use a specific past time expression, choose the past simple.
This tense is often used with the following time expressions:
Basic Construction
Positive
Subject + have / has + past participle + object(s)
Negative
Subject + have / has not (haven't, hasn't) + past participle + object(s) + time Expression
Question
(Question Word) + have / has + subject + (ever) + past participle + object(s)
If you are a teacher, see this guide on how to teach the present perfect tense.
Present Perfect Continuous
The present perfect continuous is used to express how long a current activity has been going on. Remember that continuous forms can only be used with action verbs.
This tense is often used with the following time expressions:
..since + specific point in time
.. for + amount of time
Basic Construction
Subject + has / have + been + verb + ing + object(s) + time Expression
Negative
Subject + has / have not (hasn't / haven't) + been + verb + ing + object(s) + time Expression
Question
(Question Word) + has / have + subject + been + verb + ing + object(s) + (time Expression)
Take this present perfect continuous quiz to check your understanding.
If you are a teacher, see this guide on how to teach the present perfect continuous tense.
Future Perfect
Use the future perfect tense to express what will have happened by a certain time in the future.
This tense is often used with the following time expressions:
.. by Monday, Tuesday, etc.
.. by the time ..
.. by five o'clock, two-thirty, etc.
Basic Construction
Subject + will + have + past participle + object(s) + time Expression
They will have finished the report by tomorrow afternoon.
Subject + will not (won't) + have + past participle + object(s) + time Expression
Mary won't have answered all the questions by the end of this hour.
(Question Word) + will + subject + have + past participle + object(s) + time Expression
If you are a teacher, see this guide on how to teach the future perfect tense.
Future Perfect Continuous
The future perfect continuous is used to express the duration of an action up to a future point in time. This tense is not commonly used in English.
This tense is often used with the following time expressions:
Basic Construction
Positive
Subject + will + have + been + verb + ing + object(s) + time Expression
We will have been studying for two hours by the time he arrives.
Subject + will not (won't) + have + been + verb + ing + object(s) + time Expression
Question
(Question Word) + will + subject + have + been + verb + ing + object(s) + time Expression
How long will you have been working on that project by the time he arrives?
If you are a teacher, see this guide on how to teach the future perfect continuous tense.
Past Perfect Continuous
The past perfect continuous is used to describe how long an activity had been going on before something else happened.
This tense is often used with the following time expressions:
.. for X hours, days, months, etc
.. since Monday, Tuesday, etc.
Basic Construction
Subject + had + been + verb + ing + object(s) + time Expression
She had been waiting for two hours when he finally arrived.
Subject + had not (hadn't) + been + verb + ing + object(s) + time Expression
They hadn't been working long when the boss asked them to change their focus.
(Question Word) + had + subject + been + verb + ing + object(s) + time Expression
How long had Tom been working on that project when they decided to give it to Pete?
If you are a teacher, see this guide on how to teach the past perfect continuous tense.
Past Perfect
The past perfect is used to express something that happened before another point in time. It is often used to provide context or an explanation.
This tense is often used with the following time expressions:
.. before
already
once, twice, three times, etc.
.. by the time
Basic Construction
Subject + had + past participle + object(s) + time Expression
She had already eaten by the time the children came home.
Subject + had not (hadn't) + past participle + object(s) + time Expression
They hadn't finished their homework before the teacher asked them to hand it in.
(Question Word) + had + subject + past participle + object(s) + time Expression
If you are a teacher, see this guide on how to teach the past perfect tense.
Future Continuous
The future continuous is used to talk about an activity that will be in progress at a specific point in time in the future.
This tense is often used with the following time expressions:
..this time tomorrow / next week, month, year
..tomorrow / Monday, Tuesday, etc. / at X o'clock
.. in two, three, four, etc. / weeks, months, years time
Basic Construction
Subject + will + be + verb + ing + object(s) + time Expression
Peter will be doing his homework this time tomorrow.
Subject + will not (won't) + be + verb + ing + object(s) + time Expression
Sharon won't be working in New York in three weeks time.
(Question Word) + will + subject + be + verb + ing + object(s) + time Expression
If you are a teacher, see this guide on how to teach the future continuous tense.