Table Tenses (Active Voice)

Tense

Use

Markers

Examples

Present Simple

V; V+(e)s

1. Facts in the present.

She likes to read.

2. General truths.

The earth goes round the sun.

3. Repeated /habitual actions in the present.

every day, never, rarely, seldom, sometimes, often, frequently,

as a rule, usually, normally, always,

in the morning, on Mondays

I go to the Institute every day.

4. Timetables/ programmes/ calendar references.

The train leaves at 6.15.

Christmas is on Tuesday next year.

5. In subordinate clauses of time and condition after the conjunctions if, on condition that, when, while, before, after, as soon as, till etc.

We'll have a picnic if the weather is fine.

Present Continuous

am/is/are +Ving

1. Activity in progress that is happening at the moment of speaking.

now,

at the moment, at present, currently

Don’t turn the TV off. I am watching it.

2. Activity taking place around the moment of speaking.

Katherine wants to work in Italy, so she's learning Italian. (but perhaps she isn't learning Italian exactly at the time of speaking)

3. Temporary situation.

I’m living with my friends until I find a place of my own.

4. Changing or developing situation.

The weather is getting better and better.

5. Frequently repeated action with “always” expressing the speaker’s annoyance or criticism.

always, constantly

You are always losing things.

6. Fixed arrangement in the near future.

I am having lunch with Ann tomorrow.

We are meeting at 1.00 outside the restaurant.

Present Perfect

have/has +V₃

1. A recent event connected to the present.

(it has a present result)

just,

already,

yet

I’ve lost the key. (I can’t open the door.)

I’ve already learnt the irregular verbs. (I know them.)

2. Life experience/ achievement.

ever,

never

I've travelled a lot in Africa.

Have you ever been to Africa?

3. (a) a situation which began in the past and continues up to the present, especially when we say how long it has lasted;

(b) action happening at the period of time that is not finished at the time of speaking.

(a) recently, lately,

in the last few days,

for (period of time), since (starting point);

(b) today,

this morning/ evening/ week

(a) Have you heard from George recently?

I've known Alice for 7 years.

I've known Alice since childhood.

(b) Tom hasn't worked very hard this term.

Have you had a holiday this year?

4. In sentences with this/it/that is the first/ second /third /only /best /worst, etc.

It’s the first time he has driven a car.

Present Perfect

Continuous

have/has +

been +Ving

1. Action in progress which began in the past and continues up to the present.

(especially when we say how long it has lasted.)

for,

since,

how long,

since when

It has been snowing since Tuesday.

2. Past activity which has caused a present result.

I’ve been working all day. (I am tired now.)

Have you been crying? (Your eyes are red.)

Past Simple

V2

1. Fact in the past which has no relation to now.

yesterday,

last week,

when, ago,

in 2000

Columbus discovered America in 1492.

2. Actions which follow each other in a story

He got up, had his breakfast and left.

3. Habitual action in the past.

When I was a child, we lived in a small

house by the sea.

Past

Continuous

was/were +Ving

1. Activity in progress at a certain moment or period in the past.

at 6 o'clock in the evening, (at) this time yesterday, from 5 till 6 yesterday,

the whole morning,

all day long, while,

when you came

At this time yesterday I was sleeping.

When the phone rang I was having a bath.

Past Perfect

had+V₃

1. Action in the past which was completed before another action in the past.

by

I didn’t want to go to the cinema with the others because I’d seen the film before.

Past Perfect

Continuous

had+ been + Ving

1. Action in progress that began before a certain moment of time in the past and continued up to that moment/ into that moment.

for…by,

for… when

tomorrow,

the day after tomorrow,

When John came at last I had been waiting for him for two hours.

Future Simple

will+V

1. Future fact

next week,

in two years

We will need the money on the 15^h.

2. Prediction based on an opinion.

I think…

I think Ann will do very well in her

exams. She works hard.

3. Decision taken at the moment of speaking.

Oh, the window is open. I'll go and shut it.

Future Continuous

will+be+Ving

1. Activity in progress at a certain moment or period in the future.

at 6 o'clock,

(at) this time tomorrow,

from 5 till 6

This time tomorrow I'll be skiing.

Future Perfect

will have +V₃

1. Action which will be finished before a certain time in the future.

by

till (negative)

The car will soon have done 100,000 miles.

Future Perfect

Continuous

will+ have+ been + Ving

1. Action which begins before a certain moment in the future and goes on up to that moment or into it to say how long smth. will have continued by a certain time.

for…by,

for… when

Next Christmas I'll have been living

here for twenty years.