Simple tenses (Active Voice)

Present Simple

Past Simple

Future Simple

FORM

Affirmative

V (V + (e)s)

she plans

we plan

V + (e)d

V2

she planned

we wrote

Shall/will + V

she will plan

we will plan

Negative

she does not (doesn't) plan

we do not plan

she did not plan

we didn’t write

she will not / won't plan

we will not / won't plan

Interrogative

Do we plan? Does she plan?

Did we write? Did she plan?

Shall we plan?

Will she plan?

USAGE

-repeated or usual actions

-facts or generalizations

-action(s) in the past,

- a past habitual action,

-past facts or generalizations

-a voluntary future action

-a promise

-a prediction

EXAMPLE

Marketing “drives” many of the day-to-day decisions made by operating management.

Marketing “drove” many of the day-to-day decisions made by operating management.

Marketing will “drive” many of the day-to-day decisions made by operating management.

Present Progressive

Past Progressive

Future Progressive

FORM

Affirmative

am

is + Ving

are

He is planning

was

were + Ving

He was planning

will be + Ving

He will be planning

Negative

He is not planning

He was not planning

He will not / won't be planning

Interrogative

Is he planning?

Was he planning?

Will he be planning?

USAGE

• an action in progress "at this very moment" or around it.

• near future, particularly plans

• an interrupted action in the past

• two past events in parallel

• an interrupted action in the future

• two parallel actions in the future

EXAMPLE

They are having a meeting about the catalogue.

We were discussing our expansion plans when he came.

I can’t see you on the 12th because I will be attending a training course.

Present Perfect

Past Perfect

Future Perfect

FORM

Affirmative

have

has + V(e)d

V3

He has written

had + V(e)d

V3

He had written

will have + V(e)d

V3

He will have written

Negative

He has not written

He had not / hadn't written

He will not / won't have written

Interrogative

Has he written?

Had he written?

Will he have written?

USAGE

• unspecified time before now

• duration before now

• a completed action or duration before something in the past

• a completed action or duration before something in the future

EXAMPLE

They have already discussed this problem.

He had completed his experiment by the time his chief came.

I will have taken part in many conferences by 2020.