SIMPLE PRESENT
[HAS/HAVE] + [PAST PARTICIPLE]
Uses: is used to express actions which have already been completed, or perfected, at the time of speaking or writing.
? Do you have a gf?
Aux + S + V + C
+ yes I have a gf.
S + V + C
- no I do not have a gf.
S + aux + neg + V + C
Q) "How long have you studied English for?" A) "I've studied English for 2 years now."
PRESENT CONTINUOUS
[AM/IS/ARE] + [VERB + ing]
USES: Action happening at the moment of speaking.
Talking about future arrangements.
? Are you swimming right now?
aux + S + V + C
+ You are swimming right now
S + aux + V + C
- You are not swimming right now
S + aux + neg + V + C
Q) "What are you doing these days?" A) "Unfortunately I'm working a lot."
PAST CONTINUOUS
[WAS/WERE] + [VERB + ing]
Uses: to express continuous, ongoing actions which took place in the past.
To refer to an ongoing action which was taking place when something else occurred in the past.
? Were you studying when she called?
Aux + S + V + ing + C
+ You were studying when she called.
S + aux + V + ing + C
- You were not studying when she called.
S + aux + neg + V + ing + C
Q) "What were they doing yesterday?" A) "They were working all day."
PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS
[HAS/HAVE] + [BEEN] + [VERB + ing]
Uses: is used to express continuous, ongoing actions which have already been completed at the time of speaking or writing.
? How much time have you been waiting?
Q phrase + C + aux + S + aux2 + V
+ I have been waiting 2 hours
S + aux + aux2 + V + C
- I have not been waiting too much
S + aux + neg + aux2 + V + C
Q) How long have you been studying English?" A) I've been studying English for four years." Note - You can just say "For four years."
PAST PERFECT
[HAD] + [PAST + PARTICIPLE]
Uses: is used to refer to a non-continuous action in the past, which was already completed by the time another action in the past took place.
? Had you ever seen such a beautiful girl
aux + S + C + V + C
+ I had never seen such a beautiful girl
S + aux + C + V + C
- I had not seen such a beautiful girl
S + aux + C + V + C
"I had already done the shopping by the time she came home."
PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS
[HAD BEEN] + [VERB + ING]
Uses: is used to refer to a continuous, ongoing action in the past which was already completed by the time another action in the past took place.
? Had you been waiting too long?
Aux + S + C + V + C
+ I had been waiting for 2 hours
S + aux + C + V + C
- I had not been waiting too long
S + aux + neg + C + V + C
"By the time I left England we had been living in Bristol for five years."
PRESENT PERFECT
Uses : To talk about something that started in the past and its still continuing
? Have you worked?
aux + S + V
+ He has begun the job.
S + aux + V + C
- You haven't begun the job.
S + aux + neg + V + C
"I have seen her several times."
S. PAST
[VERB + ed]
Uses: The uses of the Simple Past are somewhat similar to the uses of the Simple Present, except that past states or actions are expressed.
? Did you see a movie yesterday?
Aux + S + V + C
+ I saw a movie yesterday
S + verb in past + C
- I did not see a movie yesterday
S + aux + neg + V + C
"When I was a child we always went to the seaside on bank holidays."
SIMPLE FUTURE
The Simple Future has two different forms in English, "will" and "be going to." Although the two forms can sometimes be used interchangeably, they often express two very different meanings. These different meanings might seem too abstract at first, but with time and practice the differences will become clear. Both "will" and "be going to" refer to a specific time in the future.
WILL
[WILL] + [VERB]
? Would you help him?
Aux + S + V + C
+ I will help him later
S + aux + V + C
- I will not help him
S + aux + neg + V + C
Q) Who do you think will win the election?" A) "I'm not sure but I think the current party will win."
BE GOING TO
[am/is/are] + [going to] + [verb]
? Are you going to come?
Aux + S + Future + V
+ He is going to come.
S + aux + Future + V
- I am not going to eat dinner.
S + aux + neg + Future + V + C
Q) Where are you going on holiday this year?" A) "We're going to Spain."
FUTURE CONTINUOUS
[WILL BE] + [VERB + ing]
[AM/IS/ARE] + [GOING TO] + [VERB + ing]
Uses: is used to express continuous, ongoing actions which will take place in the future.
I will be waiting for you when your bus arrives
S + Future + aux + V + C
I will be starting my English lesson at 7.30 pm.
FUTURE PERFECT
[WILL HAVE] + [PAST PARTICIPLE]
[AM/IS/ARE] + [GOING TO HAVE] + [PAST PARTICIPLE]
Uses: is used to refer to a non-continuous action which will be completed by a certain time in the future.
I am going to see a movie when I finish my homework
S + aux + Future + V + C
I will have perfected my English when I get back from U.S.
S + Future + aux + V + C
I will have been studying English for 30 minutes when my friends arrive.
FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS
[WILL HAVE BEEN] + [VERB + ing]
[AM/IS/ARE] + [GOING TO HAVE BEEN] + [VERB + ing]
Uses: is used to express a continuous, ongoing action which will be completed by a certain time in the future.
I will have been waiting for 2 hours
S + Future + V + C
I am going to have been waiting for 2 hours
S + aux + Future + V + C
“I will have already done my English homework by the time I eat dinner on Saturday.”
