Verb Tenses

1 - PRESENT SIMPLE

When is it used? To talk about an action that is repeated or regular. The action can be a habit, hobby, a daily event, scheduled event, or anything that occurs often. The present simple can also be used to state facts (The sun rises in the East).

Structure [Base verb (+ s/es in third person singular)]

Examples: 

I eat pizza.

He doesn't eat pizza.

Does she eat pizza?

* NOTE - When using third person singular, the verb usually changes by adding an 's' [e.g. eat-eats]. However, if the verb ends with either -ch, -sh-, -x, or -s then the -es ending is added  [Example watch-watches; wash-washes; fix-fixes; pass-passes].

Pronouns	Affirmative	Negative	Interrogative - Question	Response to Question
I	eat	Do not/ don’t eat	Do I ...?	Yes, you do / No, you don't
You	eat	Do not/ don’t eat	Do you ... ?	Yes, I do / No, I don't
He	eats	Does not / doesn’t eat	Does he ...?	Yes, he does / No, he doesn't
She	eats	Does not / doesn’t eat	Does she ...?	Yes, she does / No, she doesn't
It	eats	Does not / doesn’t eat	Does it …. ?	Yes, it does / No, it doesn't
We	eat	Do not/don’t eat	Do we ...?	Yes, we do / No, we don’t
They	eat	Do not/ don’t eat	Do they…. ?	Yes, they do / No, they don't

THE PRESENT SIMPLE IS REGULARLY USED WITH AN ADVERB OF FREQUENCY

What is an adverb? It is a word that describes a verb ( e.g. quickly, gently, loudly, etc….). They usually are adjectives with an – ly addition like usual - usually 

• [Exceptions include: Fast; well for good; hard; late; early; daily; straight; wrong/wrongly]

What is an adverb of frequency? It is a word that shows how often an action or habit takes place [e.g. Always, sometimes, and never]

Adverbs of frequency come before a main verb - I always exercise.

Adverbs of frequency come after “to be” verb - She is always happy.

[With the exception of Always and Never, the percentages used are approximations]

Always – 100%

Usually/ – 75% - 85%

Often – 65%-75%

Normally – 60% - 65%

Sometimes – 50%

Occasionally – 40%-45%

Rarely – 25%-35%

Hardly ever/Seldom – 10%-20%

Never – 0%

• Negatives can be used with an adverb. In this case, a negative can be used for an adverb that is greater that 50%.

Examples:

a.        I always exercise; I don’t always exercise

b.       He usually drinks Coca-Cola; He usually doesn’t drink Coca-Cola.

c.        He is hardly ever happy.

d.       It is always hungry; It is not always hungry

You can also show frequency by using:

• Once a day/week/month/year, Twice a day/month/week/year, Three times a day/week/month/year, Four times a day/week/month/year, Everyday/week/month/year,  Every Saturday, Every other Tuesday, etc…
• Usually, these expressions are used at the end of the sentence and can be combined with the first set of adverbs.
• Examples:
• I always exercise three times a week.
• I usually eat pizza every Thursday.
• I never wake up before 6:00 am on Saturdays

2 - PRESENT CONTINUOUS (Progressive)

When is it used? To talk about an idea that an action is happening now [at that moment]. The Present Continuous can also be used for actions that are in progress, but it is not occurring at that exact moment.

Structure [am/is/are + present participle (verb+ing)]

Examples:
I'm learning English now.
He isn’t learning Chinese now.
Is she learning Arabic?

Pronouns	Affirmative	Negative	Interrogative - Question	Response to Question
I	Am learning/ I’m  learning	Am not learning / I'm not learning	Am I .....?	Yes, you are / No, you aren't
You	Are learning / You're learning	Are not /  You aren't /  You're not	Are you .....?	Yes, I am / No, I'm not
He	Is learning / He's learning	Is not /  He isn’t / He's not	Is he ....?	Yes, he is /  No, he isn't
She	Is learning /  She’s learning	Is not / She isn't /  She's not	Is she....?	Yes, she is / No, she isn't
It	Is learning / It's learning	Is not /  It isn't /  It's not	Is it …. ?	Yes, it is / No, it isn't
We	are learning / We're learning	are not /  We aren't /  We're not	Are we ....?	Yes, we are / No, we aren’t
They	Are learning / they’re learning	are not /  They aren't They're not	Are they…. ?	Yes, they are / No, they aren't

3 - PRESENT PERFECT

When is it used? To talk about an action that started in the past. The action may or may not have finished. Time is NOT important.

COMPARISON with Past Simple:
The key with Past Simple is time and the key with Present Perfect is the action.

Structure [has/have + past participle]

Examples:
I have been to Rome.
I haven't been to Tokyo.
Have you been to Thailand?

Pronouns	Affirmative	Negative	Interrogative - Question	Response to Question
I	Have ... / I've ....	Have not ..../ haven’t ...	Have I ....?	Yes, you have / No, you haven't
You	Have .... / You've ....	Have ... / haven’t ....	Have you...?	Yes, I have / No, I haven't
He	Has ... / He's ....	Has not ..../  hasn’t ....	Has he ....?	Yes, he has / No, he hasn't
She	Has .... / She's .....	Has not .... /  hasn’t ....	Has she ...?	Yes, she has / No, she hasn't
It	Has .... / It's ....	Has not ... /  hasn’t .....	Has it …. ?	Yes, it has /  No, it hasn't
We	Have .... / We've ....	Have not ... / haven’t ....	Have we ...?	Yes, we have / No, we haven’t
They	Have .... / They've ....	Have not ..../ haven’t .....	Have they…. ?	Yes, they have / No, they haven't

• Present Perfect CANNOT use time expressions like: yesterday, one year ago, last week, when I was a child, at that moment, that day, etc…. - EX: I have been to Rome last week. I went to Rome last week (Simple past).
• Time expressions that are unspecific can be used like: ever, never, once, many times, several times, before, so far, already, yet, etc… EX: I have been to Rome several times.
• Using FOR & SINCE
• For is used time ranges (e.g. hours, days, weeks, months, years, etc).
• I have been married for 7 years.
• She has been in the work-force for 27 years.
• Since is used for more precise time periods (1 O'Clock, Tuesday, February, 2011, etc...)
• I have been married since 2011.
• She has been in the work-force since 1991.

4 - PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

When is it used? To talk about an action that started in the past and continues until now.

Structure [has/have + been + present participle (verb+ing)]

Examples:
I have been living in Rome for the last year.
I haven't been living in Tokyo for the last six months.
Have you been living in Tokyo for the last six months?

Pronouns	Affirmative	Negative	Interrogative - Question	Response to Question
I	Have been / I've been	Have not/ haven’t been	Have I ....?	Yes, you have / No, you haven't
You	Have been / You've been	Have not/ haven’t been	Have you...?	Yes, I have / No, I haven't
He	Has been / He's been	Has not/  hasn’t been	Has he ....?	Yes, he has / No, he hasn't
She	Has been / She's been	Has not/  hasn’t been	Has she ...?	Yes, she has / No, she hasn't
It	Has been / It's been	Has not/  hasn’t been	Has it …. ?	Yes, it has / No, it hasn't
We	Have been / We've been	Have not/ haven’t been	Have we ...?	Yes, we have / No, we haven’t
They	Have been / They've been	Have not/ haven’t been	Have they…. ?	Yes, they have / No, they haven't

5 - PAST SIMPLE

When is it used? To talk about an action that started and finished in the past at a certain period of time.

COMPARISON with Present Perfect:
The key with Past Simple is time and the key with Present Perfect is the action.

Structure [Base verb+ed] or irregular verbs

Examples:
I ate spaghetti last night.
I didn't eat spaghetti last night.
Did you eat spaghetti last night?

The time period itself does not necessarily have to be expressed --
(He went water-skiing on his last trip to Hawaii).

Pronouns	Affirmative	Negative	Interrogative - Question	Response to Question
I	Lived	Did not/didn't live	Did I ...?	Yes, you did /  No, you didn't
You	Lived	Did not/didn’t live	Did you ...?	Yes, I did/ No, I didn't
He	Lived	Did not / didn’t live	Did he ...?	Yes, he did/ No he didn't
She	Lived	Did not/didn't live	Did she... ?	Yes, she did/ No, she didn't
It	Lived	Did not/didn't live	Did it ….?	Yes, it did/ No, it didn't
We	Lived	Did not/didn't live	Did we ...?	Yes, we did / No, we didn’t
They	Lived	Did not/didn't live	Did they…. ?	Yes, they did / No, they didn't

• The easiest way to ask a question (Interrogative form) in the simple past is to start the question with ‘Did’ – “Did they live in Australia ….?”. This type of question will give you simple answers – “Yes” or “No” – “Yes, they did” OR “No, they didn’t”.

• However, another way to ask a question in the simple past is by starting the question with “When” – “When did they live in Australia?”. This type of question will give a more detailed answer – “They lived in Australia four years ago”.

Ex: I lived in the USA 2 years ago, he lived in Australia 4 years ago.

REGULAR VERBS:

1. Most verbs just need –ED at the end of the word to make it simple past:
1. kiss > kissed; call > called
2. Verbs that end with an E just need a –D at the end of the word for simple past:
1. live > lived; dance > danced
3. Verbs that end with a Y, change the Y  to –IED at the end of the word for simple past:
1. study > studied; marry > married
4. Verbs that have a vowel-consonant ending, repeat consonant and add –ED at the end of the word for simple past:
1. stop > stopped;  chat > chatted

IRREGULAR VERBS - This is just a matter of memorizing. Here are some examples:

1. To be – Was/Were                                                     2. sleep – slept

3. hit – hit                                                                       4. let-let

5. beat – beat                                                                 6. swim > swam

7. cut > cut                                                                     8. go > went
9. write > wrote                                                              10. shoot > shot

6 - PAST CONTINUOUS (Progressive)

When is it used? To talk about a longer action in the past that was interrupted. The interruption [a shorter action] is expressed in Past Simple.

Structure [was/were + present participle (verb+ing)]

Examples:
I was eating dinner when my sister called.
He wasn't living in New York when he was arrested.
Was he living in New York when he was arrested?

Pronouns	Affirmative	Negative	Interrogative - Question	Response to Question
I	was  eating	was not / wasn’t eating	Was I ....?	Yes, you were / No, you weren't
You	were eating	were not / weren’t eating	Were you ...?	Yes, I was /  No, I wasn't
He	was  eating	was not / wasn’t eating	Was he ....?	Yes, he was /  No, he wasn't
She	was eating	was not / wasn’t eating	Was she ...?	Yes, she was /  No she wasn't
It	was  eating	was not / wasn’t eating	Was it …. ?	Yes, it was /  No, it wasn't.
We	were eating	were not / weren’t eating	Were we ...?	Yes, we were /  No, we weren’t
They	were eating	were not / weren’t eating	Were they…. ?	Yes, we were /  No, we weren't

7 - PAST PERFECT

When is it used? To talk about an idea that something occurred before another action in the past. It is also used to show that an event happened before a specific time in the past.

Structure [had + past participle]

Examples: 

I had never seen such a beautiful city before I went to Paris. 

I did not have anyone’s phone number because I had lost my phone.

Had he visited Bangkok before today?

Pronouns	Affirmative	Negative	Interrogative - Question	Response to Question
I	had  eaten /  I'd eaten	had not /  hadn’t eaten	Had I ....?	Yes, you had / No, you hadn't
You	had  eaten / You'd eaten	had not / hadn’t eaten	Had you ...?	Yes, I had /  No, I hadn't
He	had  eaten /  He'd eaten	had not /  hadn’t eaten	Had he...?	Yes, he had /  No he hadn't
She	had eaten /  She'd eaten	had not /  hadn’t eaten	Had she ...?	Yes, she had / No, she hadn't
It	had  eaten /  It'd eaten	had not /  hadn’t eaten	Had it …. ?	Yes, it had / No, it hadn't
We	had  eaten /  We'd eaten	had not /  hadn’t eaten	Had we ...?	Yes, we had / No, we hadn’t
They	had eaten / They'd eaten	had not /  hadn’t eaten	Had they…. ?	Yes, they had / No, they hadn't

8 - PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS

When is it used? To talk about an idea that something began in the past and continued until some other time in the past. It can also be used for cause and effect situations.

Structure [had been + present participle (verb+ing)]

Examples:

He had been speaking to his mother for over an hour when his sister arrived.

She had been working for the company for ten years when she was promoted.

Jason was tired because he had been playing football.

Sam gained weight because he had been overeating.

Pronouns	Affirmative	Negative	Interrogative - Question	Response to Question
I	had  been/ I'd been	had not been/  hadn’t been	Had I been ....?	Yes, you had been / No, you hadn't been
You	had been/ You'd been	had not been / hadn’t been	Had you been ..?	Yes, I had been / No, I hadn't been
He	had been/  He'd been	had not been / hadn’t been	Had he been...?	Yes, he had been / No he hadn't been
She	had been/  She'd been	had not been / hadn’t been	Had she been ...?	Yes, she had been / No, she hadn't been
It	had been/  It'd been	had not been / hadn’t been	Had it been…. ?	Yes, it had been / No, it hadn't been
We	had been/  We'd been	had not been / hadn’t been	Had we been ...?	Yes, we had been / No, we hadn’t been
They	had been/  They'd been	had not been / hadn’t been	Had they been...?	Yes, they had been / No, they hadn't been

9 - FUTURE SIMPLE

[Will/Be Going To]

When is it used? Will is used to talk about decisions, respond to inquiries and requests. Be going to is used to express a plan after a decision is made.

Structure: [will + verb] 

Examples: 

I will attend university this fall.

I won't attend university this fall.

Will you attend university this fall?

Pronouns	Affirmative	Negative	Interrogative - Question	Response to Question
I	will / I'll	will not / won't	Will I ....?	Yes, you will / No, you won't
You	will / You'll	will not / won't	Will you ...?	Yes, I will /  No, I won't
He	will / He'll	will not / won't	Will he...?	Yes, he will /  No he won't
She	will / She'll	will not / won't	Will she ...?	Yes, she will / No, she won't
It	will / It'll	will not / won't	Will it …. ?	Yes, it will /  No, it won't
We	will / We'll	will not / won't	Will we ...?	Yes, we will / No, we won’t
They	will / They'll	will not / won't	Will they…. ?	Yes, they will / No, they won't

                                 

Structure: [am/is/are going to + verb]

Examples: 

I'm going to attend Cambridge university this fall.

I'm not going to attend Cambridge university this fall.

Are you going to attend Cambridge university this fall?

Pronouns	Affirmative	Negative	Interrogative - Question	Response to Question
I	am going to I'm going to	am not going to I'm not going to	Am I ....?	Yes, you are / No, you aren't
You	are going to  You're going to	are not going to You aren't going to You're not going to	Are you ...?	Yes, I am /  No, I'm not
He	is going to He's going to	is not going to He isn't going to He's not going to	Is he...?	Yes, he is /  No he isn't
She	is going to She's going to	is not going to She isn't going to She's not going to	Is she ...?	Yes, she is /  No, she isn't
It	is going to It's going to	is not going to  It isn't going to It's not going to	Is it …. ?	Yes, it is /  No, it isn't
We	are going to We're going to	are not going to We aren't going to We're not going to	Are we ...?	Yes, we are / No, we aren’t
They	are going to / They're going to	are not going to  They aren't going to They're not going to	Are they…. ?	Yes, they are / No, they aren't

• Will and Be Going To can be used interchangeably for predictions. 
• Brazil will win the World Cup 
• Brazil is going to win the World Cup.

10 - FUTURE CONTINUOUS

[Will be/Be Going To] 

When is it used? is used to talk about a longer action in the future that will be interrupted by a shorter future action [The interruption can be a physical interruption or one that occurs in time].

Structure: [will be + present participle (verb+ing)]

EXAMPLES:

I will be cooking when my wife comes home from work.

I will not be waiting here with you when the taxi arrives.

Will you be cooking when I get home from work?

Pronouns	Affirmative	Negative	Interrogative - Question	Response to Question
I	will be / I'll be	will not / won't	Will I ....?	Yes, you will / No, you won't
You	will be /  You'll be	will not / won't	Will you ...?	Yes, I will /  No, I won't
He	will be /  He'll be	will not / won't	Will he...?	Yes, he will /  No he won't
She	will be /  She'll be	will not / won't	Will she ...?	Yes, she will / No, she won't
It	will be /  It'll be	will not / won't	Will it …. ?	Yes, it will /  No, it won't
We	will be /  We'll be	will not / won't	Will we ...?	Yes, we will / No, we won’t
They	will be /  They'll be	will not / won't	Will they…. ?	Yes, they will / No, they won't

Structure: [am/is/are + going to be+ present participle (verb+ing)]

EXAMPLES:

I am going to be cooking when my wife comes home from work.

I am not going to be waiting here with you when the taxi arrives.

Are you going to be cooking when I get home from work?

Pronouns	Affirmative	Negative	Interrogative - Question	Response to Question
I	am going to be I'm going to be	am not going to be I'm not going to	Am I ....?	Yes, you are / No, you aren't
You	are going to be You're going to be	are not going to be You're not going to be You aren't going to be	Are you ...?	Yes, I am /  No, I'm not
He	is going to be  He's going to be	is not going to be isn't going to be He's not going to be	Is he...?	Yes, he is /  No he isn't
She	is going to be  She's going to be	is not going to be isn't going to be She's not going to be	Is she ...?	Yes, she is /  No, she isn't
It	is going to be It's going to be	is not going to be isn't not going to be It's not going to be	Is it …. ?	Yes, it is /  No, it isn't
We	are going to be We're going to be	are not going to be aren't going to be We're not going to be	Are we ...?	Yes, we are / No, we aren’t
They	are going to be They're going to be	are not going to be aren't going to be They're not going to be	Are they…. ?	Yes, they are / No, they aren't

11 - FUTURE PERFECT

[Will have/Be Going To have]

When is it used? is used to talk about an action in the future that will happen before another action in the future. This can be used used to talk about a finished future action before another future action begins. 

Structure: [will have + past participle]

EXAMPLES:

I will have received my bachelor's degree by the time I start work in the fall.

I will not have received my bachelor's degree by the time I start work in the fall.

Will I have received my bachelor's degree by the time I start work in the fall? 

This can also be used to talk about how long something lasts in time (Duration) 

EXAMPLES:

I will have lived in Rome for four years by the time I receive my bachelor's degree.

I will not have lived in Rome for four years by the time I receive my bachelor's degree.

Will I have lived in Rome for four years by the time I receive my bachelor's degree?

Pronouns	Affirmative	Negative	Interrogative - Question	Response to Question
I	will have / I'll have	will not have / won't have	Will I have ....?	Yes, you will have/ No, you won't have
You	will have /  You'll have	will not have / won't have	Will you have...?	Yes, I will have/  No, I won't have
He	will have /  He'll have	will not have / won't have	Will he have...?	Yes, he will have/  No he won't have
She	will have /  She'll have	will not have / won't have	Will she have...?	Yes, she will have/  No, she won't have
It	will have /  It'll have	will not have / won't have	Will it have…. ?	Yes, it will have/  No it won't have
We	will have /  We'll have	will not have / won't have	Will we have...?	Yes, we will have/  No we won't have
They	will have /  They'll have	will not have / won't have	Will they have.... ?	Yes, they will have/  No they won't have

• This can be used used to talk about a finished future action before another future action begins. 

Structure: [am/is/are + going to have + past participle]

EXAMPLES:

I am going to have received my bachelor's degree by the time I start work in the fall.

I am not going to have received my bachelor's degree by the time I start work in the fall.

Am I going to have received my bachelor's degree by the time I start work in the fall? 

This can also be used to talk about how long something lasts in time (Duration) 

EXAMPLES:

I am going to have lived in Rome for four years by the time I receive my bachelor's degree.

I am not going to have lived in Rome for four years by the time I receive my bachelor's degree.

Am I going to have lived in Rome for four years by the time I receive my bachelor's degree?

Pronouns	Affirmative	Negative	Interrogative - Question	Response to Question
I	am going to have / I'm going to have	am not going to have / I'm not going to have	Am I going to have....?	Yes, you are/ No, you aren't
You	are going to have / You're going to have	are not going to have /  You aren't going to have/ You're not going to have	Are you going to have ...?	Yes, I am /  No, I'm not
He	is going to have / He's going to have	is not going to have / He isn't going to have / He's not going to have	Is he going to have...?	Yes, he is/  No, he isn't
She	is going to have / She's going to have	is not going to have / He isn't going to have / He's not going to have	Is she going to have ...?	Yes, she is /  No, she isn't
It	is going to have / It's going to have	is not going to have / It isn't going to have / It's not going to have	Is it going to have…. ?	Yes, it is /  No, it isn't
We	are going to have / We're going to have	are not going to have / We aren't going to have / We're not going to have	Are we going to have ...?	Yes, we are /  No, we aren't
They	are going to have / They're going to have	are not going to have / They aren't going to have / They're not going to have	Are they going to have…. ?	Yes, they are /  No, they aren't

12 - FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS

[Will have been/Be Going To have been]

When is it used? is used to talk about an action in the future that will happen up until another specific action in the future.

Structure: [will have been + present participle (verb+ing)] 

EXAMPLES:

I will have been living in Rome for a year next month.

I will not have been living in Rome for a year next month.

Will I have been living in Rome for a year next month?

Pronouns	Affirmative	Negative	Interrogative - Question	Response to Question
I	will have been / I'll have been	will not have been / won't have been	Will I have been....?	Yes, you will have been/No, you won't have been
You	will have been /  You'll have been	will not have been / won't have been	Will you have been ...?	Yes, I will have been/  No, I won't have been
He	will have been /  He'll have been	will not have been / won't have been	Will he have been...?	Yes, he will have been/  No he won't have been
She	will have been /  She'll have been	will not have been / won't have been	Will she have  been ...?	Yes, she will have been/  No, she won't have been
It	will have been /  It'll have been	will not have been / won't have been	Will it  been …. ?	Yes, it will have been/  No it won't have been
We	will have been /  We'll have been	will not have been / won't have been	Will we have been ...?	Yes, we will have been /  No we won't have been
They	will have been /  They'll have been	will not have been / won't have been	Will they have been…. ?	Yes, they will have been /  No they won't have been

Structure: [am/is/are + going to have + present participle (verb+ing)]

EXAMPLES:

I am going to have been living in Rome for a year next month.

I am not going to have been living in Rome for a year next month.

Am I going to have been living in Rome for a year next month?

 

Pronouns	Affirmative	Negative	Interrogative - Question	Response to Question
I	am going to have been / I'm going to have been	am not going to have / I'm not going to have	Am I going to have been....?	Yes, you are/ No, you aren't
You	are going to have been / You're going to have been	are not going to have been /  You aren't going to have been/ You're not going to have been	Are you going to have been...?	Yes, I am /  No, I'm not
He	is going to have been / He's going to have been	is not going to have been / He isn't going to have been / He's not going to have been	Is he going to  have been...?	Yes, he is/  No, he isn't
She	is going to have been / She's going to have been	is not going to have been / He isn't going to have been / He's not going to have been	Is she going to have been ...?	Yes, she is /  No, she isn't
It	is going to have been / It's going to have been	is not going to have been / It isn't going to have been / It's not going to have been	Is it going to  have been…. ?	Yes, it is /  No, it isn't
We	are going to have been / We're going to have been	are not going to have been / We aren't going to have been / We're not going to have been	Are we going to have been ...?	Yes, we are /  No, we aren't
They	are going to have been / They're going to have been	are not going to have been / They aren't going to have been / They're not going to have been	Are they going to have been…. ?	Yes, they are /  No, they aren't