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Verb tenses in English grammar explained
1.
2. Tenses
3 types of verb tenses in English grammar
Moment of writing (now)
Present Simple
Present Perfect
Present Continuous
Present Perfect Continuous
“I study English”
“I have studied English”
“I am Studying English”
“I have been studying English”
Past simple
Past Perfect
Past Continuous
Past Perfect Continuous
PRESENT
PAST FUTURE
“I studied English”
“I had studied English”
“I was studying English”
“I had been studying English”
Future Simple
Future Perfect
Future Continuous
Future Perfect Continuous
“I will study English”
“I will have studied English”
“I will be studying English”
“I will have been studying English”
“Yesterday is history,
tomorrow is a mystery, but
today is a gift. That is why it
is called …….”
In total, there are 12 tenses
in the English language
3. Examples of Past tenses:
• In ancient Egypt they had been building boats for hundred of years.
• In 1812 Napoleon declared war on Russia.
• People were walking more back in the day, before the Germans popularized the use of bikes.
• He had broken his Jeans, something his mom didn’t seemed to happy about.
4. PRESENT
PERFECT SIMPLE
HOW LONG
PRESENT RESULT
UNFINISHED
I've known Karen since 1994.
She's lived in London for three years.
FINISHED
Use with: ever, never.
Use with: since 2010, since July,
for ten years, for three days.
UNFINISHED TIME W ORD
I haven't seen her this month.
Use with: this week, today, this
month, this year.
LIFE EXPERIENCE
I've been to Tokyo.
I've lost my keys (so I can't get into my
house).
NEW S / RECENT EVENTS
The Queen has given a speech.
Use with: just / yet / already / recently.
PAST SIMPLE
DETAILS OF NEW S
FINISHED TIME PERIOD
I've hurt my leg. I fell off a ladder.
PAST
Leonardo painted the Mona Lisa.
FINISHED TIME W ORD
I went to the cinema yesterday.
PRESENT /
FUTURE
UNREAL / IMAGINARY THINGS
If I won the lottery, I would buy a house.
Use with: wish, it's time, second
conditional.
Use with: yesterday, last night, in
2003, 6 months ago.
Use with: the present perfect.
ACTIONS IN STORIES
He sat down and ordered a coffee.
Use with: the past continuous.