English tenses for dummies: simple explanation of every aspect.

Do you know that in English language there are twelve temporary forms. It is grammatical tenses that allow us to correctly construct sentences and prepare us for speaking. The table of tenses in English is very useful. It will help you find the tense you need, all three sentence forms and usage. In this table we also added the expression and all the forms. Exercises for tenses in English can be found below after the table.

A table of tenses in English with word clues is also available for download in Pdf format below the table.

Table of English tenses with examples and words to help

A table of tenses in English with word clues can be downloaded using the button below!

Grammatical tense	Use	Affirmative, negative, interrogative sentences.
*Present Simple Present simple tense	1. Regularly repeated actions: As a rule, he has three meals a day. 2. Facts, scientific phenomena, laws of nature: Canada lies north of the United States. 3. Hobbies, traditions, habits: She is clever. Irish people drink a lot of beer. 4. The action is established by a schedule or schedule: The hypermarket opens at 10 a.m. and closes at 11 p.m.. 5. Headings of newspaper articles: Russian sportsmen win the Olympic Games. 6. Dramatic stories, sports commentaries: They shake hands and she bids him goodnight. John serves to Mike. 7. Proposal to do something (Why...): Why don’t we go for a run?	Statement: She smiles. Negation: She does not smile. Question: Does she smile?
Present Continuous Present continuous tense	1. Action that occurs at the moment of speech: I am carrying the groceries. 2. Temporary action taking place around the present moment: He is living in London at the moment, as she is studying at London University. 3. Developing and changing situations: Your Italian is improving. The world is changing. 4. Annoying habit (with the words always, forever, constantly, continually): She is always losing her keys. 5. Action planned for the near future: We're leaving tomorrow.	Statement: She is smiling. Negation: She is not smiling. Question: Is she smiling?
Past Simple Simple past tense	1. Actions happened one after another: I got out of my bed, opened the window and turned on computer. 2. Single fact, state in the past: Jack London was born in 1876 and died in 1916. 3. Past habits: When I was young I swam across the river.	Statement: She spoke. Negation: She did not speak. Question: Did she speak?
Past Continuous Past continuous tense	1. Action that took place at a certain time in the past: I was making a salad at 4 pm yesterday. 2. To express irritation: Luis was forever smoking in my room! 3. Action in the past interrupted by another action: They were entertaining friends when the parcel arrived. 4. Actions took place simultaneously: While I was preparing dinner, my parents were playing cards. 5. One action is shorter (Past Simple), the other is longer (Past Cont.): My brother telephoned me when I was having dinner. 6. Descriptions of events in history: It was raining the wind was blowing.	Statement: She was speaking. Negation: She was not speaking. Question: Was she speaking?
Present Perfect Present perfect tense	1. Personal changes: She has lost 25 kilos. 2. Emphasis on number: You have knocked on the door three times. 3. An action, quite recently, the result of which is obvious and important in the present: We’ve run out of milk (there is no milk at home). 4. An action that happened sometime in the past, but is important in the present: I have been to Africa several times. 5. An action that began in the past, lasted for some time and continues to last in the present: We have known each other for a long time.	Statement: He has not spoken. Negation: He has not spoken. Question: Has he spoken?
Present Perfect Continuous Present perfect continuous tense	1. The action began in the past and continues in the present: It has been snowing since yesterday morning (and it’s still snowing). 2. Past actions that have a visible result in the present: I have a sore throat. I have been talking on the phone all morning. 3. Expression of anger, irritation: Who's been drinking my orange juice? 4. Emphasis on duration, not result (with the words for, since, how long): The train has been waiting for three hours.	Statement: He has not been speaking. Negation: He has not been speaking. Question: Has he been speaking?
Past Perfect Past perfect tense	1. Completed action with a visible result in the past: I was sad because he had not called me. 2. Equivalent to Present Perfect. 3. An action that occurred before another action in the past or a moment in the past: They had finished the report by the end of the month. 4. Used with conjunctions hardly…when, scarcely…when, no sooner…than, barely…when.: The game had hardly begun when it started to rain.	Statement: He had spoken. Negation: He had not spoken. Question: Had he spoken?
Past Perfect Continuous Past perfect continuous tense	1. An action began in the past, lasted for some time and continued to last at a certain point in the past: How long had you been living in Moscow before you moved to Vienna? 2. Actions in the past with a certain duration and this action has a visible result in the past: Dad was angry. He had been arguing with Daisy. 3. Past Perfect Continuous is the equivalent of Present Perfect Continuous.	Statement: He had been speaking. Negation: He had not been speaking. Question: Had he been speaking?
Future Simple Simple future tense	1. A future that does not depend on the speaker, and which will definitely happen: She will be ten next month. 2. Assumption regarding the future (believe, think, sure, etc): I will probably call you, but I’m not sure. 3. Decisions made at the time of speech: I'll switch on the light. 4. Threat, promise, offer: He'll be punished! I'll talk to him. I'll carry these bags for you. 5. A request for advice or a request for information, an offer to help (1 person singular and plural in interrogative sentences): Shall I carry these heavy bags for you? (To the second person will).	Statement: He will speak. Negation: He will not speak. Question: Will he speak?
Be going to	1. Obvious actions that will definitely happen: Oh no! Our train is on fire! We are going to die. 2. The intention to do something, the decision was made before the conversation: I’m going to paint my car this summer. I've already chosen the color I want.	Statement: He is going to speak. Negation: He is not going to speak. Question: Is he going to speak?
Future Continuous Future continuous tense	1. Actions that will occur at a certain time in the future: At 8 o’clock tomorrow we’ll be having dinner. 2. Politely ask about the other person’s plans, especially when we want something done for us: I have something for my son. Will you be seeing him tonight? 3. Actions that result from routine: I’ll be having lunch with David tomorrow as usual.	Statement: He will be speaking. Negation: He will not be speaking. Question: Will he be speaking?
Future Perfect Future perfect tense	An action that will be completed by a specific time in the future: - I will have eaten breakfast by the time she gets up. - By 2023 I will have known them for thirty years. - I will have read all the books by the 1st of June.	Statement: He will have spoken. Negation: He will not have spoken. Question: Will he have spoken?
Future Perfect Progressive Future perfect continuous tense	The action will last until a certain time in the future: - By the 2nd of May I will have been reading for a fortnight. - By next January, they will have been living here for two years. - He’ll have been arguing with her all night.	Statement: He will have been speaking. Negation: He will not have been speaking. Question: Will he have been speaking?
Future Simple in the Past	Designations of an action that was future from the point of view of the past. - I said I would go to the theater next week.	Statement: He would speak. Negation: He would not speak. Question: Would he speak?
Future Continuous in the past	Denotes an action taking place at a certain moment, which was the future from the point of view of the past. - She said she would be working at 7 o’clock.	Statement: He would be speaking. Negation: He would not be speaking. Question: Would he be speaking?
Future Perfect in the past	The designation of an action completed up to a certain point, which was the future from the point of view of the past. - I said I would have read all the books by the 2nd of June.	Statement: He would have spoken. Negation: He would not have spoken. Question: Would he have spoken?
Future Perfect Continuous in the past	An action continuing over a period of time up to a certain point that was the future from the point of view of the past. - I said that by the 1st of May I would have been reading the book for a fortnight.	Statement: He would have been speaking. Negation: He would not have been speaking. Question: Would he have been speaking?

Listen to the story called The House On The Hill and try to retell it in English.

*Set expressions Present Indefinite

I hear = I know, I heard: I hear Lucy is getting married – I heard Lucy is getting married.
I see = I understand, as I understand: I see there’s been unrest in London again - As I understand it, there are riots in London again.

Expressions Here comes... (towards the speaker), There goes... (move away from the speaker).

Examples:

Look here comes your brother!
There goes our bus; we'll have to wait for the next.

Table of tenses in English with word clues.

Separate table with helper words

Present Simple	Always, Usually, Generally, Occasionally, Frequently, Sometimes, Often, As a rule, Twice a year, Every day (week, month, summer), Every other day, Once in a while, From time to time, Seldom, Rarely, Hardly ever, Never, On Mondays.
Present Continuous	At the moment, Just now, Right now, At present, These days, Nowadays, Today, Tonight, Still, Always, Constantly, Continually, Forever, Never… again.
Past Simple	Ago, Yesterday, Last week (month, year), In 1993, Just now, As soon as, The moment, Once, In those days, The other day, Then, When.
Past Continuous	At 3 o’clock yesterday, From 3 to 6 o’clock last Friday, while, at the time, this time last year, when, as.
Present Perfect	Already (+?), Yet (-?), Still (-), Recently, lately, just, ever, never, for, since, so far, today, this week (month), before, always.
Present Perfect Continuous	How long, for, since, for the last(past) few days (weeks, months).
Past Perfect	After, before, by, by the time, until, till, when, for, since, already, just, never, yet, hardly…when, scarcely…when, barely…when, no sooner…than.
Past Perfect Continuous	For, since, etc.
Will/Be going to/ Future Continuous	Tomorrow, tonight, next week/month, in two / three days, the day after tomorrow, soon, in a week/month etc.
Future Perfect	By, by then, by the end of the year, before, by the time, until (only with negation).
Future Perfect Continuous	By … for, the last couple of hours, in 2030, by the summer, by the end of the week, (by) this time next week/month/year etc.

Exercises for all English tenses

Take the online test to reinforce all the tenses you worked so hard to learn.

Is it easy to learn English in a few lessons, as numerous calls from an army of teachers who consider themselves experts in the field of education promise? The experience of an even larger army of students cramming English lessons for beginners shows that not everything is as easy as promised. And the first stone in the study of English grammar, over which all beginners without exception stumble, immediately knocks off the patina of aplomb and ambition of future language users.

Such strange English times

The examples in the tables are familiar to diligent Russian-speaking students of English courses who are beginning to master the rules of behavior of the English verb. What the strange phenomenon this part of speech in English grammar! What a system of incomprehensible word forms that should express an action in a particular time period! And why is this necessary, when everything is so clear in the native language: one present, one past and one future.

How many tenses are there in English grammar?

However, in such simple English, through which half the world communicates, and another quarter wants to learn it, there are as many as twelve tense forms of the verb only in the active voice. Thus, the present tense in English expresses a moment in time in reality in different ways. Native speakers, without thinking about grammar, will use one form of the verb when they talk about what they do always, sometimes, often or usually, and another if it is important for them to emphasize that they are busy with something at a given moment in time. In the first case, they will use that cell of their innate grammatical memory where verbs are collected in the form of the Present Simple, and in the second - the present continuous

For a Russian-speaking student, it is important to understand that the action in question can be instantaneous or extended over time, it can just happen or occur usually, as always, rarely or often. Each such action in English requires the use of a verb in a strictly defined form. In the Russian language, the nuances of relative time are defined lexically, the participants in the dialogue specify in words how and when the action occurs: now, usually, often, from some point or during a certain period.

Present tense “ours” and “alien”

Those who explain English tenses for dummies know that it is most clear to understand the rule based on their native language. For example, we say “I (now) watch TV” or “I (usually) watch TV after dinner.” In both expressions, the verb “I look” is used in the present tense. But it’s a completely different matter if the same phrases are spoken by an Englishman. He will say: I am watching television and I watch television after dinner. They themselves, without additional lexical means, show that in the first case the action occurs right now, this very minute, and in the second the action is repeated, ordinary, daily.

Grammar tense system

It is not easy to understand the meaning of verbal diversity in expressing temporal layers of reality in the English language. Just a small example of usage different forms the present tense already puzzles the student. But there is also a past and a future.

Such an abundance of tenses surprises Russian-speaking students who are just beginning to grapple with the vagaries of the English verb. But later they even have to do numerous exercises on English tenses, honing the skills of correct word usage in the flow of spoken language. Practice shows that it is easiest to master the tense forms of the verb in the system. Thus, by placing English tenses with examples in tables, it is easier to understand their grammatical multi-layered nature.

Apartment house for English verb

This house has four floors. Each floor is a grammatical tense: Simple, Continuous, Continuous. On each floor there are three apartments, in each of which residents settled - word forms of the present (Present), past (Past) and time. An example for settlement would be the incorrect verb “drink (drink)” and the correct verb “watch (watch)”.

English Times. English Tenses

	I drink tea (always, often...) I watch television	I drank tea (yesterday...) I watched television	I will drink tea I will drink tea (tomorrow...) I will watch television
	I am drinking tea I'm drinking tea right now) I'm watching television	I was drinking tea I was drinking tea (at that moment in the past when you called...) I was watching television	I will be drinking tea I will drink tea (at some point in time in the future) I will be watching television
	I have drunk tea I drank tea (just now, already...) I have watched television	I drank tea (already, at some point in the past) I had watched television	I will have drunk tea I will already have tea (at some point in the future) I will have watched television
Perfect Continuous	I have been drinking tea for 2 h. I have been watching television since 5 o'clock	I had been drinking tea for 2 h. I had been watching television since 5 o'clock	I will have been drinking tea for 2 h. I will have been watching television since 5 o'clock

The English tenses presented with examples in the tables give a systematic idea of ​​the variety of verb word forms. Those starting to master the topic should practice with different English verbs, substituting them in the cells of the table. But in order to correctly use tense forms in speech, written and spoken, this is not enough. It is important to understand the situation in which the speaker is. Each verb form precisely points to a point in time, not absolute, but relative.

How to solve a grammar problem

Effective exercises include translating phrases from your native language into English. This way you can easily learn the rules of English tenses based on your native grammar. It is important to understand why this or that word form is required in a given context, and also to see the lexical and grammatical signals that will tell you which window of the table to look into.

What are you doing in the evenings?

I usually watch TV.

What are you doing now?

I drink tea and watch TV.

What were you doing yesterday when I called?

I was watching TV when you called.

I'll call you tomorrow at 5. What will you do?

Tomorrow at 5 I will watch TV.

This one, when translated, requires the use of six forms of verb tense, of which two are present, two are past and two are future. What forms are these? English times with examples in tables will help those who want to master difficult rules and apply them in practice.

In the Russian version there are hint words: “usually”, “in the evenings”, “now”, “tomorrow”. And also an indication of one action in relation to another: “When you called, I was watching TV,” “Tomorrow (when you call) I will be watching TV.” Look at the table and solve this grammar problem.

Phrases from dialogues in Russian will also help you learn the meaning of English tenses from the lower floor of “Perfect Continuous”.

How long have you been watching TV?

I watch TV from 5 o'clock (for two hours).

When you called (yesterday), I had already been watching TV for two hours (since 5 o’clock).

Tomorrow, by the time you come, I will have been watching TV for two hours already (from 5 o’clock).

How to say in English?

In English lessons for beginners as they accumulate vocabulary Increasingly complex grammar exercises are included. But already from the first lessons the concept of tenses is given. First, about simple ones - from the Simple and Continuous groups, later the use of tenses of the Perfect and Perfect Continuous groups is practiced. Language is easier to learn in speech situations. This is why no rule in a box can replace practical training. The material for this is available all around: on the street, at home, at work. Everywhere you can train the skill “How would I say this in English.”

“...only having mastered to the possible perfection... our native language, we will be able to master a foreign language to the possible perfection, but not before...” (F. M. Dostoevsky)

I subscribe to every word you say, Fedor Mikhailovich. If we have basic knowledge of our native language in our heads AS A SYSTEM, logical and understandable, then we will easily learn the laws of a foreign language. For such a complex category as “tense” and the part of speech “verb” this is doubly relevant. For reference: at the philology department, 1 semester is devoted to the verb and 1 to all other parts of speech - it alone is more difficult than all of them combined! So, let's deal with English verb tenses once and for all.

Why do they confuse us? English verb tenses

When I read articles/manuals about English verbs, sometimes it even becomes funny from phrases like this: “English has 12 tenses, but Russian only has 3. That’s why it’s difficult for us.”

Is it true: We have 3 hours and it’s difficult for us.

Lie: in English there are 12 tenses (there are 3, like ours).

Additionally: Believe me, our verbs also have a lot of their own “problems”. If we understand them, we will understand English faster. Now we will do just that: we will analyze the Russian system of tenses, and then “overlay” it on the English tenses of verbs.

By the way, I didn’t make a mistake. There are 3 tenses in English:

• Past (past),
• Present (present),
• Future (future).

But each of them has 4 forms:

• Simple,
• Continuous,
• Perfect
• Perfect Continuous.

Thanks to such a detailed system, tenses in English describe the situation in detail and even without context, verbs provide more information than Russian ones.

Get to know your native verbs a little better

Regarding Russian verbs, we will focus on only two features: tense and aspect. Understanding these categories will “give us strength” to comprehend the system of English times.

1. The tense of the verb expresses the relationship between the time of action and the moment of speech.

Everything is simple here: if the action took place before the moment of speech, it is in the past, if it takes place after, it is in the future, if during the time, it is in the present.

2. The type characterizes the action as completed or incomplete.

If the action is completed and cannot continue (its limit has been reached), then the verb is perfect and answers the question “what to do?”

Example: Freeze, sleep, run, go away, etc.

If the action is extended, “there is no end in sight,” then the verb is imperfect and answers the question “what to do?”

Example: freeze, sleep, run, leave, etc.

The view is constant sign verb, the verb does not “change in appearance,” but is always either perfect or imperfect.

IMPERFECT verbs have all three tenses.

Example: I was looking - I am looking for - I will look (compound form of the future tense)

PERFECT verbs have only past and future forms.

Example: found - I will find.

Pay attention to this: if the action is completed (everything, its limit has been reached), then in Russian it cannot be in the present tense.

3. The real tense and the grammatical form of the verb do not always coincide:

Example: He yesterdaycomesto me andspeaks: “Finally the sun is out!”

The action takes place yesterday (that is, in the past in relation to the moment of speech), but we express it in the forms of the present tense.

Another example: “The train leaves at three o’clock”

We talk about the future, but use the present tense form.

Pay attention to this, because in the English language there are also similar “inconsistencies” (and you don’t need to be afraid of this).

4. We can talk about absolute and relative times.

For example, verbs "gone" And "asleep"– both past tense (absolute). But if we insert them into a sentence “After I left, he fell asleep.”, then the action "gone" will be in the past relative to the action "asleep". It turns out that relative time is the one that we see only from the context. Remember this moment.

Relative time can be expressed not only subordinate clauses, as in the example above, but also with the help of participles and gerunds.

An example with a perfect participle:Having cooked cake, sheremoved put it in the refrigerator. (first I cooked it, and then I put it away, here one action follows another)

An example with an imperfect participle:Cooking cake, shereadbook (actions are simultaneous, parallel).

Example with participle:Removedmom's apartmentlay downrest (first cleaned up and then lay down).

Main differences: how to quickly learn English verb tenses

Now we're ready to move on to times English verbs. As I said above, their tenses provide more comprehensive information about the action even without context (it is laid down grammatically). I will name 5 more important differences between verb forms in English that I discovered while writing this article.

1. A different attitude to the concept of “moment of speech.”

Example: a Russian person says "I live in Russia". The moment I talk about it, I live. That's it, the time is present (we have only one).

In English "I live in London" It can be “always, constantly” or “at the moment, limited, and then something can change.” The choice of tense (Present Simple or Present Continuous) depends on these conditions.

2. This leads to another significant difference - the importance of the “segment of time” in which the action is performed.

This is perfectly illustrated by the example described above, and all the tenses of the Continuous “family”. Let me give you another one:

Compare: "Iwasin MoscowVlast year" and "Iwasin Moscowforall summer"

For a Russian verb there is no difference: past tense, imperfect form.

However, in English we will translate the first option into Past Simple, and the second into Past Continuous, since the period of time is indicated.

I was in Moscow last year. – I was living in Moscow all summer.

It turns out that indicating a period of time involves using the Continuous form.

3. Also important is the “point in time” at which the action will take place.

Example: a Russian person can say "II'll ordersoup"(verb of the future tense, perfect form).

In English, such a sentence will be constructed in the Future Simple: I will order a bowl of soup(spontaneous decision made at the moment of speech).

To make a verb perfect (perfective, if we draw an analogy with Russian), you need to indicate a specific point in time by which the action will be completed:

I will have called him backby six o'clock. - I'll call him backcloser to six o'clock(the action will be completed by a certain moment, use Future Perfect)

It turns out that indicating a point in time involves using the Perfect form.

By the way, by interval and moment in time we mean NOT only direct meaning“from 17:00 to 18:00” or “by two o’clock in the morning”, but also time RELATIVE to another action/event/state (I did it while you did it).

He will have bought a new car before his wife comes back from a trip to London. – He will buy a car before his wife returns from a trip to London (he will complete the action BEFORE a certain moment, we use the Future Perfect).

4. In English, as in Russian, there is the concept of “completeness of action” (perfect). BUT!

There is a difference that causes English speakers to have a perfect present tense: is the result of an action performed in the past or in the present? If in the present, then we use the Present Perfect.

I have broken the cup - resulting in fragments;

Our son has learned how to read - as a result, he can read.

By the way, speaking of the Present Perfect, we will return again to the “moment and period of time.” If the action has completed BY NOW (just, already) or in a period of time that has NOT ENDED YET (today, this week/month/year), then the time is considered present.

5. In English there are perfect continuous verbs (in Russian they are either perfect or imperfect).

She had been working all night long - the translation of “She worked all night” will be logical, but the most accurate meaning of the sentence “She aboutworkedall night andfinished workin the morning,” that is, the action took place over a period of time and ended at its end.

It turns out that indicating both a segment and a point in time requires the use of the Perfect Continuous form.

English verb tenses with examples

We've sorted out the theory - let's move on to practice. Let's talk about each specific time. Let me make a reservation right away that I will NOT describe all cases of using tenses - this information can be found in different sources. I will simply describe the BASIC cases of using tenses in English (with examples) and explain their logic.

What's happening in the present

Present Simple used when we talk about a regular, constant, typical action that is NOT tied to the moment of speech.

Example: She speaks 2 foreign languages ​​– She speaks two foreign languages(that is, she knows how to speak them, this is her constant characteristic).

Present Continuous used when we want to show that an action is being performed right now (now). BINDED to the moment of speech.

Example: The doctor is performing an operation now - The doctor is now performing an operation (he is doing it right now, at the time of the speaker’s speech).

Present Perfect used when the action has completed (there is a result), but the time has not ended.

Example: He has called me today. - He called me today. (the action has already ended, but “today” has not yet ended).

Present Perfect Continuous used when an action began in the past and is still continuing in the present (we emphasize its duration).

Example: She has been watching TV all day. – She watches TV all day (from the very morning until now, can you imagine? It’s been all day!).

What happened in the past

Past Simple used to express an action that occurred in certain time in the past, while the time period has already ENDED.

Example: I saw him yesterday. – I saw him yesterday (that day is already over).

Past Continuous indicates a process that LASTED at a certain moment or period in the past.

Example: I was reading a book at midnight - I read a book at midnight (this process was in the past and lasted for some period of time).

Past Perfect remember Russian relative time. Do you remember mom who went to bed after cleaning? She cleaned the house in the Past Perfect. This “PRE-PAST” tense.

Example: I had studied English before I moved to Moscow - I learned English BEFORE I moved to Moscow (first I learned the language, and then I moved).

Past Perfect Continuous indicates an action that began in the past, continued for some “span of time” and ended at its end (or did not end).

Example: She had been cooking dinner for an hour before I came - She was preparing dinner for an hour before I came (The action lasted for a certain period of time, and then ended at a certain moment).

What will happen in the future

Future Simple used to denote any fact, decision or intention in the future, made at the time of speech.

We will take a taxi. – We will take a taxi (showing the intention in the future, accepted now).

Future Continuous indicates a process that will begin before a certain point in the future and will still be ongoing at that point.

I will be studying at university in a year. – I will study at the university in a year (the sentence does not indicate when the event will begin or end, we are talking about this specific moment in time, which lasts now, but in a year).

Future Perfect used to express a future action that will take place before a certain point in the future.

He will have gone by then. – He will have already left by that time (the action will be completed by the moment indicated in the context).

Future Perfect Continuous shows an action that will begin EARLIER than another future action, will have a certain RESULT at that moment, but will CONTINUE after it.

We will have been living together for 12 years next year - Next year we will live together for 12 years (the moment is indicated - next year, the duration is shown - for 12 whole years! But the action does not even think of ending).

But this form is used extremely rarely and is replaced either by the Future Continuous or the Future Perfect.

Looking for logic in everything: tenses in English “for dummies”

By the way, if you understand the logic of the main meaning of a particular time, then additional cases of use will fit perfectly into it.

1. For example: using the Present Continuous when we want to show dissatisfaction, irritation.

He is always coming late! - He's always late.

We're talking about habit! Why is the Present Simple not used? Because we indicate the duration and incessancy of this action. “Well, how long can this continue?” the Present Continuous is indignant in this case.

2. Another example: the use of Present Simple in schedules of buses, trains, movie shows, etc.

The train leaves at 8 a.m. – The train leaves at 8 am.

Why is the present tense used for actions that will take place in the future? Because these are periodically repeated actions. A more detailed comparison of Simple and Continuous.

So, in almost every case you can find a completely clear explanation. If it still doesn’t work out, well, you’ll have to remember. Still, a different language means a different way of thinking :)

Our YouTube video will help you figure it out even better.

Oh, the times! Oh, morals! Tenses in the English language are considered to be the most difficult section of grammar. But this is one of the most common misconceptions. Along with the fact that the majority distinguishes a dozen tenses in English, and three in Russian. So: don’t trust anyone :) In the English language, experts will highlight more than 12 tenses (take at least Future-in-the-Past for warming up). And in Russian, in theory, there are also more than three. Need proof? Yes please.

Times in the Great and Mighty

Only a first grader thinks that we have past, present and future tense. But at the same time, everyone will feel the difference in these proposals:

I was walking home through the park yesterday.
I walked home through the park yesterday

Immediately a quick question: what is the tense in the sentences? Yeah, past. What verb did “went” come from? Well, yes, from the verb “to go.”

The English language also has tricky irregular verbs, which in the past tense take on such a form that you can try to guess the original one. So the myths that camouflage is practiced only in the English language can already be safely considered debunked.

Let's go back to "went" and "went". Can we smell the difference? In the first case, we are talking about some long time: I walked to myself and walked through the park, without touching anyone. And in the second - about what has already happened. The questions answered by “went” and “went” are also different: “what did you do?” and “what did you do?” Such forms of verb tenses in Russian are usually called imperfect/non-perfect form (what to do) and perfect/perfect (what to do).

And that is not all. For example, when we want to emphasize the duration of an action, we become more sophisticated and use synonyms of verbs that are very close in meaning. For example:

Yesterday I walked around the park in a great mood.

Now you can imagine how difficult it is for a foreigner when he wants to convey a long action using the verb “go”. Surely he will come up with something like “Yesterday I walked... mmm... walked... walked... through the park in a great mood.” And try to explain to him that to convey a long-term action, it is better to take the verb “to walk” and put it in the past tense in the non-perfect form.

Whose tense system is easier?

This is ours:

	Imperfect form (Indefinite)	Perfect form ( Perfect)
		long-term	regular
Present	I'm playing	—	—
Past (Past)	played	played	played
Future (Future)	I will play	I'll play	I'll play

Moreover, in order to denote the present continuous or past imperfect tense, we will have to explain this further. Compare:

I play the guitar (that is, in principle I know how to play this instrument).
And
I'm currently playing the guitar (that is, I'm sitting and playing right now, I have nothing else to do).

Tenses in English

While we are getting more sophisticated with perfect/non-perfect forms of the verb, and also practicing finding synonyms, the English have created a completely logical and understandable system of tenses. Each verb easily forms 12 main groups. Let’s take the same “walk” (walk) and use it by default with the pronoun I (I).

Table of tenses in English with examples

	Simple	Continuous	Perfect	Perfect Continuous
Present	I walk I walk (in general, in principle)	I am walking I'm walking/walking (right now)	I have walked I went (already)	I have been walking I walked (did it and completed it by now)
Past	I walked I went (in general, in principle)	I was walking I was walking/walking (a while ago)	I had walked I was walking (the action had already ended at a certain point in the past)	I had been walking I have walked (done this and completed it by a certain point in the past)
Future	I will walk I will walk (in general, in principle)	I will be walking I will walk/walk (for a while)	I will have walked I'm like (the action will end at a certain point in the future)	I will have been walking I will walk (and complete it by some point in the future)

Thus, when reading a sentence in English, one can easily understand what the person means. While in our country the use of explanatory words is mandatory. While we need to use explanatory words for this. For example, to convey the Future Perfect tense, we will add “I’ll finish” to the main semantic verb: “I’ll finish doing my homework by 5 pm.” These are the simple rules of English tenses that, thanks to exercises, are quickly memorized.

And whose tense system is ultimately easier?

Now even a child knows that “without English you can’t get anywhere.” But no one can clearly explain how to learn to speak and understand effectively, where to start, and how to understand that the result has appeared.

In this article we will look at one of the most “painful” topics in language learning, namely. Everyone knows that there are many of them, they are all different: some require some kind of ending, others need . Are times as scary as they say?

Verb tense(namely, it changes tense) is a concept that characterizes the change of the verb, depending on whether the action happened, is happening, or will happen.

Let’s immediately dispel the popular myth that three times of the Simple group are enough for communication.
Communication may work, but it will be of very poor quality; in most cases, you simply will not be able to convey the idea.

Tenses in English are more connected with the mentality of English-speaking countries, because it was their affection and attention to detail that created the long (Progressive) and complete (Perfect) groups of tenses.

Present tense in English

There are four present tenses in English:

• Progressive;
• Perfect Progressive.

The same situation applies to past and future tenses.

Present Simple - present simple tense

Is used for:

• Transferring an action that happens regularly (I work 5 days a week; he walks the dog in the morning);
• Habits (I don’t smoke; my neighbor runs in the morning);
• Traditions (we visit grandma every Christmas; her husband gives her jewelry for every birthday);
• Facts (snow melts in spring, water boils at 100 C).

In every time there are so-called marker words, which will help you navigate the choice of time in case of difficulties.

So, write out this list for yourself, and you will not have problems with Present Simple tense:

• Always - always;
• Usually – usually;
• Often – often;
• Sometimes - sometimes;
• Seldom – rare;
• Never - never;
• Every day (week, month etc.) – every day (week, month, etc.);
• Once/twice a... - once in..., twice in....

In order to make a statement in the Present Simple, you need to remember that the first 2 places in the sentence are a priori occupied by the actor and the verb. The subject comes first, then the predicate. S (subject - subject) + V (verb - verb/predicate) + Obj. (object – object/addition) I(you, we, they) work everyday. BUT! He/She/It workS every day.

When the actor is a third person singular - we must add the ending –s, -es(if the word ends in –o/-s/-ss/-sh/-ch/-x).

To ask a question, you need to use . Such verbs have no translation, they simply indicate the time in which the question is asked. After all, in English, unlike Russian, there are no gender or temporal endings.

Auxiliary verbs to form a question:

• I/you/we/they – DO
• He/she/it – DOES

As you may have noticed, there is always a . BUT! The ending should be repeated only once per sentence. Therefore, if the sentence contains NO endings, you do not need to add ANY endings to the verb.

Present Progressive - present continuous tense

To understand and remember it, you first need to construct a sentence in an unusual way for yourself: I am the one writing this text, my brother is playing football now, etc. This is exactly what the literal translation of sentences sounds like in this tense.

Formula: S + be (am/is/are) + Ving + Obj.

Continuous auxiliary verb – to be.

In the present tense it has 3 forms:

• I AM - I am working now;
• He/she/it IS — He/she/it is working now.
• You/we/they ARE - We/you/they are working now.

Question:

• Be + S + Ving + Obj:
  • Am I working?
  • Is she working?
  • Are we working?

Denial:

• S + be + not + Ving + Obj:
  • I am not working now.
  • He is not working now.
  • We are not working now.

Reduction:

• I'm not;
• He/she/it isn`t;
• We/you/they aren`t.

Past tense in English

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Past Progressive

To express a long-term action in the past, tense is used. Most often, it is used in conjunction with the Past Simple when talking about a process that was interrupted brief event in past.

For example:

• I was reading a book when I heard a strange noise. I was reading a book (process) when I heard a strange sound (it interrupted the process).

As with any time, markers will help you find your way:

• At 7 pm – 7 pm (or any other specific time;
• From…. Till….. – from…..to….;
• While - while.

Statement:

• S+be+Ving+Obj

As you can see, the formula is absolutely identical to the Present progressive tense, but there is still a difference. And this - .

In the past tense, the verb has only 2 forms:

• (for singular);
• (for plural).

Question:

• Be + S + Ving + Obj. —Was I sleeping at 10 am?

Negation:

• S + be NOT + Ving + Obj — I wasn`t sleeping at 10 am.

Future tense in English

The future tense can be expressed in several ways. The most used ones are time and the turn be going to.

The Future Simple is used for unplanned events in the future. We often use it for spontaneous decisions. The catch is that most school teachers presented this time as the only time available for talking about the future, but in practice, other phrases overtake it in frequency of use.

You can create this tense using an auxiliary verb .

Time markers:

• Tomorrow - tomorrow;
• Next week (month, Summer) – next week, next month, next summer;
• In 10 years – in 10 years;
• Later - later.

Statement:

• S + will + V + Obj:
  • I will call you later.
  • He will call you later.
  • We will call you later.

As you can see, the verb after will does not need to be changed.

Reduction:

• I will – I'll
• He will – he'll
• We will – we'll

Question:

In any interrogative sentence in English, we need to put the auxiliary verb first:

• Will + S + V + Obj:
  • Will you call me later?
• If the question is special, put a question word before the auxiliary verb:
  • WHEN will you call me?

Negation:

• S + will NOT + V + Obj — I will not call you later.

Reduction:

• Will not = won't

Design be going to used for a pre-planned action in the future, it is often translated as "about to do something."

Statement:

Question:

• Be + S + going to + V?:
  • Am I going to swim?
  • Is he going to swim?
  • Are you going to swim?

Negation:

• S + be NOT + going to + V + Obj:
  • I am not going to swim.
  • He is not going to swim.
  • We are not going to swim.

Signs of tenses in English

We have already found out that each tense has marker words that help distinguish one grammatical tense from another. Therefore, you should remember the markers, which is best done by making several dozen different sentences with each.

Remember that the ending – ing can only be used in conjunction with the verb be.

One of the most common errors up to high levels can be considered like:

• I'm working here.
• We live here.

They are grammatically incorrect because the verb ending in –ing is used in the following sentences:

• I AM working.
• We are living.

If we are not talking about this moment, but about what is happening in general, it is quite simple actor and verb:

• I work here.
• He work here.

Coordination of tenses is a topic that makes you want to quit studying, but in fact, the logic behind it is very simple.

Remember, if the past tense was used at the beginning of the sentence, then we can ONLY use the past tense, even if the Russian version uses the present tense.

For example:

• Her father found out that she smokes.

The past tense comes first, and the present tense comes second. This is not possible in English.

We must say:

• Her father found out that she smoked.

How to remember tenses in English?

There are several ways to remember times, but, unfortunately, there is no universal way:

1. Remember the name of the time along with the formula, like a rhyme:
   • Present Simple (I do/he does)
   • Present Progressive (I am going)
   • Past Simple (I did), etc.
2. Find interesting text and highlight all the tenses you see. Then explain the use of each:
3. Watch movies and and pay attention to the use of tenses;
4. Practice and practice again!

Exercises on tenses in English with answers

Put the verb into the correct form, using markers and auxiliary verbs:

1. He often (cut)himself.
2. What time did Peter (arrive)?
3. Mike never (forget)
4. Are you (sit) here?
5. We (drink) a lot of Coke at the party yesterday.
6. It was (rain)all night yesterday.
7. The train_______ leave in a few minutes.
8. I (put) on a clean shirt yesterday

Answers:

Choose the correct auxiliary verb:

1. ____ did you like the movie we watched yesterday?
2. _____ do you like ice-cream?
3. _____ he smoke?
4. _____ he speaking now?
5. _____ we writing?
6. _____ you live in Lindon?
7. What ____ do you usually have for breakfast?
8. When ____ you wake up this morning?
9. What ____ did you watch on TV yesterday?
10. _____ is it raining now?

Answers:

1. Did you like the movie we watched yesterday?
2. Do you like ice-cream?
3. Does he smoke?
4. Is he speaking now?
5. Are we writing?
6. Do you live in Lindon?
7. What do you usually have for breakfast?
8. When did you wake up this morning?
9. What did you watch on TV yesterday?
10. Is it raining now?

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