:c diagram shown below will be used in the tense descriptions:

TENSE
SI,\IPLE PRESENT (a) It snotrs in Alaska. In general, the simple present
(b) Tom utatches television expresses events or situations that

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I every day. exist always, usually, habitually; tbey
exist now, have existed in the past,
I and probably will exist in the future.

SI,\IPLE PAST (c) It snoued yesterday. At one particular time in the past, this
(d) Tom u,satched television last happened. It began and ended in the
night. past.

SI,\IPLE FUTURE
(e) lt utill szoa, tomorrow. At one particrllar time in the future, this
It is going to snou) tomorrow. will happen.
(f) Tom usill ulatch television
tonight.
Tom is going to tpatch television
tonight.
 Form: be + -ing (presentparticiplQ
Meaning: The progressive,tenses*give the idea that an action is in progress during a particular time.
The tenses say that an action beginsbefore,is in progressdiring, and.contiiuei after another time
action.

PRESENT PROGRESSIVE (a) Tom is sleeping right now. It is now I l:00. Tom went to sleep at
10:00 tonight, and he is still asleep.
O i His sleep began in the past, r rn
progress at the present time, and
probably will continue.

PAST PROGRESSI\,'E (b) ToT usas sleeping when I Tom went to sleep at 10:00 last night.
arrrveo, I arrived at l1:00. He was still
asleep. His sleep began before and
was in progressat a particular time in
the past. It continued after I arrived.

(c) frT zoill be sleeping when we Tom will go to sleep at 10:00

arrlve. tomorrow night. We will arrive at
I l:00. The action of sleeping will
begin before we arrive, and it will be
in progress at a partirular time in the
future. Probably his sleep will
contrnue.
*The progressive tenses ate also called the "continuous"
tenses: present continuous, past continuous, and future continuous.

Tomis washingthe dishesrightnow.

2 csnpren
r
Fr-rrrr: haoe + pasrparticiple
-\leaning: The perfect tenses all give the idea that one thing happensbeforeanotber time or event.

?F.ESENT PERFECT (a) Tom has akeady eaten. Tom finished eating sometime before
nout. The exact time is not imoortant.

P.I.ST PERFECT (b) Tom had abeady eaten whenhis First Tom finished eating. Later his
friend arrived. friend arrived. Tom's eating was
completely lzished beforeanother time
in the oast.

,'TURE PERFECT (c) Tom uill abeady haae eaten First Tom will finish eating. Later his
when his friend arrives. friend will arrive. Tom's eating will be
completely lzished beforeanother time
in the future.

Ftr IlfLi hazte + been * -ing (presentparticiple)

\leaning: The perfect progressivetenses give the idea that one event is in progressimmediatelybefore,up to,
until anothertime or eztent.Tlte tenses are used to express the duration of the first event.

(a) Tom has been studying for two Event in progress: studying.
hours. $7hen? Before now, up to now.
How long? For two hours.

(b) Tom had been studying for two Event in progress: studying.
hours before his friend came. !?hen? Before another eztentin the past.
How long? For two hours.

(c) Tom u:ill hazse been studying Event in progress: studying.

for two hours by the time his \07hen? Before another eaent in the
friend arrives.
future.
How long? For two hours.

Overview of Verb Tenses 3

 Tom rs studying right now.

Tomshtdied last night. Tom aras shtdying when they came.

Tom will be st:ttdying when you come.

]
4 CHAPTER
 PRESENT PERFECT PROGRESSIVE

[-t-n ftas already studied Chapter One. Tom ftcs been studying for two hours.

'.{ST PERFECT PAST PERFECT PROGRESSI\'E

b-i.r. had already sad.ied Chapter One before he Torn h.ad been studying for two hours before his
reganstudying Chapter TWo. friends came.

r, IL'RE PERFECT FUTURE PERFECT PROGRESSIVE

Ir-:n rlrill already haoe shtdied Chapter Four before Tom utill hatse been studying for two hours by the
.e .iudies Chaoter Five. time his roommate qets home.

Overview of Verb Tenses 5