TENSE USES FORM EXAMPLES

TIME
EXPRESSIONS
OR
KEY WORDS
Simple Present The principal use of the simple am, are, is are Affirmative 1. I am a good student.
TO BE present is to refer to an action or forms of the verb to
event that takes place habitually, be in the simple 2. We are old friends.
Person + form or Contracted Form +
but with the verb "to be" the simple present.
complement 3. He is a student.
present tense also refers to a
present or general state, whether 4. The child is in the
temporary, permanent or habitual. Negative
garden.
5. Is Brad Pitt French?
Person + form negative or Contracted
6. No, he isn't.
Form + complement
He's American.

Interrogative

Form + person + complement

Simple Present Use the Simple Present to express To conjugate the Affirmative 1. He eats
the idea that an action is repeated simple present we Sujeto + verbo 2. They learn
or usual. The action can be a habit, use the infinitive for Negative Sentences 3. I do not [don’t]
a hobby, a daily event, a scheduled the subjects "I", person+ verb auxiliary (to do) + talk
event or something that often "you", "we" and auxiliary negative (“not”) + verb. 4. They do not
happens. It can also be something "them" and for the Interrogative Sentences [don’t] learn
a person often forgets or usually third persons "he", Verb auxiliary (to do) + person + verb? 5. Does he eat?
does not do. "she" and "he"

Simple past TO The simple past is used principally Af irmative 1. She was wrong
BE to describe events in the past Was / Were 2. We were happy
Wasn’t / weren't Person + was/were + complement 3. They were teachers
Was not / were not 4. I wasn´t married
Negative
 Person + was/were + not + complement 5. Weren´t you 18 years
Interrogativo old?
6. Was I late?
W as/W ere + person +complement

Simple past The simple past expresses an Did/didn’t 1. He visited his parents
action in the past taking place Edding ed every weekend
once, never, several times. It can Verb in past 2. He came in, took off his
also be used for actions taking coat and sat down
place one after another or in the Exception in spelling when adding ed 3. Did you eat?
middle of another action. 4. When did they arrive?
5. They didn’t come
6. He didn’t speak with me.

Past continuous Use the Past Continuous to was/were person was/were verb+ ing 1. I was playing
indicate that a longer action in the They were watching 2. You were playing
past was interrupted. The verb+ ing Afirmative 3. Were we playing?
interruption is usually a shorter She was reading 4. They weren't playing
action in the Simple Past. Negativa
Remember this can be a real She wasn't reading
interruption or just an interruption in Interrogativa
time Was she reading?

Present actions happening at the moment verb infinitive afirmative 1. Am I speaking?

Continuous of speaking or around the moment
of speaking
fixed plan in the near future
temporary actionstrends
ing to be (am, are, is) + infinitive + -ing 2. I am playing football.
3. I am not playing football.
4. Is he playing football?
Negativa 5.
person+ to be+ no + verb infinitive + ing
 repeated actions which are She is not /(isn't) talking
irritating to the speaker (with interrogative
always, constantly, forever) to be + sujeto + raíz + ing
Is she talking?
Present Perfect The present perfect is equivalent to have Affirmative Sentences 1.-Have you talked to Peter?
the perfect past tense of the past participle person+ verb auxiliar (to have) + past 2.-Have you been to London?
Spanish. We use it for actions in participle 3.- I have never flown in a plane
the past that have importance in 4.- have become more timid in
the present negative my old age
person+ verb auxiliary (to have) + “not” + 5.- Our football team has won
past participle the championship three times.
Interrogative Sentences 6.- They have [They’ve] learned
Verb auxiliary (to have) + sujeto + past English
participle…?
Past Perfect When we want to talk about an HAD 1.-Kate had never played the
action that happened before a past Adding ed drums until last night.
event, we often use the past perfec
2.- I hadn't worked
Exceptions in Spelling when Adding ed
3.- Hadn't you worked?

Future GOING Going to future expresses a GOING TO Affirmative 1.-tonight's gonna be a good
TO conclusion regarding the person+ am/are/is going to +VERB in night
immediate future or an action in the VERB EN INFINITIVE
near future that has already been INFINITIVE negative 2.-I am not going to dance
planned or prepared. person+ am/are/is not going to + VERB tonight
EN INFINITIVE 3.-Are you going to dance
Interrogative tonight?
 am/are/is + SUJETO + going to + VERB 4.- he is going to eat
EN INFINITIVE ?
future going to
PASIVE
[PERSON] + am/are/is going to be
+[PARTICIPLE]

Future WILL Will future expresses a Will Affirmative Sentences

spontaneous decision, an
assumption with regard to the
future or an action in the future that
cannot be influenced.
person+ “will” + verbo present
verb present Negative
person+ “will” + “not” + verb present.
interrogative
“Will” + person + verb present
1.-Will you call me
tonight?
2.- Will she read the newspaper
tomorrow?
3.- She will not read the
newspaper tomorrow
4.- If you come before lunch,
she will not be reading the
newspaper.