ENGLISH VERB TENSES CHARTS

What are the differences between ...?

TENSE A Present Perfect (Simple)

TENSE B Past Simple

TENSE C Past Perfect (Simple)

TENSE D Present Continuous

Use the device to show images so students can compare the charts visually, simultaneously

Present Si Present CoPast Simpl Past Conti Present PerPresent PePast PerfecPast Perfec
Future Simp
Future ConFuture PerfFuture PerZero CondiFirst condi Second conThird conditional
Present Simple

Present Continuous

Past Simple
Past Continuous

Present Perfect (Simple)

Present Perfect (Continuous)

Past Perfect (Simple)

Past Perfect (Continuous)

Future Simple (Will & Going to)

Future Continuous

Future Perfect (Simple)

Future Perfect (Continuous)

Zero Conditional

First conditional

Second conditional
Third conditional
Going to)
SIMPLE PRESENT NOW

P A S T F U T U R E
x x x x x x x x

Tom watches TV every day. Events or situations that ex

I do exercise in the mornings. These events or situations
We speak Portuguese
It snows in Alaska.
James studies every day.

PRESENT CONTINUOUS NOW

/ PRESENT PROGRESSIVE
P A S T F U T U R E
10:00 12:00
start ððð ððð ððð ððð ððð finish???

Tom is sleeping right now. It is now 11:00. Tom went

I am doing exercise because I'm feeling energetic today! His sleep began in the past
We are speaking in English now because this is an English class.
James is studying right now.

SIMPLE PAST NOW

P A S T F U T U R E
x

Tom watched The Big Bang Theory last night. This event or situation beg
I did exercise yesterday morning before I went to work. We know WHEN it happen
We spoke in English with the Americans.
It snowed yesterday in New York.
James studied last night.

PAST CONTINUOUS NOW

/ PAST PROGRESSIVE
P A S T F U T U R E
10:00 12:00
start ððð ððð ððð finish???

Tom was sleeping when I arrived. Tom went to sleep at 10:00

I was doing exercise when I when I tripped over and fell. His sleep began before and
We were speaking about climate change when it started snowing!
James was studying when the telephone rang.

SIMPLE FUTURE NOW

P A S T F U T U R E
x

Tom will watch the news on TV tonight. This event or situation will
Tom is going to watch the news on TV tonight.
I will do exercise tonight to reduce my stress.
I'm going to do exercise and start a diet to lose weight.
We will probably speak to each other later, on the telephone.
We're going to speak to the director tomorrow during the meeting.
James will study tomorrow.
James is going to study Maths tomorrow, for next week's test.

FUTURE CONTINUOUS NOW

/ FUTURE PROGRESSIVE
 P A S T F U T U R E
10:00
start ððð

Tom will be sleeping when we arrive. Tom will go to sleep at 10:0

Tomorrow, at 3pm, I will be doing exercise in my local gym. He will start before our arr
It's an all-day event. At two o'clock we will be speaking about economics. His sleep will be in progres
James will be studying next year for his university exams. and will probably continue

The Perfect Simple tenses (Present, Past and Future Perfect) all give the idea that something happens before anoth

PRESENT PERFECT (SIMPLE) NOW

P A S T F U T U R E

eat lunch

Tom has already eaten. Tom finished eating lunch

I have already done my exercise this morning. I feel great!
We have spoken to Obama and he agrees with us.
James has already studied Chapter One.

The Perfect Simple tenses (Present, Past and Future Perfect) all give the idea that something happens before anoth

PAST PERFECT (SIMPLE) NOW

 P A S T F U T U R E

eat lunch Fred arrives

Tom had already eaten when Fred arrived. First Tom finished eating. L
I had done too much exercise, so my arm was hurting and I had to rest. Tom finished eating BEFOR
We had spoken to Jane about Robert before we arranged the date.
James had already studied Chapter One before reading Chapter Two.

The Perfect Simple tenses (Present, Past and Future Perfect) all give the idea that something happens before anoth

FUTURE PERFECT (SIMPLE) NOW

P A S T F U T U R E

eat lunch

Tom will already have eaten when Fred arrives.

I will have done my exercise by the time you arrive, so we can go to the restaurant immediately.
We will have spoken to your father, so be prepared for his reaction.
James will have studied Chapter Four by the time of next week's test.

The Perfect Continuous (Perfect Progressive) tenses give the idea that one event / situation is in progress immediat
They are used to express the duration of the first event.

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS NOW

/ PRESENT PERFECT PROGRESSIVE
P A S T F U T U R E

studying for 2 hrs

Kate has been studying for two hours. Event in progress: studying
I have been doing exercise since three o'clock, which is why I'm so thirsty! When: BEFORE NOW / up
We have been speaking for hours - my phone bill will be enormous! How long? For two hours
James has been studying for weeks.

The Perfect Continuous (Perfect Progressive) tenses give the idea that one event / situation is in progress immediat
They are used to express the duration of the first event.

PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS NOW

/ PAST PERFECT PROGRESSIVE
P A S T F U T U R E

studying for 2 hrs Fred arrives

Kate had been studying for two hours before Fred arrived.
I had been doing exercise for 30 minutes when the instructor told me I could start working out.
We had been chatting before you came and interrupted us!
James had been studying for three hours when his friends visited.
The Perfect Continuous (Perfect Progressive) tenses give the idea that one event / situation is in progress immediat
They are used to express the duration of the first event.

FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS NOW

/ FUTURE PERFECT PROGRESSIVE
P A S T F U T U R E

studying for 2 hrs

Kate will have been studying for two hours by the time Fred arrives.
I will have been training for three months by the time I run in the São Silvestre.
We will have been cheering for three days, so we'll probably have lost our voices.
James will have been studying for three hours by the time you get there.
U T U R E
x

vents or situations that exist always, usually, habitually.

hese events or situations have occurred in the past and will probably continue to occur in the future.

U T U R E

is now 11:00. Tom went to sleep at 10:00 tonight, and he is still asleep.
is sleep began in the past, is in progress now, and will probably continue.

U T U R E

his event or situation began and ended in the past.

We know WHEN it happened.
U T U R E

om went to sleep at 10:00 last night. I arrived at 11:00 and he was still asleep.
is sleep began before and was in progress at a particular time in the past (when I arrived).

U T U R E

his event or situation will happen at one particular time in the future.
U T U R E
12:00
ððð ððð finish???

om will go to sleep at 10:00 tomorrow night. We will arrive at 11:00.

e will start before our arrival and will finish after it.
is sleep will be in progress at a particular time in the future (when we arrive)
nd will probably continue even after it.

ng happens before another event / situation / time.

U T U R E

om finished eating lunch BEFORE NOW (i.e in the past). The exact time is not important.

ng happens before another event / situation / time.

U T U R E

rst Tom finished eating. Later Fred arrived.

om finished eating BEFORE the other PAST event (Fred's arrival).

ng happens before another event / situation / time.

U T U R E

Fred arrives

First Tom will finish eating. Later Fred will arrive.

Tom will finish eating BEFORE the other FUTURE event (Fred's arrival).

n is in progress immediately before, up to, until another event / situation / time.

U T U R E

vent in progress: studying

When: BEFORE NOW / up until now
ow long? For two hours

n is in progress immediately before, up to, until another event / situation / time.

U T U R E

Event in progress: studying

When: BEFORE / up until another PAST event (Fred's arrival)
How long? For two hours
n is in progress immediately before, up to, until another event / situation / time.

U T U R E

Fred arrives

Event in progress: studying

When: BEFORE / up until another FUTURE event (Fred's arrival)
How long? For two hours