Went, Going, Gone!

There are only three basic tenses in the English language: the past, the present, and the
future.

The past tense is used for anything that happened before this moment in time.

The present tense is used for anything that happens right now or for general
statements.

The future tense is used for anything that will happen at some point later than right
now.

(There is also a perfect tense, but this article will stick to the three basic tenses described
above.)

Of course if it were that simple, you wouldnt be reading this guide!

These tenses have a few variations that make them more specific.

These variations talk about the exact time during which actions happen.

All three tenses have two main types of variations: simple and continuous.

The continuous tenses are used for actions that happen repeatedly over a period of
time.

The simple tenses are used foreverything else!

Youll discover exactly when to use either in the guide below.

Since the past and the present tenses are very closely linked, its better to look at them
together.

The future tense will be discussed later in this article. (Actually, that last sentence used the
future tense! Did you notice?)

Here is a basic guide that will help you begin to understand when to use which tense.

The Ultimate Beginners Guide to Learning

English Grammar Tenses
Simple Tenses
Look back at the very first example used in this blog: I eat fish. This sentence uses the
simple present tense.
Simple Present

The simple present tense is mostly used for three things:

1. To describe things that are permanent or unchanging.

2. To describe how often something happens.

3. To talk about scheduled events.

To use the tense, add an -s to the end of the verb when he or she is doing the action (he
speaks, she eats).

Use the unchanged verb when anyone else is doing it (we speak, I eat).

So you would use this tense if you wanted to tell someone about yourself or your hobbies,
share something you believe to be true, or ask about when you can catch the next bus at the
stop.

Here are some examples:

If your hobby is the violin, you can say I play the violin. Since its just a hobby though,
you can add: I am not a professional violinist.

You might be worried about your friend if you notice hes biting his nails because he bites
his nails when hes nervous.

Youll need to get ready quickly if you want to make it to your friends party, because she
just told you that the party starts in an hour.

Maybe you should remind your friend to bring a gift since he never remembers birthdays.

Simple Past

The simple past is used in a very similar way to the simple present.

Simple past verbs use -ed (I walked, he smiled). There are many irregular verbs that dont use
the -ed form, which you will need to learn (I spoke, he ate).

Instead of talking about now, this tense talks about something that has already happened or is
no longer true.

Use the simple past if you want to describe an action that already happened.

This description of a trip uses the simple past tense: Last year I visited New York. I lived in
a hotel for a month. I rode the train, took many pictures and walked all around Central
Park.

You can also use this tense for many of the same reasons as the simple present. It can be used
to describe a hobby or habit you had in the past, or something you used to believe was true.
In fact, the words used to are often used for this tense. You can say it either way: I used to
play the violin when I was young has the same meaning as I played the violin when I was
young.

Continuous Tenses
The word continuous means something thats ongoing, happening right now.

The continuous tense uses the -ing ending of a verb (eating, speaking) in both the present and
the past.

But wait, if the continuous tense is happening right now, how can you have a past
continuous tense? Read on to find out!

Present Continuous

You can use the present continuous to talk about something ongoing thats happening now or
soon.

Right now, you are reading this article. Maybe youre drinking some coffee or taking a
break from work. Later today you might be meeting some friends for dinner.

By adding the words always or constantly you can express the frequency of the action.
For example: My mother-in-law is always complaining, or that child is constantly
crying. These are not good things, but they do use the right tense!

Past Continuous

This tense is used to describe a continuous action that got interrupted. If you got a phone call
late at night, you could say I was sleeping last night when I got the call.

You can also use this tense to say what you were doing at a specific time in the past. For
example: I was already writing at 6 in the morning, or yesterday in the evening I was
eating dinner.
Looking to the Future
The future is anything that hasnt happened yet. It can be a few seconds from now or a few
years from now.

Simple Future

Speaking about the future is pretty simple: just add the words will or is going to before
an unchanged verb.

How do you know when to use will and when to use is going to?

Dont worry about it too muchyou can usually use either one! You can say I will call you
later, or I am going to call you later. They are both correct.

The slight difference is in the meaning: going to is used more often for things that are
planned. So in the above example, the first sentence is more offhand (without giving it too
much thought), but the second sentence sounds like you will make sure to call later.

The difference is subtle (not too big) and you can get away with using either one. Just
remember that will is used more often for promises and things you do by choice, and
going to is used for making plans.

Both can be used for predictions too, or things you think will happen. You can say the world
will end in ten years, and you can also say the world is going to end in ten years. Either
way is correctbut hopefully the prediction is wrong!

Future Continuous

This last way to talk about the future has the same uses as the past continuous.

You use this tense to talk about things that might be interrupted in the future, or to say what
will be happening at a specific time in the future.

Just add the -ing form of a verb after the words will be or am going to be.

If you know your friend is coming to visit you tomorrow, for example, you could tell her to
come before 7 because we will be eating dinner at 7. You can also tell her: I will be
waiting for you at the train station.

A Quick Summary of English Tenses

Here is everything this article discussed, summarized in a quick list:

Simple present
o Something that is unchanging, general, scheduled or happening at certain
intervals.
o Uses: verb-s.
Present continuous
 o Something that is happening now or in the near future.
o Uses: Is + verb-ing.
Simple past
o Something that happened before now.
o Uses: Verb-ed.
Past continuous
o Something that got interrupted by an event or a time.
o Uses: Was + verb-ing.
Simple future
o Something that will happen later than now.
o Uses: Will + verb, Is going to + verb.
Future continuous
o Something that will be interrupted by an event or a time.
o Uses: Will be + verb-ing , Is going to be + verb-ing.

Whew! Take a deep breath. You learned a lot just now!

You might even notice now that the last two sentences used simple tenses.

Pay attention to the way action words are used. Learn the rules and practice speaking
correctly, and youll never be misunderstood for using the wrong tense again!

The Present Tenses

Present Simple

Present Simple Used to say what I always study English on Tuesday.

someone usually
does

Present Progressive/Continuous

Present Progressive Used to say what I am studying English now

someone is doing
now
Present Perfect Simple

Present Perfect Simple Used to show I have studied English twice this week.
unfinished time

Present Perfect Progressive/Continuous

Present Perfect Used to say how I have been studying English for 2 years.
Progressive long someone has I have been studying English since 1997.
been doing
something.

The Past Tenses

Simple Past
Simple Past Used to show a I studied English last Saturday.
completed action

Past Progressive/Continuous
Past Progressive Often used to say I was studying English last Monday when
when something my friend rang.
was being done or
I was studying English at 5pm last Monday.
what was
happening when
something else
happened

Past Perfect Simple

Past Perfect Simple The past of have I had done my English homework by 6.30
done. Used to say pm last Saturday.
when something
was done by.

I had done my English homework by the time I ate dinner last Saturday.

Past Perfect Progressive/Continuous

Past Perfect The past of have I'd been doing my English homework for 30
Progressive been. Used to minutes when my friend rang last Saturday.
show how long
I'd been doing my English homework for 30
something was
minutes by 1 pm last Saturday.
done for by a
certain time.
The Future Tenses

The future can be indicated in several different ways in English. It is often created with the
use of auxiliaries: "She will be a student.", "She is going to drive a new car."

English can even create the future by using the simple present (used for timetables,programs
etc.), "The train arrives at 10pm" or the present progressive (used for future plans), "He is
collecting his mother from the station tonight."

Simple Future (uses will or shall or going to + base form)

Simple Future (Some Decide to do I think I'll do my English homework tonight.

uncertainty) something at the
time of speaking

Simple Future Have already I am going to study English next Saturday.

(Certain) decided or
arranged to do
something

Future Progressive/Continous (uses will be, shall be or going to be +-ing form)

Future Progressive (Some The English lesson I will be starting my English lesson at 7.30 pm.
uncertainty) should begin at
7.30 and end at
9.15, so the person
should be studying
at 7.30 (but the
lesson might start
late).
Future Progressive (Certain) The English lesson I am going to be studying English when my friends arrive
begins at 7.30 and at 9.00 pm.
ends at 9.15, so
he's certain to be
studying when his
friend arrives at
8.00

Future Perfect Simple (uses will have or shall have + past participle)

Future Perfect Simple Used to say I will have already done my English homework by
something will the time I eat dinner on Saturday.
already be
complete by a
time.

Future Perfect Progressive/Continuous (uses will have been or shall have been + -ing
form)

Future Perfect Used to say how I will have been studying English for 30 minutes
Progressive long something will when my friends arrive.
have been
happening in the
future by a certain
time.

Some Examples
To break

To build

To buy

To die

To drink

To drive

To eat

To grow

To make

To spend

To teach

To throw

To wear

To win
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