Verb Forms As Related To Time

VERB FORMS AS RELATED TO TIME
PRESENT TIME
VERB FORMS USES EXAMPLES
Present simple Habits He drives to work most mornings.
General truths/facts Water freezes at 0 ° C.
States (e.g. feelings/opinions) I like coffee.
Present continuous Temporary events happening in the present I am living in Madrid at the moment.
Characteristic behavior, often irritating
She is always leaving the door open.
Past simple/ Unreal states/actions If I had a video I’d record if for you.
Past continuous It’s time we were going.
Will + base form Habits (sometimes irritating) He will sometimes work until midnight.
PAST TIME, AS SEEN FROM THE PRESENT

Present perfect Past experience/actions with present Have you read that book?
importance
Unfinished states/habits I have lived in Edinburgh for ages
Present perfect Unfinished temporary actions/situations – Tom has been working there since 1992.
continuous focus on the action/situation
Focus on actions in progress leading to He has been cooking all day. That’s why he’s
present results exhausted.
PAST TIME
Past simple Completed states/actions/habits (thinking of I was happy when I was young.
a specific time)
Used to + base form Habits and states that no longer exist Sue used to like living here.
Would + base form Habits that no longer exist We would often argue when we were married.
Past continuous Temporary actions/states/habits in progress I was talking to her while the TV was on.
Was going to + base Future in the past (unfulfilled intention) They were going to phone (but they forgot).
form
Past perfect Past states/actions happening before a They had already gone to bed when they phoned.
specific time in the past
Unreal states/actions If I had seen him I would have told you.
Past perfect Temporary actions/situations before a They had been listening to the radio before it
continuous specific time in the past stopped working.
FUTURE TIME
Will + base form Predictions based on personal opinion or Lucy will fail that exam.
conviction
Spontaneous decision (offers, promises, etc.) Wait, I will help you.
Be going to + base Predictions based on evidence Look at those clouds! It’s going to rain.
form Plans – decisions already made I’m going to buy a new car.
Present continuous Arrangements already made I’m seeing the doctor at six o’clock.
Present simple Fixed events in the future, especially The train leaves at eight thirty.
timetables
After time expressions When I see him I’ll tell him what you said.
Future continuous Temporary events in progress Next week we’ll be sitting on the beach.
Inevitable events I’ll be seeing you next lesson.
Future perfect Actions completed by specific time (the past Jo will have gone by the time you arrive.
in the future)
VERB FORMS AS RELATED TO TIME
SIGNAL or ADVERB TENSE EXAMPLES
every day PRESENT SIMPLE I read the paper every day.

usually
always She always misses the bus in the morning.
sometimes
never
regularly
often I often meet him at the station.
seldom
at the weekends We don’t do much at the weekends.
on Sundays
on Monday evenings He plays squash an Monday evenings.
now PRESENT CONTINUOUS She’s studying now.
at the moment
just I’m just doing it.
still He’s still working.
right now
look Look! It’s snowing!
yesterday PAST SIMPLE
last night I went to the pictures last night.
two weeks ago [recently]
two minutes ago I told you that, two minutes ago!
in 1960
during our last holiday What did you do in the holidays?
on October 26th We got engaged on October 26th.
at seven o’clock last night PAST CONTINUOUS What were you doing at 7 pm last night?
when…/ while… When I met him was taking three dogs for a walk.
this week PRESENT PERFECT I haven’t seen him this week.
this month
today
since He’s worked her for three months since November.
for
ever…? Have you ever been there?
never
yet…?
not yet No. I haven’t been there yet.
already
just They’ve just arrived.
up to now Up to now nothing has been repaired.
so for
in the last few weeks In the last few years a lot houses have been built here.
in the last few months/years
recently
lately We’ve had a lot of rain lately.
over the last few days
before that happened PAST PERFECT
up to that time Up to that time he had been quite good.
until they moved Until they moved they had been living in a cramped flat.
a long time before
soon FUTURE We’ll have holidays soon.
in the next few days
in the future
in future He’ll be more careful in future.
tomorrow
this evening What are you doing this evening?
next weekend What are you going to do next weekend?
by the year 2000 By the years 2000 many of you will be parents (state of
perhaps affairs).
probably
maybe Maybe we’ll visit you.
it’s possible that
I hope I expect I believe I hope you’ll come!
by January FUTURE PERFECT He’ll have finished his exams by January.
by the time you read this By the end of the century many species will have died out
by the end of the century (completed action).

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PAST TIME, AS SEEN FROM THE PRESENT

every day PRESENT SIMPLE I read the paper every day.

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