Tenses
Tense Form Use Example
The Present Tenses
Present Base verb • General action, happens all I live in London. / The
Simple (+s) the time, or habitually. sun rises in the east.
• The action is not only
happening now
Present ‘to be’ + verb • Actions happening now I am eating. / We are
Continuous + ing • Actions in the future (If we add meeting tomorrow.
a future word; tomorrow, next
year, in June, at Christmas...)
• The decision/ plan were made/
existed before speaking
Present ‘to have’ + There is always a connection with I have never seen
Perfect past the past and with the present that movie. / i’ve
(simple) participle Often used with: bought a new car. / I
(+ed / 3e • Experience have worked here
kolom) • Change since June
• Continuing situation (started in How long have you
the past and continues in known John (for)?
the present)
Frequently used words: for, since,
yet, never, just, recently
Present ‘to have’+ • Past actions that recently- I'm tired [now]
Perfect been + verb stopped or are still-continuing because I have been
Continuous + ing running. /
You don't understand
[now] because you
haven't been
listening. /
I have been reading
for two hours. [I am
still reading now] /
How long have you
been learning English
(for)? [You are still
learning now]
Tense Form Use Example
The Present Tenses
Present Base verb • General action, happens all I live in London. / The
Simple (+s) the time, or habitually. sun rises in the east.
• The action is not only
happening now
Present ‘to be’ + verb • Actions happening now I am eating. / We are
Continuous + ing • Actions in the future (If we add meeting tomorrow.
a future word; tomorrow, next
year, in June, at Christmas...)
• The decision/ plan were made/
existed before speaking
Present ‘to have’ + There is always a connection with I have never seen
Perfect past the past and with the present that movie. / i’ve
(simple) participle Often used with: bought a new car. / I
(+ed / 3e • Experience have worked here
kolom) • Change since June
• Continuing situation (started in How long have you
the past and continues in known John (for)?
the present)
Frequently used words: for, since,
yet, never, just, recently
Present ‘to have’+ • Past actions that recently- I'm tired [now]
Perfect been + verb stopped or are still-continuing because I have been
Continuous + ing running. /
You don't understand
[now] because you
haven't been
listening. /
I have been reading
for two hours. [I am
still reading now] /
How long have you
been learning English
(for)? [You are still
learning now]
