Learn English Grammar
THE SIMPLE TENSES
| Tense | Examples | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
|
SIMPLE PRESENT TENSES
|
It snows in Alaska
I watch television everyday |
It snows in Alaska
I watch television everyday |
|
SIMPLE PAST
|
At one particular time in the past, this happened. It began and ended in the past. |
It snowed yesterday
I watched television last night |
|
SIMPLE FUTURE
|
At one particular time in the future, this will happen. |
It will snow tomorrow
I will watch television tonight |
THE PROGRESSIVE TENSES*
Form: be + -ing (present participle)
Meaning: The progressive tenses give the idea that an action is in progress during a particular time. the tensed say that action begins before, is in progress during, and continues after another time or action.
| Tense | Examples | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
|
PRESENT PROGRESSIVE
|
He is sleeping right now | He went to sleep at 10.00 tonight. It is now 11.00 and he is still asleep. his sleep began in the past, is in progress at the present time, and probably will continue. |
|
PAST PROGRESSIVE
|
He was sleeping when I arrived. | He went to sleep at 10;00 last night. I arrived at 11:00. He was steel asleep. His sleep began before and was in progress at a particular time in the past. it probably continued |
|
FUTURE PROGRESSIVE
|
He will be sleeping when we arrive. | He will go to sleep at 10:00 tomorrow night. We will arrive at 11:00. The action of sleeping will begin before we arrive and it will be in progress at a particular time in the future. Probably his sleep will continue. |
*The progressive tenses are also called the continuous tenses; present continuous, past continuous, and future continuous.
THE PERFECT TENSES
Form: have + (present participle)
Meaning: The perfect tenses all give the idea that one thing happens before another time or event.
| Tense | Examples | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
|
PRESENT PERFECT
|
I have already eaten | I finished eating sometime before now. The exact time is not important. |
|
PAST PERFECT
|
I had already eaten when they arrived. | First I finished eating. Later they arrived. My eating was completely finished before another time in the past. |
|
FUTURE PERFECT
|
I will already have eaten when they arrive. | First will finish eating. Later they will arrive. My eating will be completely finished before another time in the future. |
THE PERFECT PROGRESSIVE TENSES
Form: have + been + -ing (present participle)
Meaning: The perfect progressive tenses give the idea that one event is in progress immediately before, up to, until another time or event. The tenses. The tenses are used to express the durationof the first event.
| Tense | Examples | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
|
PRESENT PERFECT PROGRESSIVE
|
I have been studying for two hours. | Event in progress: studying. When? before now, up to now. How long? For two hours. |
|
PAST PERFECT PROGRESSIVE
|
I had been studying for two hours before my friends came. |
Event in progress; studying.
When? Before another event in the past. How long? for two hours. |
|
FUTURE PERFECT PROGRESSIVE
|
I will have been studying for two hours by the time you arrive. |
Event in progress: studying.
When? before another event in the future. How long? For two hours. |
Source: Understanding and Using English Grammar Second Edition by Betty Schrampfer Azar