Verb Tenses simple/progressive/perfect/perfect progressive SIMPLE TENSES Simple Present Form base form of regular verb * add “s” to 3rd person singular xxxxxxxxxx **irregular verbs exist Meaning Expresses events or situations that exist always, usually, habitually; they exist now, have existed in the past, and probably will exist in the future Example(s) It snows in Alaska I watch television every day 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 Past base form of regular verbs + -d or –ed x **irregular verbs exist Simple Future x be (am/is/are) + going to + base form of verb will + base form of verb At one particular time in the future, it will It will snow tomorrow happen *It is going to snow tomorrow I will watch television tonight *I am going to watch television tonight Source: Understanding and Using English Grammar, Second Edition, Betty Schrampfer Azar *Additional examples not in original publication added for clarification PROGRESSIVE TENSES Present Progressive 10:00 x 11:00 x Form be (am/is/are) + base form of verb + -ing Meaning 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 Example(s) He is sleeping right now *I am sleeping right now You are sleeping right now We are sleeping right now They are sleeping right now Past Progressive 10:00 x 11:00 x was/were + base form of verb + -ing He went to sleep at 10:00 tonight I arrived at 11:00 He was still asleep His sleep began before and was in progress at a particular time in the past It probably continued He was sleeping when I arrived *I was sleeping when… You were sleeping when… We were sleeping when… They were sleeping when… Future Progressive 10:00 x 11:00 x will be + base He will go to sleep at 10:00 tomorrow night I will arrive form of verb + at 11:00 The action of sleeping will begin before I arrive and it will be in progress at a particular time in the -ing future Probably his sleep will continue He will be sleeping when I arrive The progressive tenses give the idea that an action is in progress during a particular time The tenses say that an action begins before, is in progress during, and continues after another time or action Source: Understanding and Using English Grammar, Second Edition, Betty Schrampfer Azar *Additional examples not in original publication added for clarification PERFECT TENSES Present Perfect eat x now x Form Meaning I finished eating sometime before have/has + past participle now The exact time is not important (time?) Example(s) I have already eaten *You have…eaten He has… eaten They have…eaten We have…eaten Past Perfect had + past participle eat arrive x x First I finished eating Later they arrived My eating was completely finished before another time in the past I had already eaten when they arrived Future Perfect eat arrive x x First I will finish eating Later they will have + past participle will arrive My eating will be completely finished before another time in the future I will have already eaten when they arrive The perfect tenses give the idea that one thing happens before another time or event Source: Understanding and Using English Grammar, Second Edition, Betty Schrampfer Azar *Additional examples not in original publication added for clarification PRESENT PERFECT PROGRESSIVE TENSES Present Perfect Progressive x Form Meaning Example(s) *have/has been + base form of verb + -ing Event in progress: studying When? Before now, up to now How long? For two hours I have been studying for two hours *had been + base form of verb + -ing Event in progress: studying When? Before another event in the past How long? For two hours I had been studying for two hours before my friend came *will have been + base form of verb + -ing Event in progress: studying When? Before another event in the future How long? For two hours I will have been studying for two hours by the time you arrive x hrs You have been studying He has been studying They have been studying We have been studying Past Perfect Progressive x x hrs Future Perfect Progressive x x hrs The present perfect progressive tenses give the idea that one event is in progress immediately before, up to, until another time or event The tenses are used to express the duration of the first event Source: Understanding and Using English Grammar, Second Edition, Betty Schrampfer Azar *Additional examples not in original publication added for clarification