This review of English tenses serves as a comprehensive overview of all the English tenses you need to know. The table below is provided to facilitate the recall of the forms and uses of different English tenses covered on this website.
Review Of English Tenses Grammar Review: Review Of English Tenses Our “Review of English Tenses” serves as a valuable resource for learners seeking a clear and organized understanding of the various tenses in the English language.
From the fundamental Simple Present to the nuanced Conditional Perfect Progressive, this review systematically guides you through 18 essential tenses.
Present Tenses Type Example Affirmative She drinks. Negative She does not drink. Interrogative Does she drink? Form I, you, we, they play Uses – Action in the present occurring once, never, or several times – Stating facts – Actions taking place consecutively – Actions set by a timetable or schedule
Type Example Affirmative He is reading. Negative He is not reading. Interrogative Is he reading? Form To be (simple present) + verb + ing Uses – Action occurring at the moment of speaking – Future actions already arranged
Type Example Affirmative They have slept. Negative They have not slept. Interrogative Have they slept? Form Have/has + past participle Uses – Emphasis on result, not duration – Action started in the past and still ongoing – Recently finished action influencing the present
Type Example Affirmative He has been thinking. Negative He has not been thinking. Interrogative Has he been thinking? Form Have/has + been + verb + ing Uses – Emphasis on course or duration, not result – Recently finished or ongoing action influencing the present
Past Tenses Type Example Affirmative I cried. Negative I did not cry. Interrogative Did I cry? Form Regular verbs: Verb + ed Uses – Action in the past occurring once, never, or several times – Actions taking place consecutively
Type Example Affirmative He was driving. Negative He was not driving. Interrogative Was he driving? Form To be (simple past) + verb + ing Uses – Action going on at a certain time in the past – Actions taking place simultaneously – Past action interrupted by another action
Type Example Affirmative She had won. Negative She had not won. Interrogative Had she won? Form Had + past participle Uses – Action preceding a certain time in the past – Sometimes interchangeable with past perfect progressive
Type Example Affirmative He had been waiting. Negative He had not been waiting. Interrogative Had he been waiting? Form Had + been + verb + ing Uses – Action preceding a certain time in the past – Sometimes interchangeable with past perfect simple – Emphasis on duration or course of action
Future Tenses Type Example Affirmative I will open the door. Negative I will not open the door. Interrogative Will you open the door? Form Will + verb Uses – Instant decisions – Predicting future situations – Conditional sentences type one
Type Example Affirmative He is going to clean the car. Negative He is not going to clean the car. Interrogative Is he going to clean the car? Form To be (simple present) + going + to + verb Uses – Expressing future intentions or decisions – Making predictions
Type Example Affirmative He is traveling to Egypt next week. Negative He is not traveling to Egypt next week. Interrogative Is he traveling to Egypt next week? Form To be (simple present) + verb + ing Uses – Describing fixed plans with definite time and/or place
Review of the Future with the Present Progressive Type Example Affirmative She will be listening to music. Negative She will not be listening to music. Interrogative Will she be listening to music? Form Will + be + verb + ing Uses – Action occurring at a certain time in the future – Sure-to-happen future events
Type Example Affirmative He will have spoken. Negative He will not have spoken. Interrogative Will he have spoken? Form Will + have + past participle Uses – Action completed at a certain time in the future
Type Example Affirmative You will have been studying. Negative You will not have been studying. Interrogative Will you have been studying? Form Will + have + been + verb + ing Uses – Action preceding a certain time in the future – Emphasis on the course of an action
Conditional Tenses Type Example Affirmative We would relax. Negative We would not relax. Interrogative Would we relax? Form Would + verb Uses – Expressing actions that might take place
Type Example Affirmative He would be writing. Negative He would not be writing. Interrogative Would he be writing? Form Would + be + verb + ing Uses – Expressing potential actions with emphasis on course/duration
Type Example Affirmative He would have written. Negative He would not have written. Interrogative Would he have written? Form Would + have + past participle Uses – Describing actions that might have occurred in the past
Type Example Affirmative She would have been sleeping. Negative She would not have been sleeping. Interrogative Would she have been sleeping? Form Would + have + been + verb + ing Uses – Describing actions that might have occurred in the past with emphasis on course/duration
This detailed review should serve as a valuable reference for mastering the various English tenses.
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