TENSES REVIEW

What's the difference between the

different tenses in English?

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What am I going to find in this dossier?

Present simple vs Present continuous .............................................. 1

Past simple vs Past Continuous ...................................................... 2

Present perfect vs Past Simple ....................................................... 3

Present Perfect vs Present Perfect Continuous .............................. 4

Past Perfect vs Past Perfect Continuous ........................................ 5

Future simple vs Future continuous ............................................... 6

Future Perfect vs Future Perfect Continuous .................................. 7

All tenses review chart ................................................................... 8

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 Present Simple vs
Present Continuous
PRESENT SIMPLE PRESENT CONTINUOUS

General truths Something happening now

It usually rains in Ireland. She's taking a shower right now.

The sun rises in the east. He is cooking at the moment.

Present habits Annoying habits

I take a shower every morning. My brother is always playing

She never wakes up early. video games.

Timetable events Future events

His train leaves at 7:30 pm. They are getting married next week.

She retires in two years. We're having a meeting on Monday.

Permanent states Temporary states

I have a brother. She is studying hard lately.

I am Spanish. I am watching a new film.

Time indicators Time indicators

Always, usually, sometimes... Now

Every day These days, lately...

Once a month, twice a week... At the moment

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 Past Simple vs
Past Continuous
PAST SIMPLE PAST CONTINUOUS

Completed actions in the past Interrupted actions

I went to Salamanca last month. We were going to go to the

She bought a new car last year. beach but it started to rain.

Past habits Background actions

I always visited my grandparents The sun was shining and the birds

in summer when I was little. were singing.

Past facts Simultaneous actions

Charles Dickens wrote "Oliver She was doing her homework while

Twist" in 1838. her father was cooking dinner.

I was reading a book when the telephone rang.

Past continuous Past simple
(long action) (short action)

Her sister came when she was having a shower.

Past simple Past continuous
(short action) (long action)

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 Present Perfect vs
Past Simple
PRESENT PERFECT PAST SIMPLE

Unfinished actions Completed actions in the past

I 've worked since 2015. They bought a car last summer.

Indefinite time Definite time

He's been to London. He went to London in 2019.

Express experience Indicate finished actions

We've already watched this film. We watched this film last night.

Express result Repeated actions

She's already met with her She met with her friends every

friends. weekend.

Past simple
She lived in Germany in 2017
Past Moment of speaking Future

Present perfect
She has lived in Germany for two years

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Present Perfect vs
Perfect Continuous
PRESENT PERFECT PRESENT PERFECT CONT.

An activity that was completed An activity that started in the

in the past. past and continues now.
I've painted my bedroom. I've been painting my bedroom

Permanent actions Temporary actions

He's worked there for 10 years. He's been working for an hour.

Emphasize the result Emphasize the duration

She has repaired the computer. She's been repairing the

computer for an hour.

I've painted my bedroom. I've been painting my bedroom.

You have already finished You still haven't finished

Past Moment of speaking Future

Present perfect
Present perfect continuous

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 Past Perfect vs
Perfect Continuous
PAST PERFECT PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS

1 2 1 2

A past action already finished An activity that started in the

when another past action past and continued to happen
happened after another action.
I met her after she had divorced. He had been working for a month

when he had the accident.

Emphasize the result Emphasize the duration

She had been to three interviews We needed a holiday because we

by the time she was offered the had been working hard all year.

job.

Two events in the past that Show the cause of a past action
are connected
We had been travelling all day so
They couldn't get in because they
we were very tired.
had forgotten their keys.

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 Future Simple vs
Future Continuous
FUTURE SIMPLE FUTURE CONTINUOUS

X
Future predictions Interrupted actions
I think it will rain When you come tomorrow, we will

be cleaning the house.

I think it's going to rain

To make offers and promises Actions happening at a certain

time in the future
That looks heavy, I'll help you!
This time next week we'll be
Don't worry, I won't tell anyone.
going on holiday.

Instant decisions Actions happening now that are

expected to continue
I'll answer the telephone!

Sea levels will still be rising in 10 years.

When we are sure something Ask polite questions

will happen Will you be bringing your

He will be 18 next month. boyfriend to the birthday party?

To express something is about Parallel actions

to happen He'll be cooking dinner and she'll

The bomb is going to explode! be watching a film.

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Future Perfect vs
Perfect Continuous
FUTURE PERFECT FUTURE PERFECT CONT.

1 2 1 2

Action 1: will + have + past part. Action 1: will + have + been + ing
Action 2: present simple Action 2: present simple

The first future action will The first future action will
finish before the second one continue until the second one
I will have finished my homework They will have been waiting for

by the time you arrive. ages by the time my plane lands.

She will already have completed When he quits his job next week,

the project when her boss comes. he will have been working there

for two years.

Before we arrive, they will have

set the table.

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 All tenses
PAST PRESENT FUTURE

I ate pizza yesterday I eat pizza everyday I will eat pizza

tomorrow
SIMPLE

To indicate a past action To express habits or

To indicate an event
is already completed. routines. Also used to
which hasn't taken place
indicate a future event as
yet.
part of an arrangement.

I was eating pizza I am eating pizza now I will be eating pizza

CONTINUOUS

when you arrived when you arrive

To indicate an action

To indicate an incomplete taking place at the time To indicate what will be

past action. of speaking. going on at some point in

the future.

I had eaten all the I have eaten all the I will have eaten all the
pizza when you arrived pizza pizza when you arrive
PERFECT

To indicate a completed To indicate an action that To indicate an action that

past action that started in the past and will be complete before

happened before another continues until now. another event takes

action took place. place.

I had been eating pizza I have been eating I will have been eating
PERFECT CONT.

for hours when you pizza for hours pizza for hours when
arrived you arrive
To indicate an action in To indicate an action
To indicate an action that
the past that began before which started at some
will have happened for
a certain point and point in the past and may
some time and will not be
continued until that time. or may not be complete.
complete at a certain point.

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