Beginners to learn the language of Shakespeare or continuing their studies have repeatedly asked the question: "How many tenses are there in English?" Today, disputes and disagreements about the quantity do not subside. And the whole problem is that we, Russian speakers, consider them as past, present and future, and "brothers" who speak English call them shades.

Various reference books give numerous definitions to this grammatical phenomenon, but all are similar in that English tenses are a way of expressing actions with an indication of the period of its course, and they are all built on the basis of changing the forms of the verb. Actions can be expressed in Active Voice (active voice) and Passive Voice (passive voice). It is the first one that we will consider in this article.

English verb tenses - formation and use

The study of this category is better to start with an understanding of the whole essence. So, as in Russian, there are three tenses in English: present (Present), past (Past) and future (Future - although many grammarians also call it a shade). Each of these segments has subcategories, the rules for the use and formation of which cause difficulties.

Table: formation of tenses in English

Sub categories	Time	Education Formula
Indefinite (Simple)	present	+ S+Vs(V) — S + doesn't (don't) + V ? Does (Do) + S + V ?
	Past	+ S + V 2 (V ed) — S + didn't + V ? Did+S+V?
	Future	+ S + shall/will + V - S + shall / will + not + V ? Shall/will+S+V
Continuous (Progressive)	present	+ S + is/am/are + Ving — S + is/am/are+ not + V ing ? Is/am/are + S + Ving
	Past	+ S + was/were + Ving — S + was/were + not + Ving ? Was/were + S + Ving
	Future	+ S + shall/will + be + Ving — S + shall/will+ not + be + Ving ? Shall/will + S + be + Ving
Perfect	present	+ S + have/has + V 3 (V ed) — S + have/has+ not + V 3 (V ed) ? Have/has + S + V 3 (V ed)
	Past	+ S + had + V 3 (V ed) — S + had + not + V 3 (V ed) ? Had + S + V 3 (V ed)
	Future	+ S + will/shall + have + V 3 (V ed) — S + will/shall + not + have + V 3 (V ed) ? Will/shall + S + have + V 3 (V ed)
Perfect Continuous	present	+ S + have/has+ been + Ving — S + have/has+ not + been + Ving ? Have/has + S + been + Ving
	Past	+ S + had+ been + Ving — S + had + not + been + Ving ? Had + S + been + Ving
	Future	+ S + will/ shall + have + been + V ing — S + will/ shall + not + have + been + V ing ? Wll/shall + S + have+ been + V ing

We got acquainted with education, it's time to move on to use. Here comes the most difficult part. If education is trained and memorized 2-3 times, then using it is more and more confusing. Consider English tenses with examples by subgroups.

The Indefinite (Simple) group reflects single, common actions. Continuous (Progressive) emphasizes the duration of the process, as well as Perfect Continuous. Their difference lies in the fact that the second, despite the duration, nevertheless ended or will end by a certain moment. But the Perfect group is used to describe a completed event, or which will be completed.

All this description is approximate, each of them needs to be studied, worked out, compared separately, and then you can easily move to a new level. To clarify the situation a little, let's look at the temporary forms in the table.

Table: usage of English tenses

present simple	past simple	Future Simple
1. An action that always happens, often, usually	1. An action that happened in the past, but we just know the fact	1. Normal, single action in the future
My father often goes to see his friends on Saturday.	I wrote a letter last week.	Next year I will come to this village again.
2. What you can’t argue with: scientific facts, results, natural phenomena, patterns	2. Chronologically sequential actions in the past: one after the other.	2. Consistent actions in the future
The earth goes around the sun.	Yeterday morning I called my sister at first. Then I went to work.	I will come home. Then I will write a letter to my pen friend.
3. Repetitive actions in the present	3. Repetitive actions in the past	3. Repetitive actions in the future
I usually get up at 7 oclock. Then I take a shower and have breakfast.	Last year I often traveled abroad.	Next year I will not often travel abroad.
4. To express the future in subordinate conditions and time		4. Assumptions about a future event (not a plan)
As soon as I write a letter I'll send it immediately.		I expect Mary will get this place.
5. In jokes, sports commentary		5. Requests, threats, refusal to do something, offers to do something, promises
What's worse than having termites in your piano? Crabs on your body.		Thank you for lending me the dvd disk. I'll give it back on Monday.
6. With verbs not used in Continuous (feelings, desires, perceptions)
I don't understand what are you talking about.
7. Schedules of trains, buses, movies in the cinema, matches, lessons
The train leaves at 5 p.m.
Present Continuous	Past continuous	Future Continuous
1. Action at the moment of speaking or covering a longer period in the present	1. The action took place (lasted) at a certain moment in the past	1. An action that will last in the future
Don't bother the teacher, she is writing a letter now.I am attending music classes now.	This time last month I was sitting in the lovely French cafe.	Would you like to visit a museum tomorrow evening? No, I will be watching the match at this time.
2. Happens around at the time of the conversation	2. In the main clause with a when clause, where the first lasted when the other happened	2. If plans are reported, intentional action
look! He is falling down.	I was sleeping when my cell phone suddenly rang.	I will be going to the cinema tomorrow.
3. Situation that is changing	3. Parallel long-term actions in the past	3. Asking about someone's plans as a polite request
His French is becoming better and better.	While I was taking a shower, my husband was cooking the dinner.	Will you be going out at 7? I need your car.
4. Planned actions for the future (In the meaning of gathering = to be going to)	4. Actions that took place within a certain time frame, in a limited period.	4. Parallel actions in the future
I am buying a new flat tomorrow.	I was cleaning the flat the whole weekend.	While you will be doing shopping I will be repairing my car.
5. Too often repeated actions that cause irritation, reproach, disapproval	5. Too often repeated actions, habits that caused irritation, censure, reproach
He is too often complaining about.	Yesterday my friend was too often losing his papers, books and tests.
Present Perfect	past perfect	Future Perfect
1. An action that began in the past, but its result is connected with the present, so to speak, on the face	1. An action that took place before another, later action in the past	1. Will end before a certain point, events in the future
Is Jim at home? No, he has already gone to Paris.	I had come home before my sister washed the dishes.	I will have done my homework before the match begins.
2. The action started in the past and continues now	2. Ended by a certain point	2. To communicate the likelihood, the intended action
My mother has always wanted to live in a small country house.	I had given up smoking by the end of the holidays.	The citizens will have noticed the false government's solutions.
3. To indicate actions with an indication of the period, how many times they were repeated	3. An action that started in the past happened before or during another event in the past
It is the first time I have driven.	I knew exactly that my friends hadn't met since Andy's party.
Present Perfect Continuous	Past Perfect Continuous	Future Perfect Continuous
1. An action that began in the past and lasts is happening in the present (at the time of the conversation)	1. An action that started in the past and was happening when another event happened	1. An action that starts in the future and will last until another point in the future.
They have already been painting the wall for 5 hours.	He had been driving a car yesterday when his father came.	I will have been having dinner when my boyfriend comes.
2. An action that was completed before the moment of the conversation	2. An action that began in the past and lasted a certain time
She has been ironing all day long. Now, she is too tired to go out.	He had been repairing his car for an hour last weekend.

The grammar of tenses in English is very extensive, which is why this table is not enough to fully understand and figure out where is what. It is better to study each separately, and then in a complex.

Sometimes it is really difficult to understand whether the action lasted or ended, in the past or in the present it is happening. But everything is learned in practice. That is why it is recommended to study the tenses of the English language with examples that will not only demonstrate the way of formation and use, but also show typical situations of use.

Remember, when choosing verb tenses in English, follow following scheme .

1. Determine whether the action refers to the past, present or future (Present, Past, Future)
2. Understand: what you see, or what you know.
3. If you know exactly about the event (no matter where), then the Simple.
4. If you see, then: the action itself is Continuous, traces or signs, the result is Perfect, I see the action, but I compare it with what I saw earlier - Perfect Continuous.

So let's recap. We can say that in the active voice there are 12 tenses, reflecting the periods of the action.

• Present Simple (Indefinite), Past Simple (Indefinite), Future Simple (Indefinite)
• Present Continuous (Progressive), Past Continuous (Progressive), Future Continuous (Progressive)
• Present Perfect, Past Perfect, Future Perfect
• Present Perfect Continuous, Past Perfect Continuous, Future Perfect Continuous

Tenses in English will take a lot of your strength. Well, what can you do. But tables will help to remember and put everything in memory faster and easier, although they are not enough for a complete understanding.

The main difficulty of English for beginners is tenses. There are only 12 tenses in English, but due to the specifics of some tenses, confusion occurs. In this article I will tell you in detail about the tenses of the English language with an example of use.

From the article you will learn:

English tenses with examples and translation into Russian

In English, 12 tenses are traditionally distinguished. English tenses are divided into 3 groups:

1. Simple (Indefinite),
2. Continuous (Progressive),
3. perfect.

They, in turn, in combination with the main temporary forms Present, Past and Future form the corresponding tenses. Let's start with the Indefinite group.

Present Simple (Presen Indefinite) - Real Simple

How it is formed:

I form of the verb. This form is used in all persons and numbers, except for the singular number of the third person: then the endings are added - s, -es.

When used:

1. The action occurs with a certain frequency. It is used with such adverbs as always (always), rarely (rarely), often (often), usually (usually), never (never), etc., in addition, with the word every (every day, every month, every year etc.)

She never listens to me. She never listens to me.

I always go abroad in summer. In the summer I always go abroad.

He goes to the theater every weekend. He goes to the theater every weekend.

2. The action is scientifically proven.

Water boils at 100 degrees.— Water boils at 100 degrees.

3. The sequence of actions is described.

I get up, wash my hands and face, have breakfast etc.- I get up, wash my face, have breakfast, etc.

Present Continuous - Present Continuous

It should be noted that some English present tenses can denote the future.

How it is formed:

verb to be + I form of the verb + ing ending.

When used: 1. the action is happening at the moment.

I am watching TV now.- I'm watching TV now.

2. the action will take place in the near future, which is planned (!).

I am flying to New York next month. I am flying to New York next month.

Present Perfect - Present Perfect

The peculiarity is that the tenses of the English language of the Perfect group can denote the past, although they are called present.

Education: have / has + III form of the verb.

When to use the present perfect tense:

1. the action happened today, this year, this week, etc., i.e. period has not yet ended.

Has not written 10 books and he is just twenty!- He wrote 10 books, and he is only twenty! (Life is going)

We have met this month.- We saw each other this month (the month has not ended)

He has met me today.“He met me today.

2. with adverbs yet (still), just (only), recently (recently), ever (always), never (never), already (already), etc.

I have just found out about this.“I just found out about it.

I've never been to England.- I have never been to England.

She has already done this work. She has already done this work.

3. Action in the past affects the present state

We have gone to the forest and now he has a cold. We went to the forest and he caught a cold.

Past Simple - Past Simple

How is the past simple tense formed?

II form of the verb, i.e. verb + ending -ed (regular verbs), or II form of an irregular verb.

When used:

1. The presence of a temporary marker yesterday (yesterday), last (past, past) or otherwise.

He visited doctor last week. He was at the doctor's last week.

I met him when I studied at the University. I met him when I was at university.

2. The action happened in the past without any conditions.

I knew you would come.“I knew you would come.

3. Sequence of actions.

He took the taxi, asked to stop at the Time Square, looked through the window etc.- He took a taxi, asked to stop at Times Square, looked out the window, etc.

Past Continuous - Past Continuous

How is the past continuous tense formed?

Verb to be in 2nd form + verb + ing ending.

When used:

1. The process lasted for a long time without interruption.

For example.

He was playing the piano the whole evening. He played the piano all evening.

2. The process was interrupted by another action.

They came in when she was speaking by the phone. They entered while she was on the phone.

Past Perfect - Past Perfect

How it is formed:

2 form of the verb have + 3 form of the verb.

When used:

1. When agreeing on times.

He said that he had not noticed you. He said he didn't see you.

2. One action happened before another.

Example: He had left before I could figure out something. He left before I could understand anything.

3. There is a temporary excuse by.

He had made his decision by summer.— By the summer he made a decision.

Future Simple - Future Simple

How it is formed:

Shall (only used with 1 person) will + I form of the verb.

When used:

The action will take place in the future. Used with time markers tomorrow, next, or a due date.

I will call you tomorrow.- I'll call you tomorrow.

He will visit us in 3 weeks. He will visit us in 3 weeks.

Future Continuous - Future Continued

How is formed.

Auxiliary verb will/shall+be+1 verb form+ing

When used. The process continues into the future.

She will be dancing the whole day tomorrow. Tomorrow she will be dancing all day.

Present Perfect Continuous - Present Perfect Continuous

How it is formed:

Have/has + been + verb+ing

When used:

1. The action lasts from a moment in the past to a moment in the present (translated by the present)

I have been waiting for this moment all my life.“I've been waiting for this moment all my life.

2. with the preposition since (s).

Their family has been owning this castle since the 17th century. Their family has owned this castle since the 17th century.

Past Perfect Continuous - Past Perfect Continuous

How it is formed:

Had + been + verb + ing

When used:

One action is interrupted by another or is its cause.

I had been working hard the whole year, so I was exhausted. “I worked hard all year and was just exhausted.

Future Perfect Continuous - Future Perfect Continued

English tenses such as Future Perfect Continuous Past Perfect Continuous are extremely rare.

How it is formed:

Will/shall + have + been + verb + ing

When used:

The period of the past and the future is affected, the preposition of time by.

For example: I will have been working in this company for 10 years by 1st May.- By May 1, it will be 10 years since I work in this company.

Thus, we examined 10 tenses of the English language (all are built on 3 main ones).

The formation of tenses in English is subject to strict rules of grammar. Here it is important to observe the order of words and the coordination of tenses. For each life situation, a certain temporary construction is selected.

In English, the form of the verb is not affected by gender, so, for example, in the phrases “He said” and “She said”, only pronouns will differ, and the verb (the verb) will not change and will sound like said. But this is little consolation for those who decide to become a pro in English. After all, you will have to master 12 times. And about what these temporary forms are, how they are formed, and, in fact, why you need to learn how to operate with this very time, we will talk below.

How times are formed
in English?

The formation of English tenses occurs with the help of auxiliary verbs. Also, depending on the tense form, the ending of the semantic verb changes.

Why is it important to distinguish tenses when learning a language?

If you do not want to get lost in time, and also completely confuse your interlocutor, then you will first have to master at least the Present group. Of course, in everyday life, native speakers themselves do not operate with all 12 tenses. Much also depends on whether we are talking about British English or American English. It is believed that Americans are not so scrupulous in matters of grammar, so some flaws are easily forgiven to foreigners. But still, in order not to find yourself in a situation lost in translation, that is, not to get confused in the translation, it is important to understand how tenses are formed in the English language.

Russian and English times: similarities and differences

We are accustomed to three tenses: present, past and future. This is why English grammar seems so difficult. In fact, in Russian there are three tenses for us. For those who study our language as a foreign language, the situation with temporary forms does not look so rosy. They say that foreigners can spend more than one month studying the verb “go” alone. There are also present, past and future tenses in English, which are called, respectively, Present, Past and Future. Everything is simple here: if, for example, we are talking about a fact that happened in the past, then we use Past. But the problem is that in English, the past tense alone can have 4 forms.

Formation of tenses in English: table

In each of the three tenses (Present, Past and Future) there are four more subgroups:

Perfect Continuous

This is where the 12 tenses come from. The main questions about English tenses usually arise when the student moves from the Simple group to the more complex Continuous or Perfect. It is not easy for a Russian person to understand why continuous and perfect forms are still needed, and why the same phrase, like “I worked”, can be said both as “I worked” and “I have worked”.

The use of tenses in English: a table with examples

Questions about the tenses of the English language will disappear by themselves if you master the main rules for constructing temporary forms and learn how to automatically determine which group this or that situation can be attributed to. In short, the tenses of the Simple group are used to denote single actions. The Continuous group combines actions stretched over time. Perfect characterizes processes completed by some point in the past, present or future. The most difficult and little used of all tenses in English are the tenses of the Perfect Continuous group. The perfect long tense also characterizes actions completed by a certain moment, however, these actions are extended in time.

How are the tenses of the Simple group formed?

The times of the Simple group will have to be mastered even by those who need to learn only the simplest spoken English. Without knowing the forms of the simple verb to be, you simply cannot tell elementary information about yourself. The temporary group Simple is used to describe an action in general, without focusing on its duration or completeness.

Formation of tenses in English. Table for the Simple group:

Present Simple, or Simple present tense in English

Present tenses in English are used to characterize actions taking place in the present tense. We turn to Present Simple in those situations when we want to provide some general information about a person (tell about his belonging to a certain class, profession, etc.). For example, "I am a student" (I am a student). Also, the present simple tense is needed to report an action that is repeated systematically. For example, "He cooks" (he cooks). In this example, it means that he, in principle, knows how to cook food, does it all the time, and not at any particular period of time. Also present simpl is used for:

· Descriptions of natural phenomena and facts (The Earth goes around the Sun - the Earth revolves around the Sun);

· Sports comments (Messi scores a goal - Messi scores a goal);

· Schedules of transport, broadcasts, movie shows, etc. (The train from Moscow arrives at 6:05 p.m. - The train from Moscow arrives at 18:05);

· Internal state, feelings (Do you want to go away? - Do you want to leave?).

You can also recognize Present Simple in speech by marker words that determine the frequency of the action:

· always (always);

usually (usually);

· never (never);

sometimes (sometimes);

· rarely (infrequently);

seldom (rarely);

regularly (regularly);

· every day (every day);

often (often).

Past Simple (Simple Past)

The tenses of the past group characterize actions committed in the past. We use Past Simple when we need to report a repeating action in the past. In order to build an interrogative or negative form, we need the auxiliary verb did. In this case, the main verb will not change. You can also understand that Past Simple is in front of you by such marker words as:

· Yesterday (yesterday);

In 2008 (in 2008);

15 years ago (15 years ago);

· last week (last week);

the day before yesterday (the day before yesterday).

The simple present tense tells us about a fact or a single simple action completed in the past. For example, "In 2000 Angelina Jolie won an Oscar - In 2008, Angelina Jolie won an Oscar." Past Simple also characterizes several actions that happened in the past in chronological order (“I came home, called Jane and had dinner with my friend - I came home, called Jane and had lunch with my friend”). In order to report an action that has been repeated many times in the past, you will also need Past Simple (I took Spanish courses when I was young - I went to Spanish courses when I was young).

Future Simple (Future Simple)

The tenses of the Future group English grammar “marks” with the auxiliary verb will. Are you saying that some action will happen in the future? Just add will to the semantic verb. The Future Simple tense is used in the following situations:

· Single simple action in the future (I will sign it - I will sign it);

The decision that we make at the time of the conversation (I will buy a ticket and you stay here - I will buy a ticket, and you stay here);

· Actions that are repeated in the future (I will visit Jane a few times in Paris - I will visit Jane in Paris several times);

Identification of several actions that take place in the future sequentially (I will meet with him and I will explain how to do this - I will meet with him and explain how to do this).

Future Simple is often accompanied in a sentence by such circumstances of time as:

tomorrow (tomorrow);

next summer (next summer);

in ten years (in ten years);

in 2020 (in 2020).

Group Times Continuous
in English

For a Russian-speaking person, the times of the Continuous group are quite difficult to understand. After all, for us there is no difference whether the action is taking place at the present moment or whether we perform it periodically. A Russian-speaking person will say "I'm watching TV" regardless of whether he enjoys watching a TV show at the moment, or whether this process is part of his daily habit. In English grammar, Continuous tenses are needed to describe an action that is stretched out in the process. This is any long-term action that takes place at a certain moment.

Grammatical tenses in English. Table for the Continuous group:

Present Continuous (Present Continuous)

If the action occurs at the moment of speech, then we use the Present Continuous, or the present continuous. This temporary construction is built using the auxiliary verb to be, which, depending on the person and number, takes one of three forms. For the pronoun I (I), we use the form am. In the third person singular (pronouns he, she, it) to be takes the form is, and in the plural - are.

Let's look at how Present Continuous is used with specific examples:

I am looking at you - I am looking at you (now, that is, at the moment of speech).

His English is getting better - His English is getting better (action is in progress).

She is working from 9 till 7 - She works from 9 to 7 (an action that covers a period of time in the present).

I am meeting him at 7 at the cinema - I meet him at 7 o'clock at the cinema (an action that is planned, and at the same time we know the time and place).

They are going to the opera - They go to the opera (action in the near future, Present Continuous in this case is used exclusively with verbs of motion).

He is always annoying me - He always annoys me (expression of a negative assessment about a habit, regular behavior).

To help recognize the present continuous tense in speech, marker words such as now (now) and at the moment (at the moment) can help. If we are talking about some kind of habit and inclination (often in a negative context), then in this case Present Continuous is accompanied by the following adverbs:

· all the time (all the time);

· always (always);

constantly (constantly).

Past Continuous (Past Continuous)

The tenses of the past group, as a rule, refer to the second form of the verb. The Past Continuous is no exception in this regard. This tense is formed by adding the 2nd form of the auxiliary verb to be, namely was for the singular and were for the plural. The ending -ing is necessarily added to the semantic verb.

The Past Continuous should be used in the following situations:

Long-term action that in the past took place in a certain period (He was playing football at 11 o "clock - He played football at 11 o'clock);

An action that took place in the past while another action took place (He was reading when somebody knocked at his window - He read when someone knocked on the window).

Also, Past Continuous can often be found in descriptive literary texts, where the author sets the task of creating the right atmosphere:

It was getting dark, and the wind was howling - It was getting dark and the wind was howling.

In phrases with Past Continuous, we often observe circumstances that indicate a period of time:

all day long (all day);

· all the time (all the time);

the whole day (the whole day);

· from 7 till 11 (from 7 to 11).

Future Continuous (Future Continuous)

Not all tenses in English have Russian counterparts. For example, Future Continuous from the point of view of a Russian speaker is unlikely to be any different from a simple future. However, residents of English-speaking countries refer to this time in the following situations:

· A continuous action that will take place at a certain point in the future (This time next Monday she will be flying to Paris - Next Monday at this time she will fly to Paris);

· A long-term action against the background of which another shorter one will occur in the future. At the same time, we do not know whether the first action will be interrupted or will be continued. (We will be sleeping when he arrives to New York - We will sleep when he arrives in New York);

To denote two or more actions that will take place in the future at the same time (While they are playing chess I will be cooking dinner - While they are playing chess, I will cook dinner).

Future Continuous is formed using the auxiliary form will be and the semantic verb with the ending -ing.

The future continuous tense can also be recognized by marker words. These could be times:

at 5 o "clock (at five o'clock);

at that moment (at this moment);

in an hour (in an hour);

This time tomorrow (at the same time tomorrow), etc.

If we are talking about subordinate clauses with Future Continuous, then here we often see unions such as: if (if), as (while), while (while), when (when), until (not yet), before (before).

Perfect band times

The Perfect group can be briefly characterized by the word “result”. The completion of the action here is associated with some specific moment in the present, past or future.

How tenses are formed in English. Table for the Perfect group:

The 3rd form of a verb in English is formed by adding the ending -ed to the stem. The exception is irregular verbs, which do not change according to the rules. In this case, the form will have to be remembered.

Present Perfect (Present Perfect)

Examples of Present Perfect in school textbooks do not always allow you to get a complete picture of how to actually use this time. In fact, it is very widespread. Present Perfect is usually used in such situations:

1. To denote an action that is already absolutely completed in the past, but, nevertheless, it is still connected with the present through the result (I have read this book so you can take it - I have already read this book, so you can take it);


2. To characterize an action that began in the past, but at the same time, it continues at the present moment (I have lived in London for 6 years - We have been living in London for 6 years).

In sentences with the present perfect tense, there are often adverbs and circumstances that emphasize the effectiveness of the action:

· never (never);

just (just now);

already (already);

yet (yet);

· ever (ever);

For example: Have you ever been to Cyprus? - Have you ever been to Cyprus?

Past Perfect (Past perfect tense)

If the action was completed before a certain moment or action in the past, then, according to the rules of English grammar, you will have to choose the Past Perfect tense. For example, "The rain had stopped before he woke up - The rain ended before he woke up." Or: "By that time they had finished their work - By that time they had finished their work."

You can often recognize the Past Perfect by the union by and circumstances of time, like: by that time (by that time), by Monday (by Monday), by then (by that time), etc.

Future Perfect (Future perfect tense)

Future Perfect is used in situations where we need to report an action that will be completed before a certain point in the future: "I will have written the article by night - I will write an article by night." We also use the future perfect tense when we talk about some kind of supposed action that took place in the past. In other words, the Future Perfect is needed in order to express an assumption about what probably happened. For example, "You will have noticed our attitude to this problem - You (surely) noticed our attitude to this problem."

The marker phrases for the Future Perfect are also circumstances of time that indicate the moment for the completion of the action:

by Sunday (by Sunday);

by that time (by that time);

by 2033 (by 2033).

Formation of group times
Perfect Continuous

The times of the Perfect Continuous group in colloquial speech are not so common. Students usually start with these constructions at later stages. As the name implies, Perfect Continuous describes a continuous action that has begun, continues and ends at a certain point.

Grammatical tenses in English. Table for the Perfect Continuous group:

Present Perfect Continuous (Present Perfect Continuous)

The Present Perfect Continuous shows an action that started in the past and continues to the moment of speaking. For example: "She has been working for 5 hours already - She has already been working for 5 hours." This time is also used to characterize a long-term action that has just ended, the result of which affects the present: "I"m tired. We have been working all night - I'm tired. We worked all night."

In phrases with the present perfect continuous tense in English, there are often circumstances of time and other phrases that indicate the time period during which the action is performed. For example:

for a week (during the week);

Since morning (from the morning);

lately (recently);

· all my life (all my life), etc.

Past Perfect Continuous (Past Perfect Continuous)

The Past Perfect Continuous is similar to the previous one, but describes an extended action that began in the past up to a certain point (which also happened in the past and is always used in the Past Simple). This process may continue or end just before this very moment.

"Tom had been reading for 2 hours when Jane came - Tom had been reading for two hours when Jane came." In this case, the action began before Jane arrived. At the same time, Tom continues to read even after being interrupted.

The past perfect continuous tense is characterized by the use of temporary marker phrases, such as:

for five months (within 5 months);

for a long time (for a long time);

Since 7 o "clock (from 7 o'clock), etc.

Future Perfect Continuous (Future Perfect Continuous)

Among all the tenses of English grammar, Future Perfect Continuous is the least common in speech. This tense describes a continuous action that will begin in the future and continue until a certain moment (it is used in the Future Simple):

He will be resting for a week when she will join him - He will be resting for a whole week when she joins him.

Learning to distinguish English tenses is not as difficult as it seems at first glance: marker words will help you navigate. Remember that the simple past tense, for example, can be determined from a specific date. The ending -ing in the verb indicates that the action is not single, but continuous, that is, continuing. It is important to remember that if you start a sentence with past tense verbs, then the second part of the sentence must also use the past tense. Of course, in this matter one cannot do without practice. Watch as many English-language films and TV shows as possible, read books, and gradually you will learn to feel the tenses of the English language and stop thinking about where to put which verb.

Grade 1 Grade 2 Grade 3 Grade 4 Grade 5

in front of you table of english tenses with examples and translation. For convenience, in each sentence, the most important points that you should pay attention to are highlighted. This refers to auxiliary verbs, endings, as well as indicators of a particular tense. The table of English tenses with examples makes it possible to analyze the use of each tense thanks to the column "use".

Table of English tenses with examples and translation

Tense	use	example	Time indicators
1. Present Simple (simple present)	well-known facts, regular activities, actions repeated time after time	She go es abroad every summer(She goes abroad every summer)	often, every day, seldom, sometimes, rarely, regularly, every year, etc.
2. Present Continuous(present continuous)	something is in progress	I "m read ing a new novel this week(I'm reading a new novel this week)	now, at the moment, this week, this month, etc.
3. Present Perfect Simple (present perfect)	smth happened but result is important, not concrete time. The action is connected with the present somehow. Smth happened in the past but we see & talk about the results now.	I have read this book before(I have read this book before) I have met him today(I met him today)	already, just, yet, recently, today, this year, this week
4 Present Perfect Continuous (present perfect continuous tense)	The action started in the past and is still going on now or has just finished.	I have been writing this essay for 2 hours already (I have been writing this essay for 2 hours already) I have known him for ages (I've known him for ages)	for, since NB! If the verb cannot be used in Continuous, apply Present Perfect Simple
5. Past Simple (simple past)	actions happened in the past and we know when.	When I was a child, I ate a lot of vegetables (When I was a child, I ate a lot of vegetables)	yesterday, the day before, last Monday, in 1991, etc.
6. Past Continuous (past continuous)	the action was going on at a concrete moment in the past. We want to stress the process.	She was reading a book when I phoned her(She was reading a book when I called her)	at 5 p.m. yesterday, at this time last Monday, etc.
7. Past Perfect (past perfect tense, prepast tense)	the action happened before one more event in the past	I had forgotten to ask him that question before I left (I forgot to ask him that question before leaving)	before, after, etc.
8. Past Perfect Continuous (past perfect continuous)	shows that some process was going on before the action in the past.	I had been watching TV before you came (I was watching TV before you came)	before, since
9. Future Simple (simple future)	decisions taken at the moment of speech, promises, repeated actions in the future	I will always love you (I will always love you)	always, later, when I arrive, next year, next month, etc.
10. Present Continuous (for future)	smth is going to happen in the nearest future. You have the verb of movement and concrete info as for the time or day.	They "re leaving for Paris today(They are leaving for Paris today)	today, tomorrow, tonight, this Monday, etc.
11. to be going to(for future)	smth will happen from your point of view. You are not sure if it is going to happen. For talking about the weather.	It is going to rain (Gonna rain) Look out! You are going to fall (Caution! You will fall)	today, tomorrow, some day, in some time, next week, year, etc.
12. Future Perfect(future perfect)	The action will happen by concrete time in the future.	I will have finished the project by the time you come (I will have completed the project by the time you come).	by the time you…, by this time tomorrow, by 6 p.m. tomorrow, etc.

I advise you to immediately move on to compiling your own proposals for each time. This will allow you to better remember and start applying English tenses table with examples and translation.

Want to spend more time on each rule? We offer a General English course at our school! You can sign up by simply contacting Skype fluentenglish24

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Well, now a little more complicated - the use of tenses.

If the structure can be easily learned and understood, then the use of tenses needs to be taught, practiced and, as a result, “feel”, start thinking like those who think for whom English is their native language.

In general, the principle is this:

Simple tenses are used for constant, regular actions or if actions go one after another.

Perfect tenses indicate the result of the action, the completion, the outcome.

Continuous tenses are used for non-permanent, temporary, changing actions, in order to emphasize that the action is still ongoing, continues.

It will also be useful to know some signs and words that help determine “on the go” what time it is:

For the present:

presentSimple- time is used for constantly taking actions (Every day I brush my teeth), undeniable truths (the Earth revolves around the sun).

Keywords: every day/month/week, usually, usually (every day/month/week, as a rule, usually).

I clean my flat every Friday.

Present Continuous- is used when it comes to an action that occurs at the moment of a conversation, or is temporary and changing. Most often, this time is used in comparison with Present Simple. Unlike Present Simple, a long time denotes non-permanent actions. There are a number of verbs that are not used in the present participle form. Then Simple comes to the rescue for a long time. Also, the present continuous is used to denote future actions, instead of the future tense.

Keywords: now (now).

Compare:

I live in Paris. (permanent action)

I am staying now at my grandfather's, but that's until I find a new flat. (emphasizes the temporary nature of the action)

Present Perfect- is used if we want to emphasize that the action took place before the moment of the conversation, but we feel the result in the present. Often used in dialogue.

Keywords: already, just (already, just).

Read this book, please! It's fascinating!

I have read it already.

presentPerfectcontinuous emphasizes both the duration and the completeness of the action.

Compare:

I can't do this exercise! Help me, please!

No, I won't help. Try to do it yourself.

But I can't! I have been trying to do it for three hours and I failed!

The action began in the past, lasted, the result, the result of the action is felt in the present. In this case, you can also say: I was trying to do it for three hours. But in such a sentence, the emphasis is on how long I did it, but the result is not visible. Since the dialogue above shows the result - the exercise is not done, and this is the result that is being discussed, then just a long time is not enough.

For past tense:

PastSimple- this is a statement of a fact from the past (from history), used in a story about some events (for example, how I spent the weekend), when listing facts (when several actions follow one after another).

This action is often confused with Present Perfect, but in Present Perfect the result is felt in the present, there is a connection with the present, it is often used in conversation, in dialogue, and Past Simple is just a story about the past, used in stories or monologues.

Keywords: yesterday, last year, last week, two days ago ( yesterday, last year, last week, two days ago).

Compare:

1.- Help me, please! I have lost my wallet! (Present Perfect, dialogue, the result is felt in the present)

2. I lost my wallet, and then I found it. (Past Simple, just a story about events, not tied to communication)

3. - You know, I lost my wallet! – Have you found it? – Yes, I have! (Past Simple and Present Perfect)

PastPerfect- unlike the Present Perfect, the Past Perfect needs an indication of at least some time in the past. Because the Present Perfect has ended by the moment in the present. And the Past Perfect must end at some point in the past. That is why it is also called the past.

The key feature is: an indication of the time, a preposition by before time, or a clause of time.

For example:

By 5 o'clock yesterday, I had already washed the dishes.

Yesterday by 5 o'clock I had washed up already.

When you called me, I had already washed all the dishes. (action completed at some point in the past)

When you called me, I had already washed up.

Pastcontinuous- the same as Past Perfect - you need an indication of the time, or the period of time in which the action lasted.

The key feature is: a subordinate clause of time, an indication of time or a period.

I broke my leg when I was climbing a mountain.

When you called me, I was doing my homework.

One action, as it were, takes place inside another, and the longer of them is put in the Past Continuous, and the one that takes place inside it, short-term, is put in the Past Simple.

PastPerfectcontinuous- is the same as presentPerfectContinueous, only in relation to events in the past.

Recall the example we gave for Present Perfect Continuous.

The teacher asked me why I hadn "t done my home assignment. I answered that I had been trying to do the exercise for three hours, but failed.

In this example, there are several tenses. “The teacher asked” - simple past, “why didn’t I do my homework” - past perfect, prepast, since he asks about an action that happened before a moment in the past, before the teacher asked him. And the result is felt at a certain moment in the past, that is, at the moment when the teacher asked him.

In the second sentence, "I answered" plays the same role - it indicates that the action takes place in the past. The second part of the sentence (that I had been trying to do…) indicates an action that was completed before he responded. That is, you need Perfect. And since the action lasted, and an indication is given for this: "three hours", then the duration (Continuous) is also added.

Here is another example:

On Sunday I didn't work in the garden, because it was muddy - it had been raining all Sunday night.

Future time

Future Simple. Its use is very limited, since the verb will (shall), which is needed to form this concurrent tense, is still a very popular modal verb. And here it’s just like in life: if you try to sit on two chairs, then, as a rule, you don’t have time, neither here nor there. So it is in the situation with the future. Sometimes it is difficult to distinguish where will denotes only the future tense, where it acts as a modal verb.

Will comes to the rescue with the Present Continuous, which is often used to indicate future actions.

The present continuous is used to indicate a planned action in the future.

Let's go on a picnic this Sunday.

Oh, I am sorry, I can't! I am playing football with my friends on Sunday. (planned action)

By the way, the structure “I am going to do” can also be used in the meaning of a planned action:

I am going to play football with my friends on Sunday. - also denotes a planned action in the future.

Future Simple is used when you have decided to do something at the moment of the conversation, just now. That is, for unplanned actions.

Do you know that Peter is in the hospital now?

No, I don't! What a pity! I'll go and see him there. (I did not know that Peter was in the hospital, the decision to visit him came at the moment of the conversation)

The remaining meanings of will, shall we will describe in the section "Modal Verbs".

Future Continuous

1. Used in the same way as Present, Past Continuous.

Compare:

Sveta attends dancing lessons on Mondays from 5 till 7. (Present Simple)

It is 6 o'clock, Monday. Sveta is dancing now. (Present Continuous)

Yesterday at 6 (or Yesterday from 5 till 7) Sveta was dancing. (Past continuous).

Tmorrow at 6 (or Tomorrow from 5 till 7) Sveta will be dancing. (Future Continuous) – Sveta will be in the process of dancing.

2. Used in the same sense as Present Continuous in the sense of a future planned action.

Oh, I am sorry, I can't! I am playing football with my friends on Sunday. = I am going to play football with my friends on Sunday. = I will be playing football with my friends on Sunday.

Future Perfect

I don't know the rule, but I'll have learned it by the beginning of the lesson. – I don’t know the rule, but by the beginning of the lesson I will already know it.