Tenses (1)

The simple past:

Forms Uses Key words
Affirmative : regular :S + v + ed - Complete past events Last week
: irregular :go  went that happened at a definite time Yesterday
Negative: S + didn’t + v (bare infinitive ) - Narrating past events Suddenly
- past habits Ago
Interrogative : did + S + v (bare infinitive ) ? In 1990
The previous…
Once upon a time

The past continuous:

Forms Uses Key words
Affirmative was *Actions that lasted for a certain While
:S + were + v + ing period of time in the past When
As
Negative : wasn’t *Used in descriptions of past
:S + Weren’t + v + ing events

Interrogative: was *An action was in progress in the

were +S + v + ing ? past when another action interrupted
it

* two simultaneous actions

 Tenses (2)
The past perfect:
Forms Uses Key words
Affirmative : S + had + past participle - to talk about a past action that Just
Negative: S + hadn’t+ past participle occured before another past Already
action. Before
Interrogative : Had+ S + past participle ? - When we report a past action After
- past habits Until
By

The past perfect continuous:

Forms Uses Key words
Affirmative * It is used to say how long Before
:S + had+ been+ v + ing something had been happening After
before something else happened. Since …
Negative :
:S + hadn’t +been + v + ing

Interrogative:
Had+ S +been +v + ing ?
 Tenses (3)
The simple present:
Forms Uses Key words
Affirmative : S + V - Habitual actions Always
He / She / It + V + S Usually
Negative : Don’t - General statements Often
S + Doesn’t + V Sometimes
Never
Intrrogative : Do + S + V (b. inf) ? Every day
Does Once/ twice a week

The present continuous:

Forms Uses Key words
Affirmative am *Actions happening at the moment At the moment
S + is + v + ing Now
are *Temporary activities Look !
Listen !
Negative am not *Arrangement in the Today
:S + isn’t + v + ing future Tonight
aren’t This afternoon
Interrogative am
: is + S + v + ing ?
are
 Tenses (4)
The present perfect:
Forms Uses Key words
Affirmative:S+ have +past participle *describing actions that For / Since
has have just (recently ) happened
Ever / never
** actions that started in the past and So far / up to now
Negative:S + haven’t + past participle continue up to the present or the result Already / yet
hasn’t is related to the present Just / lately
How long / recently
Interrogative : have+ S+ past participle ? ***actions that happened at an indefinite All this year
has time
All my life
* habitual actions with never and always

The present perfect continuous:

Forms Uses Key words

Affirmative:S + have been + V + ing actions that began in the past and The same used for the
has been are still in progress or has only just present perfect.
Negative:S + haven’t been + V +ing finished
hasn’t been
Interrogative:Have + S + been+ V +ing?
Has + S +been
 Tenses (5)
The future:
Forms Uses Key words
am 1*Arranged and decided actions Tomorrow
1)S + is + v + ing near future Next
are This evening
 The Present progressive Tonight
2*Intention: action already After
am decided perhaps not arranged Soon
2) S + is + going to + v *Prediction : the action is I hope …..
are predictable and is certainly going I expect
3)S + will + v ( bare infinitive ) to happen

3*Actions decided now : not pre

–meditated
*Possible predictable event
it’s not sure If + present 
future

• NB You must understand the situation and the context in order to put the verbs
in the right tense .
• The key words may help you but not always . You may find “always” for
example with the present simple, the present perfect or the past simple .