Examples Form

Tense Key words Use

• every day, AFFIRMATIVE:

sometimes,
• To describe habits and routines I USUALLY TAKE THE BUS TO SCHOOL.
always, often, SUBJECT + INFINITIVE
(frecuency adverbs).
usually, seldom,
• To describe a summary of He/she/it:
never, first IN 1789 THE FRENCH REVOLUTION
events.
…then BEGINS. SUBJECT + INFINITIVE + S
• To describe facts and things in
general.
Simple • To express opinions,
feelings (verbs like to NEGATIVE:
Present love, to hate, to think,
SHE LOVES SUMMER.
SUBJECT + DON’T/DOESN’T + INFINITIVE
etc.), and things which
are always true or WATER BOILS AT 100°C
• Before, after, permanent.
• FUTURE MEANING: to INTERROGATIVE:
until, till, as soon HIS TRAIN ARRIVES TOMORROW.
as, when, while, describe future events DO/DOES + SUBJECT + INFINITIVE + ?
once if, unless, based on timetables,
provided that, as programmes or calendars.
long as.
• Now, at the • To describe actions in I'M WORKING RIGHT NOW. AFFIRMATIVE:
moment, Look!, progress at the same time of
Listen! speaking or around it. SUBJECT + TO BE + [VERB+ING]
Present • To describe habits during a
temporary situation (a time NOW, I’M READING “BOULEVARD”.
Continuous expression is necessary). NEGATIVE:
• To describe a repeated YOU’RE MAKING THE SAME MISTAKE
SUBJECT + TO BE + NOT + [VERB+ING]
temporary action (a time AGAIN!
expression is necessary).
• This afternoon, • FUTURE MEANING: to I’M LEAVING IN THE MORNING.
tomorrow describe definite, fixed INTERROGATIVE:
evening, On arrangements or TO BE + SUBJECT + [VERB+ING] … ?
Monday … appointments.
• last ... ; ... ago; I WORKED. AFFIRMATIVE:
in 1990; • To describe finished actions
Regular:
yesterday and events in the past, mostly
HE WENT. SUBJECT + [VERB+ED]
connected with an expression
Simple of time (no connection to the Irregular:
I LIVED IN AUSTRIA.
Past present). SUBJECT + [2nd COLUMN OF TABLE]
• in those days; for • To describe past habits or
I GOT UP AT SIX IN THOSE DAYS. NEGATIVE:
several years states, a time expression is
SUBJECT + DID NOT + VERB
usually necessary.
INTERROGATIVE:
DID + SUBJECT + VERB + … ?
 • While; when • To describe actions in AFFIRMATIVE:
progress in the past.
HE WAS WAITING THE TRAIN. SUBJECT + WAS/WERE + [VERB+ING] + …
• To set the scene
Past • Always, often, (background actions). NEGATIVE:
Continuous usually,
sometimes, never • To describe a repeated action HE WAS ALWAYS GETTING INTO SUBJECT + WAS/WERE + NOT + [VERB+ING] + …
in the past (a frecuency TROUBLE.
INTERROGATIVE:
adverb is necessary).
WAS/WERE + SUBJECT + [VERB+ING] + …?
• Just, yet, never, I HAVE BROKEN MY ARM.
ever, already, so AFFIRMATIVE:
• To describe recent events that
far, up to now, I HAVEN’T FOUND MY WALLET YET. SUBJECT + HAVE/HAS + PAST PARTICIPLE + …
happened in the past but with
Present since, for, a result in the present. I HAVE BEEN TO FRANCE TWO TIMES.
recently. NEGATIVE:
Perfect • To describe events that have
SUBJECT + HAVE/HAS + NOT + PAST PARTICIPLE + …
not happened.
Simple
• It’s the • To describe indefinite events
I HAVE LIVED IN THIS HOUSE FOR FIVE INTERROGATIVE:
first/second time in the past (experiences).
YEARS. HAVE/HAS + SUBJECT + PAST PARTICIPLE + … ?
….
• Never. ever • To describe actions or states I HAVE FINISHED MY HOMEWORK.
*PAST PARTICIPLE:
started in the past and lasts
I HAVE WRITTEN MY ESSAY, NOW I REGULAR: VERB+ED
up to the present (duration).
CAN WATCH THE TELEVISION. IRREGULAR: 3rd COLUMN OF THE TABLE
• To describe a completed
action.
• To describe actions in
progress with focus on the
present result.

I HAVE BEEN LIVING IN AUSTRIA FOR AFFIRMATIVE:

SIX YEARS. SUBJECT + HAVE/HAS + BEEN + [VERB+ING]
Present • all day, the whole • To describe an action or
event started in the past NEGATIVE:
Perfect day, how long,
which is in progress now
since, for. SUBJECT + HAVE/HAS + NOT + BEEN + [VERB+ING]
Continuous (focus in length of time).
WE HAVE BEEN WALKING FOR HOURS.
INTERROGATIVE:
• To describe an action that is HAVE/HAS + SUBJECT + BEEN + [VERB+ING] ?
not completed or that it has
finished recently.
 • To make it clear that one AFFIRMATIVE:
BY THE TIME HIS DAD ARRIVED, TOM
past event happens before HAD MANAGED TO CLEAN THE SUBJECT + HAD + PAST PARTICIPLE
• Already, just, another past event: the KITCHEN.
never action which had already NEGATIVE:
Past
happened is put into Past SUBJECT + HAD + NOT +PAST PARTICIPLE
Perfect Perfect, the other action into
Simple Simple Past. INTERROGATIVE:
HAD + SUBJECT + PAST PARTICIPLE ?

AFFIRMATIVE:
• how long, since, • To describe an action or event HE HAD BEEN WORKING FOR 8 HOURS. SUBJECT + HAD + BEEN + [VERB+ING]
for. that started in the past and
Past Perfect NEGATIVE:
continued until a second time in
Continuous the past (focus on duration). SUBJECT + HAD + NOT + BEEN + [VERB+ING]
INTERROGATIVE:
HAD + SUBJECT + BEEN + [VERB+ING]

• I think, perhaps • To make predictions about AFFIRMATIVE:

I THINK IT WILL RAIN TOMORROW.
(opinion words). the future, something you SUBJECT + WILL + VERB
Will think will happen (a time
expression is necessary). NEGATIVE:
(FUTURE I KNOW, I WILL GET HIM A WALLET FOR SUBJECT + WON’T + VERB
SIMPLE ) • It is used for instant
decisions made at the time HIS BIRTHDAY.
of speaking. INTERROGATIVE:
WILL + SUBJECT + VERB ?
• Look at … , watch • To make predictions, WATCH OUT! YOU ARE GOING TO FALL!
out!, my especially when we can see AFFIRMATIVE:
intention/plan is the cause of the event. SUBJECT + VERB TO BE + GOING TO + VERB
I’M GOING TO FIX THE TELEVISION
Be Going … • It is used to describe a
TOMORROW.
present intention or NEGATIVE:
to plan, something we
(FUTURE) SUBJECT + VERB TO BE + NOT + GOING TO + VERB
have already decided to
do. LIVERPOOL ARE GOING TO WIN THE INTERROGATIVE:
• It is used in impersonal CUP.
statements. VERB TO BE + SUBJECT + GOING TO + VERB ?
 • By this time, by • To describe a situation in
THIS TIME NEXT WEEK, I WILL BE IN AFFIRMATIVE:
then, (at) this progress at a particular time
LONDON.
time next week/ in the future. SUBJECT + WILL BE + [VERB+ING]
month, next • To indicate that one action in
Future I WILL BE WATCHING TV WHEN SHE
NEGATIVE:
weekend/week/ the future will be interrupted ARRIVES TONIGHT.
Continuous month. by a shorter action.
I WILL BE STUDYING, SHE WILL BE SUBJECT + WILL NOT BE + [VERB+ING]
• To describe parallel actions in
the future. RESTING. INTERROGATIVE:
WILL + SUBJECT + BE + [VERB+ING]

• By 2030, by the BY THE TIME WE GET THERE, THE FILM AFFIRMATIVE:

end of the • Looks back from a point in the WILL HAVE STARTED. SUBJECT + WILL HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE
year/month, by future.
Future then, by the NEGATIVE:
time … , in (ten
Perfect years’) time, in
SUBJECT + WILL NOT HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE
Simple (four months),
soon. INTERROGATIVE:
WILL + SUBJECT + HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE
• By the time,
• To describe that something THEY WILL HAVE BEEN TALKING FOR AFFIRMATIVE:
next month/
week/ year/ , will continue up until a OVER AN HOUR BY THE TIME THOMAS
ARRIVES. SUBJECT + WILL HAVE + BEEN + [VERB+ING]
by the end of … particular time in the future.
(emphasis on length of NEGATIVE:
time of an action) SUBJECT + WILL NOT HAVE + BEEN +
Future [VERB+ING]
Perfect
Continuous INTERROGATIVE:
WILL + SUBJECT + HAVE + BEEN +
[VERB+ING] ?