Tenses

Present simple

Present simple is used to describe events in the present.

Present simple timeline

Person Form
I, You, We, They Infinitve
He, She, It Infinitve + s

Examples

  • I cook some noodles for lunch.
  • You learn english!
  • He buys new clothes every september.

Present continous

Present continous is used to describe events that have already started and are still going on.

Present continous timeline

Person Form
I, You, He, She, It, We, They to be + verb-ing

Examples

  • I am shopping for my birthday.
  • You are studying for the exam next week.
  • He is cooking a meal for today.

Past simple

Past simple is used to describe events that began and ended in the past.

Past simple timeline

Person Form
Any verb: I, You, He, She, It, We, They verb + ed (verb 3)*
Verb: to be (Person I, He, She, It) was
Verb: to be (Person You, We, They) were

Examples

  • I asked my teacher about the life of animals.
  • You studied for the exam today
  • He was in church last Friday.

Past continous

Past continuous is used to describe events that took place in the past and lasted for a certain time, but are now over.

Past continous is sometimes also called past progressive.

Past continous timeline

Person Form
I, He, She, It was + verb-ing
You, We, They were + verb-ing

Examples

  • I was reading the new book from Lewis Caroll.
  • You were baking while I watched some shows on netflix.
  • He was studying for a long time.

Past perfect

Past perfect is used as example for conditionals and wishes.

Past perfect timeline

Person Form
I, You, He, She, It, We, They had + verb 3*/past participle

Examples

  • I had played soccer before I came home yesterday.
  • You had learned english for the exam last Tuesday.
  • She had waited a long time for the new jeans to arrive.

Verb 3 means the form of verb ending with -ed except for the irregular verbs. Also known as past participle.