Present simple

In English every tense has both simple (read) and continuous form (am reading). For instance, verbs that express state of mind, feeling, sense perceptions or ownership (have) are usually used in simple forms: 

It’s ridiculous how many cars our neighbours have.

The simple present usually expresses a permanent situation, a general truth or practice. A positive simple present is formed of the basic form of the verb (1st form), e.g. love, loved, loved. Remember to add –s at the end of the verb in 3rd person present tense (he/she, it, in this case “the pressure of water“):

When the diver descends deeper, the pressure of water increases.

Forming of the negative form: don’t/doesn’t + basic form of the verb (regret):

My uncle doesn’t regret anything he has gone through.

Forming of the interrogative clause: (interrogative) + do/does + subject + main verb:

Where should we begin? Does anyone have a suggestion?

Present continuous

The present continuous (is talking) is used to express situations that are happening at the moment:

She is talking on the phone with Harper.

The present continuous is formed with the auxiliary verb be (which is conjugated according to the subject) and the ing-form of the main verb (singing):

I am singing in the rain.

Temporary situations or plans of the near future can also be expressed by the present continuous:

I am staying at Dillon’s place for now. 

We are going to Las Vegas to celebrate his bachelor party.

Past simple

To form the simple past, add the ending –ed to the base form of the verb: wash – washed. If the base form of the verb ends in –e, just add –d to form the simple past: change – changed.

Some verbs have irregular forms in different tenses like, for example, take – took. The verb be is also irregular:

Use the simple past to refer to singular, completed actions in the past:

Mark looked at himself in the mirror.

The past simple refers to a specific moment in the past. There is usually a past time expression in the clause e.g., last night, yesterday, two years ago etc.:

Paul asked me to marry him yesterday.

The simple past is also used to describe something that was true for some time in the past, in this case, when I was young:

When I was young I enjoyed wearing accessories.

The negation of verbs in the simple past is formed with the auxiliary verb do in past tense did + not + the base form of the main verb:

I did not/didn’t like the perfume in that store.

When the verb be is included in the clause, there is no need for the auxiliary verb do in a negative form:

I was not/wasn’t in that store.

Formation of the interrogative clause: (interrogative) + did + subject + main verb:

Did you listen to the podcast I talked to you about last time?

Past continuous

The past continuous emphasises the continuation of action and its duration: 

I was writing an essay for three hours on Sunday evening.

Formation of the past continuous: 2nd form of the auxiliary verb be + ing-form of the main verb:

Isla and I were planning our trip yesterday. 

The past continuous can describe a background situation of a shorter time period or an action that was interrupted:

Zoe was daydreaming when, suddenly, she got startled by a loud noise coming from the street. 

They were watching a film last night, but fell asleep before the end.

Present perfect simple

Formation of the present perfect simple: have/has + 3rd form. To form the third form of a regular verb, add the ending –ed to the base form. The third form of a regular verb looks the same as the second form of a regular verb, e.g. ask – asked – asked:

I have asked my sister to cut my hair.

In negative sentences, the auxiliary have is in the form haven’t (have not) or, when the subject is third person singular, hasn’t (has not):

I haven’t cycled in years.

The present perfect simple can describe an occasion that has happened in an undefined moment before the present moment. In the clause, there is usually a time expression like the following: ever, since, lately, so far, up to now etc.:

Have you ever been to Paris?

The present perfect simple can also describe a certain habit that has been common during a time period before the present moment. It can also describe a situation in a time period leading to the present moment:

Ever since they moved in together, she has always woken up before her husband.

They have always had a clear idea of where they are going.

Present perfect continuous

Formation of the present perfect continuous: have + been + ing-form of the main verb:

It’s unbelievable how much they have been complaining!

The present perfect continuous has a similar meaning as the present perfect with the difference that the time period leading to the present moment has a limited duration: 

I haven’t been studying too much the past few days.

The verb in the present perfect continuous form expresses that the action is still incomplete:

Grayson told me about a book he has been reading lately.

Past perfect simple

Formation of the past perfect simple: had + 3rd form of the main verb: 

He had bought the tickets online in advance, so we didn’t need to wait in the queue.

The past perfect (simple or continuous) tells “what had happened” which means that it expresses a moment in time further in the past compared to a specific moment in the past. The past perfect appears often with the past simple (came):

Had you finished working on your presentation before your brother came home?

Past perfect continuous

Formation of the past perfect continuous: had + been + ing-form of the main verb:

Amelia and Mia hadn’t been partying for long before Mia decided to head back to the hotel.

The past perfect continuous describes an action that has been going on for a longer period of time:

We had been negotiating for hours on end before we finally reached an agreement.

Future tense

The most common ways to refer to the future are will + basic form of the main verb (will be) or be going to structure (I’m going to clean): 

Dad will be so angry when he sees this mess. I’m going to clean this up before he comes home.

The will-future indicates consequences and a decision made at the moment of speaking (I’ll have the steak). The auxiliary verb will is often shortened ‘ll:

What would you like to have? I think I’ll have the steak.

To make negative statements about the future, use the construction will not. In spoken English, this is usually reduced to won’t:

I won’t be staying in a hotel this shabby.

The structure shall + base form is used in today´s British English mainly in 1st forms of singular and plural (I and we) in polite suggestions. The auxiliary verb shall is rare in American English:

Shall I close the window?

Will + have + 3rd form of the main verb (will have collapsed) expresses that something has happened by an upcoming moment in the future:

The stock prices will probably have collapsed by the end of the month because of the global financial crisis.

The structure be going to indicates intention and beforehand prepared plans:

I’m going to be the strongest man in the world when I grow up.

The future continuous of will (will + be + ing-form of the main verb) expresses actions that are going on for a long time in the future and describes routine-like actions in the future:

We will be climbing in the Alps in August.

Don’t call her at eight, because she will be watching TV.