They are divided into 4 groups: simple (Simple / Indefinite), continued (Continuous / Progressive), perfect (Perfect) and continued perfect (Perfect Continuous) tenses. What will help us choose the right option?
marker words time in English language help to correctly determine the species-temporal form, therefore it is recommended to memorize them. Asterisk* ambiguous indicators of time are marked, which can occur in different cases.
Table of satellite words for all tenses of the English language
Used to describe actions in the present that occur regularly, with repetition, and not just at the moment of speech. Used to describe routines, schedules, habits, etc.
Usually- usually
I usually wake up at 7 o'clock. I usually wake up at 7 o'clock.
Always- always
Alice always gets good marks at school. Alice always gets good grades at school.
Often- often
Terry often drinks tea in the morning. Terry often drinks tea in the morning.
Every day / morning / week
– every day/every morning/every week
Every week Rob goes to the gym. Rob goes to the gym every week.
Sometimes / from time to time / occasionally
- sometimes
Sometimes I visit my Granny in the suberbs of Moscow. Sometimes I visit my grandmother in the suburbs of Moscow.
At the weekend / on weekends / on Saturdays / on Friday
– Weekends / Saturdays / Fridays
We have a party on Fridays. On Fridays we have a party.
Seldom / rarely- rarely
We rarely go to the swimming pool. We rarely go to the pool.
Never* / hardly ever- never/almost never
Ann never watches horror films. Ann never watches horror movies.
2. Companion words Past Simple
Used to describe actions that happened in the past.
Yesterday- yesterday
Yesterday we were at home. Yesterday we were at home.
A week / a year ago– a week/year ago
Alex moved to the USA a week ago. Alex moved to the US a week ago.
Last month / year– last month/year
Last month Fred sold his car. Fred sold his car last month.
When*- when
I was in the kitchen when you came. I was in the kitchen when you arrived.
3. Companion words Future Simple
Used to describe actions that will take place in an indefinite future.
Tomorrow- tomorrow
Tomorrow Jared will go to London. Tomorrow Jared will leave for London.
Next month / year– next month/year
Jack will finish school next year. Jack will finish school next year.
In … days/years– after … days/years
Ronald will arrive in 2 days. Ronald will arrive in 2 days.
4. Companion words Present Continuous
Used to describe actions that are happening at the moment, at the moment of speech.
Now- now
Mary is playing the guitar now. Now Mary plays the guitar.
At the moment- Currently
The refrigerator isn't working at the moment. The refrigerator is not working at the moment.
Still*- still
John is still washing the dishes. John is still washing the dishes.
5. Companion words Past Continuous
It is used to describe actions that took place at some point or period in the past.
From … till …*- From to …
Helen was watching a movie at the cinema yesterday from 5 till 7. Helen was watching a movie at the cinema yesterday from 5 to 7.
- all day
He was working hard all day long. He worked hard all day.
6. Companion words of Future Continuous
Used to describe actions that will take place at a particular moment or period in the future.
from … till …*- From to …
Tony will be working in the office tomorrow from 9 to 11 o'clock. Tony will be working in the office tomorrow from 9 am to 11 am.
All day long* / for the whole day*
- all day
He will be writing an article all night long. He will be writing the article all night.
7. Companion words Present Perfect
Used to describe actions completed by the time of speech or by the present as a whole.
Just- just now
Harry has just made a cake. Harry just made a cake.
Already- already
I have already done my homework. I have already done my homework.
Yet- still
Liza hasn't chosen the flowers yet. Lisa still hasn't picked flowers.
Since- With
I haven't played football since finishing the university. I haven't played football since graduating from university.
Recently- recently
Sally has recently been at the theatre. Sally was at the theater recently.
Never* / ever*- never / ever
I have never been to London. I've never been to London.
8. Companion words Past Perfect
Used to describe an action that has completed at some point in the past.
before* / after*- before after
I had brushed my teeth before I went to bed. I brushed my teeth before going to bed.
By*- to
Ann had spoken with her boss by 12 o'clock yesterday. By 12 o'clock yesterday Ann had spoken to her boss.
9. Companion words of Future Perfect
Used to describe actions that will last until a specific moment or period in the future.
By*- to
I will have been finished my project by the end of the month. I will finish my project by the end of the month.
Before*- before
Chris will have found a job before Christmas. Chris will find a job before Christmas.
10. Perfect Continuous Marker Words
As you might guess from the name, the Perfect Continuous tenses are a mixture of Perfect and Continuous. Therefore, their function is a long-term action that led to a result in the past / present / future.
for*- during
I had been reading for 5 hours. I have been reading for 5 hours.
I have been reading for 5 hours. I have been reading for 5 hours now.
I will have been reading for 5 hours. I will be reading for 5 hours already.
WARNING: marker words are not a panacea! As we can see, some of them occur in several times at once. Often this can be explained like this: take the phrase “from … till …” and see that it is a sign of the duration of the action, and the duration can be in the past, present and future tenses. However, the presence of a satellite word is very a good sign correct temporal form.
“...only having mastered in the possible perfection ... the native language, we will be able to master the foreign language in the same perfection, but not before ....” (F. M. Dostoevsky)
I subscribe to your every word, Fedor Mikhailovich. If the head has basic knowledge of the native language AS A SYSTEM, logical and understandable, then we will easily learn the laws of a foreign language. For such a complex category as “time” and the part of speech “verb”, this is doubly relevant. For reference: at the philological faculty, 1 semester is devoted to the verb and 1 to all other parts of speech - it is the most difficult of all put together! So, let's deal with the tenses of the English verb once and for all.
Why are we only confused? English verb tenses
When I read articles / manuals about English verbs, sometimes it even becomes funny from phrases like this: “There are 12 tenses in English, and only 3 in Russian. That's why it's difficult for us.”
Truth: we have 3 times and it is difficult for us.
Lie: there are 12 tenses in English (there are 3 of them, like ours).
Additionally: believe me, our verbs also have a lot of their "troubles". If we deal with them, we will understand English faster. Now we will do just that: we will analyze the Russian system of tenses, and then “impose” it on the English tenses of verbs.
By the way, I did not make a reservation. There are 3 tenses in English:
- Past (past),
- Present (present),
- Future (future).
But each of them has 4 forms:
- simple,
- continuous,
- perfect,
- perfect continuous.
Thanks to such a detailed system, tenses in English describe the situation in detail and even without context, verbs provide more information than Russian ones.
Learn native verbs a little better
Regarding Russian verbs, we will focus on only two features: time and aspect. Understanding these categories "will give us strength" to comprehend the system of English tenses.
1. The tense of the verb expresses the ratio of the time of action and the moment of speech.
Everything is simple here: if the action took place before the moment of speech, it is in the past; if it takes place after, it is in the future; if during the time, it is in the present. 
2. The view characterizes the action as completed or incomplete.
If the action is completed and cannot continue (its limit has been reached), then the verb is perfect and answers the question “what to do?”.
Example: Freeze, sleep, run, go away, etc.
If the action is extended, “there is no end in sight”, then the verb is imperfect and answers the question “what to do?”.
Example: freeze, sleep, run, leave, etc.
View is a constant feature of the verb, the verb does not “change in appearance”, but is always either perfect or imperfect.
IMPERFECT verbs have all three forms of tense.
Example: I was looking for - looking for - I will look for (compound form of the future tense)
PERFECT verbs have only past and future forms.
Example: I found - I will find.
Pay attention to this: if the action is completed (everything, its limit has been reached), then in Russian it can NOT be in the present tense.
3. The real time and the grammatical form of the verb do not always coincide:
Example: He was yesterdaycomesto me andHe speaks: "Finally, the sun is out!"
The action takes place yesterday (that is, in the past in relation to the moment of speech), but we express it in the forms of the present tense.
Another example: "The train leaves at three o'clock"
We talk about the future, but use the form of the present tense.
Pay attention to this, because there are similar “inconsistencies” in the English language too (and you don’t need to be afraid of this).
4. We can talk about absolute and relative times.
For example, verbs "gone" and "asleep"– both past tense (absolute). But if we put them in a sentence "After I left, he fell asleep", then the action "gone" will be in the past with respect to the action "asleep". It turns out that the relative time is the one that we see only from the context. Remember this moment.
Relative time can be expressed not only by subordinate clauses, as in the example above, but also with the help of participles, gerunds.
An example with a perfect gerund:Having prepared cake, sheremoved it to the refrigerator. (first cooked, and then removed, here one action follows another)
An example with an imperfect participle:Cooking cake, shereadbook (actions are simultaneous, parallel).
Participle example:removedmom's apartmentlay downrest (first removed, and then lay down).
Key Differences: How to Learn English Verb Tenses Quickly
We are now ready to move on to English verb tenses. As I said above, their tenses provide more comprehensive information about the action even without context (it is grammatically embedded). I will name 5 more important differences in the forms of verbs in English that I discovered while writing this article.
1. A different attitude to the concept of "moment of speech."
Example: a Russian person speaks "I live in Russia". The moment I talk about it, I live. Everything, time is present (we have one).
In English "I live in London" can be "always, constantly" or "at the moment, limitedly, and then something may change." The choice of time (Present Simple or Present Continuous) depends on these conditions. 
2. Another significant difference follows from this - the importance of the “time interval” in which the action is performed.
This is perfectly shown by the example described above, and all tenses of the Continuous “family”. I'll give you one more:
Compare: "Iwasin Moscowinlast year" and "Iwasin Moscowforall summer"
There is no difference for a Russian verb: past tense, imperfective form.
However, in English we will translate the first option into Past Simple, and the second into Past Continuous, since the length of time is indicated.
I was in Moscow last year. – I was living in Moscow all summer.
It turns out that indicating a period of time involves the use of the Continuous form.
3. Also important is the "point in time" to which the action will be performed.
Example: a Russian person can say "Iordersoup"(verb of the future tense, perfect form).
In English, such a sentence would be built in the Future Simple: I will order a bowl of soup(spontaneous decision made at the moment of speaking).
To make a verb perfect (perfect form, if we draw an analogy with Russian), you need to indicate a specific point in time by which the action will be completed:
I will have called him backby six o'clock. - I'll call him backcloser to six o'clock(action will end by a certain moment, use Future Perfect)
It turns out that pointing to a point in time involves using the Perfect form.
By the way, under the segment and moment of time is meant NOT only direct meaning“from 17:00 to 18:00” or “by two o’clock in the morning”, but also the time RELATED to another action/event/state (I did while you did).
He will have bought a new car before his wife comes back from a trip to London. – He will buy a car before his wife returns from a trip to London (he will complete the action UNTIL a certain point, use the Future Perfect).
4. In English, as in Russian, there is the concept of "complete action" (perfect). BUT!
There is a difference, as a result of which English speakers have a perfect present tense: is the result of the action taken in the past or in the present? If in the present, then we use the Present Perfect.
I have broken the cup - as a result of fragments;
Our son has learned how to read - as a result, he knows how to read.
By the way, speaking of the Present Perfect, we will again return to the "moment and length of time." If the action has ended BY PRESENT (just, already) or in a period of time that has NOT ENDED YET (today, this week/month/year), then the time is considered present.
5. In English there are perfect continuous verbs (in Russian, either perfect or imperfect).
She had been working all night long - the translation "She worked all night long" would be logical, but the most accurate meaning of the sentence "Sheworkedall night andfinished workingin the morning”, that is, the action took place in a period of time and ended by its end.
It turns out that an indication of both a segment and a point in time involves the use of the Perfect Continuous form.
English verb tenses with examples
We figured out the theory - let's move on to practice. Let's talk about each specific time. I’ll make a reservation right away that I will NOT describe all cases of using tenses - this information can be found in various sources. I will just describe the BASIC cases of using tenses in English (with examples) and explain their logic.
What is happening in the present
present simple is used when we are talking about a regular, constant, typical action that is NOT tied to the moment of speech.
Example: She speaks 2 foreign languages - She speaks two foreign languages \u200b\u200b(that is, she knows how to speak them, this is her constant characteristic).
Present Continuous is used when we want to show that an action is being performed right now (now). RELATED to the moment of speech.
Example: The doctor is performing an operation now - The doctor is now performing an operation (he is doing it right now, at the time of the speech of the one who reports).
Present Perfect used when the action has completed (there is a result), but the time has not ended.
Example: He has called me today. - He called me today. (the action has already ended, and "today" has not yet ended).
Present Perfect Continuous is used when the action started in the past and is still going on in the present (we emphasize its duration).
Example: She has been watching TV all day. – She watches TV all day (from the very morning until now, can you imagine? Whoa day!).
What happened in the past
past simple used to express an action that happened at a certain time in the past, while the period of time has already ended.
Example: I saw him yesterday. – I saw him yesterday (this day is already over).
Past Continuous indicates a process that was CONTINUED at a certain moment or period in the past.
Example: I was reading a book at midnight - I read a book at midnight (this process was in the past and lasted for some period of time).
past perfect remember Russian relative time. Do you remember the mother who went to bed after cleaning? She cleaned the house in Past Perfect. This is the "Previous" tense.
Example: I had studied English before I moved to Moscow - I learned English BEFORE I moved to Moscow (first I studied the language, and then moved).
Past Perfect Continuous indicates an action that began in the past, continued for some "length of time" and ended by its end (or did not end).
Example: She had been cooking dinner for an hour before I came - She cooked dinner for an hour before I came (The action lasted for a certain period of time, and then ended at a certain moment).
What will happen in the future
Future Simple used to indicate some fact, decision or intention in the future, made at the time of speech.
We will take a taxi. - We will take a taxi (showing the intention in the future, taken now).
Future Continuous indicates a process that will start up to a certain point in the future and will still continue at that point.
I will be studying at university in a year. - I will be studying at the university in a year (the proposal does not indicate when the event will start or end, it is about this particular moment in time, which lasts now, but in a year).
Future Perfect It is used to express a future action that will take place up to a certain point in the future.
He will have gone by then. - He will have left by then (the action will be completed by the moment indicated in the context).
Future Perfect Continuous indicates an action that starts BEFORE another future action, will have some RESULT by now, but will CONTINUE after it.
We will have been living together for 12 years next year - Next year we will live together for 12 years (the moment is indicated - next year, the duration is shown - for the whole 12 years! But the action does not even think to end).
But this form is used extremely rarely and is replaced by either Future Continuous or Future Perfect.
We are looking for logic in everything: tenses in English "for dummies"
By the way, if you understand the logic of the main meaning of this or that time, then additional use cases will perfectly fall on it.
1. For example: using Present Continuous when we want to show dissatisfaction, irritation.
He is always coming late! - He's always late.
We're talking habit! Why is the Present Simple not used? Because we point to the duration, the continuity of this action. “Well, how long can this go on” - Present Continuous is indignant in this case.
2. Another example: the use of Present Simple in the schedules of buses, trains, movie screenings, etc.
The train leaves at 8 a.m - The train leaves at 8 am.
Why is the present tense used for actions that will take place in the future? Because it's repetitive. A more detailed comparison of Simple and Continuous.
So, in almost every case, you can find a completely visual explanation. If it still doesn’t work out, well, you have to remember. Still, a different language means a different way of thinking 🙂
Our YouTube video will help you understand even better.
And now we will look at examples of the basics of making simple sentences to express the past, present and future tenses.
Building sentences in the Simple group
affirmative sentences
Let's start with Present Simple. All affirmative sentences built according to the following scheme:
- "I" in this example is the subject. Do not confuse it with the object, since the subject performs the action, and it is performed on the object. Moreover, in Russian, the order of words is not important to us, because it is already clear who performs the action. We can freely say: "I eat the cake." But in English, it’s not possible to build a sentence like this, because the one who performs the action must be in the first place, otherwise they will simply laugh at you when you say: “The cake eats me.” Even through the passive voice, such a phrase will sound very strange.
- In second place should be the predicate, which expresses the action itself. In Russian, there are often sentences with an incomplete grammatical basis, where there is no subject or predicate, or both are absent. In the latter case, we are dealing with an impersonal sentence: "Dark." In English, there must always be a subject and a verb. So, if there is no verb in the Russian sentence, then in English it will definitely appear. Let's take for example a one-part sentence in which there is no predicate: "The phone is on the table." To translate it correctly, we need to use the verb "to be", which will connect the subject with the predicate. As a result, the phrase will literally be translated as: "The phone is on the table."
- In third place, the secondary members of the sentence lined up according to a certain rule: first there is a direct object (answers the question “who?”, “What?”, “Who?”), then indirect (answers the same questions, but with the prepositions “with whom ?”, “to whom?”, etc.). This rule is not always observed and is not strict.
As in Russian, English verbs change depending on the person. The main changes occur in the 3rd person singular (he, she, it), where the suffix "s" or "es" is added to the predicate. As a result, we get the sentence: "He goes to school."
Negative sentences
In addition to the affirmation, there is also a negation, the scheme of which is as follows:
In this scheme, all the same components are found, except for the linking verb "do" and the particle "not", which is equivalent to the negative particle "not" in Russian. What is an auxiliary verb and why is it needed? Unlike Russian, where we simply put the “not” particle before the verb, in English, the “not” particle must be preceded by an auxiliary verb. It is different for each tense, and in the case of Present Simple, it will take the form of either “do” or “does”, depending on the number and person of the subject. Example: "She does not go to school".
Interrogative sentences
So, we have considered the affirmation, negation, and we are left with a question, the formation of which also requires an auxiliary verb:
So, we have analyzed with you the basic principles for constructing various types of sentences in Present Simple. Past Simple and Future Simple are built in a similar way, the main differences will be in the form of the auxiliary verb.
Building sentences in the Future Simple
Statement
The scheme for constructing a statement in a simple future tense (Future Simple) is as follows:
The auxiliary verb will indicates that the action takes place in the future tense, and the phrase would be translated as: "I will go to school."
Negation
Negation is built using the particle "not" already known to us and the auxiliary verb "will".
Question
Any question begins with an auxiliary verb, so when building a question, simply put will in first place.
past simple
Statement
When constructing a statement in the past tense of the Simple group, there is a small feature: the suffix "ed" is added to the verb.
I deliberately omitted the school example because it uses an irregular verb. Most verbs form the simple past tense by adding the suffix "ed" to the stem (cook - cooked), but there are about 470 verbs, according to the Oxford dictionary, that form the past tense according to their canons. Our verb “go” also falls into their number, which will change the form to “went”: “I went to school”.
Negation
The negative in the simple past tense is constructed similarly to the Present Simple, with the only difference being that the form of the auxiliary verb "do" acquires the past "did".
Question
The question is also built by analogy with Present Simple. We only change the form of the auxiliary verb to the past.
So we studied the construction of sentences in the entire Simple group. The main thing is to remember the schemes for all three types (statement, denial and question), do not forget about how the word forms of verbs in the 3rd person singular change and memorize the main irregular verbs in order to achieve automatism in speech.
Building sentences in the Continuous group
In the Continuous group, there is always an auxiliary verb “to be”, a change in the form of which will tell us when the action is happening: yesterday, now or tomorrow. In this group, there is also always a participle I, similar to the real participle in Russian. The participle itself is built by adding the suffix "ing" to the verb (go - going).
Statement
We will not deviate from the structure and consider the formation of time in the Present Continuous.
The forms of the verb "to be" video change depending on the person, and here the matter is not limited to changes only in the 3rd person singular. Forms are easy to remember.
In the past tense, the auxiliary verb changes its form to "was" or were "depending on the person and number.
The scheme for constructing a sentence in the Past Continuous will be as follows:
The future tense in this group is formed without any changes, just put the future tense verb “will” before the auxiliary “to be”:
Denial and question
The construction of the negation and the question occurs according to the general scheme for constructing sentences: when negating, we put “not” after the auxiliary verb, and when we ask, we put the auxiliary verb in the first place.
To build the past form, you need to change the form of the auxiliary verb to "had".
To build the future form, we additionally put “will”.
Denial and question
Negation and the question are built in the classical way: the particle not after had (when negating), had in the first place (when asked).
Denial and question
| Negation | Question |
|---|---|
| I have not been going. | Have I been going to school? |
These sentences are given only for the sake of an example, in practice you will hardly find yourself in a situation where you will need to express yourself in Perfect Continuous. It will be much easier and faster to build a phrase from the Simple and Continuous groups.
Simplified table of formation of all types of sentences in all tenses
For those who are new to tenses, this article may seem a little chaotic, so as a result, I offer you a ready-made table with the formation of sentences in all tenses, so that it is easier for you to see the whole picture. You can use it as a cheat sheet in the initial stages of studying temporary structures. The table is taken from the Peekaboo resource.
This article discusses tenses in english - detailed explanation what it is, what it is and how it is used.
Actually, there are three of them, as in other modern Indo-European languages: present (Present), past (Past) and future (Future). But usage is affected by the form of the verb to which the tense refers. There are only four such forms (Simple, Continuous, Perfect, Perfect Continuous).
3x4 = 12, so sometimes they talk about twelve times , which is basically wrong, although in the tables given for visual understanding, there are really 12 fields with different options.
a brief description of
Times (Tenses) express the temporal relationship between the current moment and the one being discussed. It does not matter whether a person pronounces words orally, perceives them by ear, writes or reads. It is always possible to single out conditionally the present moment, and the one described or pronounced in the sentence. For example, in the phrase “prepare to disembark, the ship is approaching port,” the narration is in the present tense, although these real events described in the old book could have taken place a very long time ago.
The reader, as it were, is transported into the past, and plunges into another world. The linguistic richness of many literary works is based on such conventions. Educated person gets used to them, and perceives automatically, without thinking about word forms. And he also easily composes phrases with the correct use of temporary constructions. But Russian phraseology differs from English. When translating or constantly switching to someone else's speech, difficulties arise, especially for beginners.
The main difficulty is the development of perfect and continuous forms of verbs in Western European countries. The Germanic and Romance languages are more complex in this respect than the Slavic ones. In Russian, there are practically no differences between the basic and continuous forms. "I live" — an action that by definition continues. Changing the meaning often occurs by adding prefixes that turn the word, in fact, into a completely different lexical unit. "I lived" — action continued in the past — has already ended.
English is analytical, which is unlike most Germanic languages. Phrases are made up of relatively short elements that retain their spelling. There are no prefixes, suffixes and endings, as in synthetic ones. Getting used to it and fully understanding the process is the key to success for a translator or a person speaking to the British.
It's really easy to get used to, given the rigor of the language constructs. Word order is fixed and predetermined. Having some experience, it is no longer possible to make a mistake, you just need to gain sufficient vocabulary. It even becomes boring to speak in such a rigid framework. Slavic languages give more freedom in the formation of phrases. Almost all words are successfully interchanged, many are generally skipped, although inserting them is also not a mistake.
So, what do the times express in relation to the current time interval:
- present - at least approximately coincides with the current time period;
- past - events developed earlier, or have already occurred;
- future - expresses a forecast, planning of events that are probable later.
Table of English tenses with examples
Only the verbs change depending on time. But even without taking into account the context and other members of the sentence, they provide comprehensive information about the duration and completeness. Such accuracy is due to the presence of 4 verbal word forms:
- Simple - simple;
- Continuous - long;
- Perfect - perfect (without determining the duration);
- Perfect Continuous - continuous perfect.
Each intersects with three time categories. This is a radical difference from Slavic linguistics, where the simple form is similar to the continuous one, the perfect one is exclusively in the past and the future. Non-standard techniques are actively used, such as a complete replacement of the verb, when describing a completed or ongoing activity. But expressing tense forms of verbs in English table standardized.
Let's give an example of the correct verb to live (live), how a similar scheme looks like, filled with specific words.
| Past | present | Future | |
| Simple | I lived | I live | I'll live |
| Continuous | I was living | I am living | I'll be living |
| Perfect | I had lived | I have lived | I'll have lived |
| Perfect Continuous | I've been living | I have been living | I'll have been living |
The example uses the colloquial (and commonly used) abbreviation I'll instead of the full phrase I will. Since the second and third dictionary forms of regular verbs are the same, we will also give a similar table for the wrong one to know (to know), now in the second person instead of the first.
| Past | present | Future | |
| Simple | You knew | you know | You'll know |
| Continuous | You were knowing | You are knowing | You'll be knowing |
| Perfect | You had known | You have known | You'll have known |
| Perfect Continuous | You had been knowing | You have been knowing | You'll have been knowing |
Of course, not all of the above options are used in practice in everyday vernacular. The perfect-continuum form refers rather to complicated book turns, and is rarely used even in scientific or fiction. But to know it is necessary for the completeness of linguistic representations.
In Russian vocabulary, only a small proportion of such constructions is applicable. I did, I do, I will do - the simple form coincides with the long one. The perfect exists only in the past and the future - I did it, I will do it. There is no combination of perfect and continual at all. The gerund living or going is translated approximately as a verbal adjective "living" or "going", but is used in a different context. In Russian, usually only in the third person, and such turns of speech are in any case considered undesirable. Modern phraseology tries to avoid them. For English speakers, these are frequently used parts of speech of direct action. They should definitely be mastered by beginners who study, how tenses are formed in english.
Signs of tenses in English
Neighboring words may indirectly indicate that a certain time must be applied. The need to apply the future is shown: always - always, often - often, usually - usually, sometimes - sometimes, never - never, everyday - daily, on Mondays (etc.) - on Mondays or other days, at weekends - on weekend. Signs of the present are present in generalized phrases or conveying periodic repetition of events. For example, the bus leaves (arrives) on certain days of the week. So detailed explanation of tenses in English help you express yourself beautifully and unmistakably.
Signs of the past: yesterday - yesterday, the day before yesterday - the day before yesterday, last week - last week, ago - ago, earlier - earlier, in the past - in the past.
Signs of the future: tomorrow - tomorrow, the day after tomorrow - the day after tomorrow, next week - next week, in an hour - within an hour, in ten hours - 10 hours later, later - soon, soon - soon, in the future - in the future.
How are formed
The dictionaries give three forms of irregular verbs . For correct ones, the second and third are formed in the standard way by adding the ending -ed to the first (main). For example: stay, stayed, stayed. Incorrect example: be, was (were), been. Here the second option also differs depending on the number: in the singular was, in the plural were. With the pronoun You, only were is used, but it should not always be translated as "you". The Russian "you" also has the right to exist. To translate a live conversation helps intonation and the nature of the relationship with the interlocutor. In a literary work, the context, but sometimes it is still difficult to determine what is meant
Simple present. In the present simple, the formation of phrases occurs as follows: after the pronoun comes the first dictionary form of the verb. It cannot be separated from the pronoun. She looks - she looks. She draw - she draws.
Simple past. The simple past is formed similarly to the present, but instead of the first verb form given in dictionaries, the second is used. She looked - she looked. She drew - she drew.
Simple future. The simple future is expressed as follows: after the pronoun comes will (or abbreviated ‘ll) then the first form of the verb. She will look or She'll look - she will look. She will draw or She'll draw - she will draw. implied generalized actions or regularly repeated , without reference to a specific period.
continuous present. The continuous present is formed by using to be in the form am, is or were, followed by a gerund derived from the main verb. He is staying - he is standing (right now).
continuous past. The continuous past is expressed in a similar way, only changing is (am, are) to was (were). He was staying - he stood (were instead of was in the plural).
continuous future. The continuous future is formed as follows: pronoun + will be + gerund. He will be staying - he will stand. They imply specific events that will last for a certain period.
perfect present. The perfect present is a specific speech construction that is absent in Russian. It means the event recently completed . The pronoun is followed by have (or has) and the 3rd form of the main verb. For the correct ones, it coincides with the second one. We have tried - we tried. We have written - we wrote. It should be noted that in the Russian translation, words are used that differ in prefixes from the main non-prefixed options “try” or “write”.
Perfect past. In the past perfect, we use had instead of have. Otherwise, the formation of phrases is similar to how it conveys perfect tenses in english present. We had tried - we (long ago) made an attempt. We had written - we (long ago) wrote something. So they say and write about events that have been completed for a long time. The choice of Present or Past in the perfect depends on the general logic associated with the context.
If any action is inherently long, the scope of using the Present Perfect expands. So, for daily exercises in the morning, “yesterday” is already a long time ago. But for a good feature film, which takes months or years to process, yesterday's presentation to the audience is still relatively recent. If in a text or conversation close to each other two completed events of different duration are mentioned, it is worth mentioning one of them (earlier) in the past perfect, and the second (later) in the present. Without disturbing the natural logic of the story too much. A year ago is a long time anyway.
perfect future. Expresses the intention to do something. Education scheme: pronoun + will have + 3rd form of the verb. We will have tried - we will try. We will have written - we will write. We can talk about things that will come true for sure, or about conjectural, but very likely. Sometimes such a perfect construction expresses self-confidence, a desire to impress the interlocutor, to promise something.
Perfect Continuous Present. The pronoun is followed by have (has) been and the gerund. They have been listening - they listened. Expressions in such a complicated format are absolutely uncharacteristic of Russian speech, which tends to simplify and reduce. But often, in fact, they correspond more to completed events than the usual perfect. Listening is by definition a long-term action. In this case, they mean recently completed compared to its normal duration or frequency. For meals, “recently” means people were sitting at the table no more than an hour ago. But a trip to the resort a week later will still be a relatively fresh fact.
Perfect Continuous Past. The only difference from the present above is had instead of have (has). They have been listening - they listened. What happened here ended so long ago that it no longer falls within the time frame of the presentation.
Perfect Continuous Future. Formation scheme: pronoun + will have been + gerund. They will have been listening - they will listen. This expresses only continuous actions.
Examples
When considered all tenses in english, it is worth giving more options using various pronouns.
The correct verb to warm (warm):
| Past | present | Future | |
| Simple | He warmed | He warmes | He'll warm |
| Continuous | He was warming | He is warming | He'll be warming up |
| Perfect | He had warmed up | He has warmed up | He'll have warmed up |
| Perf. Cont. | He had been warming | He has been warming | He'll have been warming |
In the perfect, it translates "to heat up", "to warm up", "to warm up". Subtle nuances transmitted in Russian by numerous prefixes are often expressed by the prepositions in, on, at, to, out, off, above, under. But this is already beyond the scope of the discussion, and testifies to the skill of an experienced translator.
Irregular verb to break (break):
| Past | present | Future | |
| Simple | you broke | you break | You'll break |
| Continuous | You were breaking | You are breaking | You'll be breaking |
| Perfect | You had broken | You have broken | You'll have broken |
| Perf. Cont. | You had been breaking | You have been breaking | You'll have been breaking |
Here you can clearly see difference between br oke and br oken .
Using Present Indefinite (Simple) Tense
Present Indefinite used to express a repeated or constant action in relation to the present:
I go to school. (I go to school)
He works. (He works)
She comes here at six o'clock. (She comes here at 6 o'clock)
Present Indefinite used to express an action that characterizes the subject constantly or throughout the present period of time:
You read very well. (You read very well)
He dances very badly. (He dances very badly)
Present Indefinite is used to express an action or state that is not limited by time and occurs regardless of the person's desire:
Sugar dissolves in water. (Sugar dissolves in water)
Present Indefinite is used to express an action happening at the moment of speaking:
- with verbs that are not used in the continuous form: to see, to hear, to know, to feel, to like to hate, to love, to understand.
I don't see anything. (I do not see anything)
I don't understand it. (I do not understand this)
- if the speaker is only stating a fact and not conveying the action as a continuing process.
Here she comes. (Here she comes)
Present Indefinite used to express future action in subordinate clauses time and conditions, which are introduced by unions when(when); after(after); before(before, before); till, untill(bye); as soon as(once); if(if); unless(if not) and so on:
I'll be here till you come. (I'll be here until you come)
Wait until I get my coat. (Wait while I change my coat)
Present Indefinite used to express a planned future action (in most cases with verbs denoting movement). In such sentences, adverbial words are usually used that indicate the time of action. In the corresponding Russian sentences, the present tense can also be used:
I leave Moscow tomorrow. (I'm leaving Moscow tomorrow)
When does the doctor come? (When does the doctor come?)
Present Indefinite used in a connected narrative to express an action or a series of successive actions in the past. Such use Present Indefinite enlivens the story, events seem to occur at the moment of speech.
All of a sudden, one evening comes little Emily from her work and him with her. (Suddenly, one evening, little Emily comes home from work and he is with her)
Use of Past Indefinite (Simple) Tense.
Past Indefinite is a tense form of a verb that expresses an action that has happened or happened in the past. Past Indefinite regular verbs are formed by adding to the infinitive without the particle to ending -ed:
Verbs in Past Indefinite have the same form in all persons singular and plural:
- -e, then in Past Indefinite it is not written:
- if the infinitive ends with a letter -y preceded by a consonant, then before the end -ed it changes to -i:
to study-study
- if the infinitive ends with one consonant preceded by a short stressed vowel, then the final before -ed doubles:
to stop - stopped
- final letter -r doubles if the last syllable is stressed:
prefer - preferred
- final letter -l doubles if it is preceded by a short vowel (stressed or unstressed):
to travel - traveled
In Past Indefinite, irregular verbs are used in the second form.
to speak - spoke
to write - wrote
The interrogative form Past Indefinite of regular and irregular verbs is formed using an auxiliary verb to do and the infinitive of the main verb without the particle to:
Did you study at this university? (Did you study at this university?)
Did she go to a park? (Did she go to the park?)
The negative form of Past Indefinite is formed with the help of a negative particle not after the auxiliary verb:
I didn't like that party. (I didn't like that party)
In oral speech, they are usually abbreviated: I didn't like that party.
In the interrogative-negative form Past Indefinite auxiliary verb did is placed before the subject, and the particle not after him:
Why didn't you say it? (Why didn't you tell me this?)
but if an abbreviation is used, then didn't come before the subject:
Why didn't you go there? (Why didn't you go there?)
The verb to do in Past Indefinite can also be used to reinforce the thought being expressed:
I did love you! (I really loved you!)
The verb to be in Past Indefinite has two forms: was for the first and third person singular and were for everyone else.
In the interrogative form of the verb to be placed before the subject:
Were you at home? (Were you at home?)
In the negative form, after was / were, the particle is used not:
I was not in Great Britain. (I have not been to the UK)
They were not there. (They weren't there)
The abbreviation is usually used: I wasn’t…You weren’t…
The verb to have in Past Indefinite has the form - had.
I had a friend. (I had a friend)
She had a good car. (She had a nice car)
He had a house. (He had a house)
The interrogative form of the verb to have in Past Indefinite is: did+have. To form a question did used before the subject have after him.
Did you have books? (Did you have books?)
The negative form, as a rule, is formed without the auxiliary verb to do, and is used as in with negative particles. not or no.
I hadn't problems. (I didn't have a problem)
I had no choice. (I had no choice)
Past Indefinite expresses a single or permanent action in the past. The time of the past action is often specified by the words: yesterday (yesterday), last week (last week), last year (last year), etc. :
I was there yesterday. (I was there yesterday)
He was at the hospital last week. (He was in the hospital last week)
She was here this morning. (She was here in the morning)
Past Indefinite is used to express a series of successive actions in the past:
I woke up, washed myself and went out of home. (I woke up, washed and left the house)
Past Indefinite is used to express a repeated action in the past:
I saw him every day. (I saw him every day)
She came many times to our house. (She came to us many times)
Using Future Indefinite (Simple) Tense.
Future Indefinite used to express a single, permanent or repeated action in the future:
I'll go over with you tomorrow morning.
(I'll go with you tomorrow morning)
I'll always come back.
(I will always return)
He'll work at the factory next year.
(Next year he will work at the factory)
In subordinate clauses of time and condition, Future Indefinite is not used! To express future action in such sentences, !
I'll message you know when I come home.
(I'll text you when I get home)
I'll ask him when he arives.
(I will ask him when he arrives)
Using Present Continuous Tense
Present Continuous Tense expresses an action as a process, that is, an action that continues at the moment of speech or at the present time.
Present Continuous is formed from an auxiliary verb to be in and present participle (Present Participle) of the main verb.
Present Participle is formed by adding an ending -ing to the infinitive of the main verb without a particle to.
read + ing - reading
work+ing - working
I am working (I'm working)
(I'm working)
He is working (He's working)
(He works)
She is working (She's working)
(She works)
It is working (It's working)
(It works)
In the interrogative form, the auxiliary verb is placed before the subject.
Are the boys playing football?
(Boys playing soccer?)
Is he working in the garden?
(Is he gardening now?)
The girls are not singing.
(Girls don't sing now)
In interrogative-negative sentences, the auxiliary verb is placed before the subject, and the particle not is placed after the subject.
Am I now preparing for my examinations?
(Am I not studying for exams?)
Action taking place in moment of speech:
Why are you crying?
(Why are you crying?)
You are not listening to me.
(You don't listen to me)
Present Continuous is used to express long time, although not necessarily at the moment of speech:
What are you doing here in Paris?
(What are you doing here in Paris?)
I'm studying at the Sorbonne.
(I study at the Sorbonne)
The present continuous is used to express a long action that is taking place simultaneously with another action in the present tense:
I'm only happy when I'm working.
(I'm only happy when I'm working)
Present Continuous is used to express planned future action, especially with verbs denoting movement. In this case, the adverb of time must be used:
We're flying to Paris in the morning.
(We're leaving for Paris in the morning)
Is he coming tonight?
(Will he come tonight?)
Verb to go in Present Continuous with the infinitive of another verb means the intention to perform an action in the very near future and gives it a hint obligation, the inevitability to perform the action indicated by the infinitive:
I'm going to speak.
(I will speak)
He's going to be a teacher.
(He's going to be a teacher)
Using Past Continuous Tense
Past Continuous formed from an auxiliary verb to be in and present participles of the main verb:
I was working. (I worked)
He was working. (He worked)
She was working. (She worked)
It was working. (It worked)
We were working. (We worked)
They were working. (They worked)
You were working. (you worked)
What were you telling him?
(What did you say to him)
In the negative form, after the auxiliary verb, the particle is used not:
I was not working in the evening.
(I didn't work in the evening)
In oral speech in negative and interrogative-negative forms, instead of was not and were not, abbreviations are used mainly:
He wasn't working.
(He did not work)
They weren't working.
(They didn't work)
Wasn't he working?
(Didn't he work?)
Weren't they working?
(Didn't they work?)
Past Continuous used to express an action that took place at a certain moment in the past. The duration of the action is usually also indicated by adverbial words like at two o'clock, at midnight, at that moment, at 5 o'clock or subordinate clauses with a verb-predicate in Past Indefinite:
He was working on his English at that time.
(He was working on his English at the time)
Jack was sitting by the window when she came in.
(Jack was sitting near the window when she came in)
Past Conyinuous is used to express an action, that lasted for some period of time in the past:
I the spring of the year 1881 he was visiting his old schoolfellow.
(In the spring of 1881 he was visiting his old school friend)
In subordinate clauses, if the verb-predicate of the main clause is used in the past tense, Past Continuous is often used with verbs with the meaning of movement (to go, to come, etc.) to indicate an action that was future relative to the past:
She said she was coming to see you after supper.
(She said she would come to you after dinner)
Verb to go in Past Continuous with the infinitive of another verb expresses an action that was future relative to the past tense. Often this combination expresses the intention to perform an action:
He was going to be an engineer.
(He was going to be an engineer)
What were they going to do.
(What were they going to do)
Using Future Continuous Tense
Future Continuous is formed with an auxiliary verb to be in and present participles of the main verb:
I will be working.
He will be working.
She will be working.
It will be working.
We will be working.
You will be working.
They will be working.
Auxiliary verb in interrogative form will placed before the subject:
Will they be working?
In the negative form after the auxiliary verb will negative particle is used not:
They will not be working.
The Future Continuous is used to express long-term action that will take place at some point or time in the future:
Meet me at two o'clock. I'll be waiting for you.
We'll be playing all morning.
In modern English Future Continuous often used in the same sense as Future Indefinite, i.e. expresses future action:
You won't be coming back here anymore.
(You won't come back here again)
From now I'll be asking thousands of questions.
(From now on I will ask a thousand questions)
He'll be going to school soon.
(He will go to school soon)
Use of Present Perfect Tense.
Perfect (perfect) tenses express an action that happened before a certain moment or period in the present (Present Perfect), past (Past Perfect), future (Future Perfect) and future relative to the past (Future in the Past).
Perfect tenses usually express the presence of some result of an action associated with subsequent events.
Periectal tenses are formed from the corresponding forms of the indefinite tenses of the auxiliary verb to have and the past participle (Past Participle) of the main verb.
The Present Perfect is formed from the auxiliary verb to have in and the past participle (Past Participle) of the main verb.
The Past Participle of regular verbs is formed by adding the ending -ed to the infinitive, that is, the Past Participle of regular verbs does not differ from
Using Past Perfect Tense
Past Perfect is formed from the auxiliary verb to have in and the past participle (Past Participle) of the main verb. Verbs in the Past Perfect do not change in person and number:
I (he, she, it, we, you, they) had worked.
In spoken language, instead of had the abbreviated form is predominantly used ‘d, which in the letter is attached to the subject:
I'd (he'd, she'd, it'd, we'd, you'd, they'd) worked.
In the interrogative form, the auxiliary verb is placed before the subject:
In the negative form, a negative particle is used after the auxiliary verb not:
I had not worked.
In oral speech in negative and interrogative-negative forms, the abbreviated form hadn't is also used:
He hadn't worked
Hadn't he worked?
an earlier action in the past, expressed by the verb in Past Indefinite:
I told you I had met her.
(I told you that I met her)
When she had closed the suitcase, she put on her coat.
(Closing the suitcase, she put on her coat)
In the darkness he couldn't see the man who had spoken.
(In the dark, he couldn't see the person who said it)
The sun had set and it became dark.
(The sun had already set. It was getting dark)
The form was becoming dark expresses an action that took place at a specific time period in the past (the sun has set by that time period)
Notes.
- During the list of past actions in the sequence in which they occurred, verbs are used in:
I opened the door, closed it and went into the bedroom.
(I opened the door, closed it and went to the bedroom)
- In a complex sentence with conjunctions after after and before before. When there is no need to specifically note that one action precedes another, Past Indefinite is used in both the main and subordinate clauses:
He stood motionless after she disappeared.
(He stood still after she was out of sight)
I was a school teacher before I got into the army.
(I was a school teacher before joining the army)
Past Perfect is used to express past action, which has already ended at a certain point in the past. This moment can be indicated by such phrases: by two o'clock by two o'clock, by that time by that time, by the 1st of September by the first of September, etc.:
I had done my homework by eight o'clock.
(By eight o'clock I had already done my homework)
The negative form of the Past Perfect indicates that the action has not ended at a certain point in the past:
I had not read the book by Saturday.
(Before Saturday, I had not read the book yet)
The Past Perfect is used to express an action started up to a certain point in the past and continued up to that moment. In this sense, Past Perfect is used mainly with verbs that do not have the Continuous form:
When he came, I had been there for half an hour.
(When he came, I had already been there for half an hour)
After she had worked, he went to her side and watched her.
(After she worked for a while, he came over and watched her)
In subordinate clauses of time and condition, Past Perfect is used to express a past action that was future relative to the past:
She said that she would go home as soon as she had passed all her exams.
(She said she would go home as soon as she passed all her exams)
In this case past perfect translated into Russian in the form of the future tense.
Using Future Perfect Tense.
Future Perfect Tense formed with the help of the auxiliary verb to have in and past participles (Past Participle) of the main verb:
I will have done.
He (She, It) will have done.
We (You, They) will have done.
In the interrogative form, the first auxiliary verb will is placed before the subject:
Will he have done?
In the negative form, the particle not is placed after the first auxiliary verb will:
He will not have done.
In oral speech, the same abbreviations are used as in Future Indefinite:
I'll have done; I won't have done.
The Future Perfect is used to express a future action that will end at a certain moment or at the beginning of another action in the future:
You'll have forgotten me by then.
(By then you'll forget me)
You'll have to read the story by the time you come back.
(I'll read the story while you get back)
In subordinate clauses of time and condition, instead of Future Perfect, we use:
Her room will be ready before she has finished her tea.
(Her room will be ready before she finishes her tea)
We will get a new flat when they have built the house.
(We will get a new apartment when this house is built)
Using Future Indefinite (Simple) in the Past Tense
In English, the future action, which is considered from the point of view of some moment in the past, is expressed by a separate form of the verb, which is called Future Indefinite in the Past.
This time is used in stories about past events when retelling in indirect speech or thoughts of another person regarding the future time:
In his letter Peter wrote that he would go to Warsaw in January.
(In his letter, Peter wrote that he would go to Warsaw in January)
Future Indefinite in the past is formed using the auxiliary verbs should and would and the infinitive of the main verb without the particle to:
I should work (I'd work)
He would work (He'd work)
She would work (She'd work)
We should work (We'd work)
You would work (You'd work)
They would work (They'd work)
In brackets are abbreviated forms that are used in oral speech.
In the interrogative form, the auxiliary verb is placed before the subject:
Would they work?
In the negative form, after the auxiliary verb, the particle is used not:
She wouldn't work (She wouldn't work)
Future Indefinite in the Past is used mainly in subordinate clauses, if the verb of the main clause expresses the past action:
We arranged to start the following Saturday from Kingstone.
Harris and I would go down in the morning, and take the boat Chertsey.
George would meet us there.
(We agreed that we would hit the road next Saturday from Kingston.
Hariss and I will leave there in the morning and take the steamboat to Chartsey.
And George will meet us there)
None of the forms of the future tense, including Future Indefinite in the Past, are used in the subordinate clauses of time and condition in English. An action that was future from the point of view of the past is expressed in such sentences by the form
I hope that before we parted, he would tell me what it was.
(I was hoping he would tell me what it was before we parted ways)
I wrote down to you to ask you not to see anyone till I came.
(I wrote to you and asked you not to meet with anyone until I arrived)
Using Future Continuous in the Past Tense
is formed in the same way as , but instead of will, would is used:
He would be working.
She would be working, etc.
Future Continuous in the Past is used instead of Future Continuous mainly in subordinate clauses if the verb predicate is used in the past tense:
He said that at sunset he would be waiting for you.
(He said he'll be waiting for you at sunset)
Verbs that are not used in the continuous form.
A verb in the Continuous form expresses an action as a process that lasts at the moment of speech or at a certain period of time. Verbs whose meaning does not express action as a process, as a rule, are not used in the Continuous form. These include:
a) verbs that express relationships between objects: to be to be; to have have; to possess, to own have; to consist consist; to contain, to hold contain; to belong belong; to depend depend, etc.
b) verbs with the meaning of sensation: to see see; to hear hear; to smell smell; smell;
c) verbs that express desire, feeling, will: to want to want; to wish, to desire wish, want; to love, to like love, like; to hate hate; to refuse refuse; to object mind; agree agree; to prefer prefer;
d) verbs with the meaning of mental activity: to know know: to believe believe; to suppose assume; to recognize learn; to remember remember, recall; to understand understand.
But in oral speech there are cases of using these verbs in the form continuous.
Using the Future Perfect in the Past Tense
Future Perfect in the Past is formed in the same way as , but instead of the auxiliary verb will, the verb should or would is used:
I should have done.
He/She/It would have done
We should have done.
You/They would have done.
Future Perfect in the past is used instead of the Future Perfect mainly in subordinate clauses, if the verb of the main clause expresses the past action:
I thought you would have gone by now.
(I thought I would never find you)
In subordinate clauses of time and condition, instead of Future Perfect in the Past, we use
Using Present Perfect Continuous Tense
The Perfect Continuous tenses express an action that began before the moment of speech (Present Perfect Continuous Tense) or before the moment of speech in the past or future (Past Perfect Continuous and Future Perfect Continuous) and continues / continued up to this moment.
Using Past Perfect Continuous Tense
Past Perfect Continuous formed with an auxiliary verb to be in and present participles of the main verb. The verb in the Past Perfect Continuous does not change by person:
I (he, she, it, we, you, they) had been working.
The interrogative, negative and interrogative-negative forms of the Past Perfect Continuous are formed according to the same rules as the corresponding forms.
Interrogative form: Had you been working?
Negative form: I had not been working; I hadn't been working.
Interrogative-negative form: Had he not been working? Hadn't he been working?
Past Perfect Continuous can also be called Beforepast Continuous. This tense expresses a continuous action that began before some moment in the past, or lasted at this moment, or ended immediately before it. The duration of the action or its beginning is indicated in the same way as in sentences with a verb in Present Perfect Continuous. But in most cases, the duration of the action is not indicated:
I explained that I had been loking for it for the last two hours.
(I explained that I had been looking for him for two hours)
There sat her father. The newspaper he had been reading had dropped on the carpet.
(Her father was sitting there. The newspaper he was reading fell on the carpet)
With verbs that don't have a form Continuous, instead of Past Perfect Continuous, Past Perfect is used.
When we came to see Kate, she had been ill for three days.
(When we came to visit Katya, she had been sick for three days)
After consideration tenses in English with examples remains to be summed up.
Outcome
The previous sections have discussed in detail tenses in English - how are they formed and what they mean. When you get to know them, it seems like a lot different options, it is difficult to get used to the perception of complex language structures and quickly recognize what is said or written. Especially if you speak or write on your own. Simple rules will help you navigate:
- The 3rd form of an irregular verb (for example, spoken) occurs only in the regular perfect. Since the 2nd only appears in the Simple Past, it is also easy enough for the correct ones to distinguish between them.
- The gerund (for example, speaking) is used only when describing long actions, whether it is the usual Continuous or, in addition, with the perfect.
- The word been occurs only in Perfect Cont
Having recognized the continuum and perfect forms, it is already quite easy to deal with the attitude to the present moment. Will ('ll) is exclusively in the future. The 2nd form of the verb, was (were) and had - only in the past. But you need to get used to the correct word order. After a certain training, it is impossible to make a mistake, standard schemes are firmly eaten into memory. A person automatically recognizes speech with the words "been" and long modal sequences as "abstruse", which is better not to copy in everyday life.
The cornerstone for anyone who learns English is his time. You dismantled the group Simple(Indefinite) and everything seems to be clear and easy. And you start the next one, and your head is already a mess. How not to just learn 12 tenses in english, but also to understand them in order to really use them in speech, and not bury them in the “useful knowledge” section somewhere deeper in your head?
"Dreams and everyday life of a worm" - this visual table, which at one time blew up the Internet and helped millions stop making mistakes in time. If you are also "swimming" in this topic, take picture c examples yourself. Place on your desktop or print and hang in a conspicuous place.
And right now, go through all 12 tenses. Learning fun like children and easy to remember times in English!
Group Present (present)
Simple (Indefinite, simple): I eat apples every day. - I eat apples every day.
Continuous (long): We are eating the same apple now. We are eating the same apple now.
Perfect (completed): I have already eaten this apple. I have already eaten this apple.
Perfect Continuous (completed-long): I have been eating this apple since early morning. I have been eating this apple since early morning.
Group Past (past tense)
Simple (Indefinite): I ate apples yesterday. - I ate apples yesterday.
Continuous: I was eating an apple when my mother came. I was eating an apple when my mother came.
Perfect: We had already eaten apples when we began to eat plums. We had already eaten apples when we started eating plums.
Perfect Continuous: I had been eating apples for two hours when my friend arrived. I had been eating apples for 2 hours when my friend came.
Group Future (future tense)
Simple (Indefinite): I will eat apples in summer. I will eat apples in summer.
Continuous: I will be eating apples at 5 o'clock tomorrow. I will be eating apples at 5 o’clock tomorrow.
Perfect: I will have eaten this apple before the midnight. I will eat this apple before midnight.
Perfect Continuous: I will have been eating this apple for two hours before the guard comes. I will have been eating this apple for 2 hours before the watchman appears.
Friends, and finally, a useful tip: try to understand, not memorize 12 times of the English language. You need to clearly understand how the next tense differs from the one you have already studied. If you can't see the difference yet, it's best to stop and perfect that piece, and then move on.
Also, be sure to practice. At home, at work, with friends. We are sure that your environment will understand and support the desire to improve English. And you, thus, will bring the learned rules from passive into active colloquial speech. Good luck to you and good mood!
