Tenses Infographics

Past

Simple

Past

Finished time word

Used with

yesteday

last night

in 2003

6 months ago

Finished time period

Details of new

Use with

the present perfect

Actions in stories

Use with

past continuous

Present/future

Unreal/ imaginary things

Use with

wish

it's time

second conditional

Continuous

Ovelapping action

Use with

when + past simple

two o'clock

7 pm

Story Background

Use with

the past simple

Some Past Habits

Use with

always

forever

constantly

at that time

in those days

Emphasis Of Length Of Action

Use with

all day

all evening

for hours

Perfect

Action Finished Before Another Past Action

Use with

when + past simple

june (Month)

last Tuesday

How Long To A Point In The Past

Use with

when + past simple

for + time

Unreal Thing In The Past

Use with

third conditionals

wish

Perfect Continuous

How Long To A Point In The Past

Use with

when + past simple

for + time

Result At A Time In The Past

Use with

the past simple

Present

Simple

Present

Always True

Permanent Situations

Habits

Use with

twice a month

on fridays

often

sometimes

Short Actions Now

Future

Future Timetables

Use with

this evening

at 10 o'clock

tomorrow

Future In Time Clausses

Use with

until

when

as soon as

after

before

Continuous

Present

Unfinished Actions Now

Use with

now

at the moment

Temporary Habits

Use with

at the moment

these days

Temporary situations

Use with

at the moment

for a few weeks

for a couple of months

Annoying Habits

Use with

always

forever

constantly

Future

Definite Future Plans

Use with

tomorrow

later

at 7pm Tonight

on tuesday

Perfect Simple

Finished

Life Experience

Use with

ever

never

New/Recent Events

Use with

just

yet

already

recently

Present Result

Unfinished Time Word

Use with

this week

today

this month

this year

Unfinished

How Long

Use with

since 2010

since July

for ten years

for three days

Perfect Continuous

Finished

Present Result

Unfinished

How Long

Use with

since 2010

since July

for ten years

for three days

Temporary Situations

Use with

recently

Future

Simple

Will

Future Prediction

Promises/Requests/Refusals/Offers

Future Conditionals

Use with

the first conditional

Be Going To

Plans and Intentions

Future Prediction

Continuous

Overlapping Actions

Use with

when + present simple

at 8pm

Future As A Matter Of Course

Use with

later

tonight

next week on the 2nd of september

Prefect Simple

How Long To A Point In The Future

Use with

when + present simple

by the time + present simple

for + time

Action Finished Before A Point in the Future

Use with

by three o'clock

by Friday

when + present simple

by the time + present simple

Perfect Continuous

How Long To A Point In The Future

Use with

when + present simple

by the time + present simple

for + time

Action Finished Before A Point In The Future

Use with

when + present simple

by the time + present simple