Verbal tenses

Present tenses

Present simple

habitual or recurring actions

facts the are always true

fixed hours

affermative form

sub+base form

I play my guitar

negative form

sub+don't/doesn't+base form

I don't like music

he doesn't want a pizza

narrative present

suggestion/advice

Present continous

describe illustrations

express repeated actions

express the temporariness of a action in the period in which we speak

affermative form

sub+present of to be+ing form

She's eating an apple

negative form

sub+negative form of to be+ing form

I'm not eating tuor slice of pizza!

actions in progress

Past tenses

Past simple

finished actions in the past

regular verbs

affermative form

sub+base form+ed

I finished my book

negative form

sub+didn't+base form

She didn't play music

irregular verbs

they have their own form

Be: was/were

Go: went

Do: did

habits in the past

Past continous

action that was taking place at a time in the past

affermative form

sub+was/were+ing form

I was eating my burger

negative form

sub+wasn't/weren't+ing form

we weren't watching TV

Perfect tenses

Present perfect simple

Time not yet completes

the duration is not yet over

the past is indefinite

affermative tense

sub+have/has+past participle

I have never visited Rome

she has arrived this morning

negative tense

sub+haven't/hasn't+past participle

I haven't finished my homework yet

she hasn't published her book yet

Present perfect continous

duration of an unfinished action, started in the past and continue in the future

action just completed, the effects of which are visible in the present

affermative tense

sub+have/has+been+ing form

Tom is muddy. He's been playing football

negative tense

sub+haven't/hasn't+been+ing form

she hasn't been studying

Past perfect simple

action occured before another action in the past

affermative tense

sub+had+past participle

we had worked hard

negative tense

sub+hadn't+past participle

they hadn't travelled a lot

Past perfect continous

highlight the action during its implemention

affermative tense

sub+had+been+ing form

I was tired. I have been working hard

negative tense

sub+had not+been+ing form

she hadn't working hard

Future tense

Will

previsions based on what one thinks or expect will happen

express agreement and desagreement

to make raccomandations

affermative form

sub+will+base form

I will be late tonight

negative form

sub+will not+base form

we won't get a pay rise

to express an unpremeditable decision

To be going to

to talk about intentions about future plans

I'm going to Spain this summer

Present continous

action definitely programmed

we are moving to London the next month

Present simple

to talk about trasport timetables

Conditional tenses

Zero conditional

to make refers to general truths, such as scientific facts

relative clause

If+present simple

If you heat water,

main clause

Present simple

it boils

First conditional

for real or objective hypothesis

relative clause

If+present simple

If she invites me,

main clause

future simple

I will go to the party

Second conditional

consequence of an unrealistic action or situation in the present or future

relative clause

If+past simple

If I were you,

main clause

would+ infinitive

I would buy that shirt

suggestions

Third conditional

to imagine a different past

relative clause

If+past perfect

If I had understood the instructions properly,

main clause

would have+past participle

I would have passed the exam

imagine the different result of a past action

Mixed

to imagine a past change with a result in the present

1. Past/Present

a change in the past has a result in the present

relative clause

If+past perfect

If I hadn't got the job in Tokyo,

main clause

would+infinitive

I wouldn't be with my current partner

to imagine a present change with result in the past

2.Present/Past

the effects of a different situation in the present would mean that the past was different as well

relative clause

If+past simple

It is really important. If it wasn't,

main clause

would have+past participle

I wouldn't have called you on your holiday