Verbal tenses of english

Past

Simple

uses

Can let us about something that already happened

Can let us about an action that already finished

characteristics

Ending

Irregular verbs

Different endings

Regular verbs

Ending (ed)

structures

+

subject + verb + ed + complement

-

subject + didn´t + verb + complement

?

Did + subject + verb + complement + ?

Examples

+

Tomas played soccer yesterday

-

Tomas didn't play soccer yesteday

?

Did tomas play soccer yesterday?

Continuous

uses

Shows a past action that was happening at a specific moment

Can show two actions that were happening at a specific moment

characteristics

In these sentences often the personal pronouns are shortened into a contraction

I'm, you're, he's, she's, it's, we're, they're

structures

+

subject + was / were + verb + ing + complement

-

subject + wasn't / weren't + verb + ing + complement

?

was / were + subject + verb + ing + complement+?

Examples

+

Felipe was watching TV last nigh

-

Felipe wasn't watching TV last nigh

?

Was Felipe watching TV last nigh?

Perfect

uses

Is used to show an action that happened bebore another action in the past

characteristics

It doesent matter which event is mentioned first

structures

+

Subject + had + past participle verb + complement

-

Subject + had + not + past participle verb + complement

?

Had + Subject + past participle verb + complement

Examples

+

Carlos had gone out when I called him

-

Carlos hadn't gone out when I called him

?

Had Carlos gone out when i called him?

Perfect continuous

uses

Is used to let us about an accion that started in the past till another started

structures

+

Subject + had + been + Verb + ing

-

Subject + had + not + been + Verb + ing

?

Had + subject + been + Verb + ing + ?

Examples

+

Laura had been trying to repair the hoodie yesterday

-

Laura hadn't been trying to repair the hoodie yesterday

?

Had Laura been trying repair the hoodie yesterday?

Future

Simple

uses

Can let us about an action that havent happened yet

structures

+

subject + will + verb + complement

-

subject + will + not + verb + complement

?

Will + subject + verb + complement + ?

Examples

+

He will play basketball

-

He won't play basketball

?

Will he play basketball?

Continuous

uses

Can describe an unfinidhed action in progess at a time later than now

characteristics

is used for different purposes

structures

+

subject + will + be + verb + ing + complement

-

subject + will + not + be + verb + ing + complement

?

Will + subject + be + verb + ing + complement+?

Examples

+

I will be waiting for you

-

I won’t be waiting for you

?

Will you be waiting for me?

Perfect

uses

Is used to show an action that will be finished till other future event

structures

+

Subject +will + have + past participle verb + complement

-

Subject + will + not + have + past participle verb + complement

?

Will + Subject + have + past participle verb + complement

Examples

+

we‘ll have earned lots of money next week

-

We wont have won the match next week

?

Will We have won the match next week

Perfect continuous

uses

Is used to let us about an accion that will continue till a particular time

structures

+

Subject + Will + Have been + Verb + ing

-

Subject + will + not + have been + Verb + ing

?

Will + subject + Have been + Verb + ing + ?

Examples

+

I will have been working for seven hours

-

I won't have been working on monday

?

Will you have been working on monday?

Present

Present

Simple

uses

Can let us about an action that is happening now

Is used when an action happens regulary

characteristics

He , She, it

Ending (s)

I, You, We, You, They

Infinitive verb

structures

+

subject + verb (Infinitive ending or "s") + complement

-

subject + Do / Does + verb + not + complement

?

Do / Does + subject + verb + complement + ?

Examples

+

I prefer my coffee black

-

I dont't prefer my coffee black

?

Do you prefer your coffee black?

Continuous

uses

Can describe two actions that are happening now

structures

+

subject + be + verb + ing + complement

-

subject + be + not + + verb + ing + complement

?

be + subject + verb + ing + complement+?

Examples

+

She is listening the music now

-

She isn´t listening the music now

?

Is she listening the music now?

Perfect

uses

Is used to show an action that happened in the past but it continues today

characteristics

It can be used to talk about experiences

structures

+

Subject + have / has + past participle verb + complement

-

Subject + have / has + not + past participle verb + complement

?

Have / has + Subject + past participle verb + complement

Examples

+

I have cleaned my room

-

I haven't cleaned my room

?

Have I cleaned my room?

Perfect continuous

uses

Is used to let us about an accion that started in the past till now

Structure

+

Subject + have / has + been + Verb + ing

-

Subject + have / has + not + been + Verb + ing

?

Have / has + subject + been + Verb + ing + ?

Examples

+

She has been listening music

-

She hasn´t been listening music

?

Has she been listening music?

By Wilson Aguirre