We use the future perfect and the future perfectcontinuous tenses to talk about a future event or situation that will have happened or will have been going on for a period of time at some point in the future.
By next March, wewill have been married for three years. (future perfect)
Next March, I will have been working here for six months. (future perfect continuous)
Future perfect
We use the future perfect to talk about events that will have happened or been completed by a particular time. These are usually plans or predictions.
This time next year, I’ll have finished my course.
Will you have finished the report by this afternoon?
Future perfect continuous
We use the future perfect continuous to talk about an on-going event or situation that will still be in progress at a particular time. It is often used with a for time phrase to say how long the activity will have been in progress for. In informal speaking and writing, you can leave out for.
On July 2nd I will have been living in Dubai for six months.
By the time the bus gets here, we’ll have been waiting(for)over an hour.
Sometimes you can use either the future perfect or the future perfect continuous. We use the future perfect continuous when we want to emphasis the continuous nature of an action.
In June I’ll have worked for this company for two years.
In June I’ll have been working for this company for two years.
We can use the future perfect continuous to show cause and effect in the future.
He’ll be tired when he gets back because he’ll have been playing tennis all afternoon.
Take note: time phrases with by
Both the future perfect and the future perfect continuous are used with time phrases when making predictions.
These often begin with by or in, for example by the summer, by the end of the week, (by) this time next week/month/year.
By this time next year, house prices will have doubled in the city.
In January, I’ll have been travelling for three months.
Take note: present simple in time phrases with future perfect and future perfect continuous
If the time phrase begins with when or by the time (that),then the verb that follows in the time phrase is in the present simple,not the future simple.
WRONG: Is he on his way? By the timehe will get here, the party will have finished!
CORRECT: Is he on his way? By the time hegets here, the party will have finished!
WRONG:When you willcome in the summer, we’ll have been living in this house for two years!
CORRECT: When you come in the summer, we’ll have been living in this house for two years!
Take note: future perfect and future perfect continuous for assumption
We can use both the future perfect and the future perfect continuous to say what we believe or imagine has/hasn’t happened or has/hasn’t been happening.
They won’t have arrived yet. They only left twenty minutes ago.
Sam didn’t come home last night. He’ll have been working all night to get his report finished in time.
Form
Future perfect positive
subject + will + have + past participle of main verb
We’ll have sold the house by Christmas, I’m sure.
Future perfect negative
subject + won’t + have + past participle of main verb
Natalie won’t have caught the train. She left the house too late.
Question
will / won’t + subject + have + past participle of main verb
Will they have heard the news do you think?
Future perfect continuous positive
subject + will + have + been + present participle of main verb
She’ll have been travelling all day.
Future perfect continuous negative
subject + won’t + have + been + present participle of main ver
They won’t have been watching the final. They went out.
Question
will / won’t + subject + have + been + present participle of main verb
Will she have been working there long when they relocate?
We use different tenses to describe the time that the verb refers to.
Future Continuous Tense
We use the future continuous tense to talk about things that will happen over a period of time in the future.
Like simple future, we can use either “will” or “going to” with the future continuous tense, but unlike simple future, there is no difference in meaning.
Note: Like all continuous tenses, you can’t use them with stative verbs, or the stative forms of mixed verbs.
Forming Future Continuous with will:
Subject
Will
Be
Main Verb (Present
Participle)
Rest of Sentence
I, you, he, she, it, we, they
will
be
driving
at 10:00 pm tonight.
Forming Future Continuous with going to:
Subject
Present Tense “To Be” verb
Going To
Be
Main Verb (Present Participle)
Rest of Sentence
I
am
going to
be
driving
at 10:00 pm tonight.
You, we, they
are
going to
be
driving
at 10:00 pm tonight.
He, she, it
is
going to
be
driving
at 10:00 pm tonight.
Using the Future Continuous Tense
Future Events that Last a While
Use future continuous tense to talk about future events that happen over a period of time.
When we go to Japan next summer, we will be staying with my aunt.
I’ll be eating dinner with Janice tomorrow, so I can tell her you said, “Hello.”
Marcel will be working in the office for the next three hours.
Future Actions that are Interrupted by Something
Use future continuous tense to talk about future actions that are interrupted by another action (the interrupting action is in a present-tense time clause)
I’ll be driving when you call.
Justin is going to be waiting at the station when your train arrives.
Alice will be getting out of soccer practice when you pick her up.
Sometimes, the “interrupting” action is just a specific time. In this case, the action started before the time mentioned, and continued after the time.
Josh will be working at midnight.
This time next year, I will be sitting on a beach in Australia.
By next week, Tina will be teaching medical students.
Asking Politely about the Future
You can use the question form of the future continuous tense to ask a polite, formal question about the future. If you use future simple tense, the meaning would be the same, but it would be slightly more informal and less polite.
Will you be bringing your husband to the office party?
Will we be sharing a room at the hotel?
Are you going to be taking your dog on the road trip?
Ongoing Events with “Still”
Use “still” with the future continuous tense to talk about an action that has started in the present, but is expected to continue into the future.
At 8:00 pm, I will still be cleaning my house.
Even if we stop all carbon emissions now, the earth will still be warming up for 20 years.
I will still be trying to understand romance when I am 90 years old.
Negative Statements
To make negative statements with the future continuous:
add “not” before “going to”
add “not” after “will.” (the most common form is “won’t”)
I am not going to be working after 5:00 pm.
Oliver won’t be finishing his homework any time soon.
Sophie and Charlotte are not going to be waiting when you finally arrive.
Question Forms
Information Questions about the Subject:
To make a question about the subject of a sentence, use a question word as the subject. The form is:
question word + will + be + main verb (present participle) + rest of sentence
question word + “to be” verb + going to + main verb (present participle) + rest of sentence
??? is going to be traveling to Taiwan next month. –>
Who is going to be traveling to Taiwan next month?
??? people will be riding on the bus. –>
How many people will be riding on the bus?
???’s mother will be picking up the kids. –>
Whose mother will be picking up the kids?
Questions about the Verb or Words after the Verb:
To make a yes/no question about the verb or words after the verb with the future continuous tense, put either the “will” or the “to be” verb before the subject:
Will + subject + be + main verb (present participle) + rest of sentence
“To be” verb + going to + main verb (present participle) + rest of sentence
Are you going to be working late tonight?
Will you be driving home at 6:00?
Will Ashley be waiting for me after school?
Is she going to be eating Thanksgiving dinner with your parents?
To make an open-ended question, put a question word (who, what, where, when, why, how) at the beginning of the sentence.
Why are you going to be working late tonight?
When will you be driving home?
Where will Ashley be waiting for me?
Why is she going to be eating Thanksgiving dinner with your parents?
Are you ready to see how well you know the Future Continuous Tense ?
We use different tenses to describe the time that the verb refers to.
Future Perfect Tense
We use the future perfect tense when we view events from a future point in time, and talk about events that happened up to and before it.
Forming Future Perfect with will:
Subject
Will
Have
Main Verb (Past
Participle)
Rest of Sentence
I, you, he, she, it, we, they
will
have
prepared
dinner by the time you arrive.
Forming Future Perfect with going to:
Subject
Present Tense “To Be” verb
Going To
Have
Main Verb (Past Participle)
Rest of Sentence
I
am
going to
have
prepared
dinner by the time you arrive.
You, we, they
are
going to
have
prepared
dinner by the time you arrive.
He, she, it
is
going to
have
prepared
dinner by the time you arrive.
Using the Future Perfect Tense
A Completed Event Before a Future Point in Time
Use this tense to talk about something that will happen before a specific time in the future. Time clauses beginning with “by,” “by the time,” “when,” and “before” and using verbs in the simple present are often used to express the “specific future time.”
By the time I am 35, I will have been to all seven continents.
In October, I’m going to have lived in this apartment for a year.
My mom hopes she will have retired by the time she is 65.
By 6:00 pm, I will have finished my work, and I could meet you for dinner.
Note: Like all perfect tenses, we don’t know when exactly the main action happened, but just that it happened before a specific point in time.
Duration up to a Future Point (for Stative Verbs)
Use this tense to talk about an action that starts and then continues up to a specific point in the future.
Note: The Future Perfect is only used for stative (non-continuous) verbs. For action (continuous) verbs, use the present perfect continuous tense.
By the time we graduate from college, Beth and I are going to have been best friends for 20 years.
In 2018, Joanie will have lived in Paris for 3 years.
Lucy and Daniel will have known each other for 5 years when they get married in June.
Negative Statements
To make negative statements with the future perfect:
add “not” before “going to”
add “not” after “will.” (the most common form is “won’t”)
I won’t have seen you for ten years when you pick me up tomorrow.
Satoko won’t have finished her essay by the time it is due.
Maria and Lucinda aren’t going to have eaten when they arrive.
Question Forms
Information Questions about the Subject:
To make a question about the subject of a sentence, use a question word as the subject. The form is:
question word + will + have + main verb (past participle) + rest of sentence
question word + “to be” verb + going to + have + main verb (past participle) + rest of sentence
??? is going to have studied before the test tomorrow. –>
Who is going to have studied before the test tomorrow?
??? people will have ridden on the rollercoaster before it’s torn down. –>
How many people will have ridden on the rollercoaster before it’s torn down?
???’s sister will have taught the kids to sing in time for the Christmas show. –>
Whose sister will have taught the kids to sing in time for the Christmas show?
Questions about the Verb or Words after the Verb:
To make a yes/no question about the verb or words after the verb with the future perfect tense, put either the “will” or the “to be” verb before the subject:
Will + subject + be + main verb (present participle) + rest of sentence
“To be” verb + going to + main verb (present participle) + rest of sentence
Are you going to have drunk too much by the time you leave the party?
Will you have decorated the house before the guests arrive?
Will Sally have prepared a room for me by the time I get there?
Is she going to have paid the phone bill before it’s overdue?
To make an open-ended question, put a question word (who, what, where, when, why, how) at the beginning of the sentence.
Why are you going to have drunk too much by the time you leave the party?
What will you have decorated the house with before the guests arrive?
Who willhave prepared a room for me by the time I get there?
How is she going to have paid the phone bill before it’s overdue?
Future Perfect Uses
The future perfect is complicated to form, but has one simple use: to view a completed action or event from a particular point in the future. The event described is incomplete (or has not started) in the present.
He will have read the book by tomorrow. (Buthehasnotreaditnow.)
The future perfect is therefore used to describe something that willbecompleteatacertain
pointinthefuture.
They will have learned everything by the end of the year.
It should not be confused with the other future tenses, as it is the only future tense that tells us a verb will be complete. The simple tenses can show intent to finish, but the future perfect shows something will be finished at a certain time.
I will finish my book tomorrow. (Theactionisplannedtobecompletedata
future time.)
I will have finished my book tomorrow. (Theactionwillbecompletedatafuture time.)
Are you ready to see how well you know the Future Perfect Tense ?
We use different tenses to describe the time that the verb refers to.
Future Tense
There are many ways to talk about the future in English. “Will” and “going to” are both used to talk about events happening at specific times in the future, but they are often used to express different meanings. Sometimes, the simple present or present continuous tenses are used to talk about the future.
Will
To make the simple future with “will,” put “will” between a subject and the base form of a verb:
Subject
Will
Base Form of Verb
Rest of Sentence
I, you, he, she, it, they, we
will
go
to the movies.
Note: The contraction “’ll,” as in “I’ll,” “she’ll,” and “he’ll” is vastly more common in spoken English than saying “will.” “Won’t” is the most common spoken form of “will not.”
Going To
To make the simple future with “going to,” put the subject, then a conjugated “to be” verb, then “going to” and the base form of a verb:
Subject
Present Tense “To Be” Verb
Going To
Base Form of Verb
Rest of Sentence
I
am
going to
leave
before the guests arrive.
he/she/it
is
going to
leave
before the guests arrive.
They, we, you
are
going to
leave
before the guests arrive.
Note: “Going to” is often pronounced like “gonna” in spoken English.
Will: Voluntary Actions, Promises, Requests, and Refusals
“Will” often expresses that an action will be done voluntarily in the future. It is also the most common way to ask someone to do something.
I’ll go to the doctor with you, if you want.
Will you help me with the laundry?
Jamie will call you back tomorrow.
I’ll give you the report in the morning, I swear!
I will never forget what you did for me.
Marian won’t need a swimsuit in Alaska.
Will you give me a hand with the groceries?
Will: Unplanned Decisions for the Future
When you want to express that you just made a decision to do something, use “will.”
Situation: The doorbell rings.
Response: “I’ll get it!”
Situation: A street vendor says that he’s selling flowers.
Response: “I’ll take one!”
Situation: Your roommate says you’re out of paper towels.
Response: “I’ll get some when I go to the store today.”
Going To: Planned Future Events
Use “Going to” to express that an action will happen in the future has already been planned or intended.
I’m going to take a trip to London this summer.
Did you hear that Chris is going to get married?
We’re going to play poker with our friends tonight.
Are you going to finish that cake?
Going To: When Something is Just About to Happen
Stand back! The bomb is going to explode!
I’m going to be sick.
If you don’t get in the car, I’m going to leave without you.
Will and Going to: Making Predictions
Sometimes, either “will” or “going to” can be used to make predictions about the future.
The next president is going to be a woman.
The next president will be a woman.
The Orioles are going to win the World Series next year.
The Orioles will win the world series next year.
It’s more common to use “will” than “going to” to make predictions based on belief about the future, rather than immediate, sensory evidence.
I think he’ll make a great employee.
You act like the world will end if you don’t get an A+.
Humans willreach Mars within the next 100 years.
Use “going to” to make a future prediction based on signs and evidence in the present moment:
Your parents are going to freak out when they see your tattoo.
I feel sick. I think I’m going to throw up.
The clouds have been gathering for hours. It’s going to rain soon.
The score is 52-14. Our team isgoing to win!
Negative Statements
To make the negative with the simple future tenses:
add “not” before “going to”
add “not” after “will.” (the most common form is “won’t”)
I am not going to be happy about this.
She won’t come out of her room.
They won’t be able to make it to the party.
He is not going to drive anymore.
Question Forms
Information Questions about the Subject:
To make a question about the subject of a sentence, use a question word as the subject. The form is:
question word + will + main verb (base form) + rest of sentence
question word + “to be” verb + going to + main verb (base form) + rest of sentence
??? is going to travel to Mexico. –>
Who is going to travel to Mexico?
??? people will need better healthcare. –>
How many people will need better healthcare?
???’s teacher is going to dye her hair blue. –>
Whose teacher is going to dye her hair blue?
Questions about the Verb or Words after the Verb:
To make a yes/no question about the verb or words after the verb with the future simple tense, put either the “will” or the “to be” verb before the subject:
Will + subject + verb + rest of sentence
“To be” verb + subject + going to + verb + rest of sentence
Are you going to go to a doctor?
Will you promise me that you won’t lie to me again?
Will Ashley help me with my research?
Is she going to take the job in Spain?
To make an open-ended question, put a question word (who, what, where, when, why, how) at the beginning of the sentence.
Why are you going to go to a doctor?
When will you promise me that you won’t lie to me again?
We use different tenses to describe the time that the verb refers to.
Present Perfect Continuous Tense
Like the present perfect tense, the present perfect continuous tense (also known as the present progressive) can refer to either the present or the past time. Generally, it refers to actions that happened over a period of time and recently stopped. Sometimes it can be used interchangeably with the Present Perfect Tense, and other times the tense changes the meaning significantly.
We form the present perfect continuous tense by using has or have, followed by been, and then the main verb in present participle form.
Subject
Has
or Have
Been
Verb
(present participle)
Rest of Sentence
I/you/we/they
have
been
watching
television.
he/she/it/Jane
has
been
watching
television.
Note: Stative Verbs
Some verbs, called “stative” or “non-continuous” verbs, can’t be used in continuous tenses. Others can be used in continuous tenses, but their meaning changes. Make sure you understand the difference between stative and non-stative verbs while using present perfect continuous and all continuous tenses. You can find more information here.
The Present Perfect Continuous in the Present Time
Ongoing Actions
Like the present perfect, we can use the present perfect continuous tense to talk about an action that was started in the past, but is ongoing or incomplete at the time of writing or speaking. We use for to indicate a duration of the action, and since to indicate a specific time the action started.
I have been living in California for three years.
How long have you been waiting here?
We have been cooking since the morning.
Some of these have the same meaning in Present Perfect and present perfect continuous.
When describing biographical data using “for” or “since,” you can use either one:
I have been living in California for three years.
I have lived in California for three years.
When you use the present perfect continuous, it implies a shorter-term duration:
I have worked on boats since I was young. (present perfect; long-term)
I have been working on this boat for three weeks. (present perfect continuous; short-term)
Describing Actions that have been Happening Recently
You can use any duration of time with the present perfect continuous, but if you don’t specify how long something has been happening, the assumption is that it has been happening “recently” or “lately.” You can add these words to emphasize the currentness of the action.
I have been swimming a lot these days.
It’s been snowing a lot in New York.
What have you been learning?
Jocelyn has been exercising more recently.
How have you been doing?
The Present Perfect Continuous in the Past Time
Describing Actions that have Just Stopped
If you are talking about events that just stopped, and often have some visible result in the present use the continuous tense:
I have been riding my bike, that’s why I’m so sweaty.
Why are you covered in flour? – “I’ve been baking.”
Often, using the present perfect continuous describes an action that has just stopped, but isn’t fully completed. In these cases, the present perfect would describe the same action as completely finished.
I have been writing my novel. (Meaning: I spent some time working on it, but I’m done for now.)
I have written my novel. (Meaning: It’s finally finished!)
The present perfect continuous can also be used to emphasize that something happened repeatedly.
Your mother has been calling. (Meaning: Your mother called several times, though she has stopped now.)
You mother has called. (Meaning: Your mother called once.)
Negative Statements
To make the negative with the present perfect continuous tense, just add “not” after “has” or “have.” You can also use the contractions “haven’t” and “hasn’t.”
I have not been going to class.
She hasn’t beeneating enough.
They haven’t beendating for long.
Question Forms
Information Questions about the Subject
To make a question about the subject of a sentence, use a question word as the subject. the form is: question word + “have/has” + been + main verb (ing) + rest of sentence:
??? has been playing video games. –>
Who has been playing video games?
??? people have been living here. –>
How many people have been living here?
???’s brother has been fixing the car. –>
Whose brother has been fixing the car?
Questions about the Verb or Words after the Verb
To make a yes/no question about the verb or words after the verb with the present perfect continuous tense, put “has “or “have” before the subject.
Have you beenseeing a doctor?
Have I been making dinner?
Has she been hiking in the mountains yet?
To make an open-ended question about the verb or words after the verb with the present perfect continuous tense, put a question word (who, what, where, when, why, how) before the “has “or “have” and subject:
We use different tenses to describe the time that the verb refers to.
Present continuous tense
also known as the present progressive, is most often used to talk about actions that are happening right now, temporary situations, and annoying habits. Like the simple present, it can also be used to talk about definite future plans.
It is formed by using the present tense of “to be” (am/are/is) and the present participle (ending in “-ing”) of a verb.
Subject
Simple present tense of “to be”
Present Participle
I
am
cooking.
you/you all/we/they
are
cooking
he/she/it/Anthony
is
cooking.
Note: Stative Verbs
Some verbs, called “stative” or “non-continuous” verbs, can’t be used in continuous tenses. Others can be used in continuous tenses, but their meaning changes. Make sure you understand the difference between stative and non-stative verbs while using present continuous and all continuous tenses. You can find more information here.
When to use the Present Continuous Tense
Temporary Actions Happening Now
When an activity is happening at the time of speaking, use the present continuous tense.
Margaret is sleeping now.
People are beginning to take their seats for the performance.
You are wearing my gloves.
In English, “now” can refer to “right at this moment,” “today,” “this week,” and even “this year.” We can also use the present continuous tense to talk about actions of a longer duration that we aren’t necessarily doing at the moment of speaking.
Dr. Johnson is teaching at the University of Kansas this year.
I’m reading an interesting book about space exploration.
Andrew is taking two math classes this semester.
The present continuous emphasizes the temporariness of an action. When you want to stress that something is not going to last long, use the present continuous. Use the simple present for ongoing actions or states that are more permanent.
I am living in London this year. (Temporary; present continuous)
I live in London. (More permanent; simple present)
Abby is working as a waiter until she finds a job in technology. (Temporary)
Jacob works as a programmer for Google. (More permanent)
Definite Future Plans
Like the simple present tense, you can use the present continuous to talk about things that are almost certain to happen.
Elaine is meeting her mom for lunch tomorrow.
Next year, I’m finding a quieter place to live.
Are you leaving town tomorrow?
Annoying Habits
Normally, we use the simple present to talk about habits, or things that happen all the time. However, if you want to emphasize that we don’t like the action, use the present continuous tense with a frequency expression (always, constantly, continually, all the time)
Jessica is always complaining about her job.
You are constantly losing your glasses.
Bunnies are continually destroying my herb garden!
New or Temporary Habits
You can also use the present continuous to describe new or temporary habits. In this case, it doesn’t mean the actions are annoying. To make your meaning clear, it can help to add a word that emphasizes that the action is new or temporary, like “now” or “recently.’
You’reeating too much fast food these days.
She is jogging every morning now.
The newlyweds are calling each other “Snugglebear” and “Pookie.”
Slowly Changing Situations
When we talk about gradually changing situations, or developing states, we also use the present continuous tense.
The earth is becoming warmer because of the greenhouse effect.
You’regetting better at playing the drums.
The gap between the rich and poor is widening.
Your grades are improving.
Negative Statements
To make the negative with the present continuous tense, just put “not” between the “to be” verb and the present participle:
I am not going to New York with you today.
She is notfeeling well today.
The athletes are not running in this race.
Question Forms
Information Questions about the Subject
To make a question about the subject of a sentence, use a question word as the subject. the form is: question word + “to be” + main verb (ing) + rest of sentence:
??? is playing chess. –>
Who is playing chess?
??? people are coming to the party. –>
How many people are coming to the party?
???’s mom is making cupcakes. –>
Whose mom is making cupcakes?
Questions about the Verb or Words after the Verb
To make a yes/no question about the verb or words after the verb with the present continuous tense, put the “to be” verb before the subject:
Are you eating ice cream?
Are we traveling to Mexico?
Is she coming to dinner?
To make an open question about the verb or words after the verb with the present continuous tense, put the verb before the subject, and a question word (who, what, where, when, why, how) before the verb:
We use different tenses to describe the time that the verb refers to.
Generally, the present perfect tense talks about actions that happened at an unspecified past time and uncompleted actions or events in the present time. It can be tricky because it refers to present time in some contexts, and past time in others. Unlike the simple past tense, the present perfect tense links past to present, often focusing on the effect a past action has on the present moment.
We form the Present Perfect Tense by using has or have, followed by the main verb in past participle form.
Subject
Has or Have
Verb
(past participle)
Rest of Sentence
I/you/we/they
have
eaten
dinner already.
he/she/it/Jane
has
eaten
dinner already.
The Present Perfect in the Present Time
Ongoing Actions
We use the present perfect to talk about an action that was started in the past, but is ongoing or incomplete at the time of writing or speaking. We use for to indicate a duration of the action, and since to indicate a specific time the action started.
I’ve known Janet since we were children.
They have lived in New York for five years.
Uncompleted Actions that you Expect will Change
We can use words like yet or still to indicate an expectation that the action will happen, should have happened, is surprising, or will change.
Jeremy still has not finished the homework assignment.
I haven’t gone to Japan yet, but I plan to go.
The Present Perfect in the Past Time
Life Experience
You use this present perfect tense to talk about past events that happened at an unspecified time in the past. This is kind of like saying “I have the experience of…” You can use it with the words not and never to indicate things you haven’t done.
I have been to Japan many times.
The runner has never lost a race.
Amanda has studied three foreign languages.
I’ve never taken a dance class.
Note: Although you can use the present perfect tense to state that something has happened at an unspecified time, once you want to add precise details to the story, use the simple past or past continuous tenses:
I’ve been to Spain twice. The first time, I went with my parents when I was six years old. I went back after college. While I was traveling in Andalusia, I found a job teaching English to children and stayed for several months.
You can also use the present perfect to talk about multiple actions at happened at different times in the past.
The United States has gone to war in the Middle East four times.
She has consulted many doctors about her illness.
I have traveled to Mexico three times.
Accomplishments
The company has earned over three million dollars.
The United States has won many gold medals in the Olympics.
Scientists have mapped the human genome.
With an Unfinished Time Word
“This year,” “in the last year,” “this week,” “this month,” “today,” and “so far” are examples of time periods that are still ongoing, so you use the present perfect tense.
I have planted four trees this year.
Roger Federer has won the US Open four times so far.
I’ve gone to my aerobics class twice this week.
Negative Statements
To make the negative with the present perfect tense, just add “not” after “has” or “have”:
I have not read that book.
She has not forgotten your birthday.
They have not arrived yet.
Question Forms
Information Questions about the Subject
To make a question about the subject of a sentence, use a question word as the subject. the form is: question word + “have/has” + main verb (past participle) + rest of sentence:
??? has traveled to Spain. –>
Who has traveled to Spain?
??? people have written books about space travel. –>
How many people have written books about space travel?
???’s teacher has dyed her hair blue. –>
Whose teacher has dyed her hair blue?
Questions about the Verb or Words after the Verb
To make a yes/no question about the verb or words after the verb with the present perfect tense, put “has “or “have” before the subject:
Have you been to a doctor?
Have I lost my glasses again?
Has she told you the news yet?
To make an open-ended question with the present perfect tense, put a question word (who, what, where, when, why, how) before the “has “or “have” and subject:
We use different tenses to describe the time that the verb refers to.
Present simple tense
25 Examples of Simple Present Tense Sentences
My father goes to gym every day.
She loves to play basketball.
She thinks he is very handsome.
I run every weekend.
We play tennis every morning.
Does he write an email?
They talk too much.
Does he go to school?
It usually rains every day here.
It smells very delicious in the kitchen.
My son lives in London.
My sisters do the ironing.
They make the bed.
My father always washes the cars.
My teacher sometimes forgets his keys.
I like ice-cream.
The students wear their uniform.
It smells very delicious in the kitchen.
Alex brushes her teeth twice a day.
He getsup early every day.
They speak English in USA.
We generally sing songs all together.
We go to a gallery every Sunday.
They drive their kids to school every day.
We walk slowly.
The simple present tense in English is used to describe actions that are repeated, habitual, true, or factual. Despite the name, you can also use simple present for things that are about to happen in the near future. We also use the simple present when describing states of being or feeling, even if they are temporary.
We form the simple present tense by using the base form of the verb, ie, the infinitive without the “to.” In the third person, we add “-s” or “-es” to the base form.
Subject
Verb (base form or base form + “-s” or “-es”
Rest of Sentence
I/you/we/they
watch
the basketball game.
he/she/it/Matilda
watches
the basketball game.
When to use the Simple Present Tense
Habits and Repeated Actions
If something happens repeatedly, including in the present, use the simple present tense.
The train for Paris leaves at 5:50 am every day.
I get up at 6:00 am on weekdays.
Lucy is happier in the summer.
They go to church every Sunday.
Facts and Generally True Statements
When something is always or generally true, use the simple present tense.
Ice melts if you leave it on the table.
John plays basketball well.
My grandmother comes from England.
Rabbits eat vegetables.
The president of the United States lives in the White House.
The Near future
When something is almost certain to happen soon, you can also use the simple present tense:
I go to college in the fall.
My flight leaves at 7:00 pm tomorrow.
When do you arrive?
I start work next month.
Describing States
We generally use the present continuous (to be + verb-ing) to express things that are temporarily happening right now, but when we want to describe an internal or abstract state, we use simple present tense.
Likes, Dislikes, Desires: like, hate, love, loathe, need, prefer, want
Possession: have, have got, own, belong
Sense: see, hear, touch, taste, smell, sense, feel
Appearance: look, seem, appear
You look worried.
The doctor believes in the power of science to heal.
We need a better car if we want to take a road trip.
I don’t understand computer languages.
You can find more information about stative verbs here.
Negative Statements
To make the negative with the simple present tense of “to be,” just add “not” after it:
I am not happy about this.
She is not going to the party.
They are not here right now.
To make the negative with the simple present tense of other verbs, add “do not” (don’t) or (doesn’t) before the verb:
They don’t look like they’re going to work.
The rose bush doesn’t get enough sun.
Question Forms
Questions with “To Be”
To make a yes/no question with the simple present tense of “to be,” put the verb before the subject:
Are you a doctor?
Am I wrong about this?
Is she hungry?
To make an open-ended question with the simple present tense of “to be,” put the verb before the subject, and a question word (who, what, where, when, why, how) before the verb:
Who makes you breakfast?
When is your flight?
Where are you?
Questions with Other Verbs (not “To Be”)
Information Questions about the Subject
To make a question about the subject of a sentence, use a question word as the subject. The form is: question word + verb + rest of sentence:
??? people shop at this store. –>
How many people shop at this store?
??? knows the answer. –>
Who knows the answer?
???’s sister goes to school here. –>
Whose sister goes to school here?
Questions about the Verb or Words after the Verb
To make a yes/no question about the verb or words after the verb, with the simple present tense of other verbs, put “do” or “does” before the subject and verb:
Do you know the answer?
Does she play basketball with you?
To make an open question about the verb or words after the verb with the simple present tense of other verbs, put a question word before “do” or “does” and the subject.
You know the answer because ???.
How do you know the answer?
She plays basketball at ???.
Where does she play basketball with you?
You eat breakfast at ???.
When do eat breakfast every day?
You do ??? after school.
What do you do after school?
Exercise : Present Tense
Fill in the spaces with the correct form of the verb in simple present tense.
Example: I (play) play the guitar.
Example: Jessica (play) plays the guitar.
1) I (be) _______ sixteen years old. 2) Tommy (live) _______ at 107 Pine Lane. 3) Juana (cook) _______ dinner for her family. 4) They (eat) _______ lunch at 12:00. 5) Nina (take) _______ medicine when she is sick. 6) I (like) _______ chocolate. 7) He (drive) _______ a nice car. 8) We (want) _______ to see a movie tonight. 9) Mr. Anderson (teach) _______ chemistry at Hill High School. 10) They (study) _______ English at school. 11) I (want) _______ to go home now. 12) Bill and Calicia (drive) _______ to the mountains every year. every year. 13) We (eat) _______ pasta once a week. 14) It (snow) _______ here in December. 15) When Dax (take) _______ a shower, he (wash) _______ his hair with shampoo.
Simple Present (interrogative)
1. Write questions as in the example. 1. You / speak English. Do you speak English? 2. She / work hard. 3. They / have dinner at eight 4. Jill and Tom / study at university 5. You / do your homework every day 6. John / watch TV after dinner. 7. He / wash the car at the weekend. 8. Her friends / live in London. 9. You / have any brothers or sisters. 10. Your friends / go to the cinema very often. 2. Complete the questions with do or does. 1. …… she take her dog for a walk in the morning? 2. …… your friend Paul work in the shop over there? 3. …… they know the answers to the exam? 4. …… your parents know that you smoke? 5. …… Bill teach maths? 6. Where ……. your sister live? 7. What time …… the lessons finish? 8. …… you go to the coast in summer? 9. …… it rain very often in Ireland? 10. Why …… they ask so many questions in class?
3. Write short answers to these questions (yes, I do / no, I don´t / yes, she does /no, she doesn´t, ….)
1. Do you speak French? …………….
2. Does your mother like chocolate? …………
3. Do you study a lot? …………..
4. Do you usually watch TV at night? …………
5. Do you play a musical instrument? ………..
6. Does your father work? ………….
7. Do you go to the cinema? …………
8. Does your best friend study? …….
9. Does it rain a lot in Africa? ………..
10. Do you live in a flat? ………..
Answers :
Exercise 1: 2. Does she work hard? 3. Do they have dinner at eight? 4. Do Jill and Tom study at university? 5. Do you do your homework every day? 6. Does John watch TV after dinner? 7. Does he wash the car at the weekend? 8. Do her friends live in London? 9. Do you have any brothers or sisters? 10. Do your friends go to the cinema very often? Exercise 2: 1. Does she take her gog for a walk in the morning? 2. Does your friend Paul work in the shop over there? 3. Do they know the answers to the exam? 4. Do your parents know that you smoke? 5. Does Bill teach maths? 6. Where does your sister live? 7. What time do the lessons finish? 8. Do you go to the coast in summer? 9. Does it rain very often in Ireland? 10. Why do they ask so many questions in class? Exercise 3: 1. Yes, I do / No, I don´t 6. Yes, he does / No, he doesn´t 2. Yes, she does / no, she doesn´t 7. Yes, I do / No, I don´t 3. Yes, I do / No, I don´t 8. Yes, she/he does // No, she/he doesn´t 4. Yes, I do / No, I don´t 9. Yes, it does / No, it doesn´t. 5. Yes, I do / No, I don´t 10. Yes, I do / No, I don´t
We use different tenses to describe the time that the verb refers to.
Past perfect continuous tense
The past perfect continuous is formed with had been + –ingform:
She had been battling against cancer for years before she died.
The past perfect continuous tense is used most often to express that something started in the past and continued until another event in the past. It can also be used for reasons and explanations for things in the past.
We form the past perfect continuous tense by using had, then been, then the main verb in present participle form.
Subject
Had
Been
Verb
(present participle)
Rest of Sentence
I/you/we/they/he/she/it/Helen
had
been
driving
for six hours.
When to Use the Past Perfect Continuous Tense
An Action that Started in the Past and Continued until another Event or Time in the Past
Use the past perfect continuous to express that one action began and continued until another event (expressed in the past simple) in the past.
I had been writing the essay for five hours before I noticed it was an optional assignment.
The actors had been rehearsing since 8:00 am, and everyone wanted to take a break.
By the time my boss told me to take a break, I had been working continuously for 17 hours.
Note: Words like “for” and “since” are often used to measure how long an action continued until the interrupting action.
To Give a Reason or Explanation for Something in the Past
It had been snowing a lot, so driving was dangerous.
Danielle was sweaty because she had been exercising.
Justin had been baking cookies and was covered in flour.
Note: As with all continuous tenses, you can’t use stative verbs or the stative versions of mixed verbs.
Negative Statements
The negative of past perfect continuous is very simple –- just add “not” between the “had” and the “been” before the present participle:
Louise had not been drinking, so she offered to drive everyone home.
The dog was sick, and had not been eating.
The children had not been playing, but they pretended to play when their mother came into the room.
Question Forms
Information Questions about the Subject
To make a question about the subject of a sentence, use a question word as the subject. the form is: question word + “had” + “been” + main verb (present participle) + rest of sentence:
??? had been driving the car when it hit the lamp post. –>
Who had been driving the car when it hit the lamp post?
??? people had been running in the marathon when the storm hit. –>
How many people had been running in the marathon when the storm hit?
???’s cat had been scratching the chair to shreds until we declawed her. –>
Whose cat had been scratching the chair to shreds until we declawed her?
Questions about the Verb or Words after the Verb
To make a yes/no question about the verb or words after the verb, put the “had” in front of the subject:
Had you been listening to the radio to find out about the tornado?
Had he been sleeping when I called?
Had Alice been staying with you long?
To make an open-ended question about the verb or words after the verb, put a question word (who, what, where, when, why, how) before the “to be” verb in front of the subject:
We use different tenses to describe the time that the verb refers to.
Past Continuous Tense
We use the past continuous tense (also known as the past progressive) to talk about actions in the past that lasted for some time.
It is formed by using was/were + present participle.
Subject
Simple past tense of
“to be”
Present Participle
I/he/she/it/Maggie
was
talking.
They/we/you/you all
were
talking.
Note: Stative Verbs
Some verbs, called “stative” or “non-continuous” verbs, can’t be used in continuous tenses. Others can be used in continuous tenses, but their meaning changes. Make sure you understand the difference between stative and non-stative verbs while using past continuous and all continuous tenses. You can find more information here.
When to use the Past Continuous Tense
An Interrupted Continuous Action
When one activity in the past is interrupted by another activity, we use past continuous for the original activity and past simple for the interrupting activity.
I was cooking when you called.
John was watching television when the power went off.
I was doing my homework when I realized I was doing the wrong assignment.
You weren’t listening when I told you I had plans tonight.
A Specific Time as an Interruption
You can also use the past continuous when the “interruption” is a specific time. In this case, the original action started before the specific time, and continues after it.
I was still working at 8:00 pm last night.
Elaine was living in Paris this time last year.
Note: If you use the simple past with a specific time, it means that the action started at that time. If you use past continuous, the action is continuing during the specific time.
I ate breakfast at 8:00 am. (Meaning: I started eating breakfast at 8:00 am.)
I was eating breakfast at 8:00 am. (Meaning: At 8:00 am, I was already eating breakfast, and I continued eating it.)
Setting the Background or Atmosphere
In narratives, the past continuous tense often sets the scene or the mood for further events, which happen in the simple past.
When I walked into the daycare, children were running around the hallways and jumping from desk to desk. One little girl was cutting a boy’s hair, and several children were crying loudly while eating birthday cake with their hands. I knew I didn’t want to work there.
Rain clouds were gathering in the sky, and thunder was rumbling to the East. The storm would be here soon, so I closed all the windows.
Two Actions Happening at the Same Time
You can use past continuous to talk about two ongoing actions happening simultaneously.
He was washing dishes and I was drying them.
The kids were playing in the yard while the adults were talking on the front porch.
Annoying or Repeated Actions in the Past, often with “Always”
To emphasize the repetitiveness of an action (and how the repetitiveness annoys you), use the past continuous tense with an adverb of frequency, usually “always.”
Mark was always complaining that he didn’t have a girlfriend.
The little girl was always losing her mittens until her mother sewed them onto the sleeves of her jacket.
Negative Statements
The negative of past continuous is very simple –- just add “not” between the “to be” verb and the present participle:
Amanda wasn’t driving that night.
The kids were not lying when they said they saw a dog on rollerskates.
You weren’t drinking last night, were you?
Question Forms
Information Questions about the Subject:
To make a question about the subject of a sentence, use a question word as the subject. the form is: question word + “was/were” + main verb (present participle) + rest of sentence:
??? was riding a horse. –>
Who was riding a horse?
??? people were playing football. –>
How many people were playing football?
???’s child was eating carrot sticks. –>
Whose child was eating carrot sticks?
Questions about the Verb or Words after the Verb
To make a yes/no question about the verb or words after the verb, put the “to be” verb in front of the subject:
Were you listening?
Was he talking?
Was Andy playing basketball?
To make an open-ended question about the verb or words after the verb, put a question word (who, what, where, when, why, how) before the “to be” verb in front of the subject:
We use different tenses to describe the time that the verb refers to.
Past perfect tense
The past perfect tense is formed with had + past participle.
The past perfect tense is used most often to emphasize that one event happened before another event, and to show the relationship between them.
We form the past perfect tense by using had, followed by the main verb in past participle form.
Subject
Had
Verb
(past participle)
Rest of Sentence
I/you/we/they/he/she/it/Daniel
had
eaten
breakfast already.
When to Use the Past Perfect Tense
A Completed Action before Another Event/Time in the Past
Use the past perfect to express that one event began and ended before another event (expressed in the past simple) in the past. It usually indicates a relationship between these two events. It can also express that something happened before a specific time in the past.
I had already been awake for an hour when the alarm clock went off.
By the time Oliver showed up for Thanksgiving dinner, most of his family had finished dessert.
Hector had studied Japanese for six years before he moved to Tokyo.
Note: Sometimes you hear that “Past perfect is used when one past event happens before another past event,” but this isn’t always true. When telling a story or giving details of a past event, it’s quite common to use only simple past if the sequence of events is clear from the context. See “The Simple Past” for more details.
To Give a Reason or Explanation for Something in the Past
The librarian scowled at Ingrid because she had not paid her late fees.
Olivia had forgotten to buy screws at the hardware store, so she couldn’t build the shelves for her bedroom.
Ava went to the dance with Jimmy because he had asked her first.
With Stative Verbs, to Talk about Duration up to an Event in the Past.
Stative verbs are verbs relating to internal states that aren’t used in continuous forms. Some common ones are be, exist, love, want, prefer, believe, and see, but there are many others. You can read more about stative verbs here.
You can use the past perfect with stative verbs to talk about states that started in the past and continued until another past event, described by the simple past:
Noah had been in school for six years when he graduated.
Sarah had always believed her marriage was perfect until her husband told her he was having an affair.
I had never wanted to own a dog, but when my roommate brought home a pug, I changed my mind.
To Talk About “Possibilities that Never Were” with the Third Conditional
The Third Conditional Tense is used to talk about past situations that might have been different if there had been different conditions. We use the past perfect tenses to talk about the these theoretical conditions, and present perfect tenses with a modal verb to describe the result that might have occurred.
If I had studied harder in school, I might have become a doctor.
If we had decided to go to Spain, we would have missed my sister’s wedding.
If you hadn’t missed your flight, we would never have met each other.
Important Note: Specific Times with the Past Perfect.
Unlike the present perfect, you CAN use specific times with the past perfect:
Melanie had won several karate competitions in high school before she switched to Judo in college.
Joseph had studied computer science in 1981, before the Internet became popular.
Moreover, if the past perfect actions occurred at a specific time and words like “before,” “and then,” “later,” or “after” make it clear what action happened first, you can use simple past, too, and the meaning is the same:
Melanie won several karate competitions in high school before she switched to Judo in college.
Joseph studied computer science in 1981, before the Internet became popular.
However, if the action of the past perfect verb did not occur at a specific time, the past perfect is necessary.
Incorrect: I never played chess before you showed me how.
Correct: I had never played chess before you showed me how.
Incorrect: The play already started when we arrived at the theatre.
Correct: The play had already started when we arrived at the theatre.
Negative Statements
The negative of past continuous is very simple –- just add “not” between the “had” and the past participle:
Zach had not driven the car before last night.
I had not been in Seattle long when the rain started to drive me crazy.
Paul had not needed an alarm clock until he got a job that started at 5:00 am.
Question Forms – Past Perfect Tense
Information Questions about the Subject:
To make a question about the subject of a sentence, use a question word as the subject. the form is: question word + “had” + main verb (past participle participle) + rest of sentence:
??? had known this already. –>
Who had known this already?
??? people had been trapped until the firemen came.–>
How many people had been trapped until the firemen came?
???’s child had eaten all the birthday cake before the guests arrived.–>
Whose child had eaten all the birthday cake before the guests arrived?
Questions about the Verb or Words after the Verb:
To make a yes/no question about the verb or words after the verb, put the “had” in front of the subject:
Had you ever met her before that night?
Had he always loved to solve puzzles?
Had Grace baked the cake in time for the surprise party?
To make an open-ended question about the verb or words after the verb, put a question word (who, what, where, when, why, how) before the “to be” verb in front of the subject:
When had you ever met before that night?
Why had he always loved to solve puzzles?
How had Grace baked the cake in time for the surprise party?
We use different tenses to describe the time that the verb refers to.
Past simple tense
Have you ever wanted to describe a past situation in English and didn’t know how to do it? The past simple is one of the most used verb tenses in English along with the present simple and present continuous, so it’s important to understand how to use it. Once you know the past simple it’s much easier to have a conversation and communicate clearly to the person you’re talking to.
We use simple past when we talk about actions that happened and were completed in the past. Usually, we make the simple past by adding -ed to a base verb. However, many common verbs are irregular, so they change in different ways.
When to Use the Simple Past Tense
A Completed Action in the Past
If you want to talk about an action that was started and completed at a specific time in the past, use the simple past tense. Even if you don’t mention when the action was completed, you have a specific time in mind; otherwise, you would use the present perfect tense.
Julie wished that she had a million dollars.
I graded essays all afternoon.
You finished dinner already, right?
Multiple Past Actions in a List
When multiple actions were started and completed at specific times in the past, also use simple past tense. Although some events necessarily happen before other events, you don’t need to use the past perfect tense unless you really want to emphasize the fact that something happened before something else, or the sequence is unclear.
John woke up at 6:00, jogged for an hour, and ate breakfast.
I washed the lettuce, chopped it, and added it to the salad.
Narrative
Simple Past is the tense most often used in fiction and when telling a story. Although it’s common to use the past perfect tenses to talk about something that happened before the main events in the story, the main events and the details surrounding them will be in the simple past (or past continuous).
Allen found a table at the cafe and ordered a tall coffee. It was already after midnight, but he was feeling too excited to sleep and didn’t want to try. Just that morning, he had been heartbroken and depressed. But that afternoon, he had met Mona. He pulled out some books and tried to study, but his mind kept drifting away.
The Details of News and Events
When reporting precise details of news and events, use the simple past tense. You can use the present perfect tense when talking about an experience you’ve had:
I’ve been to Quebec.
But you would never use the present perfect tense to add details:
I’ve been to Quebec with my French class in high school.
Instead, use the simple past tense:
I went to Quebec with my French class in high school. The bus ride took 18 hours. We all stayed with different Quebecois families, and met up every day to tour the city. Most of us were surprised that we could communicate with the locals after just two years of classes.
Past Habits, Generalizations, and Facts
When something was a habit, happened many times, or was a generalization that was formerly true, use simple past tense. This is similar in meaning to sentences with “used to.”
I studied Spanish in high school.
Jane was shy when she was a child, but she isn’t anymore.
Einstein invented the theory of relativity.
Margaret walked home from school every day.
We played checkers every night last summer.
Duration in the Past
You can use simple past to talk about things that happened for a long time, as long as they started and ended at specific times in the past.
East Germany was part of the USSR until the Berlin Wall came down.
We lived in Japan for two years.
Negative Statements
To make the negative with the simple past tense of “to be”, just add “not” after it.
I was not happy about the decision.
You were not at home.
Amanda was not able to pick you up from the airport.
To make the negative with the simple past tense of all other verbs, add “did not” (didn’t) before the base verb. There are no irregular verbs in the negative.
She didn’t walk to work today.
We didn’t know the answer to the question.
The children didn’t play outside because it was raining.
Question Forms
Questions with “To Be”
To make a yes/no question with “to be” in the simple past, put the verb before the subject:
Were you upset?
Was I wrong?
Were you going?
To make an open-ended question, put a question word (who, what, where, when, why, how) before the “was/were” and subject:
Why were you upset?
Why was I wrong?
Where were you going?
Questions with Other Verbs (not “To Be”)
Information Questions about the Subject:
To make a question about the subject of a sentence, use a question word as the subject. The form is: question word + verb + rest of sentence:
??? baked the cakes. –>
Who baked the cakes?
??? people ordered flowers today. –>
How many people ordered flowers today?
???’s dog ran away. –>
Whose dog ran away?
Questions about the Verb or Words after the Verb:
To make a yes/no question about the verb or words after the verb with any other verb, put “did + subject + base form of the verb.”
Did the children eat already?
Did you find your keys?
Did Sarah fail her test?
To make an open-ended question about the verb or words after the verb with the simple past tense, put a question word (who, what, where, when, why, how) before the “did” and subject:
