PRESENT
Tense & Aspect Key Time Clues How to Recognize It? Example Sentence & Explanation
Always, usually, every day, "She teaches English every morning." (It's a
Simple Present States facts, habits, or general truths
often routine/habit.)
Present Right now, at the moment, "She is teaching English right now." (Action is happening
Ongoing action happening now
Progressive currently at this moment.)
Action started in the past & still true or has "She has taught English for five years." (She started
Present Perfect Since, for, already, yet, so far
just finished teaching five years ago and still does.)
Present Perfect Ongoing action started in the past & is still "She has been teaching English for five years." (Action
For, since, lately, recently
Progressive happening has been continuing.)
PAST
Tense & Aspect Key Time Clues How to Recognize It? Example Sentence & Explanation
"She taught English last year." (The action is finished, and
Simple Past Yesterday, last week, in 2010 Completed action at a specific past time
we know when.)
Ongoing action at a specific moment in the "She was teaching when the fire alarm rang." (The action
Past Progressive While, when, as
past was in progress at a past time.)
"She had taught English before she moved abroad." (The
Past Perfect Before, by the time Completed before another past event
teaching happened first, then she moved.)
"She had been teaching for five years before she moved
Past Perfect
For, since, before Ongoing action before another past event abroad." (The teaching was continuing until the second
Progressive
action.)
FUTURE
Tense & Aspect Key Time Clues How to Recognize It? Example Sentence & Explanation
"She will teach English next semester." (Action is planned
Simple Future Tomorrow, next week, soon Action will happen in the future
but hasn't happened yet.)
At this time tomorrow, next "She will be teaching English at this time tomorrow."
Future Progressive Ongoing action at a specific future time
week (The action will be in progress at a certain time.)
Action will be completed before another "She will have taught English for five years by next June."
Future Perfect By, before, by the time
future event (She will finish five years of teaching before June.)
Future Perfect "By next year, she will have been teaching for six years."
For, since Ongoing action up to a future point
Progressive (The action continues up to the future moment.)
Tense & Aspect Key Time Clues Structure (V1-V3) Example Sentence & Explanation
Always, usually, every day, V1 (base form) / V1+s (3rd person
Simple Present "She teaches English every morning." (Habitual action)
often singular)
Right now, at the moment,
Present Progressive am/is/are + V1+ing "She is teaching English right now." (Action happening now)
currently
Since, for, already, yet, so
Present Perfect have/has + V3 (past participle) "She has taught English for five years." (Started in the past, still true)
far
Present Perfect "She has been teaching English for five years." (Ongoing action from
For, since, lately, recently have/has been + V1+ing
Progressive past to present)
Yesterday, last week, in
Simple Past V2 (past form) "She taught English last year." (Completed past action)
2010
"She was teaching when the fire alarm rang." (Ongoing past action
Past Progressive While, when, as was/were + V1+ing
interrupted)
"She had taught English before she moved abroad." (Completed
Past Perfect Before, by the time had + V3 (past participle)
before another past event)
Past Perfect "She had been teaching for five years before she moved abroad."
For, since, before had been + V1+ing
Progressive (Ongoing action before another past event)
Simple Future Tomorrow, next week, soon will + V1 (base form) "She will teach English next semester." (Planned future action)
At this time tomorrow, "She will be teaching English at this time tomorrow." (Ongoing
Future Progressive will be + V1+ing
next week action in the future)
"She will have taught English for five years by next June."
Future Perfect By, before, by the time will have + V3 (past participle)
(Completed before a future moment)
Future Perfect "By next year, she will have been teaching for six years." (Ongoing
For, since will have been + V1+ing
Progressive action up to a future point)
How to Use V1-V3 to Choose the Correct Tense
V1 Base form of the verb (teach, write, go)
V2 Simple past form (taught, wrote, went)
V3 Past participle (taught, written, gone)
Base Form (V1): be
Present Tense: am, is, are
Past Tense: was, were
Present Participle: being
Past Participle: been
-KHUJAE SHENBERG
