Basic Tenses
A. Simple Present: For actions that are habitual. Or actions that are occurring in life at the
present time.
- keywords: usually, normally, sometimes.
- example: I usually go shopping on Thursdays.
B. Simple Past: For actions that ended at a particular time in the past.
- keywords: last week, yesterday, last year, in 1991.
- example: I went shopping for a car yesterday.
C. Progressive: For actions that are occurring now (in this moment).
- formula: Subj + <to be> + verb + ing
- example: Now I am studying, I am not shopping.
D. Past Progressive: For actions that were occurring at a definite time in the past
- formula: subj. + was (were) + verb-ing + obj.
- keywords: at 7pm yesterday.
- example: Last night, at 11pm, I was studying.
E. Present Perfect: For actions that began in the past, have continued up to now (and may
continue in the future).
- formula: subj + have (has) + verb (past participle) + obj.
- keywords: so far, up to now, always, ever (in questions only), never (in answers only), for,
(plus number of days, years, months, etc), since (plus specific date).
- example: I have studied every day so far this week.
F. Present Perfect Progressive: For actions that began in the past and are still occurring.
- formula: subj + have (has) + been + verb-ing+ obj
- example: I have been shopping for a new car since last month.
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