Table for studying tenses in English. Time to deal with tenses, or how to master the system of English tenses
Anyone who has studied or is studying English is familiar with the difficulty of perceiving, understanding and understanding the difficult tense system of the English verb.
All of us who speak Russian know and are accustomed to the fact that there are 3 times. And what bewilderment is the information that how many tenses in english. After all, English grammar boasts as many as 12 tense forms of the verb!
To simplify this difficult task of studying "treacherous times", the editors "So simple!" shares with friends a useful graphic scheme. It will be useful to have it at hand for all those who want to quickly learn and learn how to use this or that time in a particular situation.
Tenses in English for dummies
Look at the diagram when you need to determine what time is more correct to use in the current situation, whether it is colloquial speech or writing a text. More practice, more effort, and soon you won't need the schema.
Don't waste your time. By spending only half an hour a day, you will quickly and effectively master all the grammatical nuances.
Here are a few practical advice which will help you quickly learn the theoretical material!
Schema decoding
- I had worked - Past Perfect- By that time I had worked.
- I will have worked - Future Perfect“By that time, I’ll definitely be working.
- I will be working - Future Continuous- At this time I will work.
- I will have been working - Future Perfect Continuous At that moment, I will still be working.
- I have been working - Present Perfect Continuous- I'm still working.
- I had been working - Past Perfect Continuous At the time, I was still working.
- I have worked - Present Perfect- I've already worked.
- - I am working now.
- I am working - Present Continuous- At this time I plan to work (Present Continuous is used to describe my plans and intentions).
- I was working - Past Continuous- I was working at the time.
- I will work - Future Simple- I will work.
- I worked - Past Simple- I worked.
- I work - Present Simple- I am working.
The last three tenses are just statements. I have worked, I am working and I will work. The rest of the tenses usually require further clarification.
We hope this table of english tenses for dummies turn you into a real virtuoso!
And most importantly, do not be lazy to devote enough hours to practice. After all, only it will allow you to feel the English language and bring to automatism the skill of using aspect-temporal forms of verbs.
English in the world community occupies first place among the studied foreign languages. But its development not everyone comes easy due to problems with understanding and using English grammatical tenses. Let's try to figure out what is so complicated in these forms, and how many of them there really are.
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Allocate three temporary forms- present, past and future tense, having their typical subcategories - Simple, Continuous / Progressive, Perfect and Perfect Continuous. All times have similar ways of forming the predicate and features of use. A table of English tenses should always be at hand not only for schoolchildren, but also for those who want to master science on their own.
Attention! This article will not explain the grammatical formation of tenses in English, only advice is given on how to distinguish tense forms. A detailed explanation of the rules of education can be found in the textbook or on the thematic Internet portal.
Group times Simple (simple)
The times of the Simple group, in other words, simple, are similar in use to the time categories in - present, past and future respectively.
Their main feature is moment uncertainty when the action occurs. Otherwise, the times of a simple group are called Indefinite Tenses - indefinite.
It's important here action process, not the time it happened. In simple terms, this is actions in general.
Present Simple stands for actions that are permanent, common to a person - his routine and hobby. Phrases that talk about the laws of nature, schedules of planes, trains, lessons, TV programs, there are announcer comments and various instructions are also used in Present Simple.
Past Simple is action that happened at a particular moment in past. This also includes human habits which have become irrelevant to him. It is typical for him one-off events, i.e. action completed and more will never happen again.
Future Simple stands for uncontrolled events that will happen in future. The peculiarity of this period is that the event is likely to happen but not guaranteed.
Attention! It is worth noting that the past tenses in the English language of the Simple group can also be used to denote a sequence of actions - I got up, washed myself, had breakfast and went to work.
For example:
- Pr. S.: He always drinks tea in the afternoon. He always drinks coffee after dinner.
- Past S.: They traveled round the world last year. They made a trip around the world last year. I watched cartoons before going to bed when I was 4 years old. - I watched cartoons before going to bed when I was 4 years old (4 years old happens once in a lifetime).
- Future S.: I will buy this T-shirt. I will buy this T-shirt. I hope we will get on time. - I hope that we will be in time on time (not the fact that we will be in time).
Important! When you talk about an action as a fact, you need to use the times of the Simple group.
Group tenses Continuous (Progressive) (long)
The distinguishing feature of this group is moment duration in the present, past or future. Here the emphasis is not on action, as in the days of Simple, but for a while when it happened.
Present Continuous - an event that is happening at the moment of speech. Another use of the present continuous is expression of discontent about someone's character.
Past Continuous - an action that happened at a specified time earlier. If this action is interrupted single event, then the latter will be expressed in Past Simple.
future continuous- long-term action that will happen at a specified time interval in the future. This action will definitely take place., unlike Future Simple, where the future event can and not come.
The long form of tense can also be used when describing simultaneous actions- Mom was washing the dishes, and at the same moment I was reading a book.
For example:
- Pr. Cont.: He is taking bath now. - He's taking a shower now.
- Past Cont.: We were watching football game yesterday at 8 o'clock. We watched a football match at 8 o'clock yesterday. Susan was doing her homework when her parents came. Susan was doing her homework (long action) when her parents came (single event).
- Fut. Cont.: Next Sunday morning, I will be riding my bike. – I will ride a bicycle next Sunday morning.
Important! If you want to specify the duration of the process, then you need to use the times of the Continuous group.
Group Times Perfect (Perfect)
If you need to indicate that an event will happen, has already happened by a certain moment, or is ongoing, then the Perfect group will help you with this. In Russian analogues this group of times does not exist.
In general, for many, the study perfect group times seems to be a difficult task, but the wolf is not as scary as it is portrayed.
Present Perfect - an action that began in the past and continued until the moment of speech.
Past Perfect - an action that happened before another moment in the past. In compound sentences that talk about a condition, Past Perfect will stand in the part where this very condition is.
Future Perfect is an action that complete at the exact moment in future.
For example:
- Pr. Perf.: Anna has had a cat for ten years. – Anna has had a cat for 10 years (i.e. he lived with her for 10 years and continues to live). The Osborns have bought a yacht. – The Osbornes bought the yacht (it doesn’t matter when they bought it, the main thing is the result – the yacht was bought).
- Past Perf.: Helen had prepared supper when she met her children from school. – Helen had already cooked dinner when she met the children from school (i.e. the moment of preparation was over by the time the children arrived). Albert was delighted. He had won in a lottery. Albert was pleased. He won the lottery (the action and the result took place in the past).
- Fut. Perf.: She will have written all letters by 7 o'clock. She will have written a letter by 7 o’clock (the letter will be ready by a specific time).
Important! When you want to indicate that an action has been, is, or will be completed by a certain moment, or indicate its result, then use the Perfect!
Group times Perfect Continuous (perfect continuous)
The tenses of this group denote actions that began earlier and continue, have continued or will continue for some period of time. up to a certain point. It will be expressed in the sentence by indicating specific time or another event.
Another defining condition of perfect tenses is having a result any action - it is obvious.
The Perfect Continuous group of times combined features of continuous and perfect tenses. From the group Continuous she got event duration, and from the Perfect group - specific moment, until which the action continues, continued or will continue.
The use of Perfect Continuous in the present past and future tense is a diagram.
For example:
- Pr. Perf. Cont.: Samuel has been waiting Margaret half an hour. Samuel has been waiting for Margaret for half an hour (i.e. he started waiting for her half an hour ago and continues to wait).
- Past Perf. Cont.: The Lakers had been waiting for a holiday trip for several months before they saved a sum of money. The Lakers waited several months for this weekend trip before saving up for it. (They did not stop waiting for a vacation while collecting the required amount of money). I had been sunbathing for too long, so my skin was red. - I tanned for a very long time, so my skin was so red (the result is obvious).
- Fut. Perf. Cont.: By 2019, our family won't have been buying newspapers anymore. By 2019, our family will no longer buy newspapers. (Now they are still buying, but in 2019 they will no longer do this).
Important! If you emphasize not only the visible result, but also its duration, then use the Perfect Continuous group of times.
This is what concerns the basic rules for the use of tenses and their group features.
How to learn a language faster
If you are a beginner, then mark the rules for yourself on how to learn tenses in English. Start learning with the Simple group, and then move on to improving knowledge with the Continuous group, because. in fact, these two groups of times are "basic". And only then smoothly move to the remaining groups. Moreover, the tenses of a simple group are most often used in speech: Present Perfect and Present Continuous. Alternate your theoretical knowledge with practical exercises then it will be easier for you to understand the essence of the use of tenses V .
Summing up, we can highlight the following algorithm how to determine the time in English:
- Be sure to translate the proposal into Russian.
- Find in offer time marker and determine what time it belongs to.
- If the proposal no temporary condition, then pay attention to predicate, highlight his. Remember what type this is - right or wrong. Then determine at what time it was used semantic verb, and whether there is next to it .
- Determine the time. It is very easy to find past tenses in English in a sentence.
A table of English tenses with examples, compiled by you personally, will help speed up the process of learning the language.
Attention! Temporal circumstances, they are marker words, allow you to determine what time was used in the sentence.
Auxiliary words are most often adverbs. But the presence of a marker in a sentence not necessary. For example, for Present Simple, the main markers will be adverbs usually, often, always, i.e. those that point to regularity of action. For the times of the Perfect group, hint words will become characteristic: since, yet, already, never and others, pointing to certain duration of action etc.
Explanation of all tenses in English
Present Simple - an accessible explanation
Conclusion
The main subject of the question "how to determine the time in English" becomes practice and diligence. The more time you spend studying theory and exercises, the easier it will be for you to practice speaking and handwriting.
Beginners to learn the language of Shakespeare or continuing their studies have repeatedly asked the question: "How many tenses are there in English?" Today, disputes and disagreements about the quantity do not subside. And the whole problem is that we, Russian speakers, consider them as past, present and future, and "brothers" who speak English call them shades.
Various reference books give numerous definitions to this grammatical phenomenon, but all are similar in that English tenses are a way of expressing actions with an indication of the period of its course, and they are all built on the basis of changing the forms of the verb. Actions can be expressed in Active Voice (active voice) and Passive Voice (passive voice). It is the first one that we will consider in this article.
English verb tenses - formation and use
The study of this category is better to start with an understanding of the whole essence. So, as in Russian, there are three tenses in English: present (Present), past (Past) and future (Future - although many grammarians also call it a shade). Each of these segments has subcategories, the rules for the use and formation of which cause difficulties.
Table: formation of tenses in English
| Sub categories | Time | Education formula |
| Indefinite (Simple) | present | +
S+Vs(V) — S + doesn't (don't) + V ? Does (Do) + S + V ? |
| Past | +
S + V 2 (V ed) — S + didn't + V ? Did+S+V? |
|
| Future | + S + shall/will + V - S + shall / will + not + V ? Shall/will+S+V |
|
| Continuous (Progressive) | present | +
S + is/am/are + Ving — S + is/am/are+ not + V ing ? Is/am/are + S + Ving |
| Past | +
S + was/were + Ving — S + was/were + not + Ving ? Was/were + S + Ving |
|
| Future | +
S + shall/will + be + Ving — S + shall/will+ not + be + Ving ? Shall/will + S + be + Ving |
|
| Perfect | present | +
S + have/has + V 3 (V ed) — S + have/has+ not + V 3 (V ed) ? Have/has + S + V 3 (V ed) |
| Past | +
S + had + V 3 (V ed) — S + had + not + V 3 (V ed) ? Had + S + V 3 (V ed) |
|
| Future | +
S + will/shall + have + V 3 (V ed) — S + will/shall + not + have + V 3 (V ed) ? Will/shall + S + have + V 3 (V ed) |
|
| Perfect Continuous | present | +
S + have/has+ been + Ving — S + have/has+ not + been + Ving ? Have/has + S + been + Ving |
| Past | +
S + had+ been + Ving — S + had + not + been + Ving ? Had + S + been + Ving |
|
| Future | +
S + will/ shall + have + been + V ing — S + will/ shall + not + have + been + V ing ? Wll/shall + S + have+ been + V ing |
We got acquainted with education, it's time to move on to use. Here comes the most difficult part. If education is trained and memorized 2-3 times, then using it is more and more confusing. Consider English tenses with examples by subgroups.
The Indefinite (Simple) group reflects single, common actions. Continuous (Progressive) emphasizes the duration of the process, as well as Perfect Continuous. Their difference lies in the fact that the second, despite the duration, nevertheless ended or will end by a certain moment. But the Perfect group is used to describe a completed event, or which will be completed.
All this description is approximate, each of them needs to be studied, worked out, compared separately, and then you can easily move to a new level. To clarify the situation a little, let's look at the temporary forms in the table.
Table: usage of English tenses
present simple |
past simple |
Future Simple |
| 1. An action that always happens, often, usually | 1. An action that happened in the past, but we just know the fact | 1. Normal, single action in the future |
| My father often goes to see his friends on Saturday. | I wrote a letter last week. | Next year I will come to this village again. |
| 2. What you can’t argue with: scientific facts, results, natural phenomena, patterns | 2. Chronologically sequential actions in the past: one after the other. | 2. Consistent actions in the future |
| The earth goes around the sun. | Yeterday morning I called my sister at first. Then I went to work. | I will come home. Then I will write a letter to my pen friend. |
| 3. Repetitive actions in the present | 3. Repetitive actions in the past | 3. Repetitive actions in the future |
| I usually get up at 7 oclock. Then I take a shower and have breakfast. | Last year I often traveled abroad. | Next year I will not often travel abroad. |
| 4. To express the future in subordinate conditions and time | 4. Assumptions about a future event (not a plan) | |
| As soon as I write a letter I'll send it immediately. | I expect Mary will get this place. | |
| 5. In jokes, sports commentary | 5. Requests, threats, refusal to do something, offers to do something, promises | |
| What's worse than having termites in your piano? Crabs on your body. | Thank you for lending me the dvd disk. I'll give it back on Monday. | |
| 6. With verbs not used in Continuous (feelings, desires, perceptions) | ||
| I don't understand what are you talking about. | ||
| 7. Schedules of trains, buses, movies in the cinema, matches, lessons | ||
| The train leaves at 5 p.m. | ||
Present Continuous |
Past continuous |
Future Continuous |
| 1. Action at the moment of speaking or covering a longer period in the present | 1. The action took place (lasted) at a certain moment in the past | 1. An action that will last in the future |
| Don't bother the teacher, she is writing a letter now.I am attending music classes now. | This time last month I was sitting in the lovely French cafe. | Would you like to visit a museum tomorrow evening? No, I will be watching the match at this time. |
| 2. Happens around at the time of the conversation | 2. In the main clause with a when clause, where the first lasted when the other happened | 2. If plans are reported, intentional action |
| look! He is falling down. | I was sleeping when my cell phone suddenly rang. | I will be going to the cinema tomorrow. |
| 3. Situation that is changing | 3. Parallel long-term actions in the past | 3. Asking about someone's plans as a polite request |
| His French is becoming better and better. | While I was taking a shower, my husband was cooking the dinner. | Will you be going out at 7? I need your car. |
| 4. Planned actions for the future (In the meaning of gathering = to be going to) | 4. Actions that took place within a certain time frame, in a limited period. | 4. Parallel actions in the future |
| I am buying a new flat tomorrow. | I was cleaning the flat the whole weekend. | While you will be doing shopping I will be repairing my car. |
| 5. Too often repeated actions that cause irritation, reproach, disapproval | 5. Too often repeated actions, habits that caused irritation, censure, reproach | |
| He is too often complaining about. | Yesterday my friend was too often losing his papers, books and tests. | |
Present Perfect |
past perfect |
Future Perfect |
| 1. An action that began in the past, but its result is connected with the present, so to speak, on the face | 1. An action that took place before another, later action in the past | 1. Will end before a certain point, events in the future |
| Is Jim at home? No, he has already gone to Paris. | I had come home before my sister washed the dishes. | I will have done my homework before the match begins. |
| 2. The action began in the past and continues now | 2. Ended by a certain point | 2. To communicate the likelihood, the intended action |
| My mother has always wanted to live in a small country house. | I had given up smoking by the end of the holidays. | The citizens will have noticed the false government's solutions. |
| 3. To indicate actions with an indication of the period, how many times they were repeated | 3. An action that started in the past happened before or during another event in the past | |
| It is the first time I have driven. | I knew exactly that my friends hadn't met since Andy's party. | |
Present Perfect Continuous |
Past Perfect Continuous |
Future Perfect Continuous |
| 1. An action that began in the past and lasts is happening in the present (at the time of the conversation) | 1. An action that started in the past and was happening when another event happened | 1. An action that starts in the future and will last until another point in the future. |
| They have already been painting the wall for 5 hours. | He had been driving a car yesterday when his father came. | I will have been having dinner when my boyfriend comes. |
| 2. An action that was completed before the moment of the conversation | 2. An action that began in the past and lasted a certain time | |
| She has been ironing all day long. Now, she is too tired to go out. | He had been repairing his car for an hour last weekend. |
The grammar of tenses in English is very extensive, which is why this table is not enough to fully understand and figure out where is what. It is better to study each separately, and then in a complex.
Sometimes it is really difficult to understand whether the action lasted or ended, in the past or in the present it is happening. But everything is learned in practice. That is why it is recommended to study the tenses of the English language with examples that will not only demonstrate the way of formation and use, but also show typical situations of use.
Remember, when choosing verb tenses in English, follow following scheme .
- Determine whether the action refers to the past, present or future (Present, Past, Future)
- Understand: what you see, or what you know.
- If you know exactly about the event (no matter where), then the Simple.
- If you see, then: the action itself is Continuous, traces or signs, the result is Perfect, I see the action, but I compare it with what I saw earlier - Perfect Continuous.
So let's recap. We can say that in the active voice there are 12 tenses, reflecting the periods of the action.
- Present Simple (Indefinite), Past Simple (Indefinite), Future Simple (Indefinite)
- Present Continuous (Progressive), Past Continuous (Progressive), Future Continuous (Progressive)
- Present Perfect, Past Perfect, Future Perfect
- Present Perfect Continuous, Past Perfect Continuous, Future Perfect Continuous
Tenses in English will take a lot of your strength. Well, what can you do. But tables will help to remember and put everything in memory faster and easier, although they are not enough for a complete understanding.
“...only having mastered in the possible perfection ... the native language, we will be able to master the foreign language in the same perfection, but not before….” (F. M. Dostoevsky)
I subscribe to your every word, Fedor Mikhailovich. If the head has basic knowledge of the native language AS A SYSTEM, logical and understandable, then we will easily learn the laws of a foreign language. For such a complex category as “time” and the part of speech “verb”, this is doubly relevant. For reference: at the philological faculty, 1 semester is devoted to the verb and 1 to all other parts of speech - it is the most difficult of all put together! So, let's deal with the tenses of the English verb once and for all.
Why are we only confused? English verb tenses
When I read articles / manuals about English verbs, sometimes it even becomes funny from phrases like this one: “There are 12 tenses in English, and only 3 in Russian. That's why it's difficult for us.”
Is it true: we have 3 times and it is difficult for us.
Lie: there are 12 tenses in English (there are 3 of them, like ours).
Additionally: believe me, our verbs also have a lot of their "troubles". If we deal with them, we will understand English faster. Now we will do just that: we will analyze the Russian system of tenses, and then “impose” it on the English tenses of verbs.
By the way, I did not make a reservation. There are 3 tenses in English:
- Past (past),
- Present (present),
- Future (future).
But each of them has 4 forms:
- simple,
- continuous,
- perfect,
- perfect continuous.
Thanks to such a detailed system, tenses in English describe the situation in detail and even without context, verbs provide more information than Russian ones.
Learn native verbs a little better
Regarding Russian verbs, we will focus on only two features: time and aspect. Understanding these categories "will give us strength" to comprehend the system of English tenses.
1. The tense of the verb expresses the ratio of the time of action and the moment of speech.
Everything is simple here: if the action took place before the moment of speech, it is in the past; if it takes place after, it is in the future; if during the time, it is in the present. 
2. The view characterizes the action as completed or incomplete.
If the action is completed and cannot continue (its limit has been reached), then the verb is perfect and answers the question “what to do?”.
Example: Freeze, sleep, run, go away, etc.
If the action is extended, “there is no end in sight”, then the verb is imperfect and answers the question “what to do?”.
Example: freeze, sleep, run, leave, etc.
View is a constant feature of the verb, the verb does not “change in appearance”, but is always either perfect or imperfect.
IMPERFECT verbs have all three forms of tense.
Example: I was looking for - looking for - I will look for (compound form of the future tense)
PERFECT verbs have only past and future forms.
Example: I found - I will find.
Pay attention to this: if the action is completed (everything, its limit has been reached), then in Russian it can NOT be in the present tense.
3. The real time and the grammatical form of the verb do not always coincide:
Example: He was yesterdaycomesto me andspeaks: "Finally, the sun is out!"
The action takes place yesterday (that is, in the past in relation to the moment of speech), but we express it in the forms of the present tense.
Another example: "The train leaves at three o'clock"
We talk about the future, but use the form of the present tense.
Pay attention to this, because there are similar “inconsistencies” in the English language too (and you don’t need to be afraid of this).
4. We can talk about absolute and relative times.
For example, verbs "gone" And "asleep"– both past tense (absolute). But if we put them in a sentence "After I left, he fell asleep", then the action "gone" will be in the past with respect to the action "asleep". It turns out that the relative time is the one that we see only from the context. Remember this moment.
Relative time can be expressed not only by subordinate clauses, as in the example above, but also with the help of participles, gerunds.
An example with a perfect gerund:Having prepared cake, sheremoved it to the refrigerator. (first cooked, and then removed, here one action follows another)
An example with an imperfect participle:Cooking cake, shereadbook (actions are simultaneous, parallel).
Participle example:removedmom's apartmentlay downrest (first removed, and then lay down).
Key Differences: How to Learn English Verb Tenses Quickly
We are now ready to move on to English verb tenses. As I said above, their tenses provide more comprehensive information about the action even without context (it is grammatically embedded). I will name 5 more important differences in the forms of verbs in English that I discovered while writing this article.
1. A different attitude to the concept of "moment of speech."
Example: a Russian person speaks "I live in Russia". The moment I talk about it, I live. Everything, time is present (we have one).
In English "I live in London" can be "always, constantly" or "at the moment, limitedly, and then something may change." The choice of time (Present Simple or Present Continuous) depends on these conditions. 
2. Another significant difference follows from this - the importance of the "time interval" in which the action is performed.
This is perfectly shown by the example described above, and all tenses of the "family" Continuous. I'll give you one more:
Compare: "Iwasin MoscowVlast year" and "Iwasin Moscowforall summer"
There is no difference for a Russian verb: past tense, imperfective form.
However, in English we will translate the first option into Past Simple, and the second into Past Continuous, since the length of time is indicated.
I was in Moscow last year. – I was living in Moscow all summer.
It turns out that indicating a period of time involves the use of the Continuous form.
3. Also important is the "point in time" to which the action will be performed.
Example: a Russian person can say "Iordersoup"(verb of the future tense, perfect form).
In English, such a sentence would be built in the Future Simple: I will order a bowl of soup(spontaneous decision made at the moment of speaking).
To make a verb perfect (perfect form, if we draw an analogy with Russian), you need to indicate a specific point in time by which the action will be completed:
I will have called him backby six o'clock. - I'll call him backcloser to six o'clock(action will end by a certain moment, use Future Perfect)
It turns out that pointing to a point in time involves using the Perfect form.
By the way, the interval and moment of time means NOT only the direct meaning “from 17:00 to 18:00” or “by two o’clock in the morning”, but also the time RELATED to another action / event / state (I did while you did).
He will have bought a new car before his wife comes back from a trip to London. – He will buy a car before his wife returns from a trip to London (he will complete the action UNTIL a certain point, use the Future Perfect).
4. In English, as in Russian, there is the concept of "complete action" (perfect). BUT!
There is a difference, as a result of which English speakers have a perfect present tense: is the result of the action taken in the past or in the present? If in the present, then we use the Present Perfect.
I have broken the cup - as a result of fragments;
Our son has learned how to read - as a result, he knows how to read.
By the way, speaking of the Present Perfect, we will again return to the "moment and length of time." If the action has ended BY PRESENT (just, already) or in a period of time that has NOT ENDED YET (today, this week/month/year), then the time is considered present.
5. In English there are perfect continuous verbs (in Russian, either perfect or imperfect).
She had been working all night long - the translation "She worked all night long" would be logical, but the most accurate meaning of the sentence "Sheworkedall night andfinished workingin the morning”, that is, the action took place in a period of time and ended by its end.
It turns out that an indication of both a segment and a point in time involves the use of the Perfect Continuous form.
English verb tenses with examples
We figured out the theory - let's move on to practice. Let's talk about each specific time. I’ll make a reservation right away that I will NOT describe all cases of using tenses - this information can be found in various sources. I will just describe the BASIC cases of using tenses in English (with examples) and explain their logic.
What is happening in the present
present simple is used when we are talking about a regular, constant, typical action that is NOT tied to the moment of speech.
Example: She speaks 2 foreign languages - She speaks two foreign languages \u200b\u200b(that is, she knows how to speak them, this is her constant characteristic).
Present Continuous is used when we want to show that an action is being performed right now (now). RELATED to the moment of speech.
Example: The doctor is performing an operation now - The doctor is now performing an operation (he is doing it right now, at the time of the speech of the one who reports).
Present Perfect used when the action has completed (there is a result), but the time has not ended.
Example: He has called me today. - He called me today. (the action has already ended, and "today" has not yet ended).
Present Perfect Continuous is used when the action started in the past and is still going on in the present (we emphasize its duration).
Example: She has been watching TV all day. – She watches TV all day (from the very morning until now, can you imagine? Whoa day!).
What happened in the past
past simple used to express an action that happened at a certain time in the past, while the period of time has already ended.
Example: I saw him yesterday. – I saw him yesterday (this day is already over).
Past continuous indicates a process that was CONTINUED at a certain moment or period in the past.
Example: I was reading a book at midnight - I read a book at midnight (this process was in the past and lasted for some period of time).
past perfect remember Russian relative time. Do you remember the mother who went to bed after cleaning? She cleaned the house in Past Perfect. This is the "Previous" tense.
Example: I had studied English before I moved to Moscow - I learned English BEFORE I moved to Moscow (first I studied the language, and then moved).
Past Perfect Continuous indicates an action that began in the past, continued for some "length of time" and ended by its end (or did not end).
Example: She had been cooking dinner for an hour before I came - She cooked dinner for an hour before I came (The action lasted for a certain period of time, and then ended at a certain moment).
What will happen in the future
Future Simple used to indicate some fact, decision or intention in the future, made at the time of speech.
We will take a taxi. - We will take a taxi (showing the intention in the future, taken now).
Future Continuous indicates a process that will start up to a certain point in the future and will still continue at that point.
I will be studying at university in a year. - I will be studying at the university in a year (the proposal does not indicate when the event will start or end, it is about this particular moment in time, which lasts now, but in a year).
Future Perfect It is used to express a future action that will take place up to a certain point in the future.
He will have gone by then. - He will have left by then (the action will be completed by the moment indicated in the context).
Future Perfect Continuous indicates an action that starts BEFORE another future action, will have some RESULT by now, but will CONTINUE after it.
We will have been living together for 12 years next year - Next year we will live together for 12 years (the moment is indicated - next year, the duration is shown - for the whole 12 years! But the action does not think to end).
But this form is used extremely rarely and is replaced by either Future Continuous or Future Perfect.
We are looking for logic in everything: tenses in English "for dummies"
By the way, if you understand the logic of the main meaning of this or that time, then additional use cases will perfectly fall on it.
1. For example: using Present Continuous when we want to show dissatisfaction, irritation.
He is always coming late! - He's always late.
We're talking habit! Why is the Present Simple not used? Because we point to the duration, the continuity of this action. “Well, how long can this go on” - Present Continuous is indignant in this case.
2. Another example: the use of Present Simple in the schedules of buses, trains, movie screenings, etc.
The train leaves at 8 a.m - The train leaves at 8 am.
Why is the present tense used for actions that will take place in the future? Because it's repetitive. A more detailed comparison of Simple and Continuous.
So, in almost every case, you can find a completely visual explanation. If it still doesn’t work out, well, you have to remember. Still, a different language means a different way of thinking 🙂
Our YouTube video will help you understand even better.
The main difficulty of the English language is a large number of tenses and the difficulty of memorizing them. Sometimes even the British themselves confuse this or that time and pronounce them incorrectly. But if you systematize all the information about them, then remembering them will be much easier. If you do this, then having a good vocabulary, you will be able to speak fluently in English.
In order to be able to freely use tenses as tools of your speech, you need to logically understand what they are for, why there are so many of them. To do this, you need to know how to use them. That is, compare them with how we speak Russian. In fact, English is much simpler than Russian in terms of composition and content, and knowledge about it is much easier to systematize. Since in English there are not as many endings, suffixes and prefixes as in ours. They compensate for this with different verbs and their forms. As in Russian, there is a past, present and future. Only there is still a division into simple, completed and long, as well as completed long in each of the tenses. Simple - simple time is what is done in general, always, every day. As in Russian: I taught, I teach, I will teach.
Try to remember the times and understand the difference between them. Then your English will become brighter, richer, and it will become easier for you to understand people and speak it.
