| Examples | Meaning | Structure | |
The verb tenses
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| SIMPLE PRESENT | |||
it rains in Florida. Richard drives to work almost every day. Does it rain in Florida? Are they teachers? |
The simple present refers to events or situations that are not time specific. They are general, true, usual, habitual, or normal. The Simple Present tense DOES NOT refer to now! | The main verb is conjugated to the simple present, The auxiliary do/does is used for questions when the verb is NOT to be. | |
| SIMPLE PAST | |||
It rained last Wednesday. Richard drove to work yesterday. Did it rain in Florida last Wednesday? Were they teachers? |
At a particular/specific time in the past (before now), this happened or was true. It is not necessary to say when. | The main verb is conjugated to the Simple past. The auxiliary did is used for questions when the verb is NOT to be. | |
| SIMPLE FUTURE | |||
It will rain tonight. It is going to rain tonight. Richard will drive to work tomorrow. Will it rain in Florida tonight? Are they going to be teachers? |
At a particular/specific time in the future (after now), this will happen or be true. We use this tense to describe plans and expectations. |
The main verb is in Simple form after the auxiliary Will or after be going to. The auxiliary will or be going to is used. The auxiliary do/does/did is not used in the future. |
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| PRESENT PERFECT | |||
It has rained. He has driven to work. Has it ever rained in Florida? Have they taught English? |
Sometime before now the action happened. The time is either unknown or not important. | The auxiliary have is used conjugated to simple present. The main verb is conjugated to past participle. | |
| PAST PERFECT | |||
It had rained. He had driven to work before he changed jobs. Had it ever rained in Canada before April? Had they ever taught in Public schools by the time they started their own businesses? |
The event for the verb in past participle happened before another event or time. | The auxiliary have is used conjugated to simple past. The main verb is conjugated to past participle. | |
| FUTURE PERFECT | |||
It will have rained by the time we get home. He will have driven to work by 9. Will they have learned teaching methods before they graduate? |
The event for the verb in past participle will be finished before another event or time in the future. | The auxiliary have is in simple form after the auxiliary will. The main verb is conjugated to past participle. | |
| PRESENT PROGRESSIVE | |||
It is raining right now. He is driving to work. I am writing a book. Is it raining in Florida? Are they teaching today? |
An activity that started before now is continuing right now and will probably continue. | The progressive tenses use a conjugated form of the verb to be + the main verb using -ing, that form is called present participle when used in a progressive tense. | |
| PAST PROGRESSIVE | |||
It was raining earlier today. He was driving to work when he hit a deer. They were teaching English when the alarm went off. |
An activity that started in the past continued to and perhaps beyond a specific time in the past and it finished sometime before now. | The progressive tenses use a conjugated form of the verb to be + the main verb using -ing, that form is called present participle when used in a progressive tense. | |
| FUTURE PROGRESSIVE | |||
It will be raining when I get off work. He will be preparing his taxes in March or April. |
An activity will be in progress in the future at a particular/specific time or event. | The progressive tenses use a conjugated form of the verb to be + the main verb using -ing, that form is called present participle when used in a progressive tense. | |
| PRESENT PERFECT PROGRESSIVE | |||
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It has been raining for the last 10 minutes. He has been driving since 7 this morning. They have been teaching since 2001. How long have they been teaching? |
An event started some time before now and will possibly continue. The exact time it started is not important only it's relationship with the present moment. | The progressive tenses use a conjugated form of the verb to be + the main verb using -ing, that form is called present participle when used in a progressive tense. In the perfect tenses the verb to be is past participle and the main verb is present participle (+ing) |
| PAST PERFECT PROGRESSIVE | |||
It had been raining for 20 minutes when I stopped waiting. It had been drying on the sofa for 2 hours when she put it away. They had been teaching English for 5 years when the school was closed. |
An event started, continued for a relative time and stopped before or at the moment of another event in the past. | The progressive tenses use a conjugated form of the verb to be + the main verb using -ing, that form is called present participle when used in a progressive tense. In the perfect tenses the verb to be is past participle and the main verb is present participle (+ing) | |
| FUTURE PERFECT PROGRESSIVE | |||
He will have been driving for 16 hours by the time he gets to Iowa. The corn will have been growing for months when it is harvested. He will have worked for 40 years by the time he retires. |
An event which either has started or will start later, continues into the future until or before another event in the future. | The progressive tenses use a conjugated form of the verb to be + the main verb using -ing, that form is called present participle when used in a progressive tense. In the perfect tenses the verb to be is past participle and the main verb is present participle (+ing) | |
