Verb Tense Chart

The following chart shows the positive, negative and interrogative (question) forms of all the principle tenses in English with a brief description of the principle usage. This chart is principally for comparison purposes. TENSE
Simple Present

POSITIVE
I play tennis on Mondays. She went to

NEGATIVE QUESTION
They don't (do not) work in New York. They didn't (did Does she know him? Where did she

USE
Habitual activities States Actions happening at a defined moment in the past.

Simple Past Paris last week. not) drive to work. get that hat? Simple Future
I'll (will) meet you at the airport tomorrow.

Decisions made at the He won't (will not) Will they visit us moment about the be able to come. soon? future, future predictions, future promises What are you doing? Actions happening at the present moment. Near future intention and scheduling. Interrupted past action, action happening at a specific moment in time in the past.

They aren't (are Present He's (is) working not) coming this Continuous at the moment. evening. I was watching Past TV when you Continuous called.

He wasn't (was What were you not) working when doing when I she arrived. called? They won't (will next year.

I'll (will) be Future not) be living in cooking dinner Continuous when you arrive. Paris this time

What will you be Future action at a specific doing next week moment in the future. at this time?

Future with He's (is) going to They're (are) not Where are you fly to Boston going to invite the going to stay? Going to next week. Browns.

Future intent or planned action

Present Perfect

I've (have) seen Mick three times this week.

She hasn't (has How long have not) been to New you worked at York. Smith's?

1)To express an action that was begun in the past and continues into the present. 2) To express an action that happened in the UNspecified past. 3) To express a recent action that has a present effect. To express an action that happens before another action in the past.

Past Perfect

I'd (had) already eaten before they came. We'll (will) have lived here for twenty years by 2005. She's (has) been waiting for over three hours. She'd (had)

She hadn't (had not) been to Rome before that trip. She won't (will not) have finished her homework by the time we arrive.

Had you ever seen such a crazy lady before that?

Future Perfect

To express what will How long will have happened or how you have lived in long something will have France by the happened up to a end of next certain point in the year? future. To express the duration of a continuous activity begun in the past and continuing into the present. To express the duration of a continuous activity begun before another activity in the past. To express the duration of an activity up to a point of time in the future.

Present Perfect Continuous

How long have They haven't you been (have not) been working on that studying for long. problem? I hadn't (had not) been sleeping for long when I heard the doorbell ring. She won't (will not) have been working for long by 5 o'clock. How long had you been playing tennis when she arrived? How long will you have been driving by 6 o'clock?

Past been waiting for three hours Perfect Continuous when he finally
arrived.

Future Perfect Continuous

He'll (will) have been sleeping for a few hours by the time we arrive.

Adapted from: http://esl.about.com/library/grammar/blgr_verbforms.htm?once=true& LATTC Writing Center Rev. July 27, 2007 Title V Funded