ENGLISH GRAMMAR
VERB TENSE REVISION
Revision of all tenses of verbs with a brief explanation and an example.
(The verb 'play' is used as an example.)
VERB
TENSE
USE
EXAMPLE
I play
Present Simple
Regular activities and routine
Amy and Sue play tennis on Saturdays.
I am playing
Present
Continuous Continuous present action Amy and Sue are playing at the moment.
Continuous Continuous present action Amy and Sue are playing at the moment.
I have played
Present Perfect Simple
1. Finished part of continuous action.
2. Completed actions in unfinished time.
3. Recent events (unspecified time)
4. Past action with a result in the present.
5. Experiences up to now. 1. Amy and Sue have played two sets.
2. They have played several other matchesthis year.
3. Their parents have just arrived.
4. Sue has broken her racket so she can't continue.
5. They have played in many tournaments.
2. Completed actions in unfinished time.
3. Recent events (unspecified time)
4. Past action with a result in the present.
5. Experiences up to now. 1. Amy and Sue have played two sets.
2. They have played several other matchesthis year.
3. Their parents have just arrived.
4. Sue has broken her racket so she can't continue.
5. They have played in many tournaments.
I have been playing
Present Perfect Continuous
Actions begun in the past which continue at the time of speaking.
They have been playing tennis since 2 o'clock this afternoon.
I played
Past Simple
Finished actions at a specific time in the past.
Last Saturday Sue played in another tournament.
I was playing
Past Continuous
Past continuous actions.
At 2.45 pm they were playing the second set.
I had played
Past Perfect
Simple Completed actions before a specific time or event in the past. Two other people had played a match before Amy and Sue arrived.
Simple Completed actions before a specific time or event in the past. Two other people had played a match before Amy and Sue arrived.
I had been playing
Past Perfect Continuous
Continuous actions before a specific time or event in the past.
At 4 pm they had been playing for
2 hours.
I will play
Future Simple
1. Predictions
2. Spontaneous decisions/offers 1.Amy will win the match today.
2. I'll lend you my racket!
2. Spontaneous decisions/offers 1.Amy will win the match today.
2. I'll lend you my racket!
I will be playing
Future Continuous
Continuous future action
Tomorrow they will be playing in another club.
I will have played
Future Perfect
Simple Completed future action By September they will have played ten matches.
Simple Completed future action By September they will have played ten matches.
I will have been playing
Future Perfect Continuous
Continuous future action estimated at a time in the future.
A 5 pm Amy and Sue will have been playing for 3 hours.