English Tense Forms: Tables and Examples

TABLES OF TENSE FORMS
INDEFINITE (SIMPLE)
Present
+ V / Vs ...
–
do / does
not V ...
?
Do / Does
V ...?
I go there every day.
always / often / usually / sometimes / seldom / rarely / never V / Vs …
Normally / Generally / Sometimes / As a rule / Every day (month) / Every other day /
Once (Twice) a week / These days V / Vs …
OR:
V / Vs …sometimes / as a rule / every day (month) / every other day / once (twice)
a week / these days.
I shall write a letter to you if / in case / when / after / as soon as / before / till / until I arrive
in London.
do not = don’t; does not = doesn’t
Past
+ V2 ...
–
did
not V ...
?
Did
V ...?
I went there two days ago.
(2 days) ago / Last year (week) / Yesterday / The other day / In 1977 / V2 …
OR:
V2 (2 days) ago / last year (week) / yesterday / the other day / in 1977 /
just now: He came home just now.
for: Shakespeare lived in London for many years.
When…?
What time…?
did not = didn’t
Future
+
shall /will
V ...
–
shall /will
not V ...
?
Will
V ...?
I shall go there tomorrow.
shall / will
soon.
V …tomorrow / the day after tomorrow / in a week / next year / in 2020 /
OR:
Tomorrow / The day after tomorrow / In a week / Next year / In 2020 / Soon
shall / will
V .
shall not = shan’t; will not = won’t
CONTINIOUS (PROGRESSIVE)
Present
+
am / is / are
am / is / are
Ving ... – am / is / are
not Ving
Look! / Listen / It’s noisy. am / is / are
Am / Is / Are
Ving ?
Ving …now / at the moment / today / this week / this evening.
OR:
Now / At the moment / Today / This week / This evening ?
am / is / are
am / is / are
Ving ...
Ving ...
still / always / constantly Ving .
We are having a party tonight. (Personal prearranged plans.)
I’m leaving for Paris on Sunday. (Personal prearranged plans.)
You are constantly watching TV! (Irritation, annoyance.)
am not = ’m not; is not = isn’t; are not = aren’t
Past
+
was / were
was / were
7 yesterday.
Ving ... – was / were
not Ving
?
Ving ?
Was / Were
Ving ... at 5 o’clock yesterday / at this time last Monday / from 5 till
OR:
At 5 yesterday / At this time last Monday / From 5 till 7 yesterday was / were
Ving ...
When I met him (came in / saw them), they were watching TV.
I fell asleep when I was reading.
While (when) Jane was cooking I was laying the table.
was not = wasn’t; were not = weren’t
Future
+
shall / will be
–
Ving ...
?
Shall / Will
be
shall / will
not
be
Ving
Ving ?
I shall be reading at this time tomorow.
shall / will be
tomorrow.
Ving at 6 o’clock tomorrow / at this time next week / from 8 till 12
OR:
At 6 o’clock tomorrow / At this time next week / From 8 till 12 tomorrow
shall / will be
Ving ...
shall not = shan’t; will not = won’t
PERFECT
Present
+
have / has
have / has
–
V3 ...
have / has
not V3
?
Have / Has
V3 ?
already / just / never / always V3 ...
You have always been a liar.
have / has
not V3 yet.
have / has not V3 ... recently / lately / in the last few days / so far / since / for
(если глагол не употребляется в Continuous или если нас интересует результат действия,
а не процесс) / today / this morning.
How much ...? How many ...? How many times ...?
Past
+
had
had
–
V3 ...
had
not V3
?
V3 ...?
Had
V3 ... by the end of the week / by 4 o’clock / before mother came.
No sooner had … than.
had V3 than...
Hardly had … when.
Scarcely had … when.
No sooner had she finished one project than she had to start another one.
He said (saw) that had
V3 ...
Future
+
shall / will
have
V3 ... .
?
Shall / Will
shall / will
have
V3 ...
By 4 o’clock (by this time) tomorrow.
I shall have read the book by this time.
–
shall / will
have
V3 ?
not
have
V3 ...
PERFECT CONTINIOUS
Present
+
have / has
has / have
–
been
Ving ... .
?
Have / Has
been
have / has not
been
been
Ving ...
Ving ?
Ving ... for / since / all day.
She has been playing tennis since she was 8.
How long have you been sleeping?
Past
+
had
been
–
Ving ... .
?
Had
been
had
not
been
Ving ... .
Ving ...?
When she arrived I had already been waiting for 3 hours.
Future
(is not widely used)
shall / will
have
been Ving … for 3 hours.
By 4 o’clock (by this time) tomorrow (next Sunday)
shall / will
not
have
been
Ving … by 4 o’clock (by this time) tomorrow
By 2020 you will have been living in the country for 10 years.