english tenses

present simple

general facts, regular actions, schedules

ex: I work on Mondays

ex: I don’t eat lunch at 2:00

present continuous

continuing action, actions that are happening now or one time action

ex: i’m working this Saturday

present perfect

general life experience or not

ex: he has never been to Spain

present perfect continuous

for since ago, actions started in the past and continues

ex: i have been studying english for a year

past simple

actions that started and finishes in the past

ex: I worked all night

past continuous

actions that were continuing in the past

ex: we were listening to music

past perfect

actions that are completed or not completed in a specific time in the past

ex: i had taken my lunch break

past perfect continuous

actions that started in the past and continues

ex: they had been waiting since 3pm

future simple

actions planned or unplanned for the future

ex: i will have a glass of wine

future continuous

actions you think will/ won’t be becoming in the future

ex: i’m not going to be working at the company

future perfect

actions you think will have begun in the future

ex: i will have lived in china for 2 years

future perfect continuous

actions you think will have begun in the future and will continue

ex: i won’t have been eating meat for 3 months