Tenses

1.0 The Present Simple Tense

1. Habitual/repeated actions and eternal truth. This use of the tense, covers, past, present and
future tense.
e.g He jogs four times a week.

2. Future actions that follow a time table. Use with a future time marker.
e.g They leave for Japan next week.

2.0 The Present Continuous Tense

1. Temporary action of short duration. The action has begun, is in progress and has not
finished.
e.g He is jogging in the park at the moment.

2. Temporary action of long duration. The action has begun, is in progress but will finish at
some point in the future.
e.g I am living in Kluang at the moment.

3. Temporary habit. Repeated actions over a given period of time.
e.g I am cutting his grass while he is away.

4. Unfortunate habit. A bad habit or reaction to one used with adverb always.
e.g I am always having to tell them off.

5. Future actions already arranged. Plans already made before time of speaking.
e.g I am changing jobs next month.


3.0 Simple past

1. Single, completed action in the past. Usually used with a time marker.
e.g I saw him yesterday.

2. A series of repeated actions in the past. Usually used with a time
marker.
E.g He often came to visit us when he was on leave.

3. A continuous action or state completed in the past. It has no effect on the present. Usually
used with a time marker.
e.g I lived in Singapore for nearly five years. (But I live in
Malaysia now.)

4.0 The Present Perfect Tense

1. An action completed in the past and the results of which are still obvious.
e.g I have dropped the best fruit bowl. (So, watch out for
broken glass).

2. An action completed at some time in the past which is still relevant now.
e.g I have seen that film. (so, I don’t want to see it again.)

3. A continuous action or state extending from past to present. It began in the past and is still
progressing.
e.g I have lived in Tapah since 1981. (And am still living
here.)

4. A series of repeated actions extending from past to present. And the actions are likely to
continue in the future.
e.g I have been to Ipoh many times.

5.0 The Past Perfect Tense

This tense is always used in conjunction with another verb in the simple past tense.
It cannot STAND ALONE in a sentence.

1. A continuous action or state extending from one point in the past to
another. It is ended by another action or event.
e.g He had been ill for a long time when he died.

2. A single action in the past preceding another past action.
e.g The thieves had escaped by the time the police arrived.

6.0 Future Simple or Indefinite

1. To indicate an intention, expectation or an event which is about to happen.
e.g I shall (will) do it tomorrow.

7.0 Future Continuous Tense

1. To indicate an action which will be taking place or happening at a
certain point in time in the future.
e.g He will be listening to the radio if it rains tonight.