English Tenses: Simple Present & Past Quiz

Simple present describes routines, while present progressive describes actions happening now.

Words like 'always,' 'sometimes,' 'often,' 'usually' indicate simple present.

Words like 'now,' 'at the moment' point to actions happening in progress.

Describes past actions that started and finished at specific points, or for a particular period in the past

Describes past actions with a result that continues to the present or when the result of the action is important now.

For ongoing activities starting in the past and lasting until now.

Describes an action in progress at a specific time in the past.

Words like 'yesterday', 'last month', 'in 2018' indicate simple past.

When describing the present, you have two options: simple present and present progressive. Simple present describes routines; present progressive describes actions in progress.

The simple present describes regular events. For negative statements, use 'don't/doesn't + infinitive'. For questions, use (question word) + do/does + subject + infinitive.

The simple present is used for routines, habits, and facts. Examples: They always eat breakfast at 7 am. She never forgets her keys.

The present progressive describes actions happening at the moment. It's formed with a form of 'to be' + infinitive + -ing.

The past is more complex! You can use simple past, present perfect, present perfect progressive, or past progressive. Each conveys a different meaning.

The simple past describes actions that began and ended in the past. For negatives, use 'didn't + infinitive'. For questions, use (question word) + did + subject + infinitive.

The present perfect describes actions with results still relevant now. It's formed with 'have/has + past participle'.

The past progressive describes an action in progress at a specific time in the past. It's formed with 'was/were + infinitive + -ing'.

Used to describe routines, habits, and things that are generally true.

Used to describe actions happening right now.

Formed with 'don't/doesn't + infinitive'.

Formed with '(question word) + do/does + subject + infinitive'.

Formed with 'a form of 'to be' + infinitive + -ing'.

Used to describe actions that started and ended at a specific point in the past.

Formed with 'infinitive + -ed' for regular verbs.

Formed with 'didn't + infinitive'.

Formed with '(question word) + did + subject + infinitive'.

Used for actions that started in the past and still have a connection to the present.

Formed with 'have/has + past participle'.

Formed with 'haven't/hasn't + past participle'.

Formed with '(question word) + have/has + subject + past participle'.

Formed with 'have/has + been + infinitive + -ing'.

Formed with 'haven't/hasn't + been + infinitive + -ing'.

Formed with '(question word) + have/has + subject + been + infinitive + -ing'.

Used to describe an action that was in progress at a specific time in the past.

Formed with 'was/were + infinitive + -ing'.

Words like 'yesterday', 'last week', 'in 2018' are used for actions that happened at a specific time in the past.

Words like 'just', 'already', 'ever', 'never' indicate actions with a connection to the present.

Words like 'for' and 'since' signal actions that started in the past and are still ongoing.

For regular verbs, the past participle is formed by adding '-ed' to the infinitive.

Examples: 'I walked to the park yesterday.' (Simple Past) 'Have you ever seen that movie?' (Present Perfect) 'I have been studying for the test since last week.' (Present Perfect Progressive) 'I was watching TV when the phone rang.' (Past Progressive)

For many verbs, the past participle of an irregular verb is a different form from the simple past.

A table that summarizes all verb tenses and their forms.