English Verb Tenses: Present Simple and Past Continuous

English Verb Tenses

Present Simple

• Used to describe:
  • Habits and routines
  • General truths and facts
  • Fixed schedules and timetables
• Formation:
  • Base form of the verb (e.g. I go, you go, he/she/it goes, we go, they go)
• Examples:
  • I wake up at 7:00 am every day.
  • Water boils at 100°C.

Past Continuous

• Used to describe:
  • An action that was in progress at a specific point in the past
  • An action that was interrupted by another action in the past
  • An action that was in progress around a specific time in the past
• Formation:
  • was/were + verb-ing (e.g. I was studying, you were watching, he/she/it was playing, we were eating, they were laughing)
• Examples:
  • I was studying when the phone rang.
  • They were playing soccer at 3:00 pm yesterday.

Present Perfect

• Used to describe:
  • An action that started in the past and continues up to the present
  • An action that happened at an unspecified time in the past
  • An action that has a connection to the present
• Formation:
  • has/have + past participle (e.g. I have eaten, you have studied, he/she/it has gone, we have lived, they have written)
• Examples:
  • I have studied English for three years.
  • She has just finished her homework.

Past Simple

• Used to describe:
  • A completed action in the past
  • A specific time in the past
  • A series of completed actions in the past
• Formation:
  • verb-ed (e.g. I walked, you wrote, he/she/it went, we lived, they studied)
• Examples:
  • I went to the store yesterday.
  • They studied for the exam last week.

Future Simple

• Used to describe:
  • A predicted or planned action in the future
  • A decision made at the moment of speaking
  • A future habit
• Formation:
  • will + base form of the verb (e.g. I will go, you will study, he/she/it will eat, we will live, they will play)
• Examples:
  • I will attend the meeting tomorrow.
  • They will move to a new house next year.

English Verb Tenses

Present Simple

• Describes habits and routines, such as daily activities or frequent behaviors
• Used to state general truths and facts, like scientific information
• Expresses fixed schedules and timetables, including regular events
• Formed using the base form of the verb, with slight modifications for third person singular
• Examples include daily routines, scientific facts, and scheduled events

Past Continuous

• Describes an action that was in progress at a specific point in the past
• Used to show an action that was interrupted by another action in the past
• Expresses an action that was happening around a specific time in the past
• Formed using was/were + verb-ing
• Examples include interrupted actions, ongoing events, and timed activities

Present Perfect

• Describes an action that started in the past and continues up to the present
• Used to express an action that happened at an unspecified time in the past
• Shows a connection to the present, such as a recent or unfinished action
• Formed using has/have + past participle
• Examples include ongoing learning, recent completion, and unfinished tasks

Past Simple

• Describes a completed action in the past, with a specific time mentioned
• Used to express a series of completed actions in the past
• Formed using verb-ed, with slight modifications for irregular verbs
• Examples include completed events, specific times, and series of actions

Future Simple

• Describes a predicted or planned action in the future
• Used to express a decision made at the moment of speaking
• Shows a future habit or regular action
• Formed using will + base form of the verb
• Examples include planned events, spontaneous decisions, and future routines

Test your understanding of English verb tenses with this quiz on Present Simple and Past Continuous. Learn when to use each tense and practice with examples.