Brought to you by the Purdue University Online Writing Lab.
Simple Present
Present Progressive
Simple Past
Past Progressive
Future
Present Perfect
Present Perfect Progressive
Past Perfect
Future Perfect
Modals
Present Action or Condition
General Truths
Non-action; Habitual Action
Future Time
I hear you.
Here comes the bus.
There are thirty days in September.
I like music.
I run on Tuesdays and Sundays.
The train leaves at 4:00 p.m.
top
Activity in Progress
Verbs of Perception
I am playing soccer now
He is feeling sad
Completed Action
Completed Condition
We visted the museum yesterday.
The weather was rainy last week.
Past Action that took place over a period of time
Past Action interrupted by another
They were climbing for twenty-seven days.
We were eating dinner when she told me.
With will/won't -- Activity or event that will or won't exist or happen in the future
With going to -- future in relation to circumstances in the present
I'll get up late tomorrow.
I won't get up early.
I'm hungry.
I'm going to get something to eat.
With verbs of state that begin in the past and lead up to and include the present
To express habitual or continued action
With events occuring at an indefinited or unspecified time in the past -- with ever, never, before
He has lived here for many years.
He has worn glasses all his life.
Have you ever been to Tokyo before?
To express duration of an acton that began in the past, has continued into the present, and may continue into the future
David has been working for two hours, and he hasn't finished yet.
to describe a past event or condition completed before another event in the past
In reported speech
When I arrived home, he had already called.
Jane said that she had gone to the movies.
to express action that will be completed by or before a specified time in the future
By next month we will have finished this job.
He won't have finished his work until 2:00.
active:
passive:
The company ships the computers to many foreign countries.
Computers are shipped to many foreign countries.
The chef is preparing the food.
The food is being prepared.
The delivery man delivered the package yesterday.
The package was delivered yesterday.
The producer was making an announcement.
An announcement was being made.
Our representative will pick up the computer.
The computer will be picked up.
Someone has made the arrangements for us.
The arrangements have been made for us.
They had given us visas for three months.
We had been given visas for three months.
By next month this job will have been finished.
You can use the computer.
The computer can be used.
