English Tenses Overview

Front

The Simple form

Back

shows that the action takes place in the present, past or future.

Front

The Present Simple is formed

Back

from the infinitive without the particle to. In the third person singular the ending ‑s is added.

Front

The Present Simpleis used to denote:

Back

1. Customary, repeated actions.

2. Actions and states characterizing a given person.

3. Universal truths, something which is eternally true.

4. Actions going on at the present moment.

5. A future action.

Front

The Past Simple is formed

Back

by adding ‑ed or ‑d to the stem (regular verbs), or by changing the root vowel, or in some other ways (irregular verbs).

Front

The Past Simple is used to denote:

Back

1. an action performed in the past.

2. a succession of past actions.

3. repeated actions in the past.

Front

The Future Simple is formed

Back

by means of the auxiliary verbs shall and will and the infinitive without to of the notional verb. Shall is used for the first person singular and plural. Will is used for the second and the third person singular and plural.

Front

The Future Simple is used to denote

Back

1. a future action.

 2. in Russian by the future perfective and imperfective.

Front

The Future Simple in the Past is formed

Back

by means of the auxiliary verbs should, and would and the infinitive without to of the notional verb.

Front

The Continuous form

Back

denotes an action in progress at the present moment or at a given moment in the past or future.

Front

The Present Continuous is formed

Back

by means of the Present Indefinite of the auxiliary verb to be and Participle I of the notional verb.