eng9-3.2· Unit 3: Verbs & Tenses· ~14 min

Past, future and present perfect

Past Simple, Past Continuous, future forms and the Present Perfect.

We use the Past Simple for finished actions at a definite time in the past; regular verbs add -ed (work → worked, study → studied, stop → stopped) and irregular verbs change form (go → went, see → saw, buy → bought, take → took). In questions and negatives we use 'did' with the base verb (Did you go? I didn't go) and we use 'was/were' with the verb 'to be'. Common Past Simple markers are 'yesterday', 'ago', 'last week' and 'in 2010'. The Past Continuous (was/were + V-ing) describes an action in progress in the past, often a background action interrupted by a Past Simple action (I was reading when she called). For the future we use 'will' for predictions, promises and decisions made at the moment of speaking, but 'be going to' for plans, intentions and predictions based on present evidence. The Present Perfect (have/has + past participle) links the past to now: we use it for experiences (ever/never), for results we can see now, and for unfinished time, with markers such as 'just', 'already', 'yet', 'for', 'since' and 'recently'; we use 'for' with a period of time and 'since' with a starting point. For example: 'I have lived here since 2015' uses the Present Perfect because the action continues now, but 'I lived in Baku in 2015' uses the Past Simple because it is a finished time.

Key terms

Past Simple — The tense for a finished action at a definite past time. Regular verbs add -ed (work to worked), irregular verbs change form (go to went, buy to bought); questions and negatives use 'did' with the base verb.
Past Continuous — Formed with was/were + the -ing form. It describes an action that was in progress in the past, often a background action interrupted by a Past Simple action (I was reading when she called).
will — A future form used for predictions, promises, and decisions made at the moment of speaking (on-the-spot decisions).
be going to — A future form used for plans and intentions decided earlier, and for predictions based on present evidence (Look at those clouds! It is going to rain).
Present Perfect — Formed with have/has + past participle (V3). It links the past to now and is used for experiences (ever/never), present results we can see, and unfinished time.
for and since — Time words used with the Present Perfect: 'for' goes with a length of time (for five years) and 'since' goes with a starting point (since 2018).
The four tenses at a glance
TenseFormUseSignal words
Past SimpleV2 (worked, went)Finished action at a definite past timeyesterday, ago, last week, in 2010
Past Continuouswas/were + V-ingAction in progress in the past (background)while, when
will / be going towill + base verb / be going to + base verbFuture: prediction, promise, decision, or plantomorrow, next year
Present Perfecthave/has + V3Experience, present result, or unfinished timejust, already, yet, ever, never, for, since, recently
Present Perfect vs Past Simple
PointPresent PerfectPast Simple
Formhave/has + V3 (have lived)V2 (lived)
TimeUnfinished time, link to nowFinished, definite past time
Markersjust, already, yet, for, since, ever, neveryesterday, ago, last week, in 2015
ExampleI have lived here since 2015 (still now)I lived in Baku in 2015 (finished)
✎Past Continuous interrupted by Past Simple
  1. 1Sentence: While I was cooking dinner, the lights went out.
  2. 2Background action: 'was cooking' (was/were + V-ing) is the longer action in progress in the past.
  3. 3Interrupting action: 'went out' is the short Past Simple action that interrupts it.
  4. 4Rule: Use the Past Continuous for the action in progress and the Past Simple for the action that interrupts it.
✎Choosing 'for' or 'since' with the Present Perfect
  1. 1Sentence A: I have known her for five years.
  2. 2Why 'for': 'five years' is a length of time, so we use 'for'.
  3. 3Sentence B: We have lived in this house since 2018.
  4. 4Why 'since': '2018' is a starting point, so we use 'since'. Both sentences use the Present Perfect because the situation continues now.
🚫Common mistake

Do not use the Present Perfect with a finished-time marker. 'I have seen that film last night' is wrong; with 'last night' use the Past Simple: 'I saw that film last night'.

🚫Common mistake

Choose 'will' vs 'be going to' by the situation: 'will' for an on-the-spot decision or a promise (The phone is ringing. I will answer it), and 'be going to' for a plan decided earlier or evidence-based prediction (We are going to visit our grandparents; we have already booked the tickets).

🚫Common mistake

Mind 'for' vs 'since': 'for' takes a length of time (for ten years) and 'since' takes a starting point (since 2020). 'since ten years' is wrong.

💡Note

Adverbs like 'just', 'already' and 'never' go after the auxiliary have/has and before the past participle: 'I have just arrived', 'They have already booked', 'I have never eaten sushi'.

Rules

  1. 1Past Simple = finished past action at a definite time; regular verbs add -ed, irregular verbs change form (go → went, buy → bought); questions/negatives use 'did' + base verb.
  2. 2Past Continuous = was/were + V-ing for an action in progress, often the background interrupted by a Past Simple action.
  3. 3Future: use 'will' for predictions, promises and on-the-spot decisions; use 'be going to' for plans, intentions and evidence-based predictions.
  4. 4Present Perfect = have/has + past participle (V3) for experience, a present result, or unfinished time; markers include just, already, yet, ever, never, recently.
  5. 5Use 'for' with a length of time (for two years) and 'since' with a starting point (since 2015); finished time uses the Past Simple, not the Present Perfect.

Practice

15 easy · 15 medium · 15 hard

10 random questions per test

EasyMediumHardMixed