Basic English Grammar: Tenses

Front 1

Present Continuous Form

Back 1

[am/is/are + present participle]

Examples:

* You are watching TV.
* Are you watching TV?
* You are not watching TV.

Front 2

You are learning English now.

Back 2

Present Continuous

USE 1 Now

Front 3

I am reading the book Tom Sawyer.

Back 3

Present Continuous

USE 2 Longer Actions in Progress Now

Front 4

I am not going to the party tonight.

Back 4

Present Continuous

USE 3 Near Future

Front 5

She is always coming to class late.

Back 5

Present Continuous

USE 4 Repetition and Irritation with "Always"

Front 6

Right now, Tom is writing the letter.

Back 6

Present Continuous

Front 7

Past Continuous
FORM

Back 7

[was/were + present participle]

Examples:

* You were studying when she called.
* Were you studying when she called?
* You were not studying when she called.

Front 8

Sammy was waiting for us when we got off the plane.

Back 8

Past Continuous

USE 1 Interrupted Action in the Past

Front 9

Yesterday at this time, I was sitting at my desk at work.

Back 9

Past Continuous

USE 2 Specific Time as an Interruption

Front 10

I was studying while he was making dinner.

Back 10

Past Continuous

USE 3 Parallel Actions

Front 11

When I walked into the office, several people were busily typing, some were talking on the phones, the boss was yelling directions...

Back 11

Past Continuous

USE 4 Atmosphere

Front 12

I was listening to my iPod, so I didn't hear the fire alarm.

Back 12

Past Continuous

USE 1 Interrupted Action in the Past

Front 13

Present Perfect
FORM

Back 13

[has/have + past participle]

Examples:

* You have seen that movie many times.
* Have you seen that movie many times?
* You have not seen that movie many times.

Front 14

I think I have met him once before.

Back 14

Present Perfect

USE 1 Unspecified Time Before Now

Front 15

I have had a cold for two weeks.

Back 15

Present Perfect

USE 2 Duration From the Past Until Now (Non-Continuous Verbs)

Front 16

People have traveled to the Moon.

Back 16

Present Perfect

Front 17

I think I have seen that movie before.

Back 17

Present Perfect

Front 18

Doctors have cured many deadly diseases.

Back 18

Present Perfect

Front 19

Past Perfect Continuous
FORM

Back 19

[had been + present participle]

Examples:

* You had been waiting there for more than two hours when she finally arrived.
* Had you been waiting there for more than two hours when she finally arrived?
* You had not been waiting there for more than two hours when she finally arrived.

Front 20

She had been working at that company for three years when it went out of business.

Back 20

Past Perfect Continuous

USE 1 Duration Before Something in the Past

Front 21

* Betty failed the final test because she had not been attending class.

Back 21

Past Perfect Continuous

USE 2 Cause of Something in the Past

Front 22

Jason was tired because he had been jogging.

Back 22

Past Perfect Continuous

USE 2 Cause of Something in the Past

Front 23

The motorcycle had belonged to George for years before Tina bought it.

Back 23

Past Perfect Continuous

Front 24

How long had you been waiting to get on the bus?

Back 24

Past Perfect Continuous

Front 25

Present Perfect Continuous
FORM

Back 25

[has/have + been + present participle]

Examples:

* You have been waiting here for two hours.
* Have you been waiting here for two hours?
* You have not been waiting here for two hours.

Front 26

he has been working at that company for three years.

Back 26

Present Perfect Continuous

USE 1 Duration from the Past Until Now

Front 27

Mary has been feeling a little depressed.

Back 27

Present Perfect Continuous

USE 2 Recently, Lately

Front 28

You have only been waiting here for one hour.

Back 28

Present Perfect Continuous

Adverb placement

Front 29

James has been teaching at the university since June.

Back 29

Present Perfect Continuous

USE 1 Duration from the Past Until Now

Front 30

What have you been doing?

Back 30

Present Perfect Continuous

USE 2 Recently, Lately