VERB TENSE CHART

SIMPLE PRESENT (

PRESENT CONTINUOUS (

I study every day .

)
(habitual action - past to present to future)

I am studying right now.

(

PRESENT PERFECT (

!"

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

( !"

I have studied Chapter 1.

(action began in past, may continue into future)

'

I have been studying for two

hours.

(past action with indefinite time span)

(action began in past and continues until now)

SIMPLE PAST (-

PAST CONTINUOUS (-

PAST PERFECT
(-

!"

PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS

(-

!"

I studied last night.

I was studying when you called.

I had studied drawing before I

I had been studying for two hours

!" .

(action completed in the past)

(action begun in past, implies possible continuation after second

past event)

SIMPLE FUTURE (
I will study tomorrow.

(action will occur in the future)

)
1 $!2

'

began to study painting.

(past action completed before second past action)

FUTURE CONTINUOUS (

FUTURE PERFECT (

!"

I will be studying when you arrive.

He will have finished reading by the time you arrive.

/ -

/ -

(continuous future action will continue to happen when another

future action occurs)

(future action will be completed by time another future

action occurs)

!2

when my friends came over.

(past continuous action occurring when second past action
occurred)

FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS

(
!"
)
I will have been studying for two hours by the time you
arrive.

/ -

! 27

(future continuous action will happening when another

future action occurs)