Past Present Future

Past action habit, repeated action or facts. Future action

I ate at lunch time. I eat salad everyday. I will eat at dinner time.
SIMPLE The sun rises everyday.
Past habit / repeated action
I played the guitar when I was young.
Past Perfect Tense Present Perfect Tense Future Perfect Tense
had + past participle has or have + past participle will + have + past participle

Completed past action before 2nd past action. Past action, duration from past to now. Completed future action before a 2nd action.
PERFECT I had eaten before she arrived. I have eaten squid twice. I will have eaten lunch when she arrives.

Duration of completed action I have lived here since last year.

I had waited for 2 hours before he arrived.

Past Progressive Present Progressive Future Progressive

was or were + -ing of the verb am, is or are + -ing will + be + -ing

On-going past action Action happening right now On-going future action
PROGRESSIVE I was eating when she arrived. I am eating my lunch. I will be playing when she arrives.
(Continuous) She is dancing.

Parallel actions Planned future action

I was writing while she was dictating. We are going out tonight.

Past Perfect Progressive Present Perfect Progressive Future Perfect Progressive

had been + - ing has or have + been + -ing will + have + been + -ing
PERFECT
PROGRESSIVE Interrupted on-going past action Action started in the past continuing to now.Duration measured at a time in the future.
(Perfect I had been eating when she arrived. I have been playing all day. I will have been eating for 15 minutes.
Continuous) I have been in La Union since August. She will have been driving for 5 hours.