English Verbal tenses

Past Present Future Conditional

2.Past simple 1. Present simple 9. Future simple 13. Conditional
Subject + verb –ed Subject + verb Subject + will + verb Subject+ would+ verb
Subject + irregular verb 3rd person + verb-s
Yesterday, last week,… Everyday, every Monday,...

4.Past continuous 3. Present continuous 10. Future continuous

Subject+ to be+ verb-ing Subject+ to be+ verb-ing Subject + will+ be+ verb-ing
(was/ were) (am/ is/ are) Tomorrow, next week
While, during the afternoon Now, at this moment, …

6.Past perfect 5. Present perfect 11. Future perfect 14. Conditional perfect
Subject + had+ past participle Subject + has/have+ past Subject + will+ have + past Subject+ would+ have+ past
“before” participle participle (3rd column) participle
For, since, … By this time tomorrow, at 3 o’clock
tomorrow

8. Past perfect continuous 7.Present perfect 13. Future perfect continuous

Subject+ had+ been+ verb-ing continuous will+have+to be (been)+v-ing
By…, when…, next summer…
Subject+ has/have+ been +
verb-ing
12. Going to
Subject+ to be+ going to+
infinitive
(am /is/ are)
This afternoon, tomorrow, next
week, next month..
Infinitive: verb
Gerund: verb-ing
Past participle: regular verbs: verb-ed
irregular verbs: 3rd column of the list
Modal verbs: Subject+ modal verb+ infinitive
Modal verbs: can, could, may, might, must, have to, need, should, ought to, will, would.
 Past
2. Past simple: Se usa para acciones
puntuales y acabadas en el pasado.
“He played football last Sunday.” “I
went to Mary’s house last Monday.”
“He didn’t play football yesterday”
“Did you go to Mary’s house?”
4. Past continuous: Se usa para
acciones durativas en el pasado. Se usa para
contrastar una acción más larga con otra más
corta o puntual. Se usa para describir ‘el telón
de fondo’ de una acción.
“While he was painting the house, she
phoned him.” “Mary was walking on
the sidewalk, suddenly, somebody took
her bag.” “Was she walking on the
sidewalk?”
6. Past perfect: Se usa para acciones
en el pasado. Cuando queremos marcar la
diferencia entre una acción en el pasado y otra
anterior a esta. En past perfect va la acción
‘más antigua’ y en past simple la ‘más
nueva.’
“My parents had arrived home, when I
arrived.”
“When we arrived at the office we saw
that somebody had stolen our
computer.”
8. Past perfect continuous: Se
usa en los mismos casos que el past perfect
simple, pero cuando queremos remarcar que
la acción es durativa, o cuando queremos hacer
énfasis en el hecho de que la acción es larga.
“Peter had been talking to her for 2
hours before I arrived.”
Present Future Conditional
1. Present simple: Se usa para 9. Future simple: Se usa para 13. Conditional: Se usa para
acciones habituales. acciones en el futuro. hablar de una situación hipotética en el
“He plays football every Sunday “I will go to university.” “I will live in a presente o futuro. Se usa como forma cortés,
morning” “I go to the swimming-pool big house.” “She will be rich” “She educada, para pedir algo.
everyday.” won’t be poor.” “Will she travel?” “I would go to London, if I had
“He doesn’t play football.” “Do you money to pay the ticket.” “I wouldn’t
go to the swimming-pool?” go to Paris.”
“Would you like a cup of tea”
3. Present continuous: Se usa 10. Future continuous: Se usa
para acciones en el presente. para acciones contínuas, durativas, en el
“I’m reading a book now.” “Are you futuro.
reading a book?” “He isn’t playing the “By this time tomorrow she will be
piano now” driving to Madrid.” “Tomorrow
Se usa para acciones planificadas y afternoon he will be leaving.”
organizadas en el futuro, similar al “going
to.”
“He’s seeing Peter this afternoon.”
5. Present perfect: Se usa para 11. Future perfect: Se usa para 14. Conditional perfect : Se
acciones que han empezado en el pasado y acciones acabadas en el futuro. usa para hablar de una situación hipotética
llegan hasta el presente. (No existe un tiempo “At 3 o’clock tomorrow, he will have en el pasado.
equivalente al 100% en castellano) left London.” “I would have told him the truth, if I
“I’ve lived in this house since 1990.” 13. Future perfect continuous: had seen him.” (but I didn’t see him)
(I’m living in this house) se usa para una acción que se estará
“He has worked here for 4 years.” completando en el future, enfatiza la
“Has he worked here for 6 years?” “He continuidad.
hasn’t worked here for 7 years” “When she moves to New York next
summer, she will have been teaching
English for 10 years”.
7. Present perfect continuous: 12. Going to: Se usa para acciones
Se usa en los mismos casos que el present planeadas en el futuro.
perfect, pero cuando queremos remarcar que “I’m going to see Mary this afternoon.”
la acción es durativa, o cuando queremos hacer “She’s going to the cinema with Peter
énfasis en el hecho de que la acción es larga. tonight.” “She isn’t going with Mary.”
“I have been living in this house since “Look at those clouds, it’s going to
1980, and I’m tired, I want to move to rain”
another house.”