All About Tenses

Dr. Aung (ONE EDUCATION)

How to use simple
present tense
To talk about facts and general truths.

To talk about habits and routines.

To talk about feelings.

To give instructions and directions.

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Facts & General truths
Myanmar is a country in Southeast Asia.

The sun sets in the west.

The earth revolves the sun.

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Habits & Routines
Every morning, I go for a walk.

I have to deal with a lot of customers in my work.

I sometimes travel on business.

4
Feelings
I like coffee.

I miss you.

I hate to work with lazy people.

5
Instructions & Directions
Send me an email for meeting agenda.

Leave the door opened.

Go straight.

Turn right.

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How to use simple past
tense
To talk about things that started in the past and
finished in the past ( Usually come with time
expression ).

I visited Bagan two years ago.

I sent you an email about 30 minutes ago.

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How to use present
perfect tense
To talk about finished actions ( without time
expression)

I have visited Bagan.

I have sent you an email.

To talk about things that started in the past and

continues in the present.

They have been married for nearly 50 years.

She has lived in Liverpool all her life.
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How to use past perfect
tense
To talk about things that had happened before a
particular event.

When I came back home last night, my mother had

cooked the dinner.

The meeting had already started when I arrived at

my office this morning.

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How to use present
continuous tense
To talk about things that are happening at the
present time.

I am reading a book now.

My brother is working in Singapore.

The world is getting warmer.

People from the countryside are migrating to the

cities in search of better job opportunities.
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How to use past
continuous tense
To talk about things that were happening at a time in
the past

I was reading a book last night before I went to bed.

When I came back home last night, my mother was

cooking the dinner.

My colleagues were attending a meeting when I

arrived at my office this morning.

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How to use future tense
To talk about things that will happen in the future

I will visit Thailand next month.

We are going to launch our new product in

December.

NB: You can also use am/ is / are + V-ing pattern to

talk things that are very certain to happen in the
future.

My sister is getting married on coming Sunday.

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How to use present
perfect continuous tense
To talk about things that started to happen in the
past and still happening in the present

I have been working as an account for 3 years.

I have been working on this project since 2018.

I have not been studying English for a couple of

years.

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