Verb tenses
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Past tenses
Simple Past Past Perfect
[VERB+ed] [HAD] + [PAST PARTICIPLE]
Usage Examples Usage Examples
To express that an
action started and
finished at a specified
time in the past.
1) I watched television last night.
2) I didn't watch a movie
yesterday.
3) Last year, I travelled to
Thailand.
To express that
something occurred
before another action or
specified time in the
past.
1) I had never studied English
before I visited the U.S.
2) Had you ever visited China
before your trip in 2000?
3) Yes, I had been to China once
before in 1996.
To list a series of
completed actions in
the past.
1) I finished work, met a friend,
and ate dinner.

Beijing in 2004.
•
If the Past Perfect action did occur at a specific time, the
Simple Past can be used instead of the Past Perfect when
before or after is used in the sentence.
e.g. I visited her parents once in 2003 before I moved to
Beijing in 2004.
To describe a habit
which stopped in the
past.
1) I played the piano when I was a
child.
2) He often arrived at school late.
Past Continuous Past Perfect Continuous
[WAS / WERE] + [VERB+ing] [HAD BEEN] + [VERB+ing]
Usage Examples Usage Examples
To indicate that a
longer action in the
past was
interrupted.
1) I was revising the file when he called.
2) While we were hiking, it started to
rain.
3) When the earthquake hit, I was sitting
in my chair.
To show that
something started in
the past and
continued up until
another time in the

3) They were eating lunch, reviewing
the budget, and discussing future
projects.
•
If you do not include a duration such as "for an hour",
many English speakers choose to use the Past Continuous.
Please note that there is a difference in meaning as
highlighted in the examples below.
e.g. I was working when my co-workers returned to the
office.
•
Emphasizes the interruption of “working”.
e.g. I had been waiting at the restaurant for half an hour
before my friend arrived.
• Emphasizes the amount of time “for half an hour”
To describe
atmosphere in the
past.
1) When I walked into the restaurant,
some people were eating their meals
while others were complaining about
the bad service.
To express that
something irritating
or shocking often
happened in the
past.
1) He was always coming to work late.
2) She was constantly interrupting
others in class.

2) Birds do not like milk.
3) The Great Wall is in China.
4) Windows are made of glass.
To indicate that an action
happened at an
unspecified time before
now. *Cannot use the
Present Perfect with time
expressions such as
"yesterday".
1) I have read that report already.
2) There have been many
earthquakes in Japan.
3) Has there ever been an
earthquake in Hong Kong.
To express the idea
than an action is
happening or is not
happening now.
1) I am here now.
2) He is not here now.
3) She needs help now.
4) He does not need help now.
The Present Perfect is often used to:
-
Describe your experience: say that an action which we
expected has not happened
-
Talk about a change over a period of time: talk about several
different actions which occurred in the past at different times

1) I am studying to be an
accountant.
2) I am not studying to be a
doctor.
3) Are you working on the audit
report?
4) Aren't you working at KPMG?
To give a more general
meaning of something
having occurred "lately",
without a duration such
as "for five minutes".
1) Recently, I have been feeling
really tired.
2) He has been working a lot of
overtime lately.
3) Scott has been feeling a little
sad.
To indicate that
something will or will
not happen in the near
future.
1) I am meeting some friends for
lunch.
2) I am not going to lunch.
3) 3) Is she going to lunch?
4) 4) Isn't he joining us for lunch.
* Please remember that the Present Perfect Continuous has
the meaning of "lately" or recently". If you use the Present
Perfect Continuous in a question such as, "Have you been

a specific time in the
future.
1) By next month, I will have
finished the exam.
2) By the time I finish work, the
shop will have closed.
To express a promise. 1) I will call you when I arrive.
2) 2) I promise I will not go alone.
3) 3) If I am elected Mayor, I will
increase funding for public
transit system.
To show that something
will continue up until
another action in the
future.
1) I will have lived in the U.S. for
eight months by the time I
leave.
2) By Saturday, he is going to
have been in Hong Kong for
two weeks.
To express that
someone intends to do
something in the future.
1) She is going to visit her parents
this weekend.
2) We are going to eat dinner
together tonight.
•Like all future forms, the Future Perfect cannot be used in
clauses beginning with “when”, “while”, “before”, “after”, “by

University for more than
two years when she
leaves.
1) John will have been working at
the Beijing office for five years
by the time he is transferred to
Hong Kong.
To indicate that a
specific time will
interrupt an action in the
future.
1) At ten tonight, I will still be
visiting with my friends.
2) Today at 1pm, I am going to be
eating lunch.
To express that two
actions will be
happening at the same
time.
1) While I will be reading, she will
be watching television.
2) I am going to be working
overtime while he is visiting with
his friends.
To show a cause and effect relationship between one action
and another action in the future.
1) Carol will be hungry when she gets home because she will
have been working for eight hours straight.
2) Ian will be fluent in German when he returns to Canada
because he is going to have been studying German in