Verbs · pillar 7 of 16

Tenses & aspect

12 tenses = 3 times × 4 aspects · futures · habits · states

39 lessons from A1 to C2 · 111 grammar points

Mindmap: Tenses from A1 to C2

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# 7 Tenses & aspect ## A1 - be: am / is / are - be: short forms (I'm, she's, they're) - be: negative (isn't, aren't, I'm not) - be for name, job, age, feelings, place and nationality (I'm 20) - have for possession, family and illness (I have two sisters; I have a cold) - have got / has got - Do you have…? / Have you got…? - have for actions (have breakfast, have a shower) - Present simple: positive (I work, she works) - he / she / it + -s - -s spelling: goes, watches, studies, has, does - Present simple uses: habits, routines, facts, permanent situations - Present simple negative: don't / doesn't + base form - Present simple questions: Do / Does + subject + base form? and short answers - Wh- questions in the present simple (Where do you work?) - Present continuous: am / is / are + -ing - -ing spelling (making, running, lying) - Present continuous for now and around now - Present simple vs present continuous - Temporary vs permanent (I live in Shiraz / I'm living in Tehran this year) - Changing situations (It's getting colder) - was / were (+, −, ?) - there was / there were - be born (I was born in…) - Past simple: regular verbs (-ed) - -ed spelling (liked, stopped, studied, played) - Past simple for finished actions at a finished time - Past simple: common irregular verbs (went, saw, had) - didn't + base form; Did…? (I didn't see, not didn't saw) - Wh- questions in the past (What did you do?) - yesterday, last night / week / year, in 2019 - ago (three days ago) ## A2 - More irregular verbs and their patterns (buy–bought, think–thought) - Past simple for a sequence of actions - Past continuous: was / were + -ing - when and while - Past continuous for background, past simple for events - Past simple vs past continuous (interrupted actions) - Telling a story in the past - used to for past habits and states - didn't use to / Did you use to…? - going to for plans and intentions - going to for predictions from evidence (Look at those clouds!) - will for instant decisions, offers and promises - will for predictions and opinions (I think it will…) - Shall I…? / Shall we…? for offers and suggestions - probably / definitely with will (He'll probably… / He probably won't…) - Present continuous for arrangements (I'm meeting Ali at 6) - will, going to or present continuous? (first look) - The five verb forms: base, -s, -ing, past, past participle - Auxiliary verbs be, do, have vs main verbs - The past participle (third form) - Present perfect: have / has + past participle - Present perfect for experience (Have you ever…? I've never…) - been vs gone - Present perfect for news and recent events (I've lost my keys!) - just, already, yet with the present perfect - in + period of time for the future (in two weeks, in a few minutes) - US and UK spelling of verb forms (traveled / travelled, learned / learnt, dreamed / dreamt) ## B1 - Present perfect vs past simple (unfinished vs finished time) - This is the first time I've… - since + past simple (since I was a child) - No present perfect with finished time (yesterday, in 2019) - for + period, since + starting point - How long have you…? - It's two years since… - during vs for - by vs until - Present perfect continuous: have been + -ing - Duration up to now (I've been waiting for an hour) - Recent activity with visible results (I've been running) - Present perfect continuous vs simple (activity vs result; how long vs how many) - Past perfect: had + past participle - Past perfect for the earlier of two past events; by the time - already, just, never with the past perfect - State verbs (know, like, want, belong, need, seem, contain) - Verbs with two meanings (think, have, see, taste, smell, be) - will vs going to vs present continuous vs present simple - Present simple for timetables (The train leaves at 8) - Future continuous (I'll be working at 10) - Future time clauses: when / as soon as / until + present (perfect) - be used to + -ing (familiar with) - get used to + -ing (become familiar with) - used to vs be / get used to - would for past habits (first look) ## B2 - Narrative tenses together (past simple, continuous, perfect) - Past perfect continuous - Future perfect (will have done; by + time) - Future continuous for actions in progress and polite questions (Will you be using the car?) - Future perfect continuous (By June I'll have been working here for ten years) - be about to, be on the point of - be due to - was going to (plans that didn't happen) - would vs used to (actions vs states) - will for present habits (He'll sit there for hours) - be always / forever + -ing (annoying habits) - be being + adjective (You're being silly) - State verbs in the continuous for effect (I'm loving it; I'm thinking of…) ## C1 - Future in the past: was going to, was about to, would - was to / was to have done (fate and unfulfilled plans) - be to + infinitive (orders, plans, rules: You are to report at 9) - be bound / sure / certain / likely / set to - Past tenses for politeness (I was wondering, I wanted to ask) - Tentative forms (I was hoping, I'd hoped) - Present tenses in stories, jokes and commentaries - Present simple in headlines for past events - I hear / I gather / I understand that… ## C2 - Tense and aspect to show attitude (I've been meaning to…; I'm hoping you could…) - Present perfect for news, past simple for the details - Fine aspect choices (have been having; perfect for current relevance) - Choosing aspect for effect in narrative

Lessons in this pillar

A1.5be: am, is, areCoreOpen
A1.16have / have gotCoreSoonComing soon
A1.17Present simple: positiveCoreSoonComing soon
A1.18Present simple: negatives & questionsCoreSoonComing soon
A1.22Present continuousCoreSoonComing soon
A1.23Present simple or present continuous?CoreSoonComing soon
A1.25was / wereCoreSoonComing soon
A1.26Past simple: regular verbsCoreSoonComing soon
A1.27Past simple: irregular verbs & didCoreSoonComing soon
A1.28Past time phrases: yesterday, last week, agoMiniSoonComing soon
A2.7Past simple: more irregular verbsCoreSoonComing soon
A2.8Past continuous; when & whileCoreSoonComing soon
A2.9Past simple or past continuous?CoreSoonComing soon
A2.10used toCoreSoonComing soon
A2.11going toCoreSoonComing soon
A2.12will & shallCoreSoonComing soon
A2.13Present continuous for the futureMiniSoonComing soon
A2.14Verb forms & auxiliary verbsMiniSoonComing soon
A2.15Present perfect: experience (ever, never, been, gone)CoreSoonComing soon
A2.16Present perfect: just, already, yetCoreSoonComing soon
B1.6Present perfect or past simple?CoreSoonComing soon
B1.7for, since, ago, during; by or until?MiniSoonComing soon
B1.8Present perfect continuousCoreSoonComing soon
B1.9Past perfectCoreSoonComing soon
B1.10State verbs & action verbsCoreSoonComing soon
B1.11All the futures comparedCoreSoonComing soon
B1.12Future continuous & future time clausesMiniSoonComing soon
B1.13used to, be used to, get used toCoreSoonComing soon
B2.3Narrative tenses & past perfect continuousCoreSoonComing soon
B2.4Future perfect & future continuousCoreSoonComing soon
B2.5be about to, be due to; was going toMiniSoonComing soon
B2.6Habits: would, used to, will, always -ingCoreSoonComing soon
B2.7Stative verbs 2: You're being sillyMiniSoonComing soon
C1.6Future in the pastCoreSoonComing soon
C1.7be to; be bound to, be sure to, be likely toCoreSoonComing soon
C1.8Tense for distance & politenessMiniSoonComing soon
C1.9Special uses of the presentMiniSoonComing soon
C2.4Tense & aspect for stanceCoreSoonComing soon
C2.5Aspect nuanceMiniSoonComing soon

Every grammar point

The complete checklist for this pillar. Nothing is left out.

A1

be: am / is / are
be: short forms (I'm, she's, they're)
be: negative (isn't, aren't, I'm not)
be for name, job, age, feelings, place and nationality (I'm 20)
have for possession, family and illness (I have two sisters; I have a cold)
have got / has got
Do you have…? / Have you got…?
have for actions (have breakfast, have a shower)
Present simple: positive (I work, she works)
he / she / it + -s
-s spelling: goes, watches, studies, has, does
Present simple uses: habits, routines, facts, permanent situations
Present simple negative: don't / doesn't + base form
Present simple questions: Do / Does + subject + base form? and short answers
Wh- questions in the present simple (Where do you work?)
Present continuous: am / is / are + -ing
-ing spelling (making, running, lying)
Present continuous for now and around now
Present simple vs present continuous
Temporary vs permanent (I live in Shiraz / I'm living in Tehran this year)
Changing situations (It's getting colder)
was / were (+, −, ?)
there was / there were
be born (I was born in…)
Past simple: regular verbs (-ed)
-ed spelling (liked, stopped, studied, played)
Past simple for finished actions at a finished time
Past simple: common irregular verbs (went, saw, had)
didn't + base form; Did…? (I didn't see, not didn't saw)
Wh- questions in the past (What did you do?)
yesterday, last night / week / year, in 2019
ago (three days ago)

A2

More irregular verbs and their patterns (buy–bought, think–thought)
Past simple for a sequence of actions
Past continuous: was / were + -ing
when and while
Past continuous for background, past simple for events
Past simple vs past continuous (interrupted actions)
Telling a story in the past
used to for past habits and states
didn't use to / Did you use to…?
going to for plans and intentions
going to for predictions from evidence (Look at those clouds!)
will for instant decisions, offers and promises
will for predictions and opinions (I think it will…)
Shall I…? / Shall we…? for offers and suggestions
probably / definitely with will (He'll probably… / He probably won't…)
Present continuous for arrangements (I'm meeting Ali at 6)
will, going to or present continuous? (first look)
The five verb forms: base, -s, -ing, past, past participle
Auxiliary verbs be, do, have vs main verbs
The past participle (third form)
Present perfect: have / has + past participle
Present perfect for experience (Have you ever…? I've never…)
been vs gone
Present perfect for news and recent events (I've lost my keys!)
just, already, yet with the present perfect
in + period of time for the future (in two weeks, in a few minutes)
US and UK spelling of verb forms (traveled / travelled, learned / learnt, dreamed / dreamt)

B1

Present perfect vs past simple (unfinished vs finished time)
This is the first time I've…
since + past simple (since I was a child)
No present perfect with finished time (yesterday, in 2019)
for + period, since + starting point
How long have you…?
It's two years since…
during vs for
by vs until
Present perfect continuous: have been + -ing
Duration up to now (I've been waiting for an hour)
Recent activity with visible results (I've been running)
Present perfect continuous vs simple (activity vs result; how long vs how many)
Past perfect: had + past participle
Past perfect for the earlier of two past events; by the time
already, just, never with the past perfect
State verbs (know, like, want, belong, need, seem, contain)
Verbs with two meanings (think, have, see, taste, smell, be)
will vs going to vs present continuous vs present simple
Present simple for timetables (The train leaves at 8)
Future continuous (I'll be working at 10)
Future time clauses: when / as soon as / until + present (perfect)
be used to + -ing (familiar with)
get used to + -ing (become familiar with)
used to vs be / get used to
would for past habits (first look)

B2

Narrative tenses together (past simple, continuous, perfect)
Past perfect continuous
Future perfect (will have done; by + time)
Future continuous for actions in progress and polite questions (Will you be using the car?)
Future perfect continuous (By June I'll have been working here for ten years)
be about to, be on the point of
be due to
was going to (plans that didn't happen)
would vs used to (actions vs states)
will for present habits (He'll sit there for hours)
be always / forever + -ing (annoying habits)
be being + adjective (You're being silly)
State verbs in the continuous for effect (I'm loving it; I'm thinking of…)

C1

Future in the past: was going to, was about to, would
was to / was to have done (fate and unfulfilled plans)
be to + infinitive (orders, plans, rules: You are to report at 9)
be bound / sure / certain / likely / set to
Past tenses for politeness (I was wondering, I wanted to ask)
Tentative forms (I was hoping, I'd hoped)
Present tenses in stories, jokes and commentaries
Present simple in headlines for past events
I hear / I gather / I understand that…

C2

Tense and aspect to show attitude (I've been meaning to…; I'm hoping you could…)
Present perfect for news, past simple for the details
Fine aspect choices (have been having; perfect for current relevance)
Choosing aspect for effect in narrative