PRESENT SIMPLE.
Use the Simple Present to express the idea that an action is repeated or usual. The action can be a habit, a hobby, a daily event, a scheduled event or something that often happens. It can also be something a person often forgets or usually does not do.
FORM
[VERB] + s/es in third person
PRESENT CONTINUOUS
Use the Present Continuous with Normal Verbs to express the idea that something is happening now, at this very moment. It can also be used to show that something is not happening now.
FORM
[am/is/are + present participle]
PAST SIMPLE
Use the Simple Past to express the idea that an action started and finished at a specific time in the past. Sometimes, the speaker may not actually mention the specific time, but they do have one specific time in mind.
FORM
[VERB+ed] or irregular verbs
VERB TENSES
Verb tenses are tools that English speakers use to express time in their language. Here you'll find really clear examples and explanations, so you can easily review all the English tenses - firstly how to make them (the 'form'), secondly, how to use them (the 'use')
PAST CONTINUOUS
Use the Past Continuous to indicate that a longer action in the past was interrupted. The interruption is usually a shorter action in the Simple Past. Remember this can be a real interruption or just an interruption in time.
FORM
[was/were + present participle]
PRESENT PERFECT
We use the Present Perfect to say that an action happened at an unspecified time before now. The exact time is not important. You CANNOT use the Present Perfect with specific time expressions such as: yesterday, one year ago, last week, when I was a child, when I lived in Japan, at that moment, that day, one day, etc. We CAN use the Present Perfect with unspecific expressions such as: ever, never, once, many times, several times, before, so far, already, yet, etc.
FORM
[has/have + past participle]
PAST PERFECT
The Past Perfect expresses the idea that something occurred before another action in the past. It can also show that something happened before a specific time in the past.
FORM
[had + past participle]
