Mastering English Tenses and Expressions: A Comprehensive Overview for Students

Present Simple

Usage

• Action that occurs regularly: She often sits in the common room.
• A general truth: Sixth-form students do A-levels.
• Feeling, expectation, desire: I want to study French.

Adverbs of Frequency

Always, usually, generally, regularly, often, frequently, sometimes, occasionally, rarely, seldom, never.

Time Expressions

Every day/week, on Mondays, once a month, at 1:00 pm, at night, in the morning.

Present Continuous

Usage

• An action that is happening now.
• A temporary action.
• A definite plan for the near future: Are you starting school tomorrow?

Time Expressions

Now, right now, at the moment, this year, at present, today, these days, this evening, tomorrow, tonight, next Sunday/week/month/year.

Past Simple

Usage

• Completed action in the past: They chose their subjects last month.
• Consecutive past actions: I finished my work and went home.

Time Expressions

Yesterday, last week/month/year, two days ago, in 2004, in the 15th century, when, then.

Past Continuous

Usage

• Action in progress at a specific time in the past.
• Action in progress interrupted by another action: She was doing her assignment when I called.
• Two actions in progress at the same time in the past: While the physics students were visiting the National Space Centre, we were visiting the National Gallery.
• Description of a scene: They were sitting in the common room.

Present Perfect Simple

Usage

• Action that started in the past and continues in the present: The students have been here since 6:00.
• Action that took place at an unspecific time and is relevant to the present: We have chosen all our subjects.

Past Perfect Simple

Usage

Action that took place before a specific time in the past: The teacher had left before the students arrived.

Future Simple

Usage

• Future prediction: I'm sure you will enjoy the trip.
• Spontaneous decision: Don't worry, I'll help you.
• Future events: The lesson will start at 9:00.

Be Going To

Usage

• Future plan: The teacher is going to meet us tomorrow.
• Prediction based on present evidence: Be careful, it's going to break.

Time Expressions

Tomorrow, this evening, in an hour, at 7:00, later, next week/month, soon, in a few minutes, in the future, on 3rd June.

Future Continuous

Usage

An action in progress at a specific time in the future: At this time tomorrow, we'll be studying.

Time Expressions

At this time tomorrow, next…, on Monday, in the next decade.

Future Perfect Simple

Usage

Action completed by a specific time in the future: They will have completed their exams by then.

Time Expressions

By this time next week, at 2:00, by the end of…, by then, by July, in 5 months.

Reported Speech

• "No one has found a heroic gene," said Dr. Levine.: Dr. Levine said that no one had found a heroic gene.
• "Are you leaving today?" asked Ellie.: Ellie asked if we were leaving today.
• "Don't worry," she said.: She told her friend not to worry.
• "Let's prepare posters," suggested Robert.: Robert suggested preparing posters.

Useful Expressions

• It's quite common for…
• It's becoming very popular…
• As I see it…
• In short
• To sum up
• In my opinion…
• For a start
• Secondly
• As I see it, this would be a wise decision.
• In my opinion, this would be a mistake.
• I believe/I think…
• There's no doubt that…
• The fact is that…
• In conclusion…