Tenses of Verb

The Simple Present Tense-Expresses a habit or often repeated action. Adverbs of frequency such as, often, seldom, sometimes, never, etc. are used with this tense. Also expresses general truths.

Ex. They always eat lunch together.
Snow falls in December in Minnesota

The Present Progressive-This tense is used to describe an action that is occurring right now (at this moment, today, this year, etc.). occurring in the present, but is temporary.

Ex. She is typing a paper for her class.
John is living in Modesto, but he might move soon.

The Simple Past- indicate exactly when an action or event took place in the past. used to describe actions and/or events that are now completed and no longer true in the present.

Ex. I visited my sister yesterday.
I attended MJC in 1998. (I no longer attend MJC.)

The Past Progressive- used to talk about an activity that was in progress at a specific point of time in the past. The emphasis is on the duration of the activity in the past. show that one action was in progress when another action occurred.

EX. I was studying for an exam while my mother was cooking dinner.
We were walking in the park around 7 p.m. last night.
I was taking a bath when the doorbell rang.

The Present Perfect -used to talk about an event that began in the past and continues up to the present. used to talk about an event that was completed in the past, but the specific time of the event is not important.

Ex. He has lived in Modesto for two years.
(He began living in Modesto two years ago and he still lives there.)
He has already visited Vietnam.
(Specific dates and times are not mentioned.)

Present Perfect Progressive -used to describe the duration of an action that began in the past and continues into the present. used to describe events that have been in progress recently and are rather temporary.

Ex. He has been studying grammar for an hour. (He is still studying.)
She has been living in Taiwan for the last two months, but she plans to move soon.

The Past Perfect - describes completed events that took place in the past before another past event.

Ex. The Titanic had received many warnings before it hit the iceberg.

Past Perfect Progressive- used to emphasize the duration of an action that was completed before another action or event in the past.

Ex. She had been driving around the city for three hours before she finally found the right office.

The Future - Will and be + going + to are often used to describe future actions. The simple present and present progressive are also used to express future time. These are often used in connection with schedules.

Ex. Maria is going to go to Mexico next week.
She is meeting a new client at eleven o’clock.
The train leaves at 6:00 a.m. tomorrow.

The Future Progressive - used to describe an event or action that will occur over a period of time at a specific point in the future

Ex. I will be teaching ESL 40 at 10 a.m. tomorrow.
They will be moving their furniture out of the house by the time you arrive tomorrow.

Future Perfect Progressive - describes an action that has been in progress for a duration of time before another event or time in the future.
Ex. By the time he finishes law school, we will have been living in the U.S. for eight years.

The Future Perfect - used to describe an event or action that will be completed before another event or time in the future.
Ex. We will have finished the exam by the time class ends tomorrow.