Using the correct tense and verb form is important in English grammar. Here's a simple rule to help you choose which tense to use – which tense you use depends on how you see the event or action.
Routine or permanent situations
- use the simple form. For example, "I live in London" tells you that "live" is true all the time – London is my home.
"I lived in the countryside when I was a child" – this was a long-term situation in the past.
Temporary or continuing situations
- use the continuous form. For example, "I'm working as a secretary at the moment" – the job isn't permanent and maybe I'm doing it for a while until I get another job.
"House prices are rising" – they are continuing to rise and haven't stopped rising yet.
"She was wearing a black dress" – she put it on before I saw her and she still wore it after I saw her – wearing the dress continued over a period of time.
Connecting different times
- use the perfect form to show that one event was completed before another, or to show that one situation continues from one time to another.
For example, "I have lived here for two years" – I started to live here two years ago and I still live here.
"I will have finished the report before next week" – some time before next week, but I don't know exactly when.
"He had studied law before he met her" – he studied law before he met her, but we don't know when.
26 comments on “How to choose your English tenses”
This lesson is actually helping me a lot as a Secretary.
This web site is very useful and I really have learnt a lot of things, but sometimes still I have problems with choosing the correct tenses.
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Thank you for solving the problem I had since 2000. This information is very helpful and easy to understand.
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never thought of this. it's a really good way to choose the tenses. thanks
I did a lot of mistake in how to use the tenses. Now I see the good way to guide me in how to use it and following this advise through this web site.
Thanks a lot!
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I have a test tomorrow and this page helped me vey much
what did you do last night?The answer is I read a book or I was reading a book.
sammani » I'd say "I read a book" even if you didn't finish it.
I will go to the bank tomorrow.
I am going to the bank tomorrow.
The above sentenses are Future Simple Tense.
Which one is the correct to use in what situation.? Please recommend.
Thks & regs.
Panchar » The first is "will" future, and the second is present continuous. We use "will" for predictions, and the first continuous for fixed arrangements. See the page on future forms in the grammar section of the site for more information.
this web site is a great help for me. i learned many rules through these lesoons.
After viewing this webside I got some easy methods to chose the right tense.
Thanks for designing it & request to put some more efforts for make it more easy to learn.
Thank You
It is can improve my english, especialy in tenses.
Thank You Very Much
Actually thank you for your highly appreciated efforts in this side. Can I ask you if we merged tow tenses together what will happen ? fror example , My car have been being repaired .
what is the time for this sentence, and thank you.
Your sentence isn't grammatically correct. I think you're trying to do a present perfect continuous passive (My car has been being repaired) but we just wouldn't say this in English. There are too many auxiliaries! Instead:
My car is being repaired
My car has been repaired
It is clear and informative but is n't it too simple?
I don't think that choosing tenses needs to be any more complicated than this!
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I would like you to help me out with this.
Thank you.
GRAMMAR:
1. Study the following examples of mistakes made by learners of English.
Identify the error in each case.
Why was the mistake made? What does the student not know?
Example: ³I`ve seen that film two weeks ago².
This should read ³ I saw that film two weeks ago². The student does not know
that the Present Perfect form is not used to talk about specific times in
the past. In this case the simple past is needed.
A. ³She`s getting up at seven o`clock every day.
B. Maria: ³Why don`t you join us for dinner this evening?
Ingrid: I`d love to do but I`ll see OHamlet at the National Theatre.
A: For habits and routines we use the Present Simple (not Present Continuous).
B: For planned future intentions we use the "going to" future or the Present Continuous, not "will".
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