Complete Reference for English Tense Usage and Time Markers

English Verb Tenses: Forms, Usage, and Time Markers

1. Past Simple Tense

Forms: I walked, I didn’t walk, Did I walk?

Usage: Completed action in the past.

Time Markers: yesterday, last week, two days ago, in 2007, when, then.

2. Past Continuous Tense

Forms: I was studying, I wasn’t studying, Was I studying?

Usage: An incomplete action in the past or an action interrupted by another action.

Time Markers: last night, last week, last year, at 4 o’clock, when, while, as.

3. Past Perfect Simple Tense

Forms: I had arrived, I hadn’t arrived, Had I arrived?

Usage: An action completed before another action in the past.

Time Markers: already, by the time, after, before, until, never, just.

4. Present Simple Tense

Forms: I go (he goes), I don’t go (she doesn’t go), Do I go? (Does it go?)

Usage: Habit or usual routine.

Time Markers: always, usually, generally, regularly, occasionally, frequently, often, sometimes, rarely, seldom, never, at night, in the morning, every week, on Fridays.

5. Present Continuous Tense

Forms: Am/Is/Are playing, Am not/Isn’t/Aren’t playing, Am I playing?

Usage: Action that is happening now or around the present moment.

Time Markers: now, right now, at the moment, this year, at present, today, this evening.

6. Present Perfect Simple Tense

Forms: I have / He/She/It has worked, haven’t/hasn’t worked, Have I worked?

Usage: An action that began in the past and continues in the present, or a past action with a present result.

Time Markers: never, ever, already, just, yet, recently, how long, for, since.

7. Future Simple (Will)

Forms: I will invite, I won’t invite, Will I invite?

Usage: A prediction, spontaneous decisions, or promises.

Time Markers: this evening, in an hour, later, tomorrow, next month, in the future.

8. Future Continuous Tense

Forms: I will be doing, I won’t be doing, Will I be doing?

Usage: An action that will be in progress at a determined future moment.

Time Markers: at this time tomorrow, next [week/month], on Thursday.

9. Future Perfect Simple Tense

Forms: I will have lost, I won’t have lost, Will I have lost?

Usage: An action that will be completed by a specific time in the future.

Time Markers: Time expressions using by (e.g., by next week, by 2030).

10. Future with Be Going To

Forms: Am/Is/Are going to eat, Am not/Isn’t/Aren’t going to eat, Am I going to eat?

Usage: Planned action for the future or predictions based on present evidence.

Time Markers: this evening, later, in an hour, tomorrow, soon, at 4 o’clock, next month, in a few weeks, on the 8th of the month.

Essential Vocabulary and Phrasal Verbs

• helpful: Useful.
• helpless: Unable to defend oneself or act without help.
• to stay away: To keep distance or avoid.
• to side with: To support one person or group in an argument.
• thrilled: Very excited and happy.
• to knock: To hit something (like a door) to attract attention.
• to provide: To supply something needed.
• to apply for: To make a formal request for something (e.g., a job).
• to get engaged: To promise to marry someone.
• to take after: To resemble a family member in appearance or character.