English Verb Tenses: Conjugation and Time Markers

English Verb Tenses: Structure and Usage

Present Tenses Comparison

This section details the structure (Affirmative, Negative, Interrogative) and common time expressions for the main present tenses.

Present Simple

• Affirmative (A): Base form (e.g., play).
• Negative (N): don't play / doesn't play.
• Interrogative (I): Does he + Base Verb Form?
• Keywords: every day, on Sundays, always, often, never.

Present Continuous

• Affirmative (A): to be (am/is/are) + V-ing (e.g., are listening).
• Negative (N): aren't / isn't + V-ing.
• Interrogative (I): Are they + V-ing?
• Keywords: now, right now, at the moment.

Present Perfect Simple

• Structure: Use have or has + Past Participle (V3).
• Negative (N): haven't / hasn't + V3.
• Verb Forms:
  • If the verb is regular, use the -ed form.
  • If the verb is irregular, use the 3rd column (Past Participle). Example forms: ride, rode, ridden (Original note: ride rode riden).
• Keywords: ever, just, already, never.

Past and Future Tenses

Past Simple

• Affirmative (A): Verb in Past Simple form (V2). Regular verbs use -ed.
• Negative (N): Use didn't + Base Verb Form (V1).
• Interrogative (I): Did he + V1?
• Keywords: yesterday, last week, [a specific] year, a week [ago], [specific] hours.

Past Continuous

• Affirmative (A): was / were + V-ing.
• Negative (N): wasn't / weren't + V-ing.
• Interrogative (I): Were you + V-ing?

Future Tenses: Will vs. Be Going To

Future Simple (Will)

• Affirmative (A): will try (will + Base Verb Form).
• Negative (N): won't try (won't + Base Verb Form).
• Interrogative (I): Will they try?

Future (Be Going To)

• Affirmative (A): am going to + Base Verb Form.
• Negative (N): isn't going to + Base Verb Form.
• Interrogative (I): Are we going to + V1?

Future Time Expressions

• tomorrow, soon, later, one day.
• in a week, in a month, in a year.