English Verb Tenses: Structures and Time Markers

Present Simple

Usage: (learning). Form: "he, she, it" adds "-s"; uses "do" and "does".

Time Markers: Always, frequently, usually, often, sometimes, rarely, hardly ever, never, once a week / a month, at night, in the afternoon.

Present Continuous

Usage: (learning). Form: "am, is, are + v-ing".

Time Markers: At the moment, now, this weekend, this month, tonight, tomorrow.

Present Perfect Simple

Usage: (I learned). Form: "have / has + v-ed or 3rd column"; "have not / hasn't + v-ed or 3rd column".

Time Markers: How long...?, ever, never, for, since, already, just, yet.

Present Perfect Continuous

Usage: (I've been learning). Form: "have / has been + v-ing"; "have not / has not been + v-ing".

Time Markers: How long...?, for, since.

Past Simple

Usage: (learned). Form: "-ed" or 2nd column; "did + v".

Time Markers: Ago, yesterday, the day before yesterday, last week / night / month / year.

Past Continuous

Usage: (was learning). Form: "was, were + v-ing".

Time Markers: At 10am yesterday, at 7pm last night, while, when.

Past Perfect Simple

Usage: (I had learned). Form: "had + v-ed or 3rd column"; "had not + v-ed or 3rd column".

Time Markers: Already, after, before, by the time.

Past Perfect Continuous

Usage: (I was learning). Form: "had been + v-ing"; "had not been + v-ing".

Time Markers: When, for, since, by the time.

Used To

Usage: (I used to learn). Form: "used to + v"; "did not use to".

Time Markers: Always, frequently, usually, often, sometimes, rarely, never, once a week / a month / a year, every day, in the morning / afternoon / evening, at night.

Future Simple

Usage: (learn). Form: "will + v"; "won't + v".

Time Markers: This evening, later, tomorrow morning / afternoon / evening, tonight, next week, soon, in a moment / hour, in the future.

Going To

Usage: (I learn). Form: "am, is, are going to + v".

Time Markers: This evening, later, tomorrow morning / afternoon / evening, tonight, next week, soon, in a moment / hour, in the future.

Future Continuous

Usage: (I'll be learning). Form: "will be + v-ing"; "will not be + v-ing".

Time Markers: At this time on Friday / next week, tomorrow afternoon, at seven o'clock tomorrow, in an hour's time.

Future Perfect

Usage: (I will have learned). Form: "will have + v-ed or 3rd column"; "will not have + v-ed or 3rd column".

Time Markers: By seven o'clock tonight / tomorrow, by then, by next week / month / year, all day long.