Mastering English Verb Tenses: Usage, Structure, and Key Time Expressions

English Verb Tenses: Structure and Usage

Present Simple

Time Expressions: every day, sometimes, usually, always, often, seldom (rarely), never.

State Verbs (Non-Continuous Verbs)

These verbs refer to states rather than actions. They include verbs related to: feelings, desires, knowledge, opinions, beliefs, possession, senses, and preferences.

Present Continuous

Time Expressions: now, at the moment, look!, listen!

Past Simple

Time Expressions: last..., ...ago, in 1990, yesterday.

Usage: Describes an action completed in the past, usually connected with a specific time expression.

Past Continuous

Time Expressions: while.

Usage: Describes an action in progress at a specific moment in the past.

Past Perfect Simple

Time Expressions: already, just, never.

Usage: Describes an action that was completed before another action or specific time in the past.

Used To

Usage: Used to talk about a past habit or state that no longer exists.

Present Perfect Simple

Time Expressions: just, yet, never, ever, already, so far, up to now, since, for, recently.

Usage: Describes an action that started in the past and continues in the present; or a past action with relevance now.

Distinction between For and Since

• Since: Used for a specific starting point (e.g., since 1990).
• For: Used for a duration of time (e.g., for 5 years).

Usage of Just, Already, and Yet

• Just: Means very recently. Used for an action that occurred very recently.
• Already: Means sooner than expected. Used for an action that has happened now or before expected.
• Yet: Means still/up to now. Used for an action that has not occurred but is expected. Used only in questions or negative sentences, placed at the end of the clause.

Future Tenses

Future Simple (Will)

Structure: Will + infinitive.

Usage: Making a prediction about the future (what you think will happen).

Future (Going To)

Structure: Be + going to + infinitive.

Usage: When something has already been decided for the future; or when there is present evidence that something will happen.

Future Continuous

Structure: Will + be + verb + -ing.

Usage: An action that will be in progress at a specific moment in the future; or something that will happen because it is part of a normal routine.

Future Perfect Simple

Structure: Will + have + past participle.

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

Time Clauses

Rule: We use the Present Simple (not the Future Simple) after conjunctions like: when, as soon as (tan pronto como), until (hasta), after, and before, even when referring to future events.

Relative Clauses

Defining Relative Clauses (Without Commas)

Used to give essential information necessary to understand the sentence.

• Where: Refers to places.
• Which or That: Refers to things.
• When: Refers to time.
• Who or That: Refers to people.
• Whose: Refers to possession.

Omission Rule

Who, which, when, where, and that can be omitted when they function as the object of the clause. Whose is never omitted.

Non-Defining Relative Clauses (With Commas)

Used to give extra information that is not essential to the meaning of the sentence.

• Which: Refers to things.
• Whose: Refers to possession.
• Where: Refers to places.
• Who: Refers to people.

Restrictions

That cannot replace who or which. Relative pronouns are never omitted in non-defining clauses.