English verb tenses explained in a timeline.

1. 1
1

2. 5
The Present
Thinking
about the future.
Thinking
about the past.
The Past
The time line
The Future

3. Present simple: states facts and routine
Present Continuous: analyses specific moments
6
Present FuturePast
workingam
work

4. Past Simple: describes a fact from the past
Past Continuous: describes a specific moment in progress
7
was
Present FuturePast
working
worked
Thinking about
the past.

5. Will: decisions/predictions without evidence
going to: plans/predictions with evidence
8
will
am going to
Present FuturePast
working
be
work
will
am going to

6. 9
Present FuturePast
Notice that “working” is in the past, present and
future. It does not show us which tense is being
used. It is just a continuation of an action which is
marked by the “ing”.
workingamwas working will workingbe

7. Present FuturePast
have
been
working
have
worked
Present Perfect Continuous: describes a moment which started
in the past and continues now
Present Perfect Simple: describes a fact from the past with
relevance now
Hybrid tenses:
depend on how you feel about the
past or how recent the fact or moment
is to you.

8. Past Perfect: more distant past
Past Perfect Continuous: Action in progress+ how long
Present FuturePastPast/Past
had
worked
working
yesterday
day
before
had
been
for 3 hours

9. Past continuoust: action in progress in the past
Past Perfect Continuous: Action in progress in
the past + how long
Present FuturePastPast/Past
was
working
yesterday
day
before
had
been
for 3 hours
working

10. 13
have
been
working
Present FuturePastPast/Past
had
been
working
Notice that both present perfect and past
perfect are used to talk about the past. The
difference lies in how close to the present the
action/state is

11. Future perfect Simple:
makes a prediction for the outcomes of the future
14
Present FuturePast tomorrow
will
have
worked
by 18:00

12. Future Perfect Continuous: describes moments in progress in the future.
Present FuturePast
tomorrow
will
have
been
working
by 2