Tenses

The tenses listed are, with examples:

Past perfect continuous: : an action that happened before a certain time in the past, to show duration. For example: I had been going to school for a year when it was closed.

Past perfect: an action that happened before another event in the past. For example: I had washed the car before it rained.

Past continuous: an action that happened at a specific point in the past. For example: I was washing the car when it rained.

Past simple: an action that happened in the past. For example: I went to school.

Present perfect continuous: an action still continuing from the past to the present. For example: I have been learning English for three years.

Present perfect: an action started in the past that has been completed in, or has relevance to, the present. For example: I have already studied the tenses today. Note that the example in the image should be I have gone to school to fit the pattern of examples, it says been as a more commonly used expression (which I need to update!).

Present continuous: an action occurring now. For example: I am studying.

Present simple: a general ongoing, regular or scheduled activity. For example: I take English classes every Monday.

Future perfect continuous: an action at a certain point in the future, expressing duration. For example: I will have been studying English for three years this summer.

Future perfect: an action that finishes in the future, before or at the time of another future action. For example: I will have learned all the tenses by tomorrow.

Future continuous: an action occurring at a specific point in the future. For example: I will be fishing this time next week.

Future simple: an action to be completed in the future. For example: I will go to the cinema.

Excercise: mixed

Future Tenses Exercise

1. The train __________ (to arrive) at 12:30.
2. We __________ (to have) dinner at a seaside restaurant on Sunday.
3. It __________(to snow) in Brighton tomorrow evening.
4. On Friday at 8 o’clock I __________ (to meet) my friend.
5. Paul __________ (to fly) to London on Monday morning.
6. Wait! I __________ (to drive) you to the station.
7. The English lesson __________ (to start) at 8:45.
8. Are you still writing your essay? If you __________ (to finish) by 4pm, we can go for a walk.
9. I __________ (to see) my mother in April.
10. Look at the clouds – it __________ (to rain) in a few minutes.
11. When they __________ (to get) married in March, they __________ (to be) together for six years.
12. You’re carrying too much. I __________ (to open) the door for you.
13. Do you think the teacher __________ (to mark) our homework by Monday morning?
14. When I __________ (to see) you tomorrow, I __________ (show) you my new book.
15. After you __________ (to take) a nap, you __________ (to feel) a lot better
16. I’m sorry but you need to stay in the office until you __________ (to finish) your work.
17. I __________ (to buy) the cigarettes from the corner shop when it __________ (to open).
18. I __________ (to let) you know the second the builders __________ (to finish) decorating.
19. Before we __________ (to start) our lesson, we __________ (to have) a review.
20. We __________ (to wait) in the shelter until the bus __________ (to come).
21. I’m very sorry Dr. Jones __________ (not be) back in the clinic until 2pm.
22. This summer, I __________ (to live) in Brighton for four years.
23. I don’t think you __________ (to have) any problems when you land in Boston.
24. The baby should be due soon, next week she __________ (to be) pregnant for nine months.
25. By the time we get home, they __________ (to play) football for 30 minutes.
26. In  three years I __________ (to live) in a different country.
27. When you __________ (to get) off the train, I __________ (to wait) for you by the ticket machine.
28. __________ (to take) your children with you to France?
29. This time next week I __________ (ski) in Switzerland!
30. Now I __________ (to check) my answers.

Future tenses Exercise Answers

1. The train arrives at 12:30.
2. We are going to have dinner at a seaside restaurant on Sunday.
3. It will snow in Brighton tomorrow evening. (or is going to snow)
4. On Friday at 8 o’clock I am meeting my friend. (or am going to meet)
5. Paul is flying to London on Monday morning.
6. Wait! I will drive you to the station.
7. The English lesson starts at 8:45.
8. Are you still writing your essay? If you finish by 4pm, we can go for a walk.
9. I am going to see my mother in April.
10. Look at the clouds – it is going to rain in a few minutes. (or will rain)
11. When they get married in March, they will have been together for six years.
12. You’re carrying too much. I will open the door for you.
13. Do you think the teacher will have marked our homework by Monday morning?
14. When I see you tomorrow, I will show you my new book.
15. After you take a nap, you will feel a lot better. (or have taken)
16. I’m sorry but you need to stay in the office until you have finished your work. (or finish)
17. I will buy the cigarettes from the corner shop when it opens.
18. I will let you know the second the builders have finished decorating. (orfinish)
19. Before we start our lesson, we are going to have a review. (or will have)
20. We will wait in the shelter until the bus comes.
21. I’m very sorry Dr. Jones won’t back in the clinic until 2pm.
22. This summer, I will have been living in Brighton for four years.
23. I don’t think you will have any problems when you land in Boston. (or are going to have)
24. The baby should be due soon, next week she will have been pregnant for nine months.
25. By the time we get home, they will have been playing football for 30 minutes.
26. In  three years I am going to live in a different country. (or will live)
27. When you get off the train, I will be waiting for you by the ticket machine.
28. Are you going to take your children with you to France?
29. This time next week I will be skiing in Switzerland!
30. Now I will check my answers. (or am going to)