Name

form

example

meaning/use

key words

Simple present

(he/she/it) verb-s

used for stative verbs: know, understand, believe, feel, think, ** remember, forget, want, need, prefer, mean, love, like, hate, have, ** hear, feel, ** see, ** smell, ** taste, ** seem, look, ** cost, owe, be, **

**These verbs also have other meanings which can be progressive

always, usually, sometimes, often, seldom, never, on (Mondays, Saturdays, etc.)

Present continuous

(present participle)

She’s dancing the tango.

describes an action in progress at the present time–probably started in the past and will continue

now, right now, this quarter, this week, etc.

Simple past

Everyone danced at the wedding last Saturday.

used to describe an action completed at a particular time in the past

yesterday, last week/month/ year, (a week/ month/year) ago

Past continuous

was/were + v-ing (present participle)

Teresa was dancing when the bride threw her bouquet.

used to describe an action that was in progress at a particular time in the past (often an interrupted activity)

while

Present perfect

have + past participle

describes something that happened in the past–when is not important

ever, never, yet, 2 times (repetition), since (+ a particular time), for (+ a duration of time)

Pres. perf. cont.

have been + v-ing (pres. part.)

Mary Nell has been dancing with Carl a lot lately.

emphasizes duration of an activity which started in past and continues to the present

lately

Past perfect

They had already danced the Tango when I arrived.

used to describe an action that was completed before another action in the past

already, before, just, recently, ever, never, yet, still, by the time

Past perf. cont.

had been + v-ing (present participle)

We had been dancing for two hours before they served the food.

used to describe action in progress before another event or activity in the past

since (9 o’clock)

Future/be going to

am/is/are going to + v

Sergio is going to dance at the wedding.

will–prediction and promise/willingness; be going to–prediction and prior plan

tomorrow, next week, etc.

Future continuous

(pres. part.)

She’ll be dancing with Ahmed for the next hour.

used to describe an activity or event that will be in progress at a particular time in future

for, when

Future perfect

will + have + past part.

Sebastian will have danced his famous flamenco dance by the time Alicia comes.

emphasizes completion of action before another action or time in the future

when, by the time

Future perf. cont.

v-ing

He will have been dancing five years by the time he starts his tour next summer.

emphasizes duration of an action completed before another action in the future

for, by the time