Explanation
Exercises

A2 Review: Present, Past & Future Tenses

Quick reference with signal words, core uses, and natural examples.
Present Simple · Present Continuous · Present Perfect Past Simple · Past Continuous Will · Be going to · Present Continuous (arrangements)
PresentPresent Simple
Signal words always, usually, often, sometimes, never, every day/week, once/twice a week
  • Habits & routines: I study English every evening. · She usually listens to podcasts on the bus.
  • Facts & permanent states: English has 26 letters in the alphabet. · My brother lives in another city.
  • Future in time clauses: I’ll send you the file when I finish the lesson. (present after when/if, not will)
PresentPresent Continuous
Signal words now, right now, at the moment, these days/this week
  • Actions in progress: I can’t talk; I’m doing an English exercise right now.
  • Temporary actions: This week I’m practising pronunciation every day.
  • Arrangements: We’re meeting our English teacher at 6 tomorrow.
Note: Stative verbs such as know, like, need, seem, believe, and have (when it means possession) are not normally used in continuous forms.
PresentPresent Perfect
Signal words recently, lately, ever, never, before, just, already, yet, today/this week, for, since, how long
  • Recent events (no time given): I’ve just finished a short reading. · Have you checked the answers yet?
  • Life experience: Have you ever spoken to a tourist in English? · I’ve watched that video twice.
  • Unfinished time: I’ve studied English since last year. · She’s lived here for three years.
PastPast Simple
Signal words yesterday, last week/year, in 2019, ago, then
  • Finished actions: I joined an English course last month.
  • Story sequence: I opened the app, watched a lesson, and did the quiz.
  • Past habits/states: When I was a child, I liked cartoons in English. · I was shy in class.
PastPast Continuous
When? while…, when…, at 7 p.m. yesterday…
  • Action in progress at a time: At 9 p.m. yesterday I was studying new words.
  • Background in stories: I was reading a short story when my phone rang.
  • Interrupted action: We were practising speaking when the teacher came in.
FutureWill + base verb
  • Predictions (opinion): I think you’ll learn these words quickly.
  • Instant decisions: “I don’t understand this word.” — “I’ll check it in a dictionary.”
  • Promises/Offers/Suggestions (shall): I’ll help you with the homework. · Shall I read the example?
FutureBe going to
  • Plans/intentions: I’m going to practise speaking after work.
  • Predictions from evidence: Look at this long text—I’m going to need more time.
FuturePresent Continuous (arrangements)
  • Fixed plans with a time: I’m having an English lesson at 7. · We’re starting the test tomorrow morning.
Cheat sheetWhich tense should I use?
  • Routine or fact? ➜ Present Simple.
  • Happening now / temporary? ➜ Present Continuous.
  • No time given, result now / life experience / since–for? ➜ Present Perfect.
  • Finished in the past (time known)? ➜ Past Simple.
  • In progress at a past time / background? ➜ Past Continuous.
  • Decision now / promise / offer? ➜ Will.
  • Plan already decided / clear evidence? ➜ Be going to.
  • Diary arrangement with time? ➜ Present Continuous (future).

Reminder: In future time clauses introduced by when, as soon as, before, after or until, and in first conditional clauses with if, use a present form for the future meaning: I’ll message you when I finish my lesson.

Exercises:
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Present, Past & Future Tenses

1
A: “What ?” B: “I’m a designer, but I online at the moment.”
2
A: “How many people to the workshop last Friday?” B: “I don’t know. I at home.”
3
A: “What tonight?” B: “I don’t know yet. I what’s in the fridge.”
4
A: “John very strangely these days.” B: “I know. I him later to check.”
5
A: “ that cake?” B: “No, I’m full.” A: “I it then.”
6
A: “ the contract yet?” B: “Yes, I it last night.”
7
A: “ when I called yesterday?” B: “No, I on the computer.”
8
A: “Who the next election?” B: “No idea, but I this time.”
9
A: “How long in Berlin?” B: “I here for three years.”
10
A: “What time tomorrow?” B: “At 7:45. We the tickets this afternoon.”

Present, Past & Future Tenses

Context: Alex and Priya meet in a café after a long time and talk about work, studies and plans.
1
PRIYA: The last time I saw you, you a job.
2
ALEX: It’s been a while. Where now?
3
PRIYA: I to Bristol last year.
4
I in marketing since March.
5
ALEX: Do you it?
6
PRIYA: Yes, but I a lot of overtime these days.
7
ALEX: How long in London?
8
PRIYA: Since 2020. Before that, I in Cardiff.
9
ALEX: any good concerts recently?
10
PRIYA: Yes, I Coldplay last month.
11
ALEX: What this weekend?
12
PRIYA: I’m not sure. I think I my parents on Sunday.
13
ALEX: Nice. I football if it doesn’t rain.
14
PRIYA: By the way, your brother found a job yet?
15
ALEX: Not yet. He interviews all week.
16
Yesterday he to Manchester for one interview.
17
PRIYA: Good luck to him! Oh, I almost forgot — we a class reunion next month. Can you come?
18
ALEX: Let me check… I in Spain that week.
19
PRIYA: No worries. We another one in the autumn.
20
ALEX: Great! I you when I’m back.

Present, Past & Future Tenses

Context: Lucy calls Ben. They talk about their friend Niko, work, and weekend plans.
1
LUCY: Do you know what to Niko yesterday?
2
BEN: No, what? LUCY: He his bike on a wet road.
3
He to the hospital in an ambulance.
4
He’s OK now. The doctor him.
5
BEN: Poor guy! a lot of pain?
6
LUCY: Not now. They him some strong painkillers.
7
By the way, him since last year?
8
BEN: No, I him.
9
LUCY: Well, he move house next month.
10
He a new flat near the river.
11
BEN: he found a job there yet?
12
LUCY: Yes, he has. He next Monday.
13
BEN: Nice. What at the moment?
14
LUCY: I a charity campaign this week.
15
We three short videos so far.
16
BEN: any help on Saturday?
17
LUCY: Actually yes. We a street event on Saturday afternoon.
18
If it , we’ll cancel it.
19
BEN: No problem. I you early to set things up.
20
LUCY: Thanks! See you then — I you a coffee.