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 wordsalways, 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 wordsnow, 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: Don’t use it with stative verbs (know, like, need, seem, believe, have* meaning possession).
PresentPresent Perfect
Signal wordsrecently, 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 wordsyesterday, 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 time clauses with when / if / as soon as / before / after / until, use the present for the future idea: “I’ll message you when I finish my lesson.”

Exercises:
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3

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.