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The time line


Thinking

Thinking

about the past.

about the future.

The Past

The Present

The Future

Present simple: states facts and routine


Present Continuous: analyses specific moments

Past

Present
am working
work

Future

Past Simple: describes a fact from the past


Past Continuous: describes a specific moment in progress

Past

Present

worked
was working
Thinking about
the past.
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Future

Will: decisions/predictions without evidence


going to: plans/predictions with evidence

Past

Present

Future
will

be

am going to

working
will
am going to
work

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.

Past
was

working am

Present
working

Future
will be working

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

Past

Present

Future

have
been
working
have
worked
Hybrid tenses:

depend on how you feel about the


past or how recent the fact or moment
is to you.

Past Perfect: more distant past


Past Perfect Continuous: Action in progress+ how long
day
before
Past/Past

worked
been

yesterday
Past

had
had

working
for 3 hours

Present

Future

Past continuoust: action in progress in the past


Past Perfect Continuous: Action in progress in
the past + how long
day
before

yesterday

Past/Past

Past

Present

was
working
had
been
working
for 3 hours

Future

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

Past/Past

Past

have

had
been
working

Present

been
working

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Future

Future perfect Simple:


makes a prediction for the outcomes of the future

Past

Present

tomorrow

by 18:00 Future

will
have
worked

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Future Perfect Continuous: describes moments in progress in the future.

tomorrow

Past

by 2

Present

Future
will
have
been
working

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