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1 The Big Idea
Two Choices Make Every Tense
📘 Course Final Review

English has 12 tenses. But you only make two choices. First choose the time. Then choose what you want to say about the action.

Choice 1 — The time

Is it in the past, the present, or the future?

Choice 2 — What you want to say

There are four choices.

A
Simple. Just say it.I work.
B
Continuous. Say it is in progress.I am working.
C
Perfect. Say it is finished, or done before another time.I have worked.
D
Perfect continuous. Say how long it has gone on.I have been working.

3 times × 4 choices = 12 tenses. Find your time across the top. Find your choice down the side.

What you sayPastPresentFuture
SimpleI workedI workI will work
ContinuousI was workingI am workingI will be working
PerfectI had workedI have workedI will have worked
Perfect continuousI had been workingI have been workingI will have been working

Each choice does the same job in every time. Learn it once. Then move it to the past, the present, or the future.

  • Simple = a whole action, a habit, or a fact. I work every day.
  • Continuous = in progress at that time. I am working right now.
  • Perfect = finished before another time. A result or a number. I have finished the report.
  • Perfect continuous = an activity counted up to a time. How long. I have been working for two hours.
  • The time changes the helper verb: was, am, will be. What you want to say stays the same.
2 The Map
The Whole Course on One Page

This map shows every tense, its main jobs, and the lessons that teach it.

TenseMain jobsExampleLessons
Present Simplehabits, facts, schedules, opinionsShe drinks coffee every morning.8–15
Present Continuousnow, temporary, changing, arrangedIt is snowing right now.16–22
Present Perfectexperiences, results, up to nowI have visited Rome three times.33–41, 45
Present Perfect Continuoushow long up to nowHe has been working since six.42–44
Past Simplefinished actions, past habitsI went to Paris in 2019.24–26
Past Continuousin progress in the pastAt 8, I was watching TV.27–32
Past Perfectbefore another past timeShe had seen it before we arrived.47–50
Past Perfect Continuoushow long before a past timeShe had been waiting for an hour.51–53
Future Simpledecisions, offers, opinionsI will get it.56–57
Be Going Toplans, signsWe are going to fly to Rome.58–59
Future Continuousin progress at a future timeAt noon, I will be flying.60–63
Future Perfectfinished by a future timeBy Friday, we will have finished.64–65
Future Perfect Continuoushow long up to a future timeBy June, I will have been working here for ten years.66
3 Four Tests
Choose the Tense in Four Steps

When you are not sure, test the sentence. Go in this order.

Test 1 — When? Now, in the past, or in the future?
Test 2 — In progress? The action is happening at that time → continuous.
Test 3 — Before? The action is finished before that time. You count a result → perfect.
Test 4 — How long? You count the activity → perfect continuous. If none of the tests fits → simple.

Use the tests on one sentence at three times.

  • Now: She is cooking. (in progress)
  • Now: She has cooked three dishes. (a finished number)
  • Now: She has been cooking for two hours. (how long)
  • Past: She had been cooking for two hours when I arrived. (how long, before a past time)
  • Future: By 8, she will have been cooking for two hours. (how long, before a future time)
4 Special Cases
Three Cases to Remember
1. State verbs have no -ing

Some verbs describe a condition, not an action. They do not use -ing in any tense.

  • I know the answer.
  • She had known him for ten years.
  • By May, I will have known her for ten years.
  • We needed help.
  • He has wanted a dog for years.
2. A specific past time needs the Past Simple

When you say the exact time, use the Past Simple. The Present Perfect does not take a specific time.

  • I went to Paris in 2019.
  • She called me yesterday.
  • We saw that movie last week.
  • They moved here two years ago.
  • He left at noon.
3. After when, if, and by the time, use the Present Simple

For the future, the time-part uses the Present Simple. Do not use will there.

  • When I get home, I will call you.
  • If it rains, we will stay inside.
  • By the time you arrive, I will have left.
  • As soon as she finishes, we will leave.
  • I will call you after I eat.
5 Common Mistakes
Watch Out For These
❌ Mistake 1 — Present Perfect with a specific time
✗ I have seen that movie last week.
✗ She has called me yesterday.
✓ I saw that movie last week.
✓ She called me yesterday.
A specific past time needs the Past Simple.
❌ Mistake 2 — Present Simple for time up to now
✗ I live here since 2020.
✗ She works here for five years.
✓ I have lived here since 2020.
✓ She has worked here for five years.
Time that starts in the past and reaches now needs the Present Perfect with for or since.
❌ Mistake 3 — -ing with a state verb
✗ I am knowing the answer.
✗ She had been knowing him for years.
✓ I know the answer.
✓ She had known him for years.
Know is a state verb. State verbs have no -ing.
❌ Mistake 4 — Will after when or if
✗ When I will get home, I will call you.
✗ If it will rain, we will stay inside.
✓ When I get home, I will call you.
✓ If it rains, we will stay inside.
After when and if, use the Present Simple. Put will only in the other part.
6 Practice
Try It Yourself
Exercise A — Which Tense Does the Sentence Need?

Click the tense that completes the sentence correctly.

  • 1
    She coffee every morning. (drink)
    ✓ Correct — Every morning is a habit. Use the Present Simple.
  • 2
    Look! It right now. (snow)
    ✓ Correct — Right now means in progress. Use the Present Continuous.
  • 3
    I Rome three times. (visit)
    ✓ Correct — Three times counts experiences up to now. Use the Present Perfect.
  • 4
    He is tired. He since six a.m. (work)
    ✓ Correct — Since six a.m. tells how long. Use the Present Perfect Continuous.
  • 5
    At 8 last night, I TV. (watch)
    ✓ Correct — At 8 last night, the action was in progress. Use the Past Continuous.
  • 6
    By the time the bus came, she for an hour. (wait)
    ✓ Correct — For an hour tells how long before a past time. Use the Past Perfect Continuous.
  • 7
    By Friday, we the project. (finish)
    ✓ Correct — A finished result by a future time. Use the Future Perfect.
  • 8
    At noon tomorrow, I on a plane. (sit)
    ✓ Correct — In progress at a future time. Use the Future Continuous.
Exercise B — Complete the Sentence

Type the correct verb form for the verb given.

  • 1
    Water at 100 degrees. (boil)
  • 2
    Right now, she a letter. (write)
  • 3
    I my keys. I can’t get in. (lose)
  • 4
    They soccer for two hours. They are tired. (play)
  • 5
    At 7 last night, he dinner. (cook)
  • 6
    She the movie before we arrived. (see)
  • 7
    Tomorrow at 9, I at my desk. (sit)
  • 8
    By 2030, they the bridge. (finish)
Exercise C — Fix the Mistake

Each sentence has a mistake in the verb. The wrong form is shown in brackets. Type the correct verb form.

  • 1
    I to Paris in 2019. (wrong: have been)
  • 2
    She here for five years. (wrong: works)
  • 3
    I her for ten years. (wrong: have been knowing)
  • 4
    Yesterday, by noon, I five emails. (wrong: sent)
  • 5
    If I the answer, I would have told you. (wrong: would have known)
  • 6
    At 8 tomorrow, I TV. (wrong: will watch)
  • 7
    When I home, I will call you. (wrong: will get)
  • 8
    She said she tired. (wrong: is)
Exercise D — Mini Conversations: Type the Verb

Type the correct verb form in speaker B’s answer.

  • 1
    A: Where is Tom?
    B: He dinner in the kitchen right now. (cook)
  • 2
    A: Have you seen this movie?
    B: Yes. I it last week. (see)
  • 3
    A: Why are your hands dirty?
    B: I in the garden all morning. (work)
  • 4
    A: Why was the street wet?
    B: It all night. (rain)
  • 5
    A: What are your plans?
    B: I to Rome next month. I bought the tickets yesterday. (fly)
  • 6
    A: Is the report finished?
    B: Not yet. By Friday, I it. (finish)
  • 7
    A: Does she eat meat?
    B: No. She meat. (eat)
  • 8
    A: The phone is ringing.
    B: I it. (get)
Exercise E — Mini Conversations: Choose the Tense

Click the tense that completes speaker B’s answer.

  • 1
    A: What will you do at 8 tonight?
    B: I a movie. (watch)
    ✓ Correct — In progress at a future time. Use the Future Continuous.
  • 2
    A: Will you finish early?
    B: Yes. By 4, I everything. (finish)
    ✓ Correct — A finished result by a future time. Use the Future Perfect.
  • 3
    A: What happened at 9 last night?
    B: I a shower. (take)
    ✓ Correct — In progress at 9 last night. Use the Past Continuous.
  • 4
    A: Why did you miss the train?
    B: I the wrong bus. (take)
    ✓ Correct — A finished action in the past. Use the Past Simple.
  • 5
    A: Why are you tired?
    B: I all day. (clean)
    ✓ Correct — All day tells how long. Use the Present Perfect Continuous.
  • 6
    A: Has Ann finished?
    B: Yes. She just the report. (finish)
    ✓ Correct — Just links a finished action to now. Use the Present Perfect.
  • 7
    A: Where are the kids?
    B: They in the yard. (play)
    ✓ Correct — Right now, in progress. Use the Present Continuous.
  • 8
    A: What do you do?
    B: I English online. (teach)
    ✓ Correct — A job or routine. Use the Present Simple.
7 Choose the Right Sentence
Apply What You Know

Read each question. Choose the sentence that matches.

Question 1 of 8
Select the correct sentence.
Question 2 of 8
Select the sentence that tells how long.
Question 3 of 8
Select the sentence about an action in progress when another action happened.
Question 4 of 8
Select the correct sentence.
Question 5 of 8
“I have lost my keys.” Select the correct report.
Question 6 of 8
Select the correct sentence about the future.
Question 7 of 8
Select the sentence that is incorrect.
Question 8 of 8
Select the correct sentence.
8 Summary
Course Final Review: All 12 Tenses Every tense answers two questions. Choose the time. Then choose what you want to say.
  • Simple → a whole action, a habit, or a fact.
  • Continuous → in progress at that time.
  • Perfect → finished before another time. A result or a number.
  • Perfect continuous → an activity counted up to a time. How long.
  • Specific past time → Past Simple. State verbs → no -ing.
  • After when, if, by the time → Present Simple, not will.
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