English has twelve main tenses — four past, four present, and four future — each expressing a different relationship between an action and time. Mastering which tense to use and why is one of the most important skills in advanced English.
Present simple expresses habits, facts, and permanent situations (She works in London). Present continuous describes actions happening now or temporary situations (She is working from home this week). Present perfect connects past actions to the present (She has worked here for three years). Present perfect continuous emphasises an ongoing action that started in the past (She has been working since 8am).
Practice
I ___ for this company since 2019. It's a great place to work.
Waterat 100 degrees Celsius.
Put the words in the correct order:
Past simple refers to a completed action at a specific time (She left at 9). Past continuous describes an action in progress at a specific past moment or interrupted by another action (She was leaving when I called). Past perfect describes an action completed before another past action (She had already left when I arrived). Past perfect continuous emphasises the duration of an activity before a past moment (She had been waiting for an hour before the bus arrived).
Practice
When I arrived at the party, most people ___ already left.
Ia film when the electricity went out.
Put the words in the correct order:
Future simple (will + verb) expresses predictions, spontaneous decisions, and promises (I'll help you). "Going to" expresses plans or intentions already decided (I'm going to study abroad). Future continuous describes an action in progress at a specific future time (I'll be sleeping at midnight). Future perfect describes an action completed before a future point (By next year, I will have finished my degree). Future perfect continuous emphasises duration up to a future point (By next year, I will have been studying for five years).
Practice
By the time you arrive, I ___ cooking dinner.
Look at those dark clouds — itrain.
Put the words in the correct order: