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Basic Tenses
Formation
Usage
Example
Present Simple
Single verb with “S” ending for He, She and It
used for routines and facts
James speaks four languages. (fact)
Rita and John go to Dubai every weekend. (Routine or habit)
Formation
Usage
Example
Present Continuous
the helping verb (to BE) + verb root + ing
used for something that is happing now or for talking about the future
I can’t talk to you right now because I’m eating lunch. (at the moment)
Ahmed is going to Fujairah this weekend. (future plan)
Formation
Usage
Example
Formation
Usage
Example
Formation
Usage
Example
Present Perfect
the helping verb (to have) + past participle of verb
when you are talking about something that started in the past, but continues until the
current time or when you are talking about something that happened recently
Barry has lived in Abu Dhabi for over 20 years. (something that started in the past and
continues until the present.
I have just finished my report. (something recently finished)
Simple Past
the regular formation is adding –ed to the verb. Be careful of irregular verbs!
to describe an event that started and finished in the past
Sarah went to India last year. (started and finished in the past)
Past Continuous
Past tense of helping verb (to Be) + verb root +ing
to talk about an event that continued over a period of time in the past. Often (but not
always) this time is interrupted by the simple past.
I was walking on the corniche when a bird hit me on the head.
Past
Simple
I walked.
Continuous I was walking.
Perfect
I had walked.
Present
I walk.
I am walking.
I have walked.
Future
I will walk.
I will be walking.
I will have walked.