English Tenses Timeline Chart
This timeline tenses chart provides a handy reference sheet to English tenses and their relationship to one another and the past,
present and future. Conjugated verbs are highlighted in bold. Tenses which are rarely used in everyday conversation are
marked by an asterik (*).
TIMELINE
SIMPLE ACTIVE SIMPLE PASSIVE PROGRESSIVE / PROGRESSIVE / CONTINUOUS ACTIVE CONTINUOUS PASSIVE
PAST TIME
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She had already The painting had been | I had been waiting for four The house had been being painted
eaten when I arrived. sold twice before it was PAST for over a month before they began destroyed. PERFECT hours when he finally arrived. to decorate the interior. *
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I bought a new car The book was written | I was watching TV when she The problem was being solved
last week. in 1876 by Frank Smith. PAST arrived. when I arrived late for class.
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She has lived in The company has been |
California for many managed by Fred Jones PRESENT She has been working at The students have been being
years. for the last two years. PERFECT Johnson's for six months. taught for the last four hours. *
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He works five days a Those shoes are made |
week. in Italy. PRESENT I am working at the moment. The work is being done by Jim.
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FUTURE
INTENTION They are going to fly to New
The reports are going to be
| York tomorrow.
completed by the marketing
department.
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V
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The sun will shine The food will be FUTURE SIMPLE She will be teaching The rolls will be being baked at tomorrow. brought later. | tomorrow at six o'clock. two. *
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V
I will have |
completed the course The project will have FUTURE She will have been working The house will have been being
by the end of next been finished by PERFECT here for two years by the end built for six months by the time
week. tomorrow afternoon. | of next month. they finish. * |
V
FUTURE
TIME
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Which tense is each sentence
I eat pizza everyday
1 future simple
Past perfect
2 She had already eaten before his arrival. progressive
3 She will have eaten all the pizza by 10 pm. Present perfect
4 At that time we had been eating pizza Present simpleall day.
5 I have been studying a lot lately. Past progressive
6 They've just arrived! Past perfect
7 I ate pizza for lunch yesterday.
Past perfect
progressive
8 Before he came, I had been eating pizza. Past simple
I was eating pizza when the bom exploded. Present perfect
9 progressive
10 I will eat pizza when I get home. Future Perfect
TENSES
Present Tense – Simple or progressive
1. They normally _____________________ lunch at two. (have)
2. Are _____________________ in Paris this week (you work)
3. You _____________________ new clothes every Saturday! (buy)
4. I played football at school but now I _____________________ swimming (prefer)
5. I _____________________ no idea what the book is about. Can you tell me what it’s about (have)
6. John _____________________ a difficult time at the university this year (have)
7. My father _____________________ everything about cars, but nothing about bicycles. (know)
8. The moon _____________________ round the earth. (go)
9. Do _____________________ those men at the door – They _____________________ at us very
strangely (you see, look)
10. We _____________________ that the contents of this letter should be changed.(feel)
11. They _____________________ lunch at the moment. – You shouldn’t disturb them. (have)
12. The watch _____________________ to my grandmother. (belong)
13. I _____________________ what you _____________________ me but I don’t agree with you (hear,
tell)
14. This medicine _____________________ a new substance (contain)
15. These days we _____________________ tests at school. (always have)
16. Why _____________________ my coat – Oh, I’m sorry. It _____________________ like mine!
(you wear, look)
17. This cake _____________________ strange. What’s in it (smell)
18. Hi Jake. – What _____________________ at the moment – I _____________________ the
sunshine at the beach. (you do, enjoy)
19. Where __________________________ from (new neighbours, come)
20. What _____________________ for a living - He is a government official but he quit his job a few
weeks ago. – And what _____________________ now – At the moment he
_____________________ for a new job. (your Dad do, he do, look)
TENSES
Present Tense – Simple or progressive
1. They normally have lunch at two.
2. Are you working in Paris this week
3. You buy new clothes every Saturday!
4. I played football at school but now I prefer swimming
5. I have no idea what the book is about. Can you tell me what it’s about
6. John is having a difficult time at the university this year
7. My father knows everything about cars, but nothing about bicycles.
8. The moon goes round the earth.
9. Do you see those men at the door – They are looking at us very strangely
10. We feel that the contents of this letter should be changed.
11. They are having lunch at the moment. – You shouldn’t disturb them.
12. The watch belongs to my grandmother.
13. I hear what you are telling me but I don’t agree with you
14. This medicine contains a new substance
15. These days we are always having tests at school.
16. Why are you wearing my coat – Oh, I’m sorry. It looks like mine!
17. This cake smells strange. What’s in it
18. Hi Jake. – What are you doing at the moment – I am enjoying the sunshine at the beach.
19. Where do the new neighbours come from
20. What does your Dad do for a living - He is a government official but he quit his job a few weeks
ago. – And what is he doing now – At the moment he is looking for a new job.
TENSES
Present Tense – Simple or Progressive: Fill in the correct form.
1. You can’t see Tom now. He _________________ a bath. (have)
2. He usually _________________ coffee, but today he _________________ tea.(drink, drink)
3. I won’t go out now because it _________________ and I _________________ an umbrella.(rain,
not have)
4. In Spain women usually _________________ hats.(not wear)
5. Who _________________ that terrible noise It is John. He _________________ his nose.(make,
blow)
6. My dentist always keeps _________________ me to clean my teeth. I hate that. (tell)
7. He never _________________ to the theatre. (go)
8. I _________________ this weekend in Eastbourne. I _________________ there nearly every
week. (spend, go)
9. My wife always keeps _________________ for more money at the end of the week.(ask)
10. Who _________________ to on the phone (you speak)
11. Anne _________________ all her clothes. At the moment she _________________ a dress for
herself. (make, make)
12. What’s that smell Something _________________ in the kitchen. (burn)
13. I _________________ overtime this month because I _________________ up to buy a new car.
(work, save)
14. He _________________ thirty cigarettes a day but at the moment he _________________ very
hard to stop. (smoke, try)
15. The sun _________________ in the east and _________________ in the west. (rise, set)
16. She usually _________________ languages very fast but she _________________ problems with
Chinese at the moment. (learn, have)
17. He never _________________ to the theatre. (go)
18. Do _________________ television every night (you watch)
19. He always _________________ his bills on time. (pay)
20. My father usually _________________ his breakfast at eight. (eat)
21. How long _________________ to get to the office It _________________ me half an hour. (it
take, take)
22. The boat _________________ Victoria Station at 9. (leave)
23. _________________ how old I am (you know)
24. Jane’s husband _________________ . (not smoke)
25. It _________________ in Egypt. (not often rain)
26. Florence _________________ on the river Arno. (lie)
27. He usually _________________ so quickly that I _________________ him. (speak, not
understand)
28. How _________________ to work – I usually _________________ by car but tomorrow I
_________________ in Tom’s car. (you get, go, go)
29. Why _________________ on your raincoat – I _________________ for a walk. –
_________________ to come with me (you put, go, you want)
30. I always _________________ lottery tickets but I never _________________ .(buy, win)
31. _________________ him – I _________________ him, but I _________________ him. (you love,
like, not love)
32. _________________ him tonight – Yes, I always _________________ to him on his birthday.
_________________ to send him a message (you write, write, you want)
33. That car _________________ a very strange noise. _________________ it’s all right – Oh yes,
that noise _________________ . It always _________________ a noise like that. (make, you think,
not matter, make)
34. The plane that you _________________ at now _________________ for Paris. (look, take off)
35. What _________________ to his car now – I think he _________________ it. (he do, polish)
TENSES
Present Tense – Simple or Progressive: Key
1. You can’t see Tom now. He is having a bath.
2. He usually drinks coffee, but today he is drinking tea.
3. I won’t go out now because it is raining and I don’t have an umbrella.
4. In Spain women usually do not wear hats.
5. Who is making that terrible noise It is john. He is blowing his nose.
6. My dentist always keeps telling me to clean my teeth. I hate that.
7. He never goes to the theatre.
8. I am spending this weekend in Eastbourne. I go there nearly every week.
9. My wife always keeps asking for more money at the end of the week.
10. Who are you speaking to on the phone
11. Anne makes all her clothes. At the moment she is making a dress for herself.
12. What’s that smell Something is burning in the kitchen.
13. I am working overtime this month because I am saving up to buy a new car.
14. He smokes thirty cigarettes a day but at the moment he is trying very hard to stop.
15. The sun rises in the east and sets in the west.
16. She usually learns languages very fast but she is having problems with Chinese at the moment.
17. He never goes to the theatre.
18. Do you watch television every night
19. He always pays his bills on time.
20. My father usually eats his breakfast at eight.
21. How long does it take to get to the office It takes me half an hour.
22. The boat leaves Victoria Station at 9.
23. Do you know how old I am
24. Jane’s husband does not smoke.
25. It does not often rain in Egypt.
26. Florence lies on the river Arno.
27. He usually speaks so quickly that I don’t understand him.
28. How do you get to work – I usually go by car but tomorrow I am going in Tom’s car.
29. Why are you putting on your raincoat – I am going for a walk. – Do you want to come with me
30. I always buy lottery tickets but I never win.
31. Do you love him – I like him, but I don’t love him.
32. Are you writing him tonight – Yes, I always write to him on his birthday. Do you want to send him
a message
33. That car is making a very strange noise. Do you think it’s all right – Oh yes, that noise does not
matter. It always makes a noise like that.
34. The plane that you are looking at now is taking off for Paris.
35. What is he doing to his car now – I think he is polishing it.
TENSES
Present Tense – Simple or Progressive: Fill in the correct form.
1. It often __________________ in Ireland (rain).
2. __________________ there now (rain)
3. Susan __________________ to her parents every Sunday night (write).
4. Stop at once! You __________________ the flowers every time the ball __________________ in
the garden (break, land)
5. Where is Kevin He __________________ tennis with Sue. (play)
6. She normally __________________ in Northbridge but she __________________ with friends at
the moment. (live, stay)
7. Hurry up, the teacher __________________ to begin (wait).
8. I __________________ a word Tim says (not believe).
9. The new lawnmower __________________ well at the moment (work)
10. What __________________ do for a living (you, do)
11. As a secretary I __________________ hundreds of letters every week (write).
12. My boss __________________ to change jobs soon (want)
13. Look! She __________________ in the non- smoking area (smoke)
14. We __________________ our break now, Mr. Smith (take)
15. The well-known actor __________________ a lot of fan mail (get)
16. Dorothy __________________ to read a good novel in her holidays (love)
17. My brother __________________ Italy the very moment I speak (tour)
18. Such bad behaviour __________________ me mad (make).
19. He usually __________________ out on Saturday night. (go)
20. She __________________ by train to Liverpool today. (depart)
21. They __________________ a game of cards right now. (have)
22. What __________________ , Mom (you bake)
23. Songs that are not popular __________________ very well (not sell)
24. I __________________ a hat today because it is a special day (wear)
25. __________________ to the bridge club (you belong)
26. The car __________________ oil. Can you fix it (lose)
27. Our children __________________ playing in the hut (enjoy)
28. The headmaster rarely __________________ a class (teach)
29. __________________ if I ask a question (you mind)
30. I __________________ some money because we __________________ to Vienna for the
weekend. (save, travel)
31. What __________________ – It __________________ forty euros (this one – cost, cost)
32. He never __________________ to what you say. – He always keeps __________________ about
someone else (listen, think)
33. The boy and his father __________________ a long conversation. – I wonder what they
__________________ about (have, talk)
34. Robert __________________ the same bus every morning (catch)
35. At the moment they __________________ in a small flat but they are looking for something else.
(live, look)
TENSES
Present Tense – Simple or Progressive: Fill in the correct form.
1. It often rains in Ireland (rain).
2. Is it raining there now (rain)
3. Susan writes to her parents every Sunday night (write).
4. Stop at once! You break the flowers every time the ball lands in the garden (break, land)
5. Where is Kevin He is playing tennis with Sue. (play)
6. She normally lives in Northbridge but she is staying with friends at the moment. (live, stay)
7. Hurry up, the teacher is waiting to begin (wait).
8. I do not believe a word Tim says (not believe).
9. The new lawnmower is working well at the moment (work)
10. What do you do for a living (you, do)
11. As a secretary I write hundreds of letters every week (write).
12. My boss wants to change jobs soon (want)
13. Look! She is smoking in the non- smoking area (smoke)
14. We are taking our break now, Mr. Smith (take)
15. The well-known actor gets a lot of fan mail (get)
16. Dorothy loves to read a good novel in her holidays (love)
17. My brother is touring Italy the very moment I speak (tour)
18. Such bad behaviour makes me mad (make).
19. He usually goes out on Saturday night. (go)
20. She is departing by train to Liverpool today. (depart)
21. They are having a game of cards right now. (have)
22. What are you baking, Mom (you bake)
23. Songs that are not popular do not sell very well (not sell)
24. I am wearing a hat today because it is a special day (wear)
25. Do you belong to the bridge club (you belong)
26. The car is losing oil. Can you fix it (lose)
27. Our children enjoy playing in the hut (enjoy)
28. The headmaster rarely teaches a class (teach)
29. Do you mind if I ask a question (you mind)
30. I am saving some money because we are travelling to Vienna for the weekend. (save, travel)
31. What does this one cost – It costs forty euros (this one – cost, cost)
32. He never listens to what you say. – He always keeps thinking about someone else (listen, think)
33. The boy and his father are having a long conversation. – I wonder what they are talking about
(have, talk)
34. Robert catches the same bus every morning (catch)
35. At the moment they are living in a small flat but they are looking for something else. (live, look)