Overview: 12 English Tenses

TenseCore UsageTime Reference
Present Simplefacts, habitsnow, always
Present Continuoushappening nowright now
Present Perfectpast → presentuntil now
Present Perfect Continuousongoing until nowfor/since + now
Past Simplecompleted pastyesterday, ago
Past Continuouswas happeningwhen/while
Past Perfectbefore pastbefore + past
Past Perfect Continuousongoing before pastbefore + past
Future Simplewill happentomorrow, will
Future Continuouswill be happeningthis time tomorrow
Future Perfectwill have completedby + future
Future Perfect Continuouswill have been doingby + future

1. Present Simple (一般现在时)

Core Usage

  • Facts and truths (事实和真理)
  • Habits and routines (习惯和例行)
  • Permanent situations (永久状态)

Time Markers

  • always, usually, often, sometimes, rarely, never
  • every day/week/month
  • on Mondays, in the morning

Work Scenarios

Meeting Introductions

1
2
3
"I **work** in the security team."(我在安全团队工作)
"We **use** AWS KMS for key management."(我们使用 AWS KMS 进行密钥管理)
"The system **runs** on Linux servers."(系统运行在 Linux 服务器上)

Status Updates

1
2
3
"The project **starts** next week."(项目下周开始)
"We **have** daily standups at 10 AM."(我们每天 10 点开站会)
"The API **supports** both REST and GraphQL."(API 同时支持 REST 和 GraphQL)

Technical Documentation

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2
3
"This function **takes** two parameters."(这个函数接受两个参数)
"The encryption **uses** AES-256."(加密使用 AES-256)
"The server **handles** up to 10,000 requests per second."(服务器每秒最多处理 10,000 个请求)

Daily Life Scenarios

Introducing Yourself

1
2
3
"I **live** in Shenzhen."(我住在深圳)
"I **work** as a software engineer."(我是一名软件工程师)
"I **speak** Chinese and English."(我会说中文和英文)

Daily Routines

1
2
3
"I **wake up** at 7 AM."(我早上 7 点起床)
"I **have** breakfast at 8."(我 8 点吃早饭)
"I **take** the subway to work."(我坐地铁上班)

Hobbies and Interests

1
2
3
"I **play** basketball on weekends."(我周末打篮球)
"She **likes** reading books."(她喜欢看书)
"We **watch** movies together."(我们一起看电影)

2. Present Continuous (现在进行时)

Core Usage

  • Happening right now (正在发生)
  • Temporary situations (临时状态)
  • Future plans (将来的计划)

Time Markers

  • now, right now, at the moment
  • currently, these days
  • this week/month

Work Scenarios

Current Status

1
2
3
"I **am working** on the KMS migration."(我正在做 KMS 迁移)
"We **are debugging** the performance issue."(我们正在调试性能问题)
"The team **is reviewing** the code changes."(团队正在审查代码变更)

Ongoing Projects

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2
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"We **are developing** a new feature."(我们正在开发新功能)
"They **are testing** the beta version."(他们正在测试 Beta 版本)
"I **am learning** Kubernetes."(我正在学习 Kubernetes)

Temporary Situations

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2
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"I **am covering** for my colleague this week."(我这周替同事顶班)
"We **are using** a temporary server."(我们正在使用临时服务器)
"The system **is undergoing** maintenance."(系统正在进行维护)

Daily Life Scenarios

Right Now

1
2
3
"I **am cooking** dinner."(我正在做晚饭)
"She **is watching** TV."(她正在看电视)
"They **are playing** games."(他们正在玩游戏)

Temporary Situations

1
2
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"I **am staying** at a hotel this week."(我这周住在酒店)
"He **is working** from home these days."(他这些天在家办公)
"We **are saving** money for a trip."(我们正在为旅行存钱)

Future Plans

1
2
3
"I **am meeting** my friend tomorrow."(我明天要见朋友)
"We **are flying** to Beijing next week."(我们下周飞北京)
"She **is starting** a new job next month."(她下个月开始新工作)

3. Present Perfect (现在完成时)

Core Usage

  • Past action with present result (过去的动作,现在的结果)
  • Life experiences (人生经历)
  • Recent actions (最近的动作)
  • Unfinished time periods (未结束的时间段)

Time Markers

  • already, yet, just
  • ever, never
  • so far, up to now
  • for + duration, since + point in time
  • this week/month/year

Work Scenarios

Completed Actions with Results

1
2
3
"I **have finished** the report."(我完成了报告 - 结果:可以提交了)
"We **have deployed** the new version."(我们部署了新版本 - 结果:现在在运行)
"They **have fixed** the bug."(他们修复了 Bug - 结果:问题解决了)

Life Experiences (Career)

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2
3
"I **have worked** with AWS for 5 years."(我用 AWS 已经 5 年了)
"She **has managed** teams in three companies."(她在三家公司管理过团队)
"We **have dealt with** similar issues before."(我们以前处理过类似问题)

Recent Actions

1
2
3
"I **have just sent** the email."(我刚发了邮件)
"We **have recently updated** the documentation."(我们最近更新了文档)
"The system **has just crashed**."(系统刚刚崩溃了)

Unfinished Time

1
2
3
"I **have attended** 5 meetings this week."(这周我已经参加了 5 个会议 - 这周还没结束)
"We **have completed** 3 projects this year."(今年我们已经完成了 3 个项目)
"The team **has written** 10,000 lines of code this month."(团队这个月写了 10,000 行代码)

Daily Life Scenarios

Recent Actions

1
2
3
"I **have just eaten** lunch."(我刚吃完午饭)
"She **has already left**."(她已经走了)
"We **have just arrived**."(我们刚到)

Life Experiences

1
2
3
"I **have been** to Japan twice."(我去过日本两次)
"He **has tried** skydiving."(他尝试过跳伞)
"They **have lived** in 3 different cities."(他们在 3 个不同的城市住过)

Achievements

1
2
3
"I **have lost** 5 kg this year."(我今年减了 5 公斤)
"She **has learned** to play guitar."(她学会了弹吉他)
"We **have saved** $10,000."(我们存了 1 万美元)

4. Present Perfect Continuous (现在完成进行时)

Core Usage

  • Action started in past, continuing now (过去开始,持续到现在)
  • Emphasis on duration (强调持续时间)
  • Recent activity with present result (最近的活动,现在的结果)

Time Markers

  • for + duration (for 2 hours)
  • since + point in time (since morning)
  • all day/week/month
  • lately, recently

Work Scenarios

Ongoing Work

1
2
3
"I **have been working** on this project for 3 months."(我在这项目上工作了 3 个月)
"We **have been debugging** this issue since morning."(我们从早上就在调试这个问题)
"She **has been learning** Kubernetes for weeks."(她学 Kubernetes 已经好几周了)

Recent Activity with Result

1
2
3
"I **have been reviewing** pull requests all day."(我整天都在审查 PR - 累了)
"We **have been testing** the new feature."(我们一直在测试新功能 - 准备好了)
"He **has been writing** documentation."(他一直在写文档 - 完成了)

Waiting and Delays

1
2
3
"We **have been waiting** for approval for 2 weeks."(我们等批准已经 2 周了)
"They **have been trying** to fix the server all morning."(他们整个上午都在尝试修复服务器)
"I **have been meaning** to talk to you."(我一直想跟你谈谈)

Daily Life Scenarios

Ongoing Activities

1
2
3
"I **have been studying** English for 2 years."(我学英语已经 2 年了)
"She **has been exercising** regularly."(她一直在规律锻炼)
"We **have been saving** money for a house."(我们一直在为买房存钱)

Recent Activities with Results

1
2
3
"I **have been cooking** all afternoon."(我整个下午都在做饭 - 累了)
"He **has been working** in the garden."(他一直在花园干活 - 脏了)
"They **have been playing** football."(他们一直在踢足球 - 出汗了)

5. Past Simple (一般过去时)

Core Usage

  • Completed action in the past (过去完成的动作)
  • Past habits (过去的习惯)
  • Sequence of past events (过去事件的顺序)

Time Markers

  • yesterday, last week/month/year
  • ago (2 days ago, 3 years ago)
  • in + past year (in 2020)
  • when I was…

Work Scenarios

Completed Actions

1
2
3
"I **finished** the project yesterday."(我昨天完成了项目)
"We **deployed** the new version last week."(我们上周部署了新版本)
"She **left** the company in 2023."(她 2023 年离开了公司)

Past Meetings and Events

1
2
3
"We **had** a meeting this morning."(我们今天上午开了会)
"I **presented** the results yesterday."(我昨天展示了结果)
"They **discussed** the budget last month."(他们上个月讨论了预算)

Past Problems

1
2
3
"The server **crashed** yesterday."(服务器昨天崩溃了)
"We **had** a security incident last year."(我们去年有安全事件)
"The system **was** down for 2 hours."(系统宕机了 2 小时)

Daily Life Scenarios

Yesterday’s Activities

1
2
3
"I **went** to the gym yesterday."(我昨天去了健身房)
"She **bought** a new phone last week."(她上周买了新手机)
"We **watched** a movie last night."(我们昨晚看了电影)

Past Experiences

1
2
3
"I **visited** Beijing in 2020."(我 2020 年去了北京)
"He **studied** in the US for 4 years."(他在美国学习了 4 年)
"They **lived** in Shanghai for 10 years."(他们在上海住了 10 年)

Past Habits

1
2
3
"I **played** basketball every weekend when I was young."(我年轻时每个周末打篮球)
"She **smoked** before she quit."(她戒烟前吸烟)
"We **always ate** out on Fridays."(我们以前周五总是出去吃)

6. Past Continuous (过去进行时)

Core Usage

  • Action in progress at past moment (过去某时正在进行的动作)
  • Parallel actions in past (过去同时进行的动作)
  • Interrupted actions (被打断的动作)

Time Markers

  • at + time in past (at 3 PM yesterday)
  • when/while + past action
  • all morning/afternoon/evening

Work Scenarios

In Progress at Specific Time

1
2
3
"I **was working** on the report at 3 PM."(我下午 3 点在做报告)
"We **were having** a meeting when you called."(你打电话时我们在开会)
"She **was debugging** the code at midnight."(她午夜在调试代码)

Interrupted Actions

1
2
3
"I **was writing** an email when the server crashed."(我正在写邮件时服务器崩溃了)
"We **were deploying** the update when the power went out."(我们正在部署更新时停电了)
"They **were reviewing** the code when they found the bug."(他们正在审查代码时发现了 Bug)

Parallel Actions

1
2
"I **was coding** while she **was testing**."(我在写代码时她在测试)
"We **were discussing** the architecture while they **were preparing** the demo."(我们在讨论架构时他们在准备演示)

Daily Life Scenarios

In Progress at Specific Time

1
2
3
"I **was cooking** dinner at 7 PM."(我晚上 7 点在做晚饭)
"She **was sleeping** when I called."(我打电话时她在睡觉)
"They **were watching** TV at 9 PM."(他们晚上 9 点在看电视)

Interrupted Actions

1
2
3
"I **was reading** when the phone rang."(我正在看书时电话响了)
"She **was walking** to work when it started raining."(她正走路上班时开始下雨了)
"We **were eating** when the power went out."(我们正在吃饭时停电了)

7. Past Perfect (过去完成时)

Core Usage

  • Action completed before another past action (在过去另一个动作之前完成)
  • Sequence of past events (过去事件的顺序)

Time Markers

  • before + past time
  • after + past action
  • by the time + past action
  • already, never, ever (in past context)

Work Scenarios

Completed Before Past Moment

1
2
3
"I **had finished** the report before the meeting."(会议前我已经完成了报告)
"She **had already left** when I arrived."(我到达时她已经走了)
"They **had deployed** the fix before the customer noticed."(客户注意到之前他们已经部署了修复)

Sequence of Events

1
2
3
"After we **had reviewed** the code, we merged it."(审查代码后,我们合并了它)
"By the time the meeting started, I **had prepared** all the slides."(会议开始时,我已经准备好了所有幻灯片)
"When I joined the company, they **had already launched** the product."(我加入公司时,他们已经发布了产品)

Problem Solving

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2
3
"The issue **had been there** for weeks before we found it."(这个问题存在了好几周我们才发现)
"We **had never experienced** this error before."(我们以前从未遇到过这个错误)
"By the time we fixed it, the damage **had already been done**."(我们修复时,损害已经造成了)

Daily Life Scenarios

Completed Before Past Moment

1
2
3
"I **had already eaten** when they invited me to dinner."(他们邀请我吃晚饭时我已经吃过了)
"She **had left** before I got home."(我到家前她已经走了)
"They **had sold out** by the time we arrived."(我们到达时已经卖光了)

Sequence of Events

1
2
3
"After I **had finished** my homework, I went to play."(做完作业后,我去玩了)
"When I woke up, the sun **had already risen**."(我醒来时,太阳已经升起了)
"By the time I got to the station, the train **had left**."(我到车站时,火车已经走了)

8. Past Perfect Continuous (过去完成进行时)

Core Usage

  • Action continuing up to past moment (持续到过去某时的动作)
  • Duration before past event (过去事件前的持续时间)

Time Markers

  • for + duration + before/when
  • since + time + before
  • before + past action

Work Scenarios

Duration Before Past Moment

1
2
3
"I **had been working** there for 2 years before I got promoted."(我升职前在那里工作了 2 年)
"We **had been debugging** for hours when we finally found the issue."(我们调试了几个小时终于找到了问题)
"She **had been trying** to fix it all day before she asked for help."(她整天都在尝试修复,最后才求助)

Ongoing Until Past Event

1
2
"The server **had been running** smoothly for months before it crashed."(服务器崩溃前已经平稳运行了好几个月)
"They **had been developing** the feature for weeks before the deadline."(截止日期前他们已经开发这个功能好几周了)

Daily Life Scenarios

Duration Before Past Moment

1
2
3
"I **had been waiting** for 30 minutes when she finally arrived."(她终于到达时我已经等了 30 分钟)
"He **had been studying** English for years before he moved to the US."(他去美国前学了好几年英语)
"They **had been saving** money for 5 years before they bought the house."(他们买房前存了 5 年钱)

9. Future Simple (一般将来时)

Core Usage

  • Future facts and predictions (将来的事实和预测)
  • Instant decisions (即时决定)
  • Promises and offers (承诺和提议)

Time Markers

  • tomorrow, next week/month/year
  • in + time period (in 2 days)
  • soon, later
  • will, won’t

Work Scenarios

Future Plans

1
2
3
"We **will release** the new version next week."(我们下周发布新版本)
"The team **will start** the project tomorrow."(团队明天开始项目)
"I **will attend** the conference next month."(我下个月参加会议)

Predictions

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2
3
"AI **will transform** the industry."(AI 将改变这个行业)
"The market **will grow** next year."(市场明年会增长)
"Cloud computing **will become** more important."(云计算将变得更加重要)

Instant Decisions

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2
3
"I **will send** you the link right now."(我现在就发链接给你)
"We **will help** you with this."(我们会帮你处理这个)
"I **will check** and get back to you."(我会检查后回复你)

Promises and Offers

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2
3
"I **will finish** this by tomorrow."(我明天前完成)
"We **will support** you throughout the process."(我们全程支持你)
"I **won't let** you down."(我不会让你失望)

Daily Life Scenarios

Future Plans

1
2
3
"I **will visit** my parents next weekend."(我下周末去看父母)
"She **will start** a new job next month."(她下个月开始新工作)
"We **will travel** to Japan next year."(我们明年去日本旅行)

Predictions

1
2
3
"It **will rain** tomorrow."(明天会下雨)
"You **will love** this movie."(你会喜欢这部电影的)
"The price **will go up** soon."(价格很快会上涨)

Instant Decisions

1
2
3
"I **will have** the chicken."(我要鸡肉)
"We **will take** this one."(我们要这个)
"I **will call** you later."(我稍后给你打电话)

10. Future Continuous (将来进行时)

Core Usage

  • Action in progress at future time (将来某时正在进行的动作)
  • Polite inquiries (礼貌询问)
  • Future plans (将来的计划)

Time Markers

  • this time tomorrow/next week
  • at + future time (at 8 PM tonight)
  • in + time period (in 2 hours)

Work Scenarios

In Progress at Future Time

1
2
3
"This time tomorrow, I **will be presenting** at the conference."(明天这个时候,我将在会议上展示)
"At 3 PM, we **will be having** a meeting."(下午 3 点我们将在开会)
"Next week at this time, the team **will be deploying** the new version."(下周这个时候,团队将在部署新版本)

Polite Inquiries

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2
3
"**Will you be using** the server this afternoon?"(你今天下午用服务器吗?)
"**Will you be needing** any help with the project?"(你需要项目上的帮助吗?)
"**Will you be attending** the meeting tomorrow?"(你明天参加会议吗?)

Future Plans

1
2
3
"I **will be working** from home next week."(我下周在家办公)
"We **will be testing** the new feature all day tomorrow."(我们明天整天测试新功能)
"She **will be traveling** for business next month."(她下个月出差)

Daily Life Scenarios

In Progress at Future Time

1
2
3
"This time tomorrow, I **will be flying** to Beijing."(明天这个时候,我将在飞往北京)
"At 8 PM, we **will be watching** the game."(晚上 8 点我们将在看比赛)
"This weekend, I **will be visiting** friends."(这个周末我将拜访朋友)

Polite Inquiries

1
2
3
"**Will you be coming** to the party?"(你会来派对吗?)
"**Will you be using** the car tonight?"(你今晚用车吗?)
"**Will you be staying** for dinner?"(你会留下来吃晚饭吗?)

11. Future Perfect (将来完成时)

Core Usage

  • Action completed by future time (将来某时前完成的动作)
  • Duration up to future point (持续到将来某时)

Time Markers

  • by + future time (by tomorrow, by next week)
  • by the time + present tense
  • in + time period (in 2 years)

Work Scenarios

Completed by Future Time

1
2
3
"By next week, we **will have finished** the migration."(到下周,我们将完成迁移)
"By the end of the month, I **will have completed** the certification."(到月底,我将完成认证)
"By 2027, the company **will have launched** 3 new products."(到 2027 年,公司将发布 3 个新产品)

Duration Milestones

1
2
"By next year, I **will have worked** here for 5 years."(到明年,我将在这里工作 5 年了)
"By the deadline, we **will have spent** 3 months on this project."(到截止日期,我们将在这个项目上花费 3 个月)

Daily Life Scenarios

Completed by Future Time

1
2
3
"By tonight, I **will have finished** reading the book."(到今晚,我将读完这本书)
"By next month, she **will have saved** enough money."(到下个月,她将存够钱)
"By the time you arrive, I **will have cooked** dinner."(你到达时,我将做好晚饭)

Duration Milestones

1
2
"By next year, we **will have been married** for 10 years."(到明年,我们将结婚 10 年了)
"By the time I graduate, I **will have studied** English for 6 years."(毕业时,我将学英语 6 年了)

12. Future Perfect Continuous (将来完成进行时)

Core Usage

  • Action continuing up to future time (持续到将来某时的动作)
  • Duration at future point (将来某时的持续时间)

Time Markers

  • by + future time + for + duration
  • by the time + present tense

Work Scenarios

Continuing Until Future Time

1
2
3
"By next month, I **will have been working** on this project for 6 months."(到下个月,我将在这个项目上工作 6 个月了)
"By 5 PM, we **will have been debugging** for 8 hours."(到下午 5 点,我们将调试 8 小时了)
"By the deadline, the team **will have been developing** this feature for 3 months."(到截止日期,团队将开发这个功能 3 个月了)

Daily Life Scenarios

Continuing Until Future Time

1
2
3
"By next year, I **will have been living** here for 10 years."(到明年,我将在这里住 10 年了)
"By the time you arrive, I **will have been waiting** for 2 hours."(你到达时,我将等 2 小时了)
"By 2027, we **will have been married** for 15 years."(到 2027 年,我们将结婚 15 年了)

Quick Reference: When to Use Which Tense

Decision Tree

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Is it about now?
├─ YES: Is it happening right now?
│  ├─ YES: Present Continuous ✅
│  └─ NO: Present Simple ✅
├─ Is it about past → present?
│  ├─ YES: Emphasize duration?
│  │  ├─ YES: Present Perfect Continuous ✅
│  │  └─ NO: Present Perfect ✅
├─ Is it about the past?
│  ├─ YES: Was it in progress?
│  │  ├─ YES: Past Continuous ✅
│  │  └─ NO: Past Simple ✅
│  │
│  ├─ Before another past action?
│  │  ├─ YES: Emphasize duration?
│  │  │  ├─ YES: Past Perfect Continuous ✅
│  │  │  └─ NO: Past Perfect ✅
└─ Is it about the future?
   ├─ YES: Will be in progress?
   │  ├─ YES: Future Continuous ✅
   │  └─ NO: Future Simple ✅
   ├─ Completed by future time?
   │  ├─ YES: Emphasize duration?
   │  │  ├─ YES: Future Perfect Continuous ✅
   │  │  └─ NO: Future Perfect ✅

Practice Scenarios

Scenario 1: Project Update Meeting

Choose the correct tense:

  1. “We ___ (work) on this project for 3 months now.” (Present Perfect Continuous)
  2. “I ___ (finish) the backend last week.” (Past Simple)
  3. “Currently, we ___ (test) the new features.” (Present Continuous)
  4. “By next week, we ___ (complete) the documentation.” (Future Perfect)
  5. “The project ___ (start) in January.” (Past Simple)

Scenario 2: Debugging Session

Choose the correct tense:

  1. “I ___ (debug) this issue since morning.” (Present Perfect Continuous)
  2. “The error ___ (occur) yesterday for the first time.” (Past Simple)
  3. “When I arrived, the team ___ (already fix) it.” (Past Perfect)
  4. “We ___ (investigate) the logs when we found the root cause.” (Past Continuous)
  5. “By tomorrow, we ___ (deploy) the fix.” (Future Perfect)

Scenario 3: Daily Standup

Choose the correct tense:

  1. “Yesterday, I ___ (work) on the API integration.” (Past Simple)
  2. “Today, I ___ (continue) with the testing.” (Present Continuous / Future Simple)
  3. “I ___ (complete) 5 tickets this week.” (Present Perfect)
  4. “By Friday, I ___ (finish) the feature.” (Future Perfect)
  5. “I ___ (work) on this feature for 2 weeks by tomorrow.” (Future Perfect Continuous)

Summary Table

TenseCore MeaningWork ExampleDaily Life Example
Present Simplefacts, habitsI work in security.I live in Shenzhen.
Present Continuoushappening nowI am debugging.I am cooking.
Present Perfectpast → presentI have finished.I have eaten.
Present Perfect Continuousongoing until nowI have been working for 3 hours.I have been waiting for 30 mins.
Past Simplecompleted pastI finished yesterday.I went to the gym.
Past Continuouswas happeningI was coding when it crashed.I was sleeping when you called.
Past Perfectbefore pastI had finished before the meeting.I had eaten before they came.
Past Perfect Continuousongoing before pastI had been working for 2 hours before lunch.I had been waiting for 30 mins when she arrived.
Future Simplewill happenWe will release next week.I will visit tomorrow.
Future Continuouswill be happeningAt 3 PM, I will be presenting.At 8 PM, I will be watching TV.
Future Perfectwill have completedBy Friday, I will have finished.By tonight, I will have read the book.
Future Perfect Continuouswill have been doingBy next year, I will have been working here for 5 years.By 2027, I will have been living here for 10 years.

Key Takeaways

Present Tenses

  • Simple: Facts and routines
  • Continuous: Happening now
  • Perfect: Past → present connection
  • Perfect Continuous: Duration until now

Past Tenses

  • Simple: Completed past
  • Continuous: Was happening
  • Perfect: Before another past
  • Perfect Continuous: Duration before past

Future Tenses

  • Simple: Will happen
  • Continuous: Will be happening
  • Perfect: Will have completed
  • Perfect Continuous: Will have been doing

Memory Tips

  • Simple = completed action
  • Continuous = in progress
  • Perfect = connection to another time
  • Perfect Continuous = ongoing + duration