Name That Tense
She writes a letter to her friend every weekend.
Simple Present
She is eating lunch every day at 12 PM.
She eats lunch every day at 12 PM.
Right now, he ____ (read) a book.
is reading
(Change to Present Continuous) – She plays the piano.
She is playing the piano.
Which tense is used for habits and general truths?
Simple Present
They have been working on this project since Monday
Present Perfect Continuous
They have finished their project last night.
They finished their project last night
We ____ (not finish) our homework yet.
have not finished
(Change to Past Perfect) – I watched the movie.
I had watched the movie.
Which tense describes an action that started in the past and continues to the present?
Present Perfect Continuous
I had finished my homework before my parents came home.
Past Perfect
When I arrived, they eat dinner.
When I arrived, they were eating dinner.
By the time we arrived, they ____ (leave) the party.
had left
(Change to Present Perfect) – They finish their work.
They have finished their work.
What is the difference between Past Perfect and Past Perfect Continuous?
Past Perfect focuses on a completed action, while Past Perfect Continuous focuses on the duration of an action before another past event.
The dog was barking when I arrived
Past Continuous
I had been knowing him for years before we lost contact.
I had known him for years before we lost contact.
She ____ (study) for three hours before taking a break.
had been studying
(Change to Past Perfect Continuous) – She waited for an hour.
She had been waiting for an hour.
What key words often signal the use of Present Perfect?
since, for, already, yet, just
By the time the concert started, they had been waiting for hours.
Past Perfect Progressive
She writes a letter when the phone rang.
She was writing a letter when the phone rang.
Every morning, my brother ____ (go) for a run.
goes
(Change to Present Perfect Continuous) – He writes books for ten years.
He has been writing books for ten years.
What tense is used to describe an action that was in progress before another past event?
Past Perfect Continuous