Tense mapA1–B1

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Every tense on one page, placed by time and aspect, with form, main use, example and time words. Time words and meaning choose the tense: yesterday takes the past simple (I played), now takes the present continuous (I am playing).

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CheatsheetA1–B1

Tense	Form	Meaning	Example
Present simple	V / V-s	habits, facts, permanent states	I always walk to work.
Present continuous	am / is / are + V-ing	now, temporary situations	I'm working now.
A2Present perfect	have / has + V-ed	past events that matter now	I've never been to Rome.
Past simple	V-ed / irregular	finished events	I worked yesterday.
A2Past continuous	was / were + V-ing	in progress at a past moment	I was working at eight.
A2Used to	used to + V	past habits and states, over now	I used to swim when I was a child.
B1Past perfect	had + V-ed	before another past event	She had left before I arrived.
Going to	am / is / are going to + V	plans, predictions with evidence	We're going to cook tonight.
Present continuous for the future	am / is / are + V-ing	arrangements	I'm leaving tomorrow.
A2Will	will + V	decisions, offers, promises, opinions	I think it'll rain.
A2Present simple for the future	V / V-s	timetables	The train leaves at six.

OverviewA1

Read the table by time: past on the left, now in the middle, future on the right.
Simple = the fact or event. In progress = while it happens. Perfect = before another moment.

PresentA1–A2

Tense and main use	Form	Example
Present simple: habits, facts, permanent states	V / V-s	I work here.
Present continuous: now, temporary situations	am / is / are + V-ing	I'm working now.
A2Present perfect: past events that matter now	have / has + V-ed	I've lost my keys.

PastA1–B1

Tense and main use	Form	Example
Past simple: finished events	V-ed / irregular	I worked yesterday.
A2Past continuous: in progress at a past moment	was / were + V-ing	I was working at eight.
A2Used to: past habits and states, over now	used to + V	I used to smoke.
B1Past perfect: before another past event	had + V-ed	She had left before I arrived.

FutureA1–A2

Tense and main use	Form	Example
Future forms: going to: plans, predictions with evidence	am / is / are going to + V	I'm going to buy a car.
Present continuous: arrangements	am / is / are + V-ing	I'm meeting Ana at six.
A2Future forms: will: decisions, offers, promises, opinions	will + V	I'll help you.
A2Present simple: timetables	V / V-s	The train leaves at six.

Signal wordsA1–B1

Time word	Tense	Example
always, every day, usually	Present simple	I always walk to work.
now, at the moment, this week	Present continuous	She's cooking now.
yesterday, last week, ago, in 2020	Past simple	We met last week.
tomorrow, next week, tonight	Future forms	I'm leaving tomorrow.
A2while, at 8 last night	Past continuous	I was reading at 8 last night.
A2when I was a child, years ago	Used to	I used to swim when I was a child.
A2ever, never, just, already, yet	Present perfect	I've never been to Rome.
A2I think, probably	Future forms	I think it'll rain.
B1for, since	Present perfect	I've lived here since 2019.
B1by the time, after, before (earlier action)	Past perfect	By the time I arrived, it had closed.

Typical errorsA1–B1

✗	✓	Rule
Please be quiet. I study.	Please be quiet. I'm studying.	now → present continuous (Present continuous)
I am wanting a coffee.	I want a coffee.	verbs of state → present simple (Present simple)
I have seen him yesterday.	I saw him yesterday.	finished time → past simple (Past simple)
B1I live here since 2019.	I have lived here since 2019.	since / for + state up to now → present perfect (Present perfect)
A2I use to play football.	I used to play football.	past habit → used to + base verb (Used to)
B1When I arrived, the film has already started.	When I arrived, the film had already started.	earlier past action → past perfect (Past perfect)