Five Tenses at a Glance
These five tenses each have a distinct use. The key is choosing the right one for the time frame and the nature of the action.
| Tense | Form | Key use |
|---|
| Simple present | work / works | habits, facts, routines |
| Present progressive | am/is/are + -ing | actions in progress now or around now |
| Simple past | worked / went | completed actions at a specific past time |
| Past progressive | was/were + -ing | action in progress at a past moment; interrupted action |
| Present perfect | have/has + past participle | past experience with present relevance; recent events |
Simple Present vs Present Progressive
The simple present describes what is generally true or regularly happens. The present progressive describes what is happening at this moment or temporarily.
Simple present: She works at a hospital. (her job — always true)
Present progressive: She is working late tonight. (just this evening)
I drink coffee every morning. → habit
I am drinking coffee right now. → happening now
They live in Madrid. → permanent fact
They are living in Madrid for the summer. → temporary
Simple Past vs Past Progressive
The simple past describes a completed past action. The past progressive describes an action that was in progress at a past moment — often interrupted by a simple past action.
Simple past: She called at 8pm.
Past progressive: I was cooking when she called.
He left the office at six. → completed action
It was raining when we arrived. → background + event
She was reading all evening. → extended past action
Present Perfect vs Simple Past
Use the present perfect when the exact time is unknown or irrelevant, or when the result matters now. Use the simple past when you give a specific time.
Present perfect: I have seen that film. (experience; when = not important)
Simple past: I saw that film last Friday. (specific time given)
She has broken her leg. → result affects now
She broke her leg two weeks ago. → specific past time
Have you ever tried sushi? → life experience
⚠ Common mistakes:
✗ I am working here since 2019. → ✓ I have been working here since 2019.
✗ While I was cook, the phone rang. → ✓ While I was cooking, the phone rang. (past progressive = was + -ing)
✗ I have visited Rome in 2019. → ✓ I visited Rome in 2019. (finished time = simple past)