Verb Tense Overview

Question 1

What is the tense of the verb in this sentence?

I study English every day.

Answer 1

Simple Present

Question 2

What is the tense of the verb in this sentence?

Two years ago, I studied English in England.

Answer 2

Simple Past

Question 3

What is the tense of the verb in this sentence?

I am going to study English next year.

Answer 3

Simple Future

Question 4

What is the tense of the verb in this sentence?

If you are having problems, I will help you study English.

Answer 4

Simple Future

Question 5

What is the tense of the verb in this sentence?

I am studying English now.

Answer 5

Present Continuous

Question 6

What is the tense of the verb in this sentence?

I was studying English when you called yesterday.

Answer 6

Past Continuous

Question 7

What is the tense of the verb in this sentence?

I will be studying English when you arrive tonight.

Answer 7

Future Continuous

Question 8

What is the tense of the verb in this sentence?

I have studied English in several different countries.

Answer 8

Present Perfect

Question 9

What is the tense of the verb in this sentence?

I had studied a little English before I moved to the U.S.

Answer 9

Past Perfect

Question 10

What is the tense of the verb in this sentence?

I will have studied every tense by the time I finish this course.

Answer 10

Future Perfect

Question 11

What is the tense of the verb in this sentence?

I have been studying English for five years.

Answer 11

Present Perfect Continuous

Question 12

What is the tense of the verb in this sentence?

I had been studying English for five years before I moved to the U.S.

Answer 12

Past Perfect Continuous

Question 13

What is the tense of the verb in this sentence?

I will have been studying English for over two hours by the time you arrive.

Answer 13

Future Perfect Continuous

Question 14

What is the verb tense that match with this explanations?

permanent actions, including routines and habits

Answer 14

Simple Present

Question 15

What is the verb tense that match with this explanations? (n=2)

non-action / non-progressive / stative verbs

Answer 15

Simple Present & Simple Past

Question 16

What is the verb tense that match with this explanations?

temporary actions happening now or presently in life

Answer 16

Present Continuous

Question 17

What is the verb tense that match with this explanations?

annoyance/frustration about a present routine action

Answer 17

Present Continuous

Question 18

What is the verb tense that match with this explanations?

completed events in the past, one-off events

Answer 18

Simple Past

Question 19

What is the verb tense that match with this explanations?

habits/routines in the past

Answer 19

Simple Past

Question 20

What is the verb tense that match with this explanations?

events in progress in the past that are “interrupted”

Answer 20

Past Continuous

Question 21

What is the verb tense that match with this explanations?

annoyance/frustration about a routine action in the past

Answer 21

Past Continuous

Question 22

What is the verb tense that match with this explanations?

more formal than “be going to”

Answer 22

Future “Will” + Verb

Question 23

What is the verb tense that match with this explanations?

predictions

Answer 23

Future “Will” + Verb & Future “Be Going to” + Verb

Question 24

What is the verb tense that match with this explanations?

promises

Answer 24

Future “Will” + Verb

Question 25

What is the verb tense that match with this explanations?

spontaneous decisions made at time of speaking

Answer 25

Future “Will” + Verb

Question 26

What is the verb tense that match with this explanations?

often used with “probably”

Answer 26

Future “Will” + Verb

Question 27

What is the verb tense that match with this explanations?

less formal than “will”

Answer 27

Future “Be Going to” + Verb

Question 28

What is the verb tense that match with this explanations?

decisions made about the future made before time of speaking

Answer 28

Future “Be Going to” + Verb

Question 29

What is the tense of the verb in this sentence?

He’s always forgetting his homework!

Answer 29

Present Continuous

Question 30

What is the tense of the verb in this sentence?

My old classmates were always making fun of me!

Answer 30

Past Continuous

Question 31

Which one of these examples is better? Justify.

a) He’ll probably call.
b) He’s probably going to call.

Answer 31

a) He’ll probably call.

Justification: This form is more heard, and more common in English.

The other form is correct, but is a little bit long.

Question 32

Which aspect of the verb tenses do we usually use for short actions?

a) Simple
b) Continuous
c) Perfect

Answer 32

a) Simple

We don’t usually use continuous tenses for short actions.

e. g. The player made an amazing play.
e. g. The car hit a cat.

Question 33

True or False

Some verbs usually last a long time. When we use Continuous Tenses with these verbs, it really focuses that the action is temporary.

Answer 33

True.

These verbs are: live, work, play, learn.

e.g. She is living abroad right now. → usually we say “she lives”, but in this case, it means it is temporary.

Question 34

Which aspect of the verb tenses usually focus on before a time?

a) Simple
b) Continuous
c) Perfect

Answer 34

c) Perfect

The perfect aspect focuses on before a time.

Present perfect = Before nowà
Past perfect = Before a past time
Future perfect = Before a future time