Manual of the twelve tenses

Index1. Past simple2. Past Continuous3. Past Perfect4. Past Perfect Continuous5. Present Simple6. Present Continuous7. Present Perfect8. Present Perfect Continuous9. Future Simple10. Future Continuous11. Future Perfect12. Future Perfect Continuous

Past simpleThe Simple Past tense is used to describe actions that have happened at an earlier time and have now ended, for example:

They watched a filmEllos vieron una pelcula

She cleaned her houseElla limpi su casa

Past ContinuousThe Past Continuous is a tense describes actions that were being made at one point last referred to and then continued, for example:

It was rainingEstaba lloviendo

Yesterday he was studying EnglishAyer l estaba estudiando ingles

Past PerfectThe Past Perfect in English verb tense is used to refer to an action that took place at a time before another action, although both have happened before establishing an order among them, for example:

She had eaten DianaElla haba comido Diana

The film had finished when she arrived at the cinemaLa pelcula haba terminado cuando ella lleg al cine

Past Perfect ContinuousPast perfect continuous like the perfect time to show the order of the Shares in the past been used. In addition this time is used to discuss actions that continue for a time in the past or for Shares unfinished for example:

She had been waiting for himElla haba estado esperndolo

I had been watching a documentary on television when the storm started.Haba estado viendo un documental en la televisin cuando la tormenta comenz.

Present SimpleThe Simple Present tense is used to describe habitual actions that happen frequently and does not mention if it is happening at the present time for example:

They have a houseEllos tienen una casa

I play tennisYo juego al tenis

Present ContinuousThe Present Continuous or Present Progressive tense is used to express actions happening at the same time they are talking, for example:

Hes studying nowl est estudiando ahora

I am speaking EnglishYo estoy hablando ingles

Present PerfectThe Present Perfect in English is a tense that is used to refer to actions that happen in the recent past and that have some connection with this. Its equivalent in the Spanish language is the Present Perfect:

You have read this bookHas ledo este libro

I have sent the letterYo he enviado la carta

Present Perfect ContinuousThe present perfect continuous, often has the equivalence of the translation "out + gerund" in Spanish, but the use of this form is more common in English. Is used for actions that you have started in the past but continue in this example:

He has been working hardl ha estado trabajando duro

They've been talking for three hoursHan estado hablando durante tres horas

Future SimpleThe Simple Future tense is used to describe actions to be developed in the future without the need to clarify at what point will occur. Its equivalent in the Spanish language is Future Imperfect. For example:

He will go to the officel ir a la oficina

I will study the lessonYo estudiar la leccin

Future ContinuousThe Future Continuous tense is used to describe an action that will occur in the future, you can enter or not and further developed at that time, for example:

We will be travellingEstaremos viajando

She will be working at the office this afternoonElla estar trabajando en la oficina esta tarde

Future PerfectThe Future Perfect tense is used to express situations that are occurring or to be developed in the future and we imagine to be completed when the time comes to which we refer. This verb is often accompanied by a temporal expression, for example:

He will have arrivedEl Habra llegado

By tomorrow, I will have gotten a new jobPara maana, yo habr conseguido un nuevo trabajo

Future Perfect ContinuousThe future perfect continuous is used to express how long have lasted an action at a certain time in the future for example:

You will have been workingHabrs estado trabajando

Francis will have been living in Italy for 4 years by the time he finishes his studies Francis habr estado viviendo en Italia durante 4 aos, hasta que haya terminado sus estudios