Learning English

Tense

+--------+         +---------+         +--------+
|  Past  |         | Present |         | Future |
+--------+         +---------+         +--------+
                        |
     <------------------+------------------>
                        |

	Past	Present	Future
Simple	I ate.	I eat.
Continuous		I am eating
Perfect
Perfect continuous

Start with something simple

Present simple

• Habit/repeated action
  • I eat salad every day. (every day = adv, everyday = adj)

                    |
 <----╳----╳----╳---+---╳----╳----╳---->
                    |

• Fact
  • The sun rises.

                    |
      --------------+--------------
 <------------------+------------------>
                    |

• Schedule future event
  • My plane lands at 11.20.

                    |
 <------------------+---╳-------------->
                    |

• Mental state or feeling

  • think, want, regret, believe, wonder, expect, know, like, love, hate
  • I think that's right.
  • I don't know his name.

• I emails, we often use present simple.

  • Permanant aspect to the action
  • attach, confirm, suggest, request
  • I attach the file.
  • We request a meeting.

Present continuous

• Action happening right now
  • I am eating my lunch.

                    |
 <------------------╳------------------>
                    |

• Plan for future action
  • I am going out tonight.

                    |
 <------------------+---╳-------------->
                    |

Past simple

• Past action
  • I ate at lunchtime.

                    |
 <--------------╳---+------------------>
                    |

• Past habit/repeat action in the past
  • I played a violin when I was young.

                    |
 <----╳----╳----╳---+------------------>
                    | 

Credit

Appled from https://www.natterandramble.co.uk/verb-tense-timelines/