Tutti i tempi verbali per use of English C1

ENGLISH VERB TENSES

Present, Past and Future tenses with practical rules, memory advice

and structured exercises.

PRESENT TENSES

Tense Structure Main Use

Present Simple Subject + base verb Habits, facts, routines

(I work) / Subject +

verb + s (She works)

Present Continuous Subject + am/is/are + Action happening

verb + -ing now / temporary

situation

Present Perfect Subject + have/has + Past action connected

past participle to the present

Present Perfect Subject + have/has Duration from past

Continuous been + verb + -ing until now

Present Simple – Key Rule

Use it for routines and general truths.

always, usually, often

NB: If you see adverbs like → use Present Simple.

Example: She usually works on Saturdays.

Present Continuous – Key Rule

Structure reminder: if you use -ing, you MUST use the verb TO BE.

Example: She is studying now.

Present Perfect – Key Rule

Use when the time is NOT finished or not specified. (this year, this

week..)

Example: She has lived here for five years.

I had seen this move five times this year. (“this year” NON è terminato,

quindi teoricamente potrei vedere altre volte questo film)

Present Perfect Continuous – Key Rule

The action have a duration from past until now.

Example: She has been living here since 2022

PAST TENSES

Tense Structure Main Use

Past Simple Subject + past form Finished action in the

(worked / went) past

Past Continuous Subject + was/were + Action in progress in

verb + -ing the past

Past Perfect Subject + had + past Earlier past action

participle

Past Perfect Subject + had been + Duration before past

Continuous verb + -ing moment

Past Simple – Key Rule

Use for completed actions with finished time.

yesterday, last year, ago

NB: If you read → use Past Simple.

Example: She finished yesterday.

Past Continuous – Key Rule

Use for longer action interrupted by a shorter action.

Example: She was studying when I called.

I was sitting in a cafè when I saw a dog.

Past Perfect – Key Rule

Use to clarify order: past before past.

Example: She had left before I arrived.

Past Perfect Continuous– Key Rule

Duration before past moment

Example: The ground was wet. It had been raining.

We had been living together for five years when we adopted a dog.

FUTURE TENSES

Tense Structure Main Use

Will Subject + will + base Decision now /

verb prediction / dreams /

uncertainity

Going to Subject + am/is/are + Planned intention

going to + base verb

Present Continuous Subject + am/is/are + Fixed arrangement

(future) verb + -ing

Future Perfect Subject + wi