All Tenses: B1–B2
Choose the time point, then choose the view.
I can connect present, past and future ideas and explain what my tense choices mean.
Try the activities, then check your answers.
Choose a short recording.
Start
Three views of one project
Read these messages: “We repaired six chairs yesterday.” “We’ve repaired six chairs so far.” “We’ve been repairing chairs all morning.” Which message places the work in a finished past period, which counts results up to now, and which focuses on the activity? Explain aloud.
Possible response
Yesterday places the six repairs in a finished past period. So far counts six completed repairs up to now. All morning highlights the activity and its duration; it does not tell us how many chairs are finished.
Explain the different views of the work, rather than naming the forms only.
Learn
Use this as a quick reference. First find the reference point: now, a past moment or a future moment. Then choose the view: a fact/event/state, an activity unfolding, a look backwards, or an activity leading up to that point.
Tense map: forms, meanings and examples
Present simple
base verb; he/she/it + -s; be: am/is/are
General facts, routines and states.
Jo repairs bicycles every weekend.
Present continuous
am/is/are + -ing
An activity unfolding now or a temporary situation.
She is repairing a chair today.
Present perfect simple
have/has + past participle
Look back from now: results, experience or a continuing state.
She has repaired three chairs so far.
Present perfect continuous
have/has been + -ing
An activity and its duration up to now, or a recent activity with a present result.
She has been repairing chairs since nine.
Past simple
-ed or irregular past; be: was/were
Events or states in a past time frame.
She repaired this chair yesterday.
Past continuous
was/were + -ing
An activity viewed as in progress at a past point.
She was repairing a chair when I called.
Past perfect simple
had + past participle
Look back from a past point: an earlier event or state.
She had repaired the chair before the buyer arrived.
Past perfect continuous
had been + -ing
An earlier activity or duration leading up to a past point.
She had been repairing chairs for hours, so she needed a break.
Will + base verb (future simple)
will + base verb
Predictions, decisions, offers and promises about the future.
I’ll help you lift that chair.
Future continuous
will be + -ing
An activity in progress at a future point or an expected future activity.
At ten tomorrow, she will be repairing a chair.
Future perfect simple
will have + past participle
Look back from a future point to what is completed or has been true until then.
By noon, she will have repaired all three chairs.
Future perfect continuous
will have been + -ing
An activity and its duration leading up to a future point.
By noon, she will have been repairing chairs for three hours.
- A past participle is the form after have: written, gone, repaired. It may differ from the past simple: wrote → written; went → gone.
- Questions and negatives: Does Jo work here? Jo didn’t work yesterday. Use do/does/did + base verb in simple present/past, except with be. With an auxiliary, move the first one for a question and add not for a negative: Has she finished? She hasn’t finished. Will they be working? They won’t be working.
- For introduces a length of time; since introduces a starting point. Neither word chooses the tense by itself: I worked there for a year; I’ve worked here for a year.
- These twelve labels combine time and aspect. Going to, arrangements and timetables are useful future constructions too; they are reviewed in Learn 3.
1. Choose a view of now
Use the present simple for a routine, fact or state, and the present continuous for an activity unfolding or a temporary situation. Present perfect forms look back from now. The simple often highlights results, quantities or experience; the continuous highlights an activity and its duration. A simple form can also describe a state that continues: I’ve known her for years. A continuous form can describe an activity that has just stopped. Choose the meaning first: simple does not always mean finished, and continuous does not always mean unfinished.
Form help
- A finished past time normally takes past simple: I repaired it yesterday. Compare the present connection: I’ve repaired it, so you can use it now.
- For state meanings such as know, own and believe, normally choose a simple form: I’ve known Jo since 2019. Some verbs change meaning: I think it’s useful; I’m thinking about buying it.
We usually repair bicycles, but this week we’re repairing furniture.
The simple gives the usual activity; the continuous presents the temporary change.
We’ve repaired eight chairs, and we’ve been painting the tables all afternoon.
Eight chairs counts completed results; the second clause foregrounds the activity and its duration.
I know the organiser. I’ve known her since 2019.
Know has a state meaning. The perfect simple connects its starting point with now.
You say
You have finished three emails. You began working on them at nine and it is now ten. Say one sentence about the number finished and one about the activity over that hour.
Possible response
I’ve written three emails. I’ve been writing emails for an hour.
Check: Use have written for the completed number and have been writing for the activity. The second sentence alone does not count completed emails.
Try again: Change the activity and the number, then say both sentences again.
2. Tell a story from a past point
Past simple usually carries the main events. Past continuous puts us inside an activity at that point. Past perfect looks further back, often to an earlier completed event; past perfect continuous highlights an earlier activity or duration. Establish the main past point before adding these earlier layers. You do not need past perfect for every earlier action when words such as before or after already make the order clear. Use it when the earlier viewpoint matters. A continuing past state can also use past perfect simple: I had known her for years.
Form help
- When and while help connect events, but they do not automatically select a tense. Decide whether you mean a whole event, background or earlier activity.
- Past habits: used to can describe repeated actions or states that have changed. Would can describe repeated actions once a past setting is established; it normally does not replace used to for a past state: We used to own a shop.
While we were carrying a table, one of its legs broke.
Were carrying supplies the activity in progress; broke introduces the event.
The floor was wet because a pipe had burst. It had been leaking all night.
Had burst identifies an earlier event; had been leaking explains the preceding activity and duration.
You say
It was raining when you reached a café. You had walked for forty minutes. A friend had booked a table before you arrived. Tell the story using background, a main event, earlier duration and earlier completion.
Possible response
It was raining when I reached the café. I had been walking for forty minutes, but my friend had already booked a table.
Check: Include was raining, reached, had been walking and had booked, or equivalent forms with the same jobs.
Try again: Change the place and the earlier preparation.
3. Choose a future plan
Future meaning has several forms. Will often expresses an immediate decision, offer, promise or prediction. Be going to commonly presents an intention already formed, or a prediction based on present evidence. Present continuous often presents an arrangement; present simple can present a timetable. These uses overlap, so a form does not mechanically prove how certain a plan is. Choose the emphasis that serves your message. In future time clauses with when, once, until or as soon as, normally use a present form: I’ll call when I arrive.
Form help
- Formation: We’re going to open a stall. We aren’t going to open today. Are we going to open tomorrow? Will you help? I won’t be late.
- Useful related expressions: The talk is due to start at two (scheduled), is about to start (very soon), and is likely to be popular (probable). These are constructions, not extra tenses.
That box looks heavy. I’ll carry it for you.
Will introduces an offer made in response to the situation.
We’re going to run a repair stall. We’re meeting the organiser at ten on Friday.
Going to presents the intention; present continuous presents the arranged meeting.
The demonstration starts at two. I’ll text you as soon as I arrive.
Present simple gives the scheduled time and also appears in the future time clause.
You say
Plan a short visit with a friend. Use going to for your intention, present continuous for an arranged meeting, and will for an offer.
Possible response
We’re going to visit the exhibition. We’re meeting outside at eleven. I’ll buy your ticket if you like.
Check: Make an intention, an arrangement and an offer. These are differences in emphasis, not three guaranteed levels of certainty.
Try again: Move the visit to a different place and make a different offer.
4. Look forward, then look back
Future continuous views an activity as unfolding at a future point: at ten, I’ll be working. Future perfect looks back from a future point: by ten, I’ll have finished. Future perfect continuous adds the duration of an activity up to that point: by ten, I’ll have been working for two hours. It does not by itself say whether the activity will stop then. At and by are useful clues, not automatic rules. With a state, normally use future perfect simple: by June, I’ll have owned the shop for five years.
Form help
- For expected plans, future continuous can also make a neutral enquiry: Will you be using the van tomorrow?
- A present perfect time clause can emphasise completion before a future action: As soon as we’ve checked the cables, we’ll switch on the lights.
At eleven tomorrow, I’ll be showing visitors how to repair a chair.
The speaker imagines being inside the activity at eleven.
By noon, we’ll have checked every tool.
The speaker looks back from noon to the completed checks.
By noon, we’ll have been working for three hours.
The speaker measures the activity from its start up to noon.
You say
You will start preparing a room at nine tomorrow. You expect to still be working at ten and to finish by eleven. Describe the activity at ten, completion by eleven, and the duration of the work by ten.
Possible response
At ten, I’ll be preparing the room. By eleven, I’ll have finished. By ten, I’ll have been working for an hour.
Check: Use will be preparing for the future activity, will have finished for completion and will have been working for duration.
Try again: Move the starting time to eight and adjust the duration at ten.
Practise · 8 min
Practise: choose the view
Complete eight short tasks. Say your answer before revealing the explanation. For sentence-building tasks, another wording is acceptable if it preserves the requested meaning.
Use present simple for Jo’s normal work and present continuous for the temporary change this week: “Jo usually ___ bicycles, but this week she ___ furniture.”
repairs / is repairing Repairs expresses the usual activity. Is repairing frames this week’s work as a temporary change.Answer and explanation
You still know the organiser. Complete the continuing state: “I ___ her since 2019.”
have known Know has a state meaning here, so the present perfect simple connects 2019 with the present. Have been knowing is not the normal form for this meaning.Answer and explanation
It is noon. You started repairing this chair at ten and are still working. Emphasise the activity and its duration. Complete the gap with repair: “I ___ this chair for two hours.”
have been repairing The present perfect continuous presents the activity continuing from the past to now. The instruction asks for an activity view, rather than a count of finished repairs.Answer and explanation
Build one sentence with while. Present holding as background in progress and fetching as a completed event: I / hold the sign; Jo / fetch the ladder.
While I was holding the sign, Jo fetched the ladder. Was holding gives the background activity. Fetched presents the completed event. The clauses may appear in either order.Answer and explanation
At eight yesterday, Jo inspected my work. I had stopped five minutes earlier. Emphasise the activity and its duration before that inspection: “I ___ chairs for two hours.”
had been repairing Had been repairing looks back from the past inspection and foregrounds the earlier duration. It can describe an activity that had recently stopped.Answer and explanation
We decided yesterday to run a stall on Saturday. Use going to to state that intention. Complete the gap with open: “We ___ a stall on Saturday.”
are going to open Are going to open presents the intention already formed. Other future forms can also describe plans; this task specifically asks for going to.Answer and explanation
Give an instruction about a future visit: “Text me as soon as you ___ at the hall.”
arrive Use a present form in this future time clause: as soon as you arrive. Will is not needed to mark future time here.Answer and explanation
Tomorrow’s demonstration runs from two until four. Put demonstrate in the future continuous to place the listener inside it: “At three tomorrow, we ___ the tools.”
will be demonstrating Will be demonstrating presents the demonstration as unfolding at the specified future point.Answer and explanation
Listen · 6 min
Listen: tomorrow’s repair day
Read the four questions. Listen once for the timeline and a second time for details. Answer before revealing the transcript and explanations.
Read the transcript
It’s Friday evening, and I’m at the community hall. Our group usually repairs bicycles, but this week we’re preparing for a furniture repair day. We’ve already repaired eight chairs, and Jo has been painting the tables since lunchtime. Yesterday, while I was checking the lights, the organiser phoned. She had found another room for us because the old room’s roof had been leaking for several days. We moved everything immediately. Tomorrow, we’re meeting the volunteers at nine. The doors open at ten, and at eleven I’ll be showing visitors how to fix a loose chair leg. By noon, we’ll have welcomed the first twenty visitors. By next month, we’ll have been running these events for two years. We’re going to offer a children’s session next time, too. I’ll send you the details as soon as we’ve agreed the date. For now, I need to find Jo: she’s still painting, and I promised to help her clean the brushes.
What is temporary or different this week?
Preparation for a furniture repair day The speaker contrasts usually repairs bicycles with this week we’re preparing. The continuous presents the current temporary work. From the passage: this week we’re preparing for a furniture repair dayAnswer and explanation
Which completed result does the speaker report up to now?
Eight chairs have been repaired. We’ve already repaired eight chairs counts completed results. Jo’s painting is an activity still in progress; welcoming twenty visitors is a future expectation. From the passage: We’ve already repaired eight chairsAnswer and explanation
What explains the change of room?
The old room’s roof had been leaking for several days. The past perfect continuous gives the earlier ongoing problem behind the past move. From the passage: the old room’s roof had been leaking for several daysAnswer and explanation
Which statement correctly matches the two future viewpoints?
At eleven a demonstration will be in progress; by noon twenty visitors are expected to have been welcomed. Will be showing gives a future activity in progress. Will have welcomed looks back from noon to a completed total. From the passage: at eleven I’ll be showing visitors how to fix a loose chair leg. By noon, we’ll have welcomed the first twenty visitors.Answer and explanation
Quiz and correction · 9 min
Choose one answer for each question. Read the requested meaning carefully. Some alternatives are grammatical in another context, but only one expresses the meaning requested here.
Speak · 7 min
Speak: connect the whole timeline
Spend about three minutes on each task, then one minute on a final improvement. Plan briefly, speak for 45–60 seconds, compare with the possible response and retry one part. Invent details if you prefer.
Task 1
Tell a short story about a practical problem: a journey, an event or a repair. Include background in progress, a main event, something already done and an earlier activity or duration.
- At the time, I was…
- Then…
- I had already…
- I had been… for…
Possible response
Last month, I was helping at a community event when the lights went out. We had already checked the equipment, so we were surprised. The organiser had been trying to contact the caretaker for twenty minutes when he finally arrived. He found the right switch, and the event continued. While we were waiting, one of the volunteers told a story to keep everyone entertained.
- Does the past simple carry the main events?
- Do the continuous and perfect forms add clear background or earlier information?
Try again with one improvement.
Task 2
Give an update on a real or imagined project. Include a result so far, an activity leading up to now, a plan, an activity at a future time, completion by a deadline and duration up to a future point.
- So far, we’ve…
- We’ve been… since…
- We’re going to…
- At this time tomorrow, we’ll be…
- By Friday, we’ll have…
- By Friday, we’ll have been… for…
Possible response
We’ve chosen a venue for our photography exhibition, and we’ve been preparing the pictures since Monday. We’re going to invite our neighbours. At this time tomorrow, we’ll be hanging the photographs. By Friday, we’ll have put up every picture, and we’ll have been preparing for four days. I’ll send you an invitation as soon as we’ve confirmed the opening time.
- Is each reference point clear: now, a future moment or a future deadline?
- Can a listener distinguish a completed result from an activity and its duration?
Try again with one improvement.
Recap
- Locate the reference point first: now, a past point or a future point.
- A simple form can describe an event, routine or state. A continuous form foregrounds an activity as unfolding.
- Perfect forms look back from a reference point. Perfect continuous forms foreground an activity and its duration.
- Use past simple for finished past times; connect present perfect forms to now.
- Future plans also use going to, present continuous and present simple. Use present forms in ordinary future time clauses.
You start a task at two and expect to finish at five tomorrow. What will be happening at three? What will be complete by five? How long will you have been working by three?
Possible response
At three, I’ll be working on the task. By five, I’ll have finished. By three, I’ll have been working for an hour.