ENGLISH TENSES TIMELINE CHART

This timeline tenses chart provides a handy reference sheet to English tenses and their relationship to one another and the past, present and
future. Conjugated verbs are highlighted in bold. Tenses which are rarely used in everyday conversation are marked by an asterik (*).

TIMELINE

(PROGRESSIVE) CONTINUOUS (PROGRESSIVE) CONTINUOUS

SIMPLE ACTIVE SIMPLE PASSIVE
ACTIVE PASSIVE
PAST TIME
^
|
^
The painting had been sold The house had been being painted for
She had already eaten | I had been waiting for four
twice before it was over a month before they began to
when I arrived. PAST hours when he finally arrived.
destroyed. decorate the interior. *
PERFECT
|
^
I bought a new car last The book was written in | I was watching TV when she The problem was being solved when I
week. 1876 by Mark Garland. PAST arrived. arrived late for class.
|
^
The company has been |
She has lived in She has been working at The students have been being taught
managed by Neil Haines for PRESENT
Somerset for many years. Countdown for six months. for the last four hours. *
the last two years. PERFECT
|
^
He works five days a Those shoes are made in |
I am working at the moment. The work is being done by Radek.
week. Poland. PRESENT

|
FUTURE
They are going to fly to London The reports are going to be completed
INTENTION
tomorrow. by the marketing department.
|
V
FUTURE
The sun will shine The food will be brought SIMPLE He will be teaching tomorrow at The bread rolls will be being baked at
tomorrow. later. | six o'clock. two. *
V
I will have completed The translation will have | She will have been working The house will have been being built
the course by the end been finished by FUTURE here for two years by the end for six months by the time they
of next week. tomorrow afternoon. PERFECT of next month. finish. *