4 TENSES
Past
It already happened. Finished, or happening around a moment before now.
See the 4 past tensesGRAMMAR, BUT COLOURFUL
All 12 tenses. All with practice.
Tenses are just a way of saying when something happens. Read one bright card at a time, tap Practice set to test that exact tense, then finish with the 12-question challenge.
12 tenses explained
12 practice sets
60 practice questions
3 points in time
START WITH THE FEELING
Every tense answers one small question.
When did it happen — and is it finished, still going, or connected to right now? That is the whole idea.
4 TENSES
Present
Your routines, this exact moment, and the past that still touches today.
See the 4 present tenses4 TENSES
Future
Plans, promises and predictions — what will be true later.
See the 4 future tensesSimple
A fact or a complete action.
I work.Continuous
In progress, unfinished.
I am working.Perfect
Looking back from a point in time.
I have worked.Perfect continuous
How long it has been going on.
I have been working.THE FULL PICTURE
12 tenses. 12 practice sets.
Each card explains one tense — then gives you 5 quick questions on that exact tense.
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Tap “Practice set” on any card to begin — 5 quick questions each.
✨ Showing all 12 tenses — each one has its own practice set.
🟢 Present tenses NOW & ALWAYS
PRESENT · SIMPLE
Present simple
subject + verb (+ s / es)
Habits, routines, schedules and things that are generally true.
“I check my messages every morning.”
I do not check my messages at night.
Do you check your messages every morning?
SIGNAL WORDSalways · usually · often · every day · never · on Mondays
Not practised yet
PRESENT · CONTINUOUS
Present continuous
subject + am / is / are + verb-ing
Happening at this moment, or a temporary situation around now.
“I am learning English right now.”
I am not learning French this year.
Are you learning English right now?
SIGNAL WORDSnow · right now · at the moment · today · this week
Not practised yet
PRESENT · PERFECT
Present perfect
subject + have / has + past participle
A past action with a result now, or an experience with no exact time.
“I have lived here for three years.”
She has not finished the course yet.
Have you ever visited London?
SIGNAL WORDSfor · since · already · yet · just · ever · never
Not practised yet
PRESENT · PERFECT CONTINUOUS
Present perfect continuous
subject + have / has been + verb-ing
How long something has been going on — and it is usually still going.
“I have been studying for two hours.”
He has not been sleeping well lately.
How long have you been waiting?
SIGNAL WORDSfor · since · all day · lately · how long
Not practised yet
🔴 Past tenses BEFORE NOW
PAST · SIMPLE
Past simple
subject + verb-ed / irregular past
A finished action at a finished time in the past.
“I called my sister yesterday.”
I did not call her last night.
Did you call your sister yesterday?
SIGNAL WORDSyesterday · last week · in 2019 · ago · when I was young
Not practised yet
PAST · CONTINUOUS
Past continuous
subject + was / were + verb-ing
An action in progress in the past, often interrupted by something shorter.
“I was cooking when you called.”
We were not listening to the radio.
What were you doing at 8pm?
SIGNAL WORDSwhile · when · at 8pm · all evening · as
Not practised yet
PAST · PERFECT
Past perfect
subject + had + past participle
The earlier of two past actions — the past before the past.
“The film had already started when we arrived.”
I had not seen that email before the meeting.
Had the film started when you arrived?
SIGNAL WORDSbefore · after · by the time · already · until then
Not practised yet
PAST · PERFECT CONTINUOUS
Past perfect continuous
subject + had been + verb-ing
How long something had been happening before another past moment.
“She had been working there for a year before she moved.”
They had not been waiting long when the bus came.
How long had she been working there?
SIGNAL WORDSfor · since · before · how long · until
Not practised yet
🔵 Future tenses AFTER NOW
FUTURE · SIMPLE
Future simple
subject + will + verb
Promises, offers, predictions and decisions made while you speak.
“I will call you tomorrow.”
I will not forget, I promise.
Will you call me tomorrow?
SIGNAL WORDStomorrow · next week · soon · I think · probably
Not practised yet
FUTURE · CONTINUOUS
Future continuous
subject + will be + verb-ing
Something that will be in progress at a certain future moment.
“This time tomorrow I will be flying to Rome.”
I will not be working on Sunday.
Will you be using the car tonight?
SIGNAL WORDSat 9pm tomorrow · this time next week · all morning
Not practised yet
FUTURE · PERFECT
Future perfect
subject + will have + past participle
Something that will be complete before a deadline in the future.
“By Friday I will have finished the report.”
We will not have arrived by six.
Will you have finished by Friday?
SIGNAL WORDSby then · by Friday · before · in two years
Not practised yet
FUTURE · PERFECT CONTINUOUS
Future perfect continuous
subject + will have been + verb-ing
How long something will have been going on by a future point.
“In June I will have been teaching for ten years.”
He will not have been living here long by then.
How long will you have been waiting?
SIGNAL WORDSby then · for ten years · by the time
Not practised yet
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THE ONES THAT TRIP US UP
Two tenses, one real difference.
Most tense mistakes come from three pairs. Read these once and a lot of English gets easier.
Past simple present perfect
FINISHED TIME
“I saw that film last night.” — the time is over, so use the past simple.
STILL CONNECTED
“I have seen that film.” — when it happened does not matter, the experience counts now.
Quick test. If you can say yesterday, last week or in 2020, use the past simple.
Present simple present continuous
ALWAYS TRUE
“I work in a hospital.” — your usual routine or job.
RIGHT NOW
“I am working from home this week.” — temporary, happening around now.
Quick test. Ask yourself: is this my normal life, or just this moment?
Will going to
DECIDED NOW
“The phone is ringing — I will get it.” — a decision made as you speak.
ALREADY PLANNED
“I am going to start a course in May.” — a plan or clear evidence.
Quick test. Look at those clouds — it is going to rain. The evidence is right there.
THE FINAL CHALLENGE
12 sentences.
One tense each.
One question from every tense on this page. Every answer comes with a short explanation, so a mistake is just a lesson.
0 correct so far
Start whenever you are ready.
MIXED TENSE CHALLENGE
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Pick the answer that sounds right to you.
Take your time — you’re learning.
Now say one of them out loud.
Grammar becomes real the moment you speak it. Your daily practice room is waiting.