Present, Past, Future Simple, and Future in the Past Tense

Present Simple

In the present simple tense, “be” verbs can be “am/is/are” depending on the subject.

In the present simple tense, most regular verbs use the root form, except in the third-person singular (which ends in "s"). The following table uses the verb “write” to illustrate different usages of the present simple tense.

For a few verbs, the third-person singular ends with es instead of s. Typically, these are verbs whose root form ends in "o", "ch", 'sh”, “th”, “ss”, “gh”, or ”z”. For example:

He/she/it goes. (Note the "es".)

✦ Expressing a fact or a general truth

The present simple can express a fact, or a truth generally accepted by the world.

✦ Expressing the current state

The present simple can express the current state.

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome onboard Flight 4C7 with service from London to Singapore. We are currently third in line for take-off and are expected to be in the air in approximately seven minutes. 

TOEIC Example: The two films ____ currently the highest-grossing movies of all time at the worldwide box office.

(A) are 

(B) will be 

(C) were 

(D) will have been

✦ Expressing a person's preference

The present tense can express a person's preference.

✦ Expressing habitual things and repeated events

The present simple can express habitual things and repeated events. This is often used together with adverbs of frequency and adverbs of time, for example: always, usually, often, sometimes, every day, etc.

I sometimes go to bed late, and oversleep the next morning.

My brother rarely gets up early, and often stays up late.

If you want to talk about a current habit, you can use the phrase "be used to + Ving / noun". Note that “to” in this phrase is a preposition, so a noun or gerund must be added after it. For example:

I am already used to my new job. 

I'm used to working out after work. 

I'm used to reading a book before I go to bed.

✦ Talking about future events that have been planned, as well as general facts that will occur in the future

We have an early meeting tomorrow morning. 

The final exam comes next week. 

I have an appointment with Dr. Lee next Monday. 

I have lunch with Joe next Monday. 

In addition to the arranged future plans, the present simple can also express general facts that will happen in the future. For example:

The last flight leaves at 10 p.m.

The train arrives at 10 p.m. tonight. 

The lockdown begins tomorrow. 

The bank opens late tomorrow because it is the weekend. 

✦ "Present tense" in the first conditional clause

In the first conditional (expressing a conditional situation in the present or future), the structure is: if/when + present simple,.... will + base form. Notice that we use the present tense to depict the future in the conditional clause. However, we use the future tense in the main clause. Here are example sentences:

If you work hard, your manager will give you a raise.

In case our company goes bankrupt, you and I will have to find a new job.

I will call you when I get home. 

TOEIC Example:  The bank will contact us once we ____ the enclosed form.

(A) submit 

(B) submits

(C) will submit 

(D) submitted

Past Simple

In the past simple tense, “be” verbs can be “was/were” depending on the subject.

In the past simple tense, regular verbs, add “–ed” to the root form of the verb (or just “–d” if the root form ends in an “e”). For example:

Play→Played

Ask→Asked

Listen→Listened

Love→Loved

Some past tense of some irregular verbs looks exactly like the root form. For example:

Put→Put

Cut→Cut

Set→Set

Cost→Cost

Hit→Hit

For other irregular verbs, the simple past forms are more erratic. For example:

Write→Wrote

See→Saw

Build→Built

Go→Went

Do→Did

Rise→Rose

✦ Expressing past actions and states that have ended

"Past tense" indicates past actions and states that have ended, and there are usually adverbs representing past time in sentences, such as yesterday, last month, last year, ago, etc.

I had a really bad day.

I fell asleep on my couch last night.

It was really cold last winter.

I went to the ATM to withdraw some money.

The Nasdaq Composite dropped 57 points today.

I didn't bring my cell phone today.

In the past simple tense, adverbial clauses are often used. The following structures are commonly used:

(1) when/while + subject + verb 

(2) Before + subject + verb

(3) After + subject + verb 

In the follow-up "Advanced English Sentence Patterns - Using English Adverb Clauses", we will show more about what adverb clauses are.

I was really full after I had a buffet lunch.

When my alarm went off this morning, I woke up immediately.

I was totally exhausted after I ran 3 miles.

I had a meeting with Jessica before she took maternity leave.

TOEIC Example:  Governor Mary Simon spoke at length about the issue of the public education system when it _____ during a debate on education held at Edmonton Town City Hall yesterday.

(A) were brought up 

(B) brings up 

(C) will be brought up 

(D) was brought up

✦ Expressing past habits

The past simple tense can also express a "past habit".

When I was in high school, I went to cram school every day.

When my dad was young. He worked overtime every day to raise our family.

Would is the past tense of will, which can express the future tense in the past tense.

When I was young, my family would go skiing once a year.

When I was little, we would go for a picnic every weekend.

When we were in college, we would ride scooters to different places every weekend.

“Used to” means "I used to do something often, but now I don't do it anymore". For example :

I used to go swimming every day, but now I'm too busy.

They used to go to nightclubs when they were in college.

We used to play Monopoly games when we were younger.

We used to live in Taiwan before we moved to Vancouver.

John used to eat meat, but now he’s a vegetarian.

I didn't use to believe in gods.

I didn't use to enjoy coffee, but now I can't start my day without it.

I didn't used to think speaking English is possible until I moved to the U.S. and lived there.

Future Simple

✦ Both “will” and “be going to” can express things that will be done in the future

"Will" is mostly used to talk about spontaneous decisions, promises, offers, predictions, and assumptions about the future, while "be going to" is used to talk about plans or intentions that are decided before the moment of speaking, and sure predictions based on present evidence.

I will meet you at the bus stop later. 

Don't worry. I will give you a ride home.

I'll stop by after work to drop off the paperwork.

I will get back to you soon. 

I will swing by the supermarket on my way home.

You look tired. I will get you some coffee.

We are going to have a barbecue tonight. 

I am going to take a few graduate courses next semester even though I am just an undergraduate.

I'm going to be an actor when I grow up.  

They are going to drive all the way to Kenting. 

She is going to be at the wedding tonight. 

When native speakers say ‘going to”, they often simplify it to “gonna”. 

✦ “Will” can also be used to express willingness or promise to do something

"Will" is also used for the speaker’s "willing or promising to do something", we often use will to respond to other people's requests. Likewise, we can use “will not” or “won't to express unwillingness to do something. For example :

I will cover your shift next week. 

My boss will give me a promotion next month. 

My boss won’t give me a raise. 

My professor won’t let me hand in assignments late. 

✦ “Will” can also be used to describe something that will happen in the future

Mr. White will be on a business trip to Japan until the end of this week.

Our representative will contact you regarding the business proposal within the next few weeks.

James will go to graduate school next year.  

Sally will be on maternity leave starting next month. 

A typhoon will make landfall in Taiwan tomorrow morning. 

TOEIC Example:  We are planning to relocate two factories in California to Los Angeles. To expedite job placement, employment training workshops ____ next week in Los Angeles.

(A) are held 

(B) will be held 

(C) were held 

(D) will have been held 

✦ Both “will” and “be going to” can be used for future predictions

Some people think the S&P 500 will go up tomorrow. 

It will rain tomorrow. 

This mall will be busy tomorrow afternoon, and the parking lot will be packed. 

Experts predict that oil production will decline after 2025. 

He doesn't look good. He is going to puke pretty soon.

It is cloudy now.  I think it is going to rain later. 

They are down by 25 points. They are not going to win the game.

The traffic is really bad now. I am going to be late for work.

✦ "Future tense" in the first conditional clause

In the first conditional (expressing a conditional situation in the present or future), the structure is: if/when + present simple,.... will + base form. Notice that we use the present tense to depict the future in the conditional clause. However, we use the future tense in the main clause. Here are example sentences:

If you come home this weekend, I will cook for you.

I will call you when I get home. 

The realtor will contact you if the seller accepts your offer. 

TOEIC Example: If the new incentive program for sales personnel _____, salespeople will be eligible for a 10 percent commission on orders totaling more than US $1000, starting September 1. 

(A) will be approved 

(B) will approve 

(C) is approved 

(D) approves

Future in the Past Tense

We know that the simple future tense has two different forms: “will + base verb” and “is/are going to + base verb”. Hence, the two different forms of the future in the past are the past tenses of “will + base verb” and “is/are going to + base verb”, which are “would + base verb” and “was/were going to + base verb”. Below are sentences in the future tense and their corresponding past tense forms.