Mixed tenses level A1 and A2

You have to learn many tenses in the first years.
You need the past to talk about things that have happened or to write stories.
The present tells about things that happen at the moment or often.You also tell about your feelings in the present.
The future is used for things that will happen later.
With the help of this set of tenses you can talk about everything you want.

We tell you about all the most important tenses here. Who to build the sentence, when to use it and execeptions.
All tenses have three different forms:

The positive form of the sentence (for example: I go to school.). In our structure table we use a "+" for the positive form.
The negative form of the sentence (for example: I don't go to school). In our structure table we use a "-" for the negative form.
The question form of the sentence (for example: Do I go to school?). In our structure table we use a "?" for the question form. The negative question is a comination of the question form and the negative form, so we don't talk about it in detail.

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Past Tenses

Simple Past

When is it used?	+	-	?	Signal words
If something happened in the past and we know the time when it happened. If we write stories.	I You He She learned at home It We You They	I You He She didn't learn at home It We You They	I you he Did she learn at home? it we you they	yesterday, ago, last

Past Progressive

When do we use it?

+

-

?

Signal words

If something was going on in the past
while something else happened.

(While I was waiting,
the police arrived.)

I was eating an apple.
You were eating an apple.

He
She was eating an apple.
It

We
You were eating an apple.
They

I wasn't eating an apple.
You weren't eating an apple.

He
She wasn't eating an apple.
It

We
You weren't eating an apple.
They

Was I eating an apple?
Were you eat an apple?

         he
Was she eating an apple?
         it

         we
Were you eat an apple?
         they

while

Present Perfect

When do we use the tense?	+	-	?	Signal words
If someting has happened in the past, but we don't know when (or it is just important that it has happened and not when it happened => I have washed the car...it is CLEAN NOW. The effect of washing is important ... not when it was washed)	I You have learned at home. He She has learned at home. It We You have learned at home. They	I You haven't learned at home. He She hasn't learned at home. It We You haven't learned at home. They	I Have you learned at home? he Has she learned at home? it we Have you learned at home? they	just, yet, never already, so far, since, for

Present Tenses

Simple Present

When do we use it?

+

-

?

Signal words

If something happens regularly
or never.

If we write summaries.

I eat an apple.
You eat an apple.

He
She eats an apple.
It

We
You eat an apple.
They

I don't eat an apple.
You don't eat an apple.

He
She doesn't eat an apple.
It

We
You don't eat an apple.
They

Do    I       eat an apple?
Do    you eat an apple?

         he
Does she eat an apple?
            it

    we
Do     you eat an apple?
          they

often, always, never,
usually, sometimes,
seldom, every day/Monday/...

Present Progressive

When do we use it?

+

-

?

Signal words

If something happens at
the moment

I am eating an apple.
You are eating an apple.

He
She is eating an apple.
It

We
You are eating an apple.
They

I am not eating an apple.
You aren't eating an apple.

He
She isn't eating an apple.
It

We
You aren't eating an apple.
They

Am I eating an apple?
Are you eat an apple?

    he
Is she eating an apple?
    it

       we
Are you eat an apple?
       they

at the moment, now, Look!, Listen,...

Future Tenses

Will Future

When do we use it?

+

-

?

Signal words

spontanous decisions
of the future, fortune
telling, talking about
timetables

I
You
He
She will eat an apple.
It
We
You
They

I
You
He
She won't eat an apple.
It
We
You
They

          I
          you
          he
Will   she eat an apple?
          it
          we
          you
          they

no special ones.

Going-to Future

When do we use it?

+

-

?

Signal words

For planned events
in the future (long
planned holidays, etc.)

I am going to eat an apple.
You are going to eat an apple.

He
She is going to eat an apple.
It

We
You are going to eat an apple.
They

I am not going to eat an apple.
You aren't going to eating an apple.

He
She isn't going to eat an apple.
It

We
You aren't going to eat an apple.
They

Am I going to eat an apple?
Are you going to eat an apple?

    he
Is she going to eat an apple?
     it

       we
Are you going to eat an apple?
     they

Grammar Quiz Beginners Mixed Tenses - Level 1

Mixed tenses level 1 quiz challenge - Test yourself now

Grammar Quiz Mixed Tenses - Level 2

Exercises on mixed tenses A1/A2 Level 2

Grammar Quiz Mixed Tenses - Level 3

Mixed tenses A1 / A2 level 3