| Present | Past | Future | |
| Simple | S + V1 -yaparım I read a book | S + V2 -yaptım I watched TV | S + will + V1 -yapacağım I will play tennis |
| Continuous | S + (am/is/are) + Ving -yapıyorum He is watching TV | S + (was/were) + Ving -yapıyordum I was watching TV | S + will be + Ving -yapıyor olacağım I will be watching TV tomorrow nitght |
| Perfect | S + (have/has) + V3 -yaptım I have bought a new phone | S + had + V3 -yapmıştım When I arrived at home I had already had dinner | S + will have + V3 -yapmış olacağım When you come, the meeting will have started |
| Perfect Continuous | S + (have/has) been + Ving -yapıyorum I have been working on project for 3 hours | S + had been + Ving -yapıyordum When you come, I had been playing tennis for 3 hours | S + will have been + Ving -yapıyor olacağım When you come, I will have been working for 3 hours |
Present Simple (Geniş Zaman)
The present simple tense is used to describe actions or states that are currently happening or are always true. It is used to express habits, routines, and general truths.
In English, the present simple tense is formed by using the base form of the verb (e.g. “talk,” “play,” “work”) or the base form plus “s” or “es” for third person singular subjects (e.g. “he talks,” “she plays,” “it works”).
Here are some examples of the present simple tense in action:
I wake up at 7:00 every morning. (habit)
She speaks Spanish fluently. (general truth)
He goes to the gym every Wednesday. (routine)
The present simple tense can also be used to describe a planned or scheduled action in the near future. For example:
The flight leaves at 6:00 tomorrow.
The movie starts at 8:00 tonight.
It’s important to note that the present simple tense is not used to describe actions that are happening right now. For that, we use the present continuous tense. For example:
I am eating breakfast right now. (not “I eat breakfast right now”)
She is studying for her exams. (not “She studies for her exams”)
Past Simple (Geçmiş Zaman)
The past simple tense is used to describe actions or states that happened and were completed in the past. It is often used to describe past events or to talk about past habits or routines.
In English, the past simple tense is formed by using the base form of the verb and adding “-ed” for regular verbs or by using the second form of the verb (e.g. “ate,” “went,” “saw”) for irregular verbs.
Here are some examples of the past simple tense in action:
I woke up at 7:00 yesterday. (past event)
She spoke Spanish fluently. (past ability)
He went to the gym every Wednesday. (past routine)
The past simple tense can also be used to describe a past action that was interrupted by another action. For example:
I was watching TV when the phone rang. (The action of watching TV was interrupted by the action of the phone ringing.)
It’s important to note that the past simple tense is not used to describe actions that were happening at the same time as another action in the past. For that, we use the past continuous tense. For example:
I was eating breakfast when the phone rang. (not “I ate breakfast when the phone rang”)
She was studying for her exams when I called. (not “She studied for her exams when I called”)
Future Simple (Gelecek Zaman)
The future simple tense is used to describe actions or states that will happen at a specific time in the future. It is often used to make predictions or to describe future plans or intentions.
In English, the future simple tense is formed by using the auxiliary verb “will” or “shall” plus the base form of the verb. Here are some examples of the future simple tense in action:
I will go to the store later. (future intention)
She will finish the report by Friday. (future plan)
It will rain tomorrow. (prediction)
The future simple tense can also be used to describe a future action that is a result of a present condition or circumstance. For example:
If he finishes the report on time, he will get a bonus. (The action of getting a bonus is dependent on the condition of finishing the report on time.)
It’s important to note that the future simple tense is not used to describe actions that will be happening continuously in the future. For that, we use the future continuous tense. For example:
I will be working on the project all week. (not “I will work on the project all week”)
She will be studying for her exams until the end of the semester. (not “She will study for her exams until the end of the semester”)
Present Continuous (Şimdiki Zaman)
The present continuous tense is used to describe actions or states that are happening at the moment of speaking or around the present time. It is often used to describe temporary actions or situations that are in progress.
In English, the present continuous tense is formed by using the auxiliary verb “be” (in the present tense) plus the present participle of the main verb (which is formed by adding “-ing” to the base form of the verb). Here are some examples of the present continuous tense in action:
I am eating breakfast right now. (action happening at the moment of speaking)
She is studying for her exams. (temporary action in progress)
It is raining outside. (temporary state in progress)
The present continuous tense can also be used to describe a future action that has already been planned or arranged. For example:
I am meeting my friends for lunch tomorrow. (The action of meeting my friends has already been planned and arranged for the future.)
It’s important to note that the present continuous tense is not used to describe actions or states that are always true or that are habits or routines. For that, we use the present simple tense. For example:
I speak English. (not “I am speaking English”)
She goes to the gym every Wednesday. (not “She is going to the gym every Wednesday”)
Past Continuous (Geçmişte Devam Eden Zaman)
The past continuous tense is used to describe actions or states that were happening at a specific time in the past. It is often used to describe actions that were in progress at a specific time in the past or to describe the background of a past event.
In English, the past continuous tense is formed by using the auxiliary verb “be” (in the past tense) plus the present participle of the main verb (which is formed by adding “-ing” to the base form of the verb). Here are some examples of the past continuous tense in action:
I was eating breakfast when the phone rang. (action happening at a specific time in the past)
She was studying for her exams when I called. (temporary action in progress at a specific time in the past)
It was raining when we left the house. (temporary state in progress at a specific time in the past)
The past continuous tense can also be used to describe two or more past actions that were happening at the same time. For example:
While I was cooking dinner, my husband was doing the dishes. (Two past actions happening at the same time.)
It’s important to note that the past continuous tense is not used to describe past actions or states that are completed. For that, we use the past simple tense. For example:
I ate breakfast before I left for work. (not “I was eating breakfast before I left for work”)
She studied for her exams until late at night. (not “She was studying for her exams until late at night”)
Future Continuous (Gelecek Zamanda Süreklilik)
The future continuous tense is used to describe actions or states that will be happening continuously at a specific time in the future. It is often used to describe actions that will be in progress at a specific time in the future or to describe plans or intentions for the future.
In English, the future continuous tense is formed by using the auxiliary verb “will” plus the present participle of the main verb (which is formed by adding “-ing” to the base form of the verb). Here are some examples of the future continuous tense in action:
I will be eating dinner at 6:00 tonight. (action happening at a specific time in the future)
She will be studying for her exams all weekend. (temporary action in progress at a specific time in the future)
It will be raining tomorrow. (temporary state in progress at a specific time in the future)
The future continuous tense can also be used to describe a future action that will be in progress at the same time as another action in the future. For example:
While I am cooking dinner, my husband will be doing the dishes. (Two future actions happening at the same time.)
It’s important to note that the future continuous tense is not used to describe future actions or states that are completed or that are habits or routines. For that, we use the future simple tense. For example:
I will eat dinner at 6:00 tonight. (not “I will be eating dinner at 6:00 tonight”)
She will study for her exams every day until the exam. (not “She will be studying for her exams every day until the exam”)
Present Perfect (Etkisi Devam Eden Yakın Geçmiş Zaman)
The present perfect tense is used to describe actions or states that began in the past and continue up to the present. It is often used to describe actions that are completed recently or to describe actions that have an effect on the present.
In English, the present perfect tense is formed by using the auxiliary verb “have” or “has” (in the present tense) plus the past participle of the main verb. Here are some examples of the present perfect tense in action:
I have eaten breakfast. (action completed recently)
She has studied for her exams. (action that has an effect on the present)
It has rained a lot this week. (state that began in the past and continues up to the present)
The present perfect tense can also be used to describe actions that began in the past and continue up to the present, but may or may not be completed. For example:
I have been living in this city for 10 years. (The action of living in this city began in the past and continues up to the present, but may or may not be completed in the future.)
It’s important to note that the present perfect tense is not used to describe actions or states that are completed or that happened at a specific time in the past. For that, we use the past simple tense. For example:
I ate breakfast this morning. (not “I have eaten breakfast this morning”)
She studied for her exams last week. (not “She has studied for her exams last week”)
Past Perfect (Miş’li Geçmiş Zaman)
The past perfect tense is used to describe actions or states that were completed before a specific time in the past. It is often used to describe actions that happened before another action in the past.
In English, the past perfect tense is formed by using the auxiliary verb “had” plus the past participle of the main verb. Here are some examples of the past perfect tense in action:
I had eaten breakfast before I left for work. (action completed before a specific time in the past)
She had studied for her exams before the exam. (action completed before another action in the past)
It had rained a lot the week before. (state that was completed before a specific time in the past)
The past perfect tense can also be used to describe actions that began in the past and continued up until a specific time in the past, but may or may not be completed. For example:
I had been living in this city for 10 years before I moved. (The action of living in this city began in the past and continued up until a specific time in the past, but may or may not be completed in the future.)
It’s important to note that the past perfect tense is not used to describe actions or states that are completed or that happened at a specific time in the past. For that, we use the past simple tense. For example:
I ate breakfast this morning. (not “I had eaten breakfast this morning”)
She studied for her exams last week. (not “She had studied for her exams last week”)
Future Perfect (Gelecekte Bitmişlik)
The future perfect tense is used to describe actions or states that will be completed before a specific time in the future. It is often used to describe actions that will be completed before another action in the future or to describe actions that will have taken place over a period of time in the future.
In English, the future perfect tense is formed by using the auxiliary verb “will” plus the auxiliary verb “have” plus the past participle of the main verb. Here are some examples of the future perfect tense in action:
I will have eaten breakfast before I leave for work. (action completed before a specific time in the future)
She will have studied for her exams before the exam. (action completed before another action in the future)
It will have rained for a week by the time we leave. (state that will be completed before a specific time in the future)
The future perfect tense can also be used to describe actions that will have taken place over a period of time in the future. For example:
I will have been living in this city for 10 years by the time I graduate. (The action of living in this city will have taken place over a period of time in the future.)
It’s important to note that the future perfect tense is not used to describe actions or states that are completed or that will happen at a specific time in the future. For that, we use the future simple tense. For example:
I will eat breakfast before I leave for work. (not “I will have eaten breakfast before I leave for work”)
She will study for her exams before the exam. (not “She will have studied for her exams before the exam”)
Present Perfect Continuous (Devam Eden Yakın Geçmiş)
The present perfect continuous tense is used to describe actions or states that began in the past and continue up to the present, and that are still in progress. It is often used to describe actions that have been happening for a specific period of time and that are still in progress.
In English, the present perfect continuous tense is formed by using the auxiliary verb “have” or “has” (in the present tense) plus the auxiliary verb “been” plus the present participle of the main verb (which is formed by adding “-ing” to the base form of the verb). Here are some examples of the present perfect continuous tense in action:
I have been eating breakfast for an hour. (action that began in the past and is still in progress)
She has been studying for her exams for the past month. (action that has been happening for a specific period of time and is still in progress)
It has been raining all day. (state that began in the past and is still in progress)
The present perfect continuous tense can also be used to describe actions that began in the past and continue up until the present, but may or may not be completed in the future. For example:
I have been living in this city for 10 years. (The action of living in this city began in the past and continues up until the present, but may or may not be completed in the future.)
It’s important to note that the present perfect continuous tense is not used to describe actions or states that are completed or that happened at a specific time in the past. For that, we use the past simple tense or the past continuous tense. For example:
I ate breakfast this morning. (not “I have been eating breakfast this morning”)
She was studying for her exams last week. (not “She has been studying for her exams last week”)
Past Perfect Continuous (Miş’li Geçmiş Zaman (Süreklilik))
The past perfect continuous tense is used to describe actions or states that were happening continuously before a specific time in the past, and that were still in progress at that time. It is often used to describe actions that had been happening for a specific period of time before another action in the past.
In English, the past perfect continuous tense is formed by using the auxiliary verb “had” plus the auxiliary verb “been” plus the present participle of the main verb (which is formed by adding “-ing” to the base form of the verb). Here are some examples of the past perfect continuous tense in action:
I had been eating breakfast for an hour when the phone rang. (action that was happening continuously before a specific time in the past and was still in progress at that time)
She had been studying for her exams for the past month before the exam. (action that had been happening for a specific period of time before another action in the past)
It had been raining all day when we left the house. (state that was happening continuously before a specific time in the past and was still in progress at that time)
The past perfect continuous tense can also be used to describe actions that began in the past and continued up until a specific time in the past, but may or may not be completed. For example:
I had been living in this city for 10 years before I moved. (The action of living in this city began in the past and continued up until a specific time in the past, but may or may not be completed in the future.)
It’s important to note that the past perfect continuous tense is not used to describe actions or states that are completed or that happened at a specific time in the past. For that, we use the past simple tense or the past continuous tense. For example:
I ate breakfast this morning. (not “I had been eating breakfast this morning”)
She was studying for her exams last week. (not “She had been studying for her exams last week”)
Future Perfect Continuous (Gelecekte Süreklilik)
The future perfect continuous tense is used to describe actions or states that will have been happening continuously before a specific time in the future, and that will still be in progress at that time. It is often used to describe actions that will have been happening for a specific period of time before another action in the future.
In English, the future perfect continuous tense is formed by using the auxiliary verb “will” plus the auxiliary verb “have” plus the auxiliary verb “been” plus the present participle of the main verb (which is formed by adding “-ing” to the base form of the verb). Here are some examples of the future perfect continuous tense in action:
I will have been eating breakfast for an hour by the time I leave for work. (action that will have been happening continuously before a specific time in the future and will still be in progress at that time)
She will have been studying for her exams for the past month before the exam. (action that will have been happening for a specific period of time before another action in the future)
It will have been raining all day by the time we leave. (state that will have been happening continuously before a specific time in the future and will still be in progress at that time)