English Tenses Master Guide

Grammar - ESL

Present Tenses (El Presente)

 

In English, we split the present depending on whether an action is a regular routine or happening right now.

 

A. Present Simple

  • Why we use it: To talk about habits, daily routines, permanent facts, or general truths.

  • The Concept: Think of this as something that is true all the time, not just at this exact second.

  • Examples:

    • English: I work in an office every weekday.

    • Spanish: Trabajo en una oficina todos los dĂ­as de la semana.

đŸ’¡ Tip for Spanish Speakers: In Spanish, you can drop the subject pronoun ("Trabajo"). In English, you must always include the pronoun ("I work").

 

B. Present Continuous

  • Why we use it: To describe an action that is in progress right now at the moment of speaking, or a temporary situation.

  • Structure: Subject + am / is / are + Verb (-ing)

  • Examples:

    • English: I am writing an email right now.

    • Spanish: Estoy escribiendo un correo en este momento.

2. Past Tenses (El Pasado)

We choose past tenses based on whether the action was completed or in progress at a specific time.

 

A. Past Simple

  • Why we use it: To talk about actions that started and finished at a specific time in the past.

  • Colombian Spanish Equivalent: Matches PretĂ©rito Indefinido (comĂ­, viajĂ©, hablamos).

  • Examples:

    • English: We visited Cartagena last year.

    •  Spanish: Visitamos Cartagena el año pasado.

B. Past Continuous

  • Why we use it: To set the scene or talk about an action that was in progress in the past, often interrupted by a shorter action (in Past Simple).

  •  Spanish Equivalent: Matches Estaba + gerundio (estaba comiendo) or PretĂ©rito Imperfecto (comĂ­a).

  • Examples:

    • English: I was studying when you called me.

    •  Spanish: Estaba estudiando cuando me llamaste.

C. Past Perfect (B2–C1 Level)

  • Why we use it: To show that one past action happened before another past action. It is the "past before the past."

  • Structure: Subject + had + Past Participle

  • Examples:

    • English: When I arrived at the station, the train had already left.

    •  Spanish: Cuando lleguĂ© a la estaciĂ³n, el tren ya se habĂ­a ido.

3. Present Perfect Tenses (El Pretérito Perfecto)

 

English treats the Present Perfect as a bridge connecting past actions directly to the present moment.

 

A. Present Perfect Simple

  • Why we use it: For life experiences (without specifying when), or actions that started in the past and continue up to the present.

  • Structure: Subject + have / has + Past Participle

  • Examples:

    • English: I have lived in Bogota since 2018.(And I still live there now!)

    • Colombian Spanish: He vivido en BogotĂ¡ desde 2018 / Vivo en BogotĂ¡ desde el 2018.

B. Present Perfect Continuous (B2–C1 Level)

  • Why we use it: To emphasise the duration or ongoing process of an activity that started in the past and is still going on.

  • Structure: Subject + have / has been + Verb (-ing)

  • Examples:

    • English: I have been waiting here for two hours!

    •  Spanish: ¡Llevo dos horas esperando aquĂ­! 

4. Future Tenses (El Futuro)

 

In English, we choose the future tense based on how decided or planned the action is.

 

A. Future with "Be Going To"

  • Why we use it: For pre-made plans, intentions, or predictions based on current visual evidence.

  •  Spanish Equivalent: Direct translation of "ir a + verbo" 

  • Examples:

    • English: I am going to study medicine next year.

    •  Spanish: Voy a estudiar medicina el prĂ³ximo año.

B. Future with "Will"

  • Why we use it: For spontaneous decisions made at the exact moment of speaking, offers to help, promises, or general opinions about the future.

  • Examples:

    • English:The phone is ringing. — I'll answer it!  (Instant decision)

    • Colombian Spanish: El telĂ©fono estĂ¡ sonando. — ¡Yo contesto!

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