1. English Conversation Skills
Timeframe, Tenses, and Time Words

2. Timeframe
When communicating, it is important to show the order of events, or when something happened
In English, the form of the word is different depending on the time frame
Example: I am going, I will go, I went
Sometimes the same timeframe can be expressed in different ways
I eat, I am eating, I have been eating = Present
If you do not know the correct rule, make sure to include timeframe another way to avoid confusion
I am eating I eat now Now
I will eat I eat soon Future
I was eating I eat already Past
However, if you do know the correct rule, make sure to use it

3. Tense
The correct way to use grammar in English to show the timeframe, or the order of events, is to use the correct TENSE of the word
The tense changes the form of the verb to indicate the time frame
There are many different tenses and each of them can be used to indicate the past, present, or future
It is not important to remember the names of the tenses, only the usage
This lesson will cover Simple, Continuous, and Perfect tenses
Each of these different tenses is used to indicate different situations
Simple refers to an entire event
Continuous refers to an event that is ongoing
Perfect tenses refer to an event from a different reference point

4. Overview

5. Tense Overview Simple Tense: Events that have a specific time
Use this tense when referring to an entire event
Continuous/Progressive Tense: Events that occur over a time period
Use this tense when you are referring to being in the middle of an ongoing event
Perfect Tense: An event that happened in the past compared to a reference point
Use this tense when:
Referencing an event that has already occurred/has been occurring
Referencing an event that had already occurred/had been occurring
Referencing an event that will already have occurred/will have been occurring

8. Types of Tenses

9. Simple Tense This tense is used for events that have a specific time
I will play football tomorrow at 6 pm
This tense refers to the entire event
I played football for two hours
Simple present is used for events that occur regularly or for stating facts
I always eat dinner at 7 pm, I cook very well, I play football every Wednesday
Simple Past: add “ed” at the end of the word
Many words have a different form for simple past
Example: “I ate” is correct, “I eated” is incorrect
Simple Future: add “will” in front of the word
I will eat, I will play, I will drive

10. Continuous/Progressive Tense
This tense is used for events that occur over a time period
I was playing football from 6pm to 8pm
This tense refers to an event that is ongoing
It is a tense that puts you in the middle of an event that is occurring
Example: I am playing football, I was cooking a meal, I will be flying
Continuous Past: add “was” before the word and “ing” after
I was eating, She was eating
Continuous: add “am” or “is” before the word and “ing after
I am eating, She is eating
Continuous Future: add “will be” before the word and “ing” after
I will be eating, She will be eating

11. Perfect Tenses Perfect tenses refer to two points in time:
1. The point that the event occurred
2. The reference point
The reference point will be in the past, the present or the future
The event has always occurred before the reference point
Therefore, perfect tense is referring to an event from the perspective of a reference point
Example: By the time I finished the game, I had scored 20 points.
1. Event occurred: You scored 20 points
2. Reference point in the past: When you finished the game
Example: I have worked for 45 minutes already
1. Event that occurred: Started working 45 minutes ago
2. Reference point in the present: Now

12. Perfect Tense Diagram

13. Perfect Simple Tense
Perfect Simple Present refers to an event in past from the present
She has finished her assignment already
Event that occurred: Finished her assignment
Reference point: Now
The present form usually gets shortened to “I’ve” “You’ve” “She’s”
Example: She’s finished her assignment, I’ve never been to Italy
Perfect Simple Past refers to a event in the past from the past
She had finished her assignment already when the teacher arrived
Reference point: When the teacher arrived
Perfect Simple Future refers an event from the future
She will have finished her assignment by the time the teacher gets here
Event that occurred: Finishing her assignment
Reference point: When the teacher will arrive

14. Perfect Continuous/Progressive Tense
This tense is the same as the perfect simple except it refers to events that are or had been occurring at the time of the reference point
Example: When I heard the news, I had been working for 2 hours.
Event that was occurring: Working
Reference point: When I heard the news
Past: I had been working
I had been working for 2 hours already before I was able to start writing the paper
Present: I have been working
I have been working since 7 am
Future: I will have been working
When you get here, I will have been working for 16 hours

15. Examples

16. Simple Past vs Perfect Present
Examples
I played football vs. I have played football
I played football yesterday Specific time
I have played football At some point in the past
I worked vs. I have worked
I worked on the project yesterday Specific time
I have worked on this type of project before At some point in the past
I ate vs. I have eaten
I ate some noodles before I came here Specific time
I have eaten horse, and I enjoyed it At any point in the past
Did you play football? vs. Have you played football?
Did you play? Specific time
Have you played? At any point in the past

17. Perfect Past vs Perfect Present
Examples
I had played football vs. I have played football
I had already played football when she arrived Before she arrived
I have played football Before now
I had worked vs. I have worked
I had worked on the project for 2 hours already
when my group members finally came Before group arrived
I have worked on this type of project before Before now
Had you played football? vs. Have you played football?
Had you played football yet? Before past event
Have you played? Before now

18. Simple Present vs. Continuous Present
Examples
I do my homework vs. I am doing my homework
I usually do my homework in the afternoon Regular occurrence
I am doing my homework right now Currently
I play football vs. I am playing football
She plays football Statement of fact
She can’t talk right now, she is playing football Currently
I drive vs. I am driving
I drive a motorcycle Statement of fact
I am driving to work Currently
Do you eat? vs. Are you eating?
Do you eat beef? Regular occurrence
Are you eating noodles? Currently

19. Time Words

20. Indicating a Time
There are correct ways and words to use to indicate a time
If you use the incorrect tense but you use the correct time words, you should still be able to communicate clearly
Correct Grammar: I went to the store last Tuesday
Incorrect Grammar: I go to the store last Tuesday
Using the correct tense is still very important to be able to communicate clearly
Incorrect Grammar: I go to the store on Tuesday
Is it last Tuesday or next Tuesday?
Correct Grammar: I am going to the store on Tuesday
Is going to happen in the future
Correct Grammar: I went to the store on Tuesday
Already happened in the past

21. Time Words Ago: 2 days ago, 6 years ago, 2 minutes ago
Ago means in the past
Just recently  a while ago  a long time ago
A small amount, medium amount, and large amount of time in the past
Last: Last Wednesday, last night, last week
The time before this, the Wednesday before now, the week before now
Do not use last day, use yesterday
Next: Next Thursday, next year, next Christmas
Do not next afternoon, use tomorrow afternoon
Soon: A short time in the future
In a few: In a few weeks, in a few years, in a few minutes
“In a few” is in the future, “In just a few” is a short time in the future