3.1 Indicating present, past and future in English

A line showing the continuum of tenses. The Past is at the left hand end of the line and the Future at the far right. Moving from left to right the following tenses are illustrated:

1. Past in Past: e.g. I had gone
2. Simple Past: e.g. I studied engineering
3. Past Progressive: e.g. I was working
4. Present Perfect (before now): e.g. I have studied French
5. Present Progressive (now): e.g. I am studying French
6. Future – will / going to: e.g. This chapter will investigate…

Under the line is the Present Simple (timeless present): e.g. I study French