| Explanation | Past | Present | Future | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Simple Past | Simple Present | Future I Simple | ||
 | action that takes place once, never or several times | He played football every Tuesday. | He plays football every Tuesday. | He will / is going to play football every Tuesday. |
| actions that happen one after another | He played football and then he went home. | He plays football and then he goes home. | He will play football and then he will go home. | |
| state | He loved football. | He loves football. | He will love football. | |
| Past Progressive | Present Progressive | Future I Progressive | ||
 | action going on at that moment | He was playing football. | He is playing football. | He will be playing football. |
| actions taking place at the same time | He was playing football and she was watching. | He is playing football and she is watching. | He will be playing football and she will be watching. | |
| Past Perfect Simple | Present Perfect Simple | Future II Simple | ||
 | action taking place before a certain moment in time; emphasises the result | He had won five matches until that day. | He has won five matches so far. | He will have won five matches by then. |
| Past Perfect Progressive | Present Perfect Progressive | Future II Progressive | ||
 | action taking place before a certain moment in time (and beyond), emphasises the duration | He had been playing football for ten years. | He has been playing football for ten years. | He will have been playing football for ten years. |
