Grammarbit

Install Grammarbit

Free, no app store, no sign-up. It opens full screen and your progress stays with you.

  1. Look for the install icon at the right of the address bar, or open the browser menu.
  2. Choose “Install”. The app opens in its own window.

Tenses side by side

Compare tenses

Pick the tenses you want and see how they differ — the same sentence in each one, the form, when to use it and the mistakes to avoid.

Present

Past

Future

Present Simple

Habits, facts and things that are generally true.

Same sentence

We clean the house.

Form

+
I work · she works
−
I don’t work · she doesn’t work
?
Do you work? · Does she work?

Use it for

  • Routines and habits
  • Facts and general truths
  • Timetables (The train leaves at 6.)

Time words

alwaysusuallyoftenevery dayon Mondays

Example

She works from home on Fridays.

Watch out

She work in a bank.

She works in a bank.

Present Continuous

Something in progress now, or around now.

Same sentence

We are cleaning the house.

Form

+
I’m working · she’s working
−
I’m not working · she isn’t working
?
Are you working? · Is she working?

Use it for

  • Actions happening right now
  • Temporary situations
  • Fixed future plans (I’m meeting Tom at 5.)

Time words

nowright nowat the momenttodaythis week

Example

They’re watching the match right now.

Watch out

I’m knowing the answer.

I know the answer.

Present Perfect

A past action connected to now: experience, result or unfinished time.

Same sentence

We have cleaned the house.

Form

+
I’ve worked · she’s worked
−
I haven’t worked · she hasn’t worked
?
Have you worked? · Has she worked?

Use it for

  • Life experiences (ever / never)
  • Recent news with a result now
  • Unfinished time (for / since)

Time words

everneveralreadyyetjustforsinceso far

Example

I’ve never tried sushi.

Watch out

I have seen her yesterday.

I saw her yesterday.

Present Perfect Continuous

An activity that started in the past and is still going (or just stopped).

Same sentence

We have been cleaning the house.

Form

+
I’ve been working · she’s been working
−
I haven’t been working · she hasn’t been working
?
Have you been working? · Has she been working?

Use it for

  • How long something has been going on
  • Visible results of a recent activity
  • Repeated actions up to now

Time words

forsinceHow long…?all daylately

Example

I’ve been waiting for the bus for twenty minutes.

Watch out

I’ve been knowing her for years.

I’ve known her for years.

Swipe to see every tense

Practise these 4 together