Table of tenses in English theory. Companion words of all tenses in English

ello guys! Many will agree that the topic of this article is intimidating. Times in English language- this combination of words can scare even an experienced English student, not to mention beginners.

Just about English tenses

• It should be understood that in English there are 3 whales on which all grammar rests - “ to be», « to have" and " to do».
• Each of these whales can swim in three times: present,Past and Future.
• In turn, Present, Past and Future will fall into the seas Simple,continuous, Perfect and Perfect Continuous.
• In the meantime, whales (or whales) swim in these seas, they have babies, or rather, new forms are formed.

Not confused? Let's take a closer look.

How to learn all tenses in English

You just need to put everything on the shelves and systematize your learning until it comes to automatism. You will know how much you have studied, and how much is still to be, then the study of times will not seem like something limitless and endless.

• present simple used to express an ordinary, regularly repeated action.
• past simple used to express an action that happened in the past.
• Future Simple used to express an action that will happen in the future.

• Present Continuous used to express an action that takes place in this moment.
• Past Continuous used to express an action that happened at a particular point in time in the past.
• Future Continuous is used to express an action that will take place at a certain time in the future.

• Present Perfect used to express a completed (or still ongoing) action, the result of which is associated with the present.
• past perfect used to express an action that ended before another action or a specific moment in the past.
• Future Perfect used to express an action that will be completed by a certain point in time in the future.

Important! There is also the Future in the Past time, which we talked about in the corresponding article.

• Present Perfect Continuous used to express an action that began in the past and continues in the present, or the duration of the action is important.
• Past Perfect Continuous used to express an action that began at a certain point in the past and continued for some time before the start of another action.
• Future Perfect Continuous is used to express an action that, having begun at a certain point in time, will still continue at some point in the future.

How not to be afraid of tenses in English?

• Be prepared for the fact that you should feel the difference between the times well, in terms of logic. The tenses in English and Russian are not 100% similar, so it is not always possible to draw a parallel.
• After getting acquainted with each new tense, it must be practiced well by doing various grammatical exercises in order to remember the construction and, of course, the situation where we use this tense.
• It is important to learn irregular verbs. For this, now there are special songs that consist of all irregular verbs. Try it. This is very effective method learning irregular verbs. Especially for music lovers.
• Study English tenses systematically, without trying to learn everything in one day. As soon as you begin to navigate in one time, you can proceed to the next. Then be sure to practice the mix exercises, where the tasks will be collected in order to check if you are confused in these tenses.
• It is advisable to practice English every day for 15 minutes. In this case, the new baggage of knowledge will be stored in your memory for a long time and you will use it automatically.
• If you are learning English tenses on your own, look on the Internet helpful videos. On our site you will find many useful grammar video lessons. This is much more interesting and reliable than looking for rules anywhere on the Internet.
• Don't overdo it! It's important to give yourself a break. If you turn English into a daily hard labor, it will not do you any good, but will only discourage the desire to learn it.
• When studying tenses in English, pay attention to whether your memory is visual or auditory. Based on this, it is possible to understand which tasks should be given preference in order to have the most effective result.
• Do not undertake to study all tenses in English at once. To get started, learn the 5-6 basic tenses. This will be quite enough to communicate in English competently.
• As a result, it is important to be able to use these tenses in a conversation. This is quite difficult to do on your own. Suppose you can find the rules, exercises and answers to them on your own, but to understand whether you are using English tenses in speech is not at all an easy task.

Conclusion

FROM English times There are usually 3 scenarios:

• The student decides that he does not need tenses in English, because he just wants to improve his conversational speech.
• A student finds a popular grammar book and slowly learns each time on his own.
• The student turns to the teacher and trusts him on his way to mastering the times in full.

And which one do you choose?

Definitely the second and third! It is impossible to communicate in a language like a native speaker without knowing tenses. Definitely, if you want to know English, times are very important. So which side to get to them?

The EnglishDom online school has many experienced teachers who have already proven to many students that learning tenses is not a disaster.

Many students come to a free introductory lesson with a request “just not grammar”, and after a few lessons with a teacher, they take grammar tests and other interactive tasks with great pleasure. So don't be afraid! U can do it! Times are waiting for you :)

Big and friendly family EnglishDom

English tenses are considered the most difficult topic, because in Russian we have only 3 tenses, and in English there are 12.

When studying them, everyone has many questions.

• What time should be used?
• Would it be considered a mistake to use one tense instead of another?
• Why is it necessary to use this tense and not another?

This confusion is due to the fact that we learn the rules of grammar, but do not fully understand them.

However, English tenses are not as complicated as they seem.

Their use depends on what idea you want to convey to your interlocutor. To do this correctly, you need to understand the logic and use cases of English tenses.

I immediately warn you, in this article I will not explain to you the grammatical formation of sentences. In it, I will give precisely the understanding of times.

In the article, we will look at the use cases of 12 tenses and compare them with each other, as a result of which you will understand how they differ, and when which time should be used.

Let's start.

What tenses are there in English?

In English, as well as in Russian, there are 3 blocks of tenses familiar to us.

1. Present (present) - indicates an action that is happening in the present tense.

2. Past (past) - denotes an action that takes place in the past tense (once upon a time).

3. Future (future) - denotes an action that will take place in the future tense.

However, the English tenses do not end there. Each of these time groups is subdivided into:

1. Simple- simple.

2. continuous- lengthy.

3. Perfect- completed.

4. Perfect Continuous- long-term completed.

The result is 12 times.

It is the use of these 4 groups that confuses English learners. Indeed, in Russian there is no such division.

How do you know what tense to use?

To use English tenses correctly, you need 3 things.

• Understand the logic of English tenses
  That is, to know what time is intended for what and when it is used.
• Be able to build sentences according to the rules
  That is, not only to know, but to be able to speak these sentences.
• Understand exactly what idea you want to convey to the interlocutor
  That is, to be able to choose the right time depending on the meaning that you put into your words.

To understand English tenses, let's take a closer look at each group.

Once again, I will not explain the grammatical formation of sentences. And I will explain to you the logic by which we determine which group time should be used.

Let's start with the easiest group - Simple.

Bonus! Do you want to easily learn English tenses and use them in your speech? in Moscow and find out how easy it is to learn tenses and start speaking English in 1 month using the ESL method!

Times of the Simple group in English

Simple translates as "simple".

We use this tense when we talk about facts that:

• taking place in the present
• happened in the past
• will take place in the future.

For example

I drive a car.
I drive a car.

We say that a person knows how to drive a car and this is a fact.

Let's look at another example.

She bought a dress.
She bought a dress.

We are talking about the fact that sometime in the past (yesterday, last week or last year) she bought herself a dress.

Remember: when you talk about some action as a fact, then use the Simple group.

You can study in detail all the tenses of this group here:

Now let's compare Simple with another group of tenses - Continuous.

Continuous tenses in English

Continuous is translated as "long, continued."

When we use this tense, we are talking about an action as a process that:

• happening at the moment
• happened in the past at some point,
• will happen in the future at a certain moment.

For example

I am driving a car.
I'm driving.

Unlike the Simple group, here we do not mean a fact, but we are talking about a process.

Let's see the difference between fact and process.

Fact:"I can drive a car, I have a license."

Process:“I got behind the wheel some time ago and now I am driving a car, that is, I am in the process of driving.”

Let's consider one more example.

I will be flying to Moscow tomorrow.
Tomorrow I will fly to Moscow.

We are talking about the fact that tomorrow you will get on a plane and for some time you will be in the process of flying.

That is, for example, you need to get in touch with the client. You tell him that you will not be able to talk to him at this time, as you will be in the process of flying.

Remember: when you want to emphasize the duration of an action, that is, that the action is a process, use the Continuous group times.

You can read more about each time of this group here:

Now let's move on to the Perfect group.

Perfect tenses in English

Perfect translates as "complete / perfect."

We use this time when we focus on the result of an action, which:

• we got by now,
• we got to a certain point in the past,
• we will get to a certain point in the future.

Note that even in the present tense, this tense is translated into Russian as the past. However, despite this, you say that the result of this action is important at the present moment.

For example

I have fixed my car.
I fixed the car.

We focus on the result that we currently have - a working machine. For example, you say that you fixed the car, now it works, and you can go to your friends' country house.

Let's compare this group with others.

We are talking about the fact (Simple):

I cooked dinner.
I was cooking dinner.

For example, you tell a friend about the fact that you cooked a delicious dinner yesterday.

I was cooking dinner.
I was cooking dinner.

You say you were in the process of cooking. For example, they did not pick up the phone, because they were preparing (were in the process) and did not hear the call.

We are talking about the result (Perfect):

I have cooked dinner.
I cooked dinner.

You currently have the result of this action - dinner ready. For example, you invite the whole family to dinner because dinner is ready.

Remember: when you want to focus on the result of an action, use the Perfect group.

Read more about all the times of the Perfect group in these articles:

And now let's move on to the last group of Perfect Continuous.

Tenses of the Perfect Continuous group in English

Perfect Continuous translates as "completed continuous." As you noticed by the name, this group of times includes signs of 2 groups at once.

We use it when we talk about a long-term action (process) and about obtaining a result.

That is, we emphasize that the action began some time ago, lasted (was in progress) certain time and at the moment:

1. We got the result of this action

For example: "He repaired the car for 2 hours" (the action lasted 2 hours, and at the moment he has a result - a working car).

2. The action still continues

For example: “He has been fixing the car for 2 hours” (he started fixing the car 2 hours ago, was in the process and is still fixing it).

We can say that the action began some time ago, lasted and:

• ended/continues in the present,
• ended / continued until a certain point in the past,
• will end / will continue until a certain point in the future.

For example

I have been cooking this dinner for 2 hours.
I cooked dinner for 2 hours.

That is, you started cooking 2 hours ago and by now you have the result of your action - a ready dinner.

Let's compare this time with others like it.

We are talking about the process (Continuous):

I am painting a picture.
I am drawing a picture.

We say that we are currently in the process of drawing. It doesn't matter to us how much time it has already taken, it is important to us that at the moment you are involved in this process.

Talking about the result (Perfect)

I have painted a picture.
I drew a picture.

We say that at the moment we have a result - a finished picture.

We talk about the result and the process (Perfect Continuous)

1. I have been painting a picture for an hour.
I drew a picture for an hour.

We say that at the moment we have a result - a finished picture. You also emphasize that you spent one hour in the process of drawing to get this result.

2. I have been painting a picture for an hour.
I paint a picture for one hour.

We say that we are now in the process of drawing, while we focus on the fact that we have been busy with this process for an hour. In contrast to Continuous times, where it is only important for us what is happening at a certain (current) moment, and not how much we are already doing it.

Remember: if you want to emphasize not only the result, but also its duration (how long it took you to get it), then use Perfect Continuous.

General table for comparing the times of the Simple, Continuous, Perfect and Perfect Continuous groups

Let's look again at what each group of tenses is responsible for. Look at the table.

Outcome

Use English tenses depending on what meaning you want to convey to the interlocutor. The most important thing is to understand what the emphasis is on in each of the tenses.

1. We talk about action as a fact - Simple.

2. We talk about action as a process - Continuous.

3. We talk about action, focusing on the result - Perfect.

4. We talk about the action, emphasizing that it took a certain time before getting the result - Perfect Continuous.

I hope that now the logic of English times has become clear to you, and you will be able to convey the correct meaning to your interlocutor.

The cornerstone for anyone who learns English is his time. You dismantled the group Simple(Indefinite) and everything seems to be clear and easy. And you start the next one, and your head is already a mess. How not to just learn 12 tenses in english, but also to understand them in order to really use them in speech, and not bury them in the “useful knowledge” section somewhere deeper in your head?

"Dreams and everyday life of a worm" - this visual table, which at one time blew up the Internet and helped millions stop making mistakes in time. If you are also "swimming" in this topic, take picture c examples yourself. Place on your desktop or print and hang in a conspicuous place.

And right now, go through all 12 tenses. Learning fun like children and easy to remember times in English!

Group Present (present)

Simple (Indefinite, simple): I eat apples every day. - I eat apples every day.

Continuous (long): We are eating the same apple now. We are eating the same apple now.

Perfect (completed): I have already eaten this apple. I have already eaten this apple.

Perfect Continuous (completed-long): I have been eating this apple since early morning. I have been eating this apple since early morning.

Group Past (past tense)

Simple (Indefinite): I ate apples yesterday. - I ate apples yesterday.

Continuous: I was eating an apple when my mother came. I was eating an apple when my mother came.

Perfect: We had already eaten apples when we began to eat plums. We had already eaten apples when we started eating plums.

Perfect Continuous: I had been eating apples for two hours when my friend arrived. I had been eating apples for 2 hours when my friend came.

Group Future (future tense)

Simple (Indefinite): I will eat apples in summer. I will eat apples in summer.

Continuous: I will be eating apples at 5 o'clock tomorrow. I will be eating apples at 5 o’clock tomorrow.

Perfect: I will have eaten this apple before the midnight. I will eat this apple before midnight.

Perfect Continuous: I will have been eating this apple for two hours before the guard comes. I will have been eating this apple for 2 hours before the watchman appears.

Friends, and finally useful advice: try to understand, not memorize 12 times of the English language. We need to be clear about the difference next time from what you have already learned. If you can't see the difference yet, it's best to stop and perfect that piece, and then move on.

Also, be sure to practice. At home, at work, with friends. We are sure that your environment will understand and support the desire to improve English. And you, thus, will bring the learned rules from passive into active colloquial speech. Good luck to you and good mood!

“...only having mastered in the possible perfection ... the native language, we will be able to master the foreign language in the same perfection, but not before….” (F. M. Dostoevsky)

I subscribe to your every word, Fedor Mikhailovich. If there are in the head basic knowledge mother tongue AS A SYSTEM, logical and understandable, then we can easily learn the laws of a foreign language. For such a complex category as “time” and the part of speech “verb”, this is doubly relevant. For reference: at the philological faculty, 1 semester is devoted to the verb and 1 to all other parts of speech - it is the most difficult of all put together! So, let's deal with the tenses of the English verb once and for all.

Why are we only confused? English verb tenses

When I read articles / manuals about English verbs, sometimes it even becomes funny from phrases like this one: “There are 12 tenses in English, and only 3 in Russian. That's why it's difficult for us.”

Truth: we have 3 times and it is difficult for us.

Lie: there are 12 tenses in English (there are 3 of them, like ours).

Additionally: believe me, our verbs also have a lot of their "troubles". If we deal with them, we will understand English faster. Now we will do just that: we will analyze the Russian system of tenses, and then “impose” it on the English tenses of verbs.

By the way, I did not make a reservation. There are 3 tenses in English:

• Past (past),
• Present (present),
• Future (future).

But each of them has 4 forms:

• simple,
• continuous,
• perfect,
• perfect continuous.

Thanks to such a detailed system, tenses in English describe the situation in detail and even without context, verbs provide more information than Russian ones.

Learn native verbs a little better

Regarding Russian verbs, we will focus on only two features: time and aspect. Understanding these categories "will give us strength" to comprehend the system of English tenses.

1. The tense of the verb expresses the ratio of the time of action and the moment of speech.

Everything is simple here: if the action took place before the moment of speech, it is in the past; if it takes place after, it is in the future; if during the time, it is in the present.

2. The view characterizes the action as completed or incomplete.

If the action is completed and cannot continue (its limit has been reached), then the verb is perfect and answers the question “what to do?”.

Example: Freeze, sleep, run, go away, etc.

If the action is extended, “there is no end in sight”, then the verb is imperfect and answers the question “what to do?”.

Example: freeze, sleep, run, leave, etc.

View is a constant feature of the verb, the verb does not “change in appearance”, but is always either perfect or imperfect.

IMPERFECT verbs have all three forms of tense.

Example: I was looking for - looking for - I will look for (compound form of the future tense)

PERFECT verbs have only past and future forms.

Example: I found - I will find.

Pay attention to this: if the action is completed (everything, its limit has been reached), then in Russian it can NOT be in the present tense.

3. The real time and the grammatical form of the verb do not always coincide:

Example: He was yesterdaycomesto me andHe speaks: "Finally, the sun is out!"

The action takes place yesterday (that is, in the past in relation to the moment of speech), but we express it in the forms of the present tense.

Another example: "The train leaves at three o'clock"

We talk about the future, but use the form of the present tense.

Pay attention to this, because there are similar “inconsistencies” in the English language too (and you don’t need to be afraid of this).

4. We can talk about absolute and relative times.

For example, verbs "gone" and "asleep"– both past tense (absolute). But if we put them in a sentence "After I left, he fell asleep", then the action "gone" will be in the past with respect to the action "asleep". It turns out that the relative time is the one that we see only from the context. Remember this moment.

Relative time can be expressed not only subordinate clauses, as in the example above, but also with the help of participles, gerunds.

An example with a perfect gerund:Having prepared cake, sheremoved it to the refrigerator. (first cooked, and then removed, here one action follows another)

An example with an imperfect participle:Cooking cake, shereadbook (actions are simultaneous, parallel).

Participle example:removedmom's apartmentlay downrest (first removed, and then lay down).

Key Differences: How to Learn English Verb Tenses Quickly

Now we're ready to move on to the times English verbs. As I said above, their tenses provide more comprehensive information about the action even without context (it is grammatically embedded). I will name 5 more important differences in the forms of verbs in English that I discovered while writing this article.

1. A different attitude to the concept of "moment of speech."

Example: a Russian person speaks "I live in Russia". The moment I talk about it, I live. Everything, time is present (we have one).

In English "I live in London" can be "always, constantly" or "at the moment, limitedly, and then something may change." The choice of time (Present Simple or Present Continuous) depends on these conditions.

2. Another significant difference follows from this - the importance of the “time interval” in which the action is performed.

This is perfectly shown by the example described above, and all tenses of the Continuous “family”. I'll give you one more:

Compare: "Iwasin Moscowinlast year" and "Iwasin Moscowforall summer"

There is no difference for a Russian verb: past tense, imperfective form.

However, in English we will translate the first option into Past Simple, and the second into Past Continuous, since the length of time is indicated.

I was in Moscow last year. – I was living in Moscow all summer.

It turns out that indicating a period of time involves the use of the Continuous form.

3. Also important is the "point in time" to which the action will be performed.

Example: a Russian person can say "Iordersoup"(verb of the future tense, perfect form).

In English, such a sentence would be built in Future Simple: I will order a bowl of soup(spontaneous decision made at the moment of speaking).

To make a verb perfect (perfect form, if we draw an analogy with Russian), you need to indicate a specific point in time by which the action will be completed:

I will have called him backby six o'clock. - I'll call him backcloser to six o'clock(action will end by a certain moment, use Future Perfect)

It turns out that pointing to a point in time involves using the Perfect form.

By the way, the interval and moment of time means NOT only the direct meaning “from 17:00 to 18:00” or “by two o’clock in the morning”, but also the time RELATED to another action / event / state (I did while you did).

He will have bought a new car before his wife comes back from a trip to London. – He will buy a car before his wife returns from a trip to London (he will complete the action UNTIL a certain point, use the Future Perfect).

4. In English, as in Russian, there is the concept of "complete action" (perfect). BUT!

There is a difference, as a result of which English speakers have a perfect present tense: is the result of the action taken in the past or in the present? If in the present, then we use Present Perfect.

I have broken the cup - as a result of fragments;

Our son has learned how to read - as a result, he knows how to read.

By the way, speaking of the Present Perfect, we will again return to the "moment and length of time." If the action has ended BY PRESENT (just, already) or in a period of time that has NOT ENDED YET (today, this week/month/year), then the time is considered present.

5. In English there are perfect continuous verbs (in Russian, either perfect or imperfect).

She had been working all night long - the translation "She worked all night long" would be logical, but the most accurate meaning of the sentence "Sheworkedall night andfinished workingin the morning”, that is, the action took place in a period of time and ended by its end.

It turns out that an indication of both a segment and a point in time involves the use of the Perfect Continuous form.

English verb tenses with examples

We figured out the theory - let's move on to practice. Let's talk about each specific time. I’ll make a reservation right away that I will NOT describe all cases of using tenses - this information can be found in various sources. I will just describe the BASIC cases of using tenses in English (with examples) and explain their logic.

What is happening in the present

present simple is used when we are talking about a regular, constant, typical action that is NOT tied to the moment of speech.

Example: She speaks 2 foreign languages ​​- She speaks two foreign languages(that is, she knows how to speak them, this is her constant characteristic).

Present Continuous is used when we want to show that an action is being performed right now (now). RELATED to the moment of speech.

Example: The doctor is performing an operation now - The doctor is now performing an operation (he is doing it right now, at the time of the speech of the one who reports).

Present Perfect used when the action has completed (there is a result), but the time has not ended.

Example: He has called me today. - He called me today. (the action has already ended, and "today" has not yet ended).

Present Perfect Continuous is used when the action started in the past and is still going on in the present (we emphasize its duration).

Example: She has been watching TV all day. – She watches TV all day (from the very morning until now, can you imagine? Whoa day!).

What happened in the past

past simple used to express an action that happened at a certain time in the past, while the period of time has already ended.

Example: I saw him yesterday. – I saw him yesterday (this day is already over).

Past Continuous indicates a process that was CONTINUED at a certain moment or period in the past.

Example: I was reading a book at midnight - I read a book at midnight (this process was in the past and lasted for some period of time).

past perfect remember Russian relative time. Do you remember the mother who went to bed after cleaning? She cleaned the house in Past Perfect. This is the "Previous" tense.

Example: I had studied English before I moved to Moscow - I learned English BEFORE I moved to Moscow (first I studied the language, and then moved).

Past Perfect Continuous indicates an action that began in the past, continued for some "length of time" and ended by its end (or did not end).

Example: She had been cooking dinner for an hour before I came - She cooked dinner for an hour before I came (The action lasted for a certain period of time, and then ended at a certain moment).

What will happen in the future

Future Simple used to indicate some fact, decision or intention in the future, made at the time of speech.

We will take a taxi. - We will take a taxi (showing the intention in the future, taken now).

Future Continuous indicates a process that will start up to a certain point in the future and will still continue at that point.

I will be studying at university in a year. - I will be studying at the university in a year (the proposal does not indicate when the event will start or end, it is about this particular moment in time, which lasts now, but in a year).

Future Perfect It is used to express a future action that will take place up to a certain point in the future.

He will have gone by then. - He will have left by then (the action will be completed by the moment indicated in the context).

Future Perfect Continuous indicates an action that starts BEFORE another future action, will have some RESULT by now, but will CONTINUE after it.

We will have been living together for 12 years next year - Next year we will live together for 12 years (the moment is indicated - next year, the duration is shown - for the whole 12 years! But the action does not think to end).

But this form is used extremely rarely and is replaced by either Future Continuous or Future Perfect.

We are looking for logic in everything: tenses in English "for dummies"

By the way, if you understand the logic of the main meaning of this or that time, then additional use cases will perfectly fall on it.

1. For example: using Present Continuous when we want to show dissatisfaction, irritation.

He is always coming late! - He's always late.

We're talking habit! Why is the Present Simple not used? Because we point to the duration, the continuity of this action. “Well, how long can this go on” - Present Continuous is indignant in this case.

2. Another example: the use of Present Simple in the schedules of buses, trains, movie screenings, etc.

The train leaves at 8 a.m - The train leaves at 8 am.

Why is the present tense used for actions that will take place in the future? Because it's repetitive. A more detailed comparison of Simple and Continuous.

So, in almost every case, you can find a completely visual explanation. If it still doesn’t work out, well, you have to remember. Still, a different language means a different way of thinking 🙂

Our YouTube video will help you understand even better.

Tenses in English are the main component of any course of study. I know from experience how difficult they can be for some people. But without them, nowhere.

There is great amount literature on this topic, but this routine only confuses.

If you want to start learning English in order to know English or simply, for example, be able to compose questions or translate texts, then this article will be your assistant.

With the help of this article, you will understand the difference in times, it will help you stop getting confused in times, but the rules, forms of education are all easily accessible for self-study. You can also, after reading, on the basis of the principle, delve into the study of this topic.

So let's get started.

There are 4 tenses in English:
Simple.
Long.
Completed.
Long-term completed.

Each tense is divided into:
The present
Past
Future
It's simple, times are divided according to the same system in Russian. Now I will briefly describe each of the times and its distinctive properties and how to easily and quickly distinguish it from others.

1) Simple

This is the easiest time. The easiest.

Meaning- statement of fact. Denotes a regular, usual, regular action. Facts, truths. At this time, the exact point in time is NOT defined.

In general, if you just say - it shows the usual action, someone did something, someone knows something, etc. or just a fact. So is an action that, for example, a person does every morning, or every day, or what a person did yesterday.
If the sentence contains the words - everyday, usually, never, at first, then, after, in the morning, in the evening, tomorrow, next week, next month, often, soon- then most likely this is just a simple time. You can distinguish by the presence in the sentence of auxiliary verbs in negative and interrogative sentences: do, does, did, didn "t, don" t, will, shall, will not, shall not. Remember - regularity, fact, routine.

The present- the person does it now, or he does it every day (says every day, or reads a book, writes a letter, etc.).
Past- an action that happened or happened in the past. Well, or a fact from the past (wrote a letter yesterday, worked every day, worked from 90 to 95, went shopping in the evening).
Future- an action or a series of actions that will happen in the future, predictions, forecasts (I will work tomorrow, I will write a letter, I will learn a foreign language every day, I will make an essay soon).

2) Long

Process is the main meaning of time. Indicates that an action is being done, has been done or will be done certain time. Did, but didn't. If the sentence contains the words - now, at the moment, at, when, while, at 20 o "clock, tomorrow - then most likely this is long time. You can distinguish by the ing ending of the verbs. Auxiliary verbs - was, were, was not, were not, am, will be, shall be. Remember - shows that time was spent on the action.

The present- an action that a person is doing right now, he is really doing it and spending his time, and this is what is shown in the sentence (Working now, writing a letter at the moment, going home now).
Past- an action that happened at a certain moment in the past, or that was done at the moment when another action took place. (I was writing a letter at 7 pm; he was writing a letter when I entered the room, he had been sleeping for 4 hours).
Future- an action that will take place at a certain point in the future (I will be writing a letter at 7 pm, I will be digging the ground tomorrow from 7 to 9 am).

3) Completed

The result is the main meaning of time. Shows that action done, is there a result! If the sentence contains the words - twice, lately, recently, several times, yet, already, never, just, ever - then this is most likely the completed tense. You can distinguish by auxiliary verbs - had, has, have, shall have, will have.

Remember - there is a result, the action has ended or will end here, and this is for anyone.

The present- an action that took place in the past, but has the most direct connection with the present. Example: He has already written a letter. I explain: he did this in the past, but the result refers precisely to the present. Example: I just lost my key. I explain: what he lost was in the past, but he is talking about it now.
Past- an action that was completed before a certain point in time in the past (I wrote a letter by 7 o'clock).
Future- an action that will be completed by some specific moment in the future (I will write a letter by 7 o'clock).

4) Completed - long

Here I will advise independent study. Given time not used in colloquial speech, and it is better to come to the study of this time after studying the times written above. Do not worry, work out the previous tenses!

So let's sum it up:

Simple time is a statement of fact.
Long time is a process.
Completed is the result.
Practice leads to perfection. Do simple tasks, guided by this article, and soon you will calmly distinguish one time from another Improve yourself! Good luck!