English verbal tenses

Present

Future

Past

Simple

Continuous

The simple past is used
When referring to an action that took place at a definite time in the past or in a distant period that ended.
Simple Past is formed, for regular verbs, by adding -ed to the basic form of the verb.

Past Continuous Tense, or Past Progressive Tense, describes the process that is taking place in the past and then ended. It is formed with the verb being in the past + the form -ing of the verb.

Present Continuous Tense (or Present Progressive Tense) is used in English to describe actions that are taking place right now, or planned in the future.
It is formed with the simple present of the verb to be and the present participle of the following verb.

The Simple Present Tense (or even "present simple"), is obviously one of the most common times and has only 2 forms: the 3rd person singular (he / she/it) ends with -s, all the others don't.

Exceptions

Example

The verbs ending in -s, -sh, -ch, -z, -x, -o
add -es to the 3rd person singular.

Those that end up consonant -y
replace the -y with a -ies.

I sing (Io canto)

You sing (Tu canti)

He sings (Lui canta)

She sings (Lei canta)

It sings (Esso canta)

We sing (Noi cantiamo)

You sing (Voi cantate)

They sing (Essi cantano)

Example

Exceptions

verbs that end with 1 vowel + 1 consonant: doubles the consonant and adds -ing examples: swim - swimming;

verbs ending with 1 vowel + 1 consonant + 'e':eliminates the 'e' and adds -ing examples: how - coming;

He is working (Sta lavorando (lui))

You are working (Stai lavorando)

It is working (Sta lavorando)

You are working (State lavorando)

They are working (Stanno lavorando)

We are working (Stiamo lavorando)

She is working (Sta lavorando (lei))

I am working (Sto lavorando)

Exceptions

Example

Verbs ending in 1 vowel + 1 consonant (excluding -w or -y) doubles the consonant and is added -ed

Verbs ending in consonant + y
change y to i, then add -ed

Verbs that end in -e and add -d only

I walked(Io camminavo)

You walked(Tu camminavi)

He walked (Camminava(Lui))

She walked ((Camminava(Lei))

It walked ((Ha)Camminato )

We walked(Noi camminammo)

You walked(Voi camminaste)

They walked(Loro camminarono)

Exceptions

If the verb ends in a consonant preceded by a single accented vowel, the final consonant is doubled before adding -ing

In verbs ending in -ie the "i" becomes "y" and the final "e" falls

All the verbs that end in -el always double the final l

Example

I was walking

You were walking

He was walking

She was walking

It was walking

We were walking

You were walking

They were walking

How to use

Use

To predict a future event

To express a spontaneous decision, with the pronouns I or we

To the negative form, to express the lack of willingness to do something

To the interrogative form with must, when he offers us to do something

To the interrogative form with we and, to propose something

To the interrogative form with I and, to ask for advice or instructions

Example

I will love – I’ll love