一般現(xiàn)在時表示現(xiàn)在、經?；蛄晳T的動作或狀態(tài)和普遍現(xiàn)象、常識或客觀真理；一般過去時用于過去某一時間內發(fā)生的或過去習慣性的動作或狀態(tài)；一般將來時表示將要發(fā)生的動作或存在的狀態(tài)，將來打算做的事情；現(xiàn)在完成時表示過去發(fā)生的動作造成目前的結果和對現(xiàn)在造成的影響或表示從過去延續(xù)至今的動作、狀態(tài)和習慣等；將來完成時表示將來某時之前業(yè)已完成或發(fā)生的事情；過去完成時表示過去某時間之前已經發(fā)生的動作或狀況，即過去的過去。注意每一種時態(tài)與其他時態(tài)的交叉使用情況。英語共有十六種時態(tài)，其表現(xiàn)形式如下(以study為例)：
一般時
進行時
完成時
完成進行時
現(xiàn)在
study
studies
am studying
is studying
are studying
have studied
has studied
have been studying
has been studying
過去
studied
was studying
were studying
had studied
had been studying
將來
shall study
will study
shall be studying
will be studying
shall have studied
will have studied
shall have been studying
will have been studying
過去將來
should study
would study
should be studying
would be studying
should have studied
would have studied
should have been studying
would have been studying