English Tenses – Graphic Comparison

Course / Duration

• action taking place before a certain moment in time
• puts emphasis on the course or duration of the action
  
  Result
  
• action taking place before a certain moment in time
• puts emphasis on the result
  
  
  
  period of time

• action that started before a certain moment and lasts beyond that moment
• actions taking place at the same time
  
  

moment in time

• action that takes place once, never or several times
• actions that happen one after another
• actions that suddenly take place