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English Grammar for Adults: Advanced Verb Tenses

As adults, we have many responsibilities, and we often do not have the patience or the time to study rules as we did when young. Here is a simple way to master advanced grammar as an adult. Review the verb tenses in the chart (you do not need to study them). The sentences below include all of these verb tenses. To review, you can start by identifying verb tenses here.

Tense
 Example
present perfect
 have/has worked
present perfect progressive
 have/has been working
past perfect
 had worked
past perfect progressive
 had been working
future perfect
 will have worked
future perfect progressive
 will have been working
future progressive
 will be working


Now fill in the blanks with information about someone you know--your brother, sister, husband, wife, friend or yourself. Think of someone who has been in the same basic trade (line of work) and has worked at two different companies. It can be modified a little bit for work at one company with two different job titles. Of course, if you use a woman, replace "he" with "she." Use the examples to help (example 3 is in first person). After you have filled in the blanks, repeat these sentences to yourself once a day when you have a little time, i.e. when commuting to work.


1. He has worked at _______________ for ______ years.  [company name / number]

2. He has been _____________  for _______ years, though.  [name of trade--use "-ing" + noun if needed / number]

3. He had already worked in ______________ before he started with __________.  [name of trade or work / name of company]

4. When he changed jobs, he had been applying  for _____ months before he found work at the company.  [number]

5. By next year, he will have worked at __________ for _______ years.  [company name / number]

6. Next year, he will have been ___________ for ______ years.  [name of trade--use "ing" / number]

7. He will be retiring in _______ years.  [number]


Example 1

1. She has worked at Bank of America for 10 years.
2. She has been managing bank accounts for 20 years, though.
3. She had already worked in banking before she started with Bank of America.
4. When she changed jobs, she had been applying for 4 months before she found work at Bank of America.
5. By next year, she will have worked at Bank of America for 11 years.
6. Next year, she will have been managing bank accounts for 21 years.
7. She will be retiring in 4 years.

Example 2

1. He has worked at Microsoft for 5 years.
2. He has been programming computers for 15 years, though.
3. He had already worked in software before he started with Microsoft.
4. When he changed jobs, he had been applying for 3 months before he found work at Microsoft.
5. By next year, he will have worked at Microsoft for 6 years.
6. Next year, he will have been programming computers for 16 years.
7. He will be retiring in 10 years.

Example 3

1. I have worked at the University of Washington for 7 years.
2. I have been teaching for 18 years, though.
3. I had already worked in teaching before I started with the UW.
4. When I changed jobs, I had been applying for 2 months before I found work at the UW.
5. By next year, I will have worked at the UW for 8 years.
6. Next year, I will have been teaching for 19 years.
7. I will be retiring in 11 years.





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