The Tense System
12 Tenses in Context
Past Simple
V2 / -ed
I visited Angkor Wat in 2010.
សកម្មភាពចប់ហើយក្នុងអតីតកាល (Finished action)
Past Continuous
was/were + V-ing
I was eating when you called.
កំពុងធ្វើក្នុងអតីតកាល (Interrupted action)
Past Perfect
had + V3
I had finished work before I went out.
កើតឡើងមុនសកម្មភាពមួយទៀត (The past of the past)
Dara's Career
A timeline story
The Journey
Ten years ago, Dara lived (Past Simple) in Siem Reap. While he was studying (Past Cont.), he met his wife.
Now, he works (Pres. Simple) as an engineer. He has been working (Pres. Perf. Cont.) at the same company for 5 years.
Looking forward, he is going to buy a new house. By 2030, he will have started (Fut. Perfect) his own business.
Notice how the tenses shift as the timeline moves!
Tense Challenge
Mixed Tenses Quiz
1. Look! It ________ raining.
2. When I arrived, they ________ dinner.
3. By this time tomorrow, I ________ in Tokyo.
4. How long ________ you ________ here?
Timeline Writing
Your Life Story
Complete the timeline:
Write one sentence for each.
- PAST: Yesterday, I _______________.
- PRESENT: I have been ______________ for 3 years.
- FUTURE: By next year, I will have ______________.