2-Event structure in Tenses

A Guide to Two-Event Structure in All 12 Tenses

In English, we often describe two actions happening at different times — one before another, one after another, or both together. This is called the two-event structure. For example: “I had eaten before he arrived.” (Event 1 happened before Event 2.)

Let’s see how this structure works clearly and naturally in all 12 tenses with helpful examples.

1. Present Tenses

Simple Present

Structure: Both actions are habits or general truths.

He drinks coffee before he starts work.
I brush my teeth and then go to bed.

Present Continuous

Structure: Two ongoing actions happening at the same time.

I am cooking while she is setting the table.
They are studying as I am cleaning.

Present Perfect

Structure: One action just finished before another (still relevant now).

I have finished my homework, so now I can watch TV.
She has called me after she has reached home.

Present Perfect Continuous

Structure: One action has been continuing while another occurs.

I have been reading while he has been writing.
They have been talking since the meeting started.

2. Past Tenses

Simple Past

Structure: Two completed actions in the past.

He washed his car and went to work.
I saw her when she came to school.

Past Continuous

Structure: One long action interrupted by a shorter one.

I was reading when the phone rang.
They were sleeping when the storm started.

Past Perfect

Structure: One action completed before another past event.

I had eaten before he arrived.
She had finished her work before the meeting began.

Past Perfect Continuous

Structure: Emphasizes duration of an action before another started.

I had been studying for two hours before dinner was served.
He had been working there before he moved abroad.

3. Future Tenses

Simple Future

Structure: Two future actions in order.

I will call you when I reach home.
She will start cooking after she finishes work.

Future Continuous

Structure: Two ongoing future actions.

I will be reading while they will be watching TV.
He will be driving when you call him.

Future Perfect

Structure: One future action completed before another future event.

I will have finished the report before the boss arrives.
She will have left by the time we reach there.

Future Perfect Continuous

Structure: Duration of one action continuing until another future time.

I will have been studying for three hours when you arrive.
They will have been working all day before the meeting starts.

Quick Recap

Use Perfect forms to show which action happened first.
Use Continuous forms for longer or ongoing actions.
In Future tenses, “will have + V3” indicates the earlier completed action.
Conjunctions like when, before, after, while, until, as soon as help connect two events naturally.