Verb Tenses
Verb tenses refer to the changes we make to verbs to demonstrate when an action took place: past, present, or future. The phrase verb tense is also linked to grammatical aspects (simple, perfect, continuous, and perfect continuous), these give us more details about the duration or time an action takes. There are a total of 12 main verb tenses which are a combination of the 3 main tenses, past, present, and future linked to one of 4 grammatical aspects.
In order to speak English properly we need to use the different verb tenses available to us, learning the appropriate verb tense for a given situation is challenging. This guide serves as an introduction to the different verb tenses in English.
Past, Present, & Future
The past, present, and future are how we divide time in English, these are the main tenses in English and refer to actions that happened in the past, are happening in the present, or that will happen in the future. Note that we use the modal verb will to form all future tenses in English.
Simple Tenses
The simple tenses in English are the easiest tenses to use, they can be considered as the base tenses of the past, present, and future.
Perfect Tenses
We use the auxiliary verb 'have' + the past participle of a verb to form the perfect tenses in English, these tenses are used to link ongoing and completed actions to different points in time, they are more difficult tenses to use than the simple tenses.
Continuous Tenses
We use the auxiliary verb 'be' + the present participle of a verb to form the continuous tenses in English, these tenses are used for ongoing actions or to describe the extended duration of completed actions.
Perfect Continuous Tenses
We use the auxiliary verb 'have' + the past participle 'been' of the auxiliary verb 'be' + the present participle of a verb to form the perfect continuous tenses in English, these tenses are used like the perfect tenses but are meant for ongoing actions or to describe the extended duration of completed actions.
Verb Tenses
Past Present Future
Simple
Continuous
Perfect
Perfect Continuous
I walked to work yesterday.
I was walking to work when I stopped to get a cup of coffee.
I had walked to work when the package arrived.
I was tired when I arrived because I had been walking to work.
I walk to work every day.
I am walking to the nearest bus stop.
I have walked to work since I started my new job.
I have been walking constantly to get around this month since my car stopped working.
I will walk to work on Monday.
I will be walking a lot when I get to London.
I will have walked to work four times by the end of the month.
I will have been walking for 4 hours straight by the end of the night.
Simple Past
Subject + verb in the simple past tense
The simple past is the tense we use to talk about completed past actions.
Regular verbs: We add the suffix –ed to the end of the verb to form the simple past, if the verb ends in the letter 'e' we simply add a –d instead
Irregular verbs: These verbs must be memorized as their simple past form is unique
Try (regular verb) - I tried to lose 25 pounds
Bake (regular verb) - I baked a cake for my friend's birthday
Note: This is an example of a regular verb that ends in the letter 'e'
Sleep (irregular verb) - I slept well all night
Simple Present
Subject + verb in the simple present tense
The simple present is the tense we use to state facts, express opinions, describe routines, and talk about things in general.
In most cases the simple present is formed using the root verb depending on the subject. However when the subject is singular, it is necessary to add –s. If the verb ends in o, ch, sh, ss, or z, you add –es. If the verb ends in a consonant and y drop the y and add –ies.
Take - My wife takes a long time to get ready.
Note: This is an example using a third person singular subject
Go - He goes to the gym daily.
Note: This is an example using a verb that ends in the letter 'o' with a third person singular subject
Search - My dog searches for sticks when I take him to the park.
Note: This is an example using a verb that ends in the letters 'ch' with a third person singular subject
Fish - My uncle fishes in a lake nearby.
Note: This is an example using a verb that ends in the letters 'sh' with a third person singular subject
Discuss - George discusses politics at work.
Note: This is an exampleusing a verb that ends in the letters 'ss' with a third person singular subject
Blitz - The lineman blitzes the quarterback effectively every time the ball snaps.
Note: This is an example using a verb that ends in the letter 'z' with a third person singular subject
Identify - She identifies the value of antiques.
Note: This is an example using a verb that ends in a consonant followed by the letter 'y' with a third person singular subject
Lay - He lays bricks for a living.
Example using a verb that ends in a vowel followed by the letter 'y' with a third person singular subject
Simple Future
Subject + will + the infinitive form of a verb
The simple future is the tense we use to talk about actions that will occur at some point in a future time. The modal verb will is used to form the simple future tense.
Go - I will go to the party tonight
Cook - I will cook more often next week
Past Continuous
Subject + was/were + verb (present participle form)
The past continuous is the tense we use to talk about ongoing past actions, this tense can be used to describe simultaneous actions and is frequently used for storytelling.
Note: We need to use the auxiliary verb be conjugated appropriately depending on the subject in the past tense (was/were) to form this tense.
Watch - I was watching T.V. when I heard noise outside my window.
Study - When I arrived, my friends were studying.
Present Continuous
Subject + am/is/are + verb (present participle form)
The present continuous is a complex tense used to describe actions that are happening now, future actions, temporary situations, actions that are in a state of change, and for other uses as well.
Note: We need to use the auxiliary verb be conjugated appropriately depending on the subject in the present tense (am/is/are) to form this tense.
Take - I am taking a math class this semester.
Rain - It's always raining where I live
Future Continuous
Subject + will + be + verb (present participle form)
The future continuous is used to describe actions that will be ongoing at some point in the future.
Note: We need to use modal verb will and the auxiliary be in the infinitive form to form this tense.
Play -- I will be playing poker with my friends tomorrow night.
Past Perfect
Subject + had + verb (past participle form)
The past perfect tense is used to establish a sequence of events for actions in the past, this tense must be used with another past action. The action in the past perfect tense happens prior to the other past action.
Note: We need to use the auxiliary verb have in the past tense (had) to form this tense.
Regular verbs: We add the suffix –ed to the end of the verb to form the past participle, if the verb ends in the letter 'e' we simply add a –d instead
Irregular verbs: These verbs must be memorized as their past participle form is unique.
Finish - I left early because I had finished my homework
Present Perfect
Subject + have/has + verb (past participle form)
The present perfect tense is used to link an action that started in the past to our present situation, this tense is a complex tense in English which can be used to describe ongoing actions, completed actions, repeated actions, and recently finished actions.
Note: We need to use the auxiliary verb have conjugated appropriately depending on the subject in the present tense (have/has) to form this tense.
Regular verbs: We add the suffix –ed to the end of the verb to form the past participle, if the verb ends in the letter 'e' we simply add a –d instead
Irregular verbs: These verbs must be memorized as their past participle form is unique.
Be - I've been to New York at least 3 times
Stop - I have finally stopped smoking
Future Perfect
Subject + will + have + verb (past participle form)
The future perfect is used to describe an action that will be completed before a designated moment in time (time limit), this tense is often used with the words by, when, at, and before
Note: We need to use the modal verb will plus the auxiliary verb have in the infinitive form to form this tense.
Regular verbs: We add the suffix –ed to the end of the verb to form the past participle, if the verb ends in the letter 'e' we simply add a –d instead
Irregular verbs: These verbs must be memorized as their past participle form is unique.
Complete - I will have completed 20 exams by the end of the semester
Past Perfect Continuous
Subject + had + been + verb (present participle form)
The past perfect continuous tense is used like the past perfect tense to establish a sequence of events for actions in the past but for ongoing past actions, this tense must be used with a second past action. Unlike actions in the past continuous, past perfect continuous actions are completed actions and are not used to describe simultaneous actions in the past.
Note: We need to use the auxiliary verb have in the past tense (had) plus the past participle form of the auxiliary verb be (been) to form this tense.
Snow - The roads were slippery because it had been snowing
Present Perfect Continuous
Subject + have/has + been + verb (present participle form)
The present perfect continuous is used much like the present perfect linking a past action to present situation but for ongoing actions. This tense is frequently used to emphasize the action itself instead of the result and it's duration of time.
Note: We need to use the auxiliary verb have conjugated appropriately depending on the subject in the present tense (have/has) plus the past participle form of the auxiliary verb be (been) to form this tense.
Garden - Today is a nice day, so I've been gardening since this morning
Future Perfect Continuous
Subject + will + have + been + verb (present participle form)
The future perfect continuous tense is used like the future perfect tense to describe actions that will be completed before a designated moment in time (time limit) but is used for ongoing actions. This tense is often used with the words by, when, at, and before
Note: We need to use the modal verb will plus the infinitive form of the auxiliary verb have plus the past participle form of the auxiliary verb be (been) to form this tense.
Wait - I will have been waiting for at least 3 hours at noon