What Are Verb Tenses? Learn The 12 Tenses Today
Whether you’re narrating past events, discussing ongoing activities, or planning future actions, a good understanding of tenses will help you improve your writing and communication skills immensely.
But we all know how dry (and boring!) grammar can be, so in this guide you’ll find simple explanations with plenty of examples to help you get through these grammar rules.
Let’s explore the 12 English tenses!
What Is A Tense In English?
In English grammar, tense refers to the time when an action takes place: in the past, present, or future. English has 12 tenses divided into three main categories (past, present, and future), and each of these categories has four types: simple, continuous (progressive), perfect, and perfect continuous.
Present Tenses
Present tenses are used to describe actions happening right now or habits and general truths.
1. Simple Present Tense
The simple present tense is a verb tense that is used to express repeated actions, general truths, or present states. It describes actions or events that occur regularly, repeatedly, or permanently.
Structure: Subject + base form of the verb (sometimes with s/es)
• She reads every morning.
• He works in an office.
• I love it!
• The Earth revolves around the sun.
2. Present Continuous Tense
The present continuous (also called present progressive) describes actions happening at the moment of speaking or ongoing actions over a period of time.
Structure: Subject + am/is/are + verb (ing)
• They are studying for the exam right now.
• I am working on a new project this week.
• He is eating lunch at the moment.
3. Present Perfect Tense
This one is a little more complicated …
The present perfect tense is used to describe actions that happened at an indefinite time in the past and have a connection to the present or actions that started in the past and are still relevant.
So don’t let the word ‘present’ confuse you, we are talking about actions that started or occurred in the past!
Structure: Subject + has/have + past participle verb
• He has finished his homework.
• I have visited Paris twice.
• They have already seen that movie.
4. Present Perfect Continuous Tense
The present perfect continuous tense is used to describe actions that started in the past and are still ongoing or have recently stopped.
Structure: Subject + has/have been + root form of verb (ing)
• I have been working on this project for three hours.
• She has been reading that book recently.
• I have been practising piano a lot lately.
Past Tenses
Past tenses describe actions that happened at a specific time in the past.
5. Simple Past Tense
The simple past tense is used to talk about actions that happened and were completed at a specific time in the past. It refers to something that is no longer happening.
Structure: Subject + verb (past form)
• I visited my grandmother yesterday.
• She played the piano last night.
• They watched a movie.
6. Past Continuous Tense
The past continuous describes actions that were happening at a specific time in the past or actions interrupted by another event.
Structure: Subject + was/were + verb (ing)
• I was reading a book when you called.
• They were playing football at 5 p.m. yesterday.
• She was studying all afternoon.
7. Past Perfect Tense
The past perfect tense describes an action that was completed before another action in the past.
Structure: Subject + had + past participle
• I had finished my homework before the movie started.
• She had left by the time we arrived.
• They had eaten dinner before going to bed.
8. Past Perfect Continuous Tense
The past perfect continuous tense describes an action that started in the past, continued for some time, and was completed before another past action.
Structure: Subject + had been + present participle (root form of verb + ing) + time of action
• I had finished my homework before the movie started.
• She had left by the time we arrived.
• They had eaten dinner before going to bed.
Future Tenses
Future tenses describe actions that will happen at a future time.
9. Simple Future Tense
The simple future tense describes actions that will happen at a specific time in the future.
Structure: Subject + will + verb (root form)
• I will call you tomorrow.
• She will travel to Paris next week.
• They will attend the meeting later.
10. Future Continuous Tense
The future continuous tense is used to describe actions that will be happening at a specific time in the future.
Structure: Subject + will be + verb (ing)
It’s easy to get this confused with the ‘Simple Future Tense’, so let’s do a comparison:
Simple Future Tense: I will work all night.
Future Continuous Tense: I will be working all night.
See the difference?
The simple future tense indicates a general future action or plan. It suggests that the action of working will take place in the future, but doesn’t provide much detail about whether the action is continuous or interrupted.
On the other hand, the future continuous tense (I will be working all night) emphasises the ongoing nature of the action. It indicates that the action will be happening at a specific point or over a period of time in the future.
Here are a few more examples of this tense:
• I will be working at 10 a.m. tomorrow.
• They will be playing football this evening.
• She will be studying when you arrive.
11. Future Perfect Tense
The future perfect tense describes actions that will be completed before a specific time in the future.
Structure: Subject + will have + past participle
• By this time next year, I will have graduated.
• She will have finished her homework before dinner.
• They will have left by the time we arrive.
12. Future Perfect Continuous Tense
The future perfect continuous tense describes actions that will continue up until a certain point in the future.
Structure: Subject + will have been + verb (ing)
• By next month, I will have been working at this company for five years.
• She will have been studying for three hours by the time you get home.
• They will have been waiting at the station for 30 minutes by the time the train arrives.
FAQs
1. What are the 12 tenses in English?
English has 12 tenses, divided into past, present, and future categories, with four forms for each: simple, continuous, perfect and perfect continuous.
2. How do I know which tense to use?
Choosing the correct tense depends on when the action happens (past, present, or future) and whether the action is ongoing, completed, or habitual. Context is crucial for determining the right tense.
3. What’s the difference between the past simple and present perfect tense?
The past simple describes a finished action at a specific time in the past. For example, I worked at that company last year refers to an action that is fully completed in the past.
The present perfect, however, describes an action that started in the past and is continuing into the present. For instance, I have worked at this company for five years means the action of working began in the past and is still happening now.
You Now Know All About The 12 Tenses!
Understanding the 12 tenses in English is essential for clear communication, whether you’re writing or speaking. Each tense plays a specific role in conveying time and context, helping you express exactly when and how something happens.
From the simple past to the perfect continuous, having a solid grasp of tenses will improve your fluency and precision, so try to have a thorough understanding of each tense.
