Tenses in English grammar are essential for understanding time and action in sentences. This guide covers 16 tenses with formulas and examples, helping you master their usage effortlessly.
16 Tenses in English Grammar (Formula and Examples)
- Present Simple Tense
- Structure: Subject + Verb (V1) + s/es
- Example: She reads a book.
- Present Continuous Tense
- Structure: Subject + is/am/are + Verb (V1) + ing
- Example: He is reading a book.
- Present Perfect Tense
- Structure: Subject + has/have + Verb (V3)
- Example: They have finished their homework.
- Present Perfect Continuous Tense
- Structure: Subject + has/have + been + Verb (V1) + ing
- Example: She has been reading for an hour.
- Past Simple Tense
- Structure: Subject + Verb (V2)
- Example: He read a book yesterday.
- Past Continuous Tense
- Structure: Subject + was/were + Verb (V1) + ing
- Example: They were playing outside.
- Past Perfect Tense
- Structure: Subject + had + Verb (V3)
- Example: She had finished her work before the meeting.
- Past Perfect Continuous Tense
- Structure: Subject + had + been + Verb (V1) + ing
- Example: He had been reading for two hours when she called.
- Future Simple Tense
- Structure: Subject + will/shall + Verb (V1)
- Example: I will read a book tomorrow.
- Future Continuous Tense
- Structure: Subject + will/shall + be + Verb (V1) + ing
- Example: She will be reading a book at this time tomorrow.
- Future Perfect Tense
- Structure: Subject + will/shall + have + Verb (V3)
- Example: They will have finished the project by next week.
- Future Perfect Continuous Tense
- Structure: Subject + will/shall + have + been + Verb (V1) + ing
- Example: He will have been reading for three hours by then.
- Past Future Simple Tense
- Structure: Subject + would/should + Verb (V1)
- Example: I would read a book if I had time.
- Past Future Continuous Tense
- Structure: Subject + would/should + be + Verb (V1) + ing
- Example: She would be reading a book if she were here.
- Past Future Perfect Tense
- Structure: Subject + would/should + have + Verb (V3)
- Example: He would have read the book by now.
- Past Future Perfect Continuous Tense
- Structure: Subject + would/should + have + been + Verb (V1) + ing
- Example: They would have been reading for an hour if they hadn’t been interrupted.
Tenses In English Grammar
| Tense | Structure | Example Sentence |
| Present Simple Tense | Subject + Verb (V1) + s/es | She reads a book. |
| Present Continuous Tense | Subject + is/am/are + Verb (V1) + ing | He is reading a book. |
| Present Perfect Tense | Subject + has/have + Verb (V3) | They have finished their homework. |
| Present Perfect Continuous Tense | Subject + has/have + been + Verb (V1) + Ing | She has been reading for an hour. |
| Past Simple Tense | Subject + Verb (V2) | He read a book yesterday. |
| Past Continuous Tense | Subject + was/were + Verb (V1) + ing | They were playing outside. |
| Past Perfect Tense | Subject + had + Verb (V3) | She had finished her work before the meeting. |
| Past Perfect Continuous Tense | Subject + had + been + Verb (V1) + Ing | He had been reading for two hours when she called. |
| Future Simple Tense | Subject + will/shall + Verb (V1) | I will read a book tomorrow. |
| Future Continuous Tense | Subject + will/shall + be + Verb (V1) + Ing | She will be reading a book at this time tomorrow. |
| Future Perfect Tense | Subject + will/shall + have + Verb (V3) | They will have finished the project by next week. |
| Future Perfect Continuous Tense | Subject + will/shall + have + been + Verb (V1) + ing | He will have been reading for three hours by then. |
| Past Future Simple Tense | Subject + would/should + Verb (V1) | I would read a book if I had time. |
| Past Future Continuous Tense | Subject + would/should + be + Verb (V1) + ing | She would be reading a book if she were here. |
| Past Future Perfect Tense | Subject + would/should + have + Verb (V3) | He would have read the book by now. |
| Past Future Perfect Continuous Tense | Subject + would/should + have + been + Verb (V1) + Ing | They would have been reading for an hour if they hadn’t been interrupted. |
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