Tense chart in English

What is a tense?

A tense is a form of a verb that shows the time when an action takes place. Tenses help us express actions that happen in the past, present, or future. Understanding tenses allows you to communicate clearly, making it easier to talk about events or situations at the right time. In this article we explore tenses with tense chart in English.

 

 

Tense Chart

Tense	Subtypes	Examples
Present Tense	1. Simple Present	I play.
	2. Present Continuous	I am playing.
	3. Present Perfect	I have played.
	4. Present Perfect Continuous	I have been playing.
Past Tense	1. Simple Past	I played.
	2. Past Continuous	I was playing.
	3. Past Perfect	I had played.
	4. Past Perfect Continuous	I had been playing.
Future Tense	1. Simple Future	I will play.
	2. Future Continuous	I will be playing.
	3. Future Perfect	I will have played.
	4. Future Perfect Continuous	I will have been playing.

Types of Tenses

There are three main types of tenses in English, and each type has four subtypes:

1. Present tense: refers to actions happening right now or regularly.

1. • Simple Present: Describes regular habits or facts.
   • Present Continuous: Describes ongoing actions.
   • Present perfect: Describes actions that happened at an indefinite time in the past or started in the past and continue now.
   • Present Perfect Continuous: Describes actions that started in the past and are still ongoing.

2. Past Tense: refers to actions that happened in the past.

1. • Simple Past: Describes completed actions in the past.
   • Past continuous: describes ongoing actions in the past.
   • Past Perfect: Describes actions that were completed before another past action.
   • Past Perfect Continuous: Describes past actions that were ongoing before another past action.

3. Future Tense: refers to actions that will happen in the future.

1. • Simple Future: describes future actions.
   • Future Continuous: Describes ongoing future actions.
   • Future Perfect: Describes future actions that will be completed before a specific time.
   • Future Perfect Continuous: Describes future actions that will be ongoing before a specific time.

 

 

Easy Example Sentences for Tenses

Simple Present

1. I play soccer every weekend.
2. She drinks coffee every morning.
3. They go to the park after school.
4. He likes to watch cartoons.
5. We study English every evening.

Present Continuous

1. I am watching TV right now.
2. She is cooking dinner at the moment.
3. They are playing video games together.
4. He is learning how to swim.
5. We are waiting for the bus.

Present Perfect

1. I have already eaten lunch.
2. She has visited the zoo three times.
3. They have finished their homework.
4. He has won the competition.
5. We have traveled to many countries.

Present Perfect Continuous

1. I have been cleaning the house since morning.
2. She has been painting for hours.
3. They have been studying hard for the test.
4. He has been working at this company for five years.
5. We have been practicing for the match since last week.

Simple Past

1. I watched a movie yesterday.
2. She went to the library last Monday.
3. They visited their grandparents last summer.
4. He played football with his friends.
5. We attended a concert last night.

Past Continuous

1. I was reading a book when you called.
2. She was dancing at the party last night.
3. They were playing basketball in the evening.
4. He was driving to work in the morning.
5. We were watching TV when the power went out.

Past Perfect

1. I had already finished my homework before dinner.
2. She had left the office by the time I arrived.
3. They had cleaned the room before the guests arrived.
4. He had prepared the presentation before the meeting.
5. We had packed our bags before leaving for the trip.

Past Perfect Continuous

1. I had been studying for hours before the test started.
2. She had been working all day before she took a break.
3. They had been waiting for the bus for 30 minutes.
4. He had been practicing the guitar for months before the performance.
5. We had been jogging for an hour before it started raining.

Simple Future

1. I will visit my grandparents this weekend.
2. She will call you tomorrow.
3. They will go to the beach next month.
4. He will buy a new car next year.
5. We will attend the meeting at 3 PM.

Future Continuous

1. I will be sleeping at midnight.
2. She will be working on her project in the evening.
3. They will be playing tennis in the afternoon.
4. He will be traveling to Japan next week.
5. We will be having dinner at 7 PM.

Future Perfect

1. I will have finished the assignment by tomorrow.
2. She will have cleaned the house before the guests arrive.
3. They will have completed the project by Friday.
4. He will have written the report by next week.
5. We will have reached the station before the train departs.

Future Perfect Continuous

1. I will have been studying for six hours by 8 PM.
2. She will have been working for three hours by the time you arrive.
3. They will have been practicing for two weeks before the competition.
4. He will have been exercising for an hour by the time you call.
5. We will have been waiting for the bus for 30 minutes by 10 AM.

 

A tense chart in English is a powerful tool for mastering grammar and improving communication skills. It provides a clear and organized overview of how actions and events are expressed across different times—past, present, and future. By regularly referring to a tense chart, learners can easily identify patterns, understand usage, and apply the correct tense in any context. Whether you’re a beginner or looking to refine your skills, a well-structured tense chart is your roadmap to fluency in English.