Tenses are fundamental to mastering English, enabling us to express time, mood, and even intent in our communication. There are 12 types of tenses in English, divided across three primary time frames: past, present, and future. Each tense has its own structure, rules, and purpose, which we’ll break down in this guide.
What is tense?
In English grammar, tense refers to the verb form that indicates the time of an action, event, or state of being. Tenses help us determine when something happened (in the past), is happening (in the present), or will happen (in the future).
Classification of Tenses
12 types of tenses are divided into three main types:
- Past Tense: Expresses actions that happened in the past.
- Present Tense: Describes actions happening right now or habits.
- Future Tense: Refers to actions that will happen in the future.
Categories of Each Tense
Each of these main types has four subtypes: simple, continuous, perfect, and perfect continuous.
Tense Category | Subcategory | Definition & Example |
Past Tense | Simple Past | Describes an action that occurred in the past. Example: I walked. |
Past Continuous | An ongoing action in the past. Example: I was walking. | |
Past Perfect | An action completed before another past action. Example: I had walked. | |
Past Perfect Continuous | A continuous action completed before another past action. Example: I had been walking. | |
Present Tense | Simple Present | A habitual or general truth. Example: I walk. |
Present Continuous | An ongoing action happening now. Example: I am walking. | |
Present Perfect | An action that happened at an unspecified time in the past. Example: I have walked. | |
Present Perfect Continuous | An action that began in the past and continues now. Example: I have been walking. | |
Future Tense | Simple Future | Describes an action that will occur in the future. Example: I will walk. |
Future Continuous | An action that will be ongoing in the future. Example: I will be walking. | |
Future Perfect | An action that will be completed before a specific time in the future. Example: I will have walked. | |
Future Perfect Continuous | A continuous action that will be completed before a specific time. Example: I will have been walking. |
Lets start to learn 12 types of tense in English Grammar
What are the 12 types of tenses?
- Present simple Tense
- Present continuous tense
- Present perfect tense
- Present perfect continuous tense
- Past simple tense
- Past continuous tense
- Past perfect tense
- Past perfect continuous tense
- Future simple tense
- Future continuous tense
- Future perfect tense
- Future perfect continuous tense
12 Types of Tenses in details
- Simple Tenses:
- Simple Past: Used for a completed action in the past.
- Simple Present: Describes habitual actions or universal truths.
- Simple Future: indicates an action that will happen in the future.
- Continuous Tenses:
- Past continuous: describes an ongoing action in the past.
- Present Continuous: Used for actions currently happening.
- Future continuous: refers to an action that will be ongoing in the future.
- Perfect Tenses:
- Past Perfect: Shows an action completed before another past event.
- Present Perfect: Connects a past action with the present.
- Future Perfect: Indicates an action that will be complete by a certain future time.
- Perfect Continuous Tenses:
- Past Perfect Continuous: Describes a continuous action completed in the past.
- Present Perfect Continuous: Shows an action started in the past and continuing to the present.
- Future Perfect Continuous: Refers to a continuous action that will be completed by a specific future time.
Tense in English Grammar with example and Formula
It is very important to know all the 12 types of tenses with their definition, structure, and example.
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Present Tense
1.1 Simple Present Tense
The simple present tense is used to describe habitual actions, general truths, routines, and facts. It often includes adverbs like “always,” “every,” and “often.”
Structure:
- Affirmative: Subject + base verb (add “s” or “es” for third person singular).
- Negative: Subject + do/does + not + base verb.
- Question: Do/Does + subject + base verb?
Examples:
- I walk to school every day.
- She drinks coffee in the morning.
- The sun rises in the east.
- They play soccer on weekends.
- He studies English every night.
- Birds fly in the sky.
- We always help each other.
- The Earth revolves around the sun.
- He does not eat meat.
- Do you visit your grandparents often?
1.2 Present Continuous Tense
The present continuous tense is used to describe actions happening at the moment of speaking, temporary actions, or future plans.
Structure:
- Affirmative: Subject + am/is/are + verb-ing.
- Negative: Subject + am/is/are + not + verb-ing.
- Question: Am/Is/Are + subject + verb-ing?
Examples:
- I am reading a book right now.
- She is cooking dinner at the moment.
- They are watching a movie tonight.
- He is running in the park.
- We are learning Spanish this semester.
- The kids are playing in the backyard.
- I am not working tomorrow.
- Are you coming to the party?
- She is staying with her friend this week.
- It is raining heavily outside.
1.3 Present Perfect Tense
The present perfect tense connects a past action to the present, often used for actions that have been completed but have relevance now or for experiences.
Structure:
- Affirmative: Subject + has/have + past participle.
- Negative: Subject + has/have + not + past participle.
- Question: Has/have + subject + past participle?
Examples:
- I have visited Paris three times.
- She has finished her homework.
- They have already eaten dinner.
- We have known each other for years.
- He has lost his wallet.
- The train has just arrived.
- I have never seen that movie.
- Have you completed the assignment?
- They have gone to the beach.
- She has not called me yet.
1.4 Present Perfect Continuous Tense
The present perfect continuous tense describes actions that started in the past and are still continuing in the present or have recently stopped, often emphasising the duration.
Structure:
- Affirmative: Subject + has/have + been + verb-ing.
- Negative: Subject + has/have + not + been + verb-ing.
- Question: Has/have + subject + been + verb-ing?
Examples:
- I have been working here for five years.
- She has been studying English all morning.
- They have been travelling since last month.
- He has been playing the guitar for two hours.
- We have been waiting for you.
- The children have been making noise.
- I have not been sleeping well lately.
- Have you been exercising regularly?
- It has been raining for days.
- She has been living here since childhood.
2. Past Tense
The Past Tense is used to talk about actions, events, or conditions that occurred at a specific time in the past. It is divided into four types:
- Simple Past
- Past Continuous
- Past Perfect
- Past Perfect Continuous
2.1 Simple Past Tense
The Simple Past tense is used to express actions that started and finished at a specific time in the past.
Structure
- Affirmative: Subject + Verb (past form) + Object
- Negative: Subject + did not + Base form of Verb + Object
- Question: Did + Subject + Base form of Verb + Object?
Examples
- She visited her grandmother last week.
- They played soccer yesterday.
- I finished my homework an hour ago.
- He travelled to Japan in 2019.
- We watched a movie on Saturday.
- She cooked dinner for her family.
- The children danced at the party.
- He lost his wallet on the way home.
- They opened a new store downtown.
- I attended a conference last month.
2.2 Past Continuous tense
The Past Continuous tense describes an action that was ongoing at a specific time in the past.
Structure
- Affirmative: Subject + was/were + Verb-ing + Object
- Negative: Subject + was/were + not + Verb-ing + Object
- Question: Was/Were + Subject + Verb-ing + Object?
Examples
- I was reading a book when the phone rang.
- They were watching TV all evening.
- She was studying for her exams last night.
- He was driving to work at 8 a.m.
- The children were playing outside during the storm.
- I was cooking dinner when they arrived.
- We were talking about you yesterday.
- They were working on the project all day.
- She was singing a beautiful song at the party.
- He was fixing his bike when it started raining.
2.3 Past Perfect
The Past Perfect tense describes an action completed before another past action or time.
Structure
- Affirmative: Subject + had + Past participant + Object
- Negative: Subject + had not + Past participant + Object
- Question: Had + subject + past participant + object?
Examples
- I had eaten breakfast before she arrived.
- They had left by the time we got there.
- She had studied English before moving to Canada.
- We had finished the game before it started to rain.
- He had cooked dinner when I got home.
- The movie had already started when we entered the theatre.
- She had practiced for hours before the concert.
- They had completed the task before the deadline.
- I had lived in France before I moved here.
- The train had departed when they reached the station.
2. 4 Past Perfect Continuous
The Past Perfect Continuous tense describes a continuous action that was completed at some point in the past, often emphasising the duration of the action.
Structure
- Affirmative: Subject + had been + Verb-ing + Object
- Negative: Subject + had not been + Verb-ing + Object
- Question: Had + Subject + Been + Verb-ing + Object?
Examples
- She had been working at the company for five years before she left.
- They had been playing soccer for an hour when it started to rain.
- He had been studying all day before he took a break.
- I had been waiting for them for 30 minutes before they arrived.
- We had been travelling all night and were exhausted.
- She had been cooking for hours when the guests arrived.
- They had been practicing for the competition for months.
- He had been sleeping when the alarm went off.
- The kids had been fighting all day before they finally calmed down.
- I had been reading that book for weeks before I finished it.
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Future Tense
3.1 Simple Future Tense
The simple future tense expresses an action that will take place at a later time. It’s often used for decisions made at the moment, predictions, promises, and general statements about the future.
Structure
- Affirmative: Subject + will + base verb
- Negative: Subject + will not (won’t) + base verb
- Question: Will + subject + base verb?
Examples
- She will start her new job tomorrow.
- I will help you with your homework.
- They will travel to Spain next year.
- The meeting will begin at 10:00 AM.
- We will see you at the event.
- He will finish the project by next week.
- Will you join us for dinner?
- She won’t attend the seminar.
- I will not forget your birthday.
- The weather will improve by the weekend.
3.2 Future Continuous Tense
The future continuous tense describes an action that will be ongoing at a specific time in the future. It’s often used for planned or expected events.
Structure
- Affirmative: Subject + will be + verb (-ing)
- Negative: Subject + will not (won’t) be + verb (-ing)
- Question: Will + subject + be + verb (-ing)?
Examples
- She will be studying at 8 PM tonight.
- We will be traveling to London tomorrow.
- They will be attending the conference next week.
- The kids will be playing outside this afternoon.
- I will be waiting for you at the cafe.
- Will you be using the car this evening?
- She won’t be coming to the party.
- The teachers will be reviewing the final project.
- He will not be sleeping when you arrive.
- I will be working from home all day tomorrow.
- 3 Future Perfect Tense
The Future Perfect Tense expresses an action that will be completed by a certain future time. It often specifies the time by which the action will be finished.
Structure
- Affirmative: Subject + will have + past participle (verb-ed/third form)
- Negative: Subject + will not (won’t) have + past participle
- Question: Will + subject + have + past participle?
Examples
- She will have completed the report by Monday.
- I will have finished the book before the weekend.
- They will have arrived by noon.
- We will have saved enough money by next year.
- He will have left by the time you get there.
- Will you have packed by tomorrow morning?
- She won’t have started the presentation yet.
- They will not have solved the issue by next week.
- The team will have completed the task by the deadline.
- I will have cooked dinner by 7 PM.
3.4 Future Perfect Continuous Tense
The Future Perfect Continuous Tense describes a continuous action that will have been happening up to a specific point in the future. It emphasises the duration of an action.
Structure
- Affirmative: Subject + will have been + verb (-ing)
- Negative: Subject + will not (won’t) have been + verb (-ing)
- Question: Will + subject + have been + verb (-ing)?
Examples
- She will have been studying for three hours by 9 PM.
- I will have been working here for five years by next month.
- They will have been travelling for two days by the time they arrive.
- He will have been waiting for you since 6 PM.
- We will have been practicing for weeks before the concert.
- Will you have been teaching for a decade next year?
- She won’t have been exercising by the time we arrive.
- They will not have been living there for long by then.
- The company will have been growing rapidly by next year.
- I will have been learning French for six months by January.
12 types of tenses with Examples and formulas
Tense chart
Tense chart with rules and examples and 12 types of tenses
Tense | Structure | Example |
Present Simple | Subject + base verb | She reads books every day. |
Present Continuous | Subject + am/is/are + verb (-ing) | They are studying for exams. |
Present Perfect | Subject + has/have + past participle | I have finished my homework. |
Present Perfect Continuous | Subject + has/have been + verb (-ing) | She has been working here for two years. |
Past Simple | Subject + past verb form | He walked to the park. |
Past Continuous | Subject + was/were + verb (-ing) | They were watching a movie. |
Past Perfect | Subject + had + past participle | She had left before I arrived. |
Past Perfect Continuous | Subject + had been + verb (-ing) | I had been sleeping when the phone rang. |
Future Simple | Subject + will + base verb | She will travel to Paris next month. |
Future Continuous | Subject + will be + verb (-ing) | They will be playing soccer in the evening. |
Future Perfect | Subject + will have + past participle | I will have completed my project by tomorrow. |
Future Perfect Continuous | Subject + will have been + verb (-ing) | By next month, she will have been working here for a year. |
Explanation of Each Tense
- Present Simple: Used for habitual actions, general truths, and facts.
- Rule: Subject + base form of verb (add s or es for third-person singular).
- Example: He plays tennis on Saturdays.
- Present Continuous: Used for actions happening now or around the present time.
- Rule: Subject + am/is/are + verb (-ing).
- Example: They are eating dinner.
- Present Perfect: Expresses an action completed at some point in the past but connected to the present.
- Rule: Subject + has/have + past participle.
- Example: I have visited that museum.
- Present Perfect Continuous: Describes an action that started in the past and continues up to the present.
- Rule: Subject + has/have been + verb (-ing).
- Example: She has been reading for three hours.
- Past Simple: Indicates a completed action in the past.
- Rule: Subject + past form of verb.
- Example: We watched a movie last night.
- Past continuous: Shows an action that was ongoing at a specific time in the past.
- Rule: Subject + was/were + verb (-ing).
- Example: He was playing video games when I called.
- Past perfect: refers to an action that was completed before another action in the past.
- Rule: Subject + had + past participle.
- Example: They had finished dinner before the show started.
- Past Perfect Continuous: Describes a past action that was ongoing up until another action in the past.
- Rule: Subject + had been + verb (-ing).
- Example: I had been working all night when the sun rose.
- Future Simple: Refers to an action that will happen in the future.
- Rule: Subject + will + base form of verb.
- Example: She will start a new job next month.
- Future Continuous: Describes an action that will be ongoing at a specific time in the future.
- Rule: Subject + will be + verb (-ing).
- Example: I will be cooking dinner at 6 PM.
- Future Perfect: Refers to an action that will be completed by a certain future time.
- Rule: Subject + will have + past participle.
- Example: They will have left by the time we arrive.
- Future Perfect Continuous: Shows an ongoing action that will be completed by a specific future time.
- Rule: Subject + will have been + verb+ ing
- Example: By next year, he will have been teaching for 20 years.
Explore about 12 types of Tenses
Tense exercise
Fill in the blanks with the correct tense form of the verb in parentheses:
- She usually ___ (go) to work by bus.
- We watched a movie when the power went out.
- By this time next week, they ___ (finish) their exams.
- I ___ (read) this book three times already.
- They play soccer at the moment.
- He has worked at this company since 2015.
- When I called, they ___ (have) dinner.
- By tomorrow, I ___ (complete) the project.
- She travels to Spain next month.
- They ___ (study) for three hours when the bell rang.
- I write a letter to my friend every month.
- By the time we arrived, he had left the office.
- She took a nap when the phone rang.
- I ___ (work) on this task all morning.
- They ___ (move) to a new city last year.
- She ___ (not finished) her homework yet.
- He plays basketball with his friends right now.
- By 5 PM, they practice for two hours.
- I visit my grandparents every weekend.
- She learned French for two years.
- We have dinner with friends tomorrow night.
- By the end of the month, they had saved enough money.
- He drove to work when he saw the accident.
- I have been to Paris three times in my life.
- She did not go to school yesterday because she was sick.
- They ___ (study) English when I visited them.
- By next year, he ___ (teach) here for five years.
- She finished her project before the deadline.
- We plan a trip to Italy next summer.
- By 9 PM, they watched TV for two hours.
Learn about 12 types of Tenses
Answer:
- goes
- were watching
- will have finished
- have read
- are playing
- has been working
- were having
- will complete
- is travelling
- had been studying
- write
- had left
- was taking
- have been working
- moved
- hasn’t finished
- is playing
- will have been practicing
- visit
- has been learning
- are having
- will have saved
- was driving
- have been
- didn’t go
- were studying
- will have been teaching
- had finished
- are planning
- will have been watching
10 frequently asked questions (FAQs) about Tenses
- What is a tense in English grammar?
- Answer: A tense indicates the time of an action or event. It tells us whether something that happened in the past is happening now or will happen in the future.
- How many tenses are there in English?
- Answer: English has three main tenses: past, present, and future. Each tense has four aspects (simple, continuous, perfect, perfect continuous), making a total of 12 tenses.
- What’s the difference between past simple and present perfect?
- Answer: Past simple is used for actions completed at a specific time in the past (e.g., “I visited France last year”). Present perfect is used for actions with relevance to the present or unspecified time (e.g., “I have visited France”).
- When should I use the present continuous tense?
- Answer: Present continuous is used for actions happening right now or for temporary actions (e.g., “I am studying for my exams”).
- What is the future simple tense used for?
- Answer: Future simple (e.g., “I will go”) is used for decisions made at the moment, promises, predictions, and future actions.
- What’s the difference between “will” and “going to” for future actions?
- Answer: “Will” is often used for decisions made at the moment or promises (e.g., “I’ll help you”). “Going to” is used for planned actions or predictions based on evidence (e.g., “It’s going to rain”).
- When should I use the past continuous tense?
- Answer: Past continuous is used for actions that were happening at a specific time in the past or for interrupted actions (e.g., “I was watching TV when he called”).
- What is the present perfect continuous tense used for?
- Answer: Present perfect continuous shows actions that started in the past and are still happening or have recently stopped, with emphasis on the duration (e.g., “I have been studying for three hours”).
- Why do we use the past perfect tense?
- Answer: Past perfect is used for actions that were completed before another past action (e.g., “I had finished my homework before I went to bed”).
- How do I know which tense to use?
- Answer: First, identify the time of the action (past, present, or future). Then consider if you need a simple, continuous, perfect, or perfect continuous aspect based on the nature of the action (e.g., completed, ongoing, or focusing on duration).
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