Tenses in English with examples

The number of tenses in the English language is 12 different tenses, divided into 4 groups, the simple tense, the continuous tense, the perfect tense, and the perfect continuous tense. The following is an explanation of these tenses in the English language.

Simple Tense

We begin by explaining the tenses of the simple English language. The simple tense in English is divided into the present, past and future:

Present simple tense

 is the verb in its original form (infinitive with the removal of the to and the use of the verb only). If the subject is singular, an "s" is added at the end of the verb.

This tense is used to refer to actions that are currently taking place, such as referring to an action that occurs at the time when the verb is mentioned.

The boy writes an essay

Mothers supervise their children’s studies

This tense can also be used to refer to actions that occur daily or on an ongoing basis, such as a profession or a hobby.

I go to school everyday

This verb can also be used to indicate actions that will take place in the future, usually with a specific time in the future.

The train departs in an hour

Simple Past tense

 It consists of the verb with the addition of the letter “-ed” at the end of it. There are some verbs that do not follow this rule, and whose writing changes when conjugating it from the present to the past (eg to write, to teach, to drink, to read).

This tense is used to refer to actions that happened and ended in the past, often with the time when the action occurred.

I graduated in 2011

My sister wrote his second novel three years ago

Future simple tense

 It consists of the verb “will” followed by the verb in its present form, with the letter s removed, if any. This tense indicates an action that will happen in the future. This tense is usually accompanied by an adverb of time that indicates the expected or planned time for the action to occur.

I will travel to Britain in the summer

Perfect Tense

The tenses in the English language also include the perfect tense. The perfect tense is divided into the present, past and future perfect tenses.

Present perfect is the verb "to have" followed by the third past participle of the verb. If the subject is singular, "has" is used, and if the subject is plural or the pronoun "I" or "you" is used, "have".

This tense is used to refer to an action that began and ended in the past at an indefinite point in time, and is usually used to refer to experiences.

 I have finished my homework

 Sam has taught at a university in Canada

Past Perfect

 It consists of the verb "had" followed by the third participle of the verb (Past participle). This tense is used to indicate an action that started and ended in the past before another action that happened in the past at a later time. The verb following the past perfect verb comes in the simple past tense.

she had never seen the film before.

they had already seen the film.

Future Perfect

 It consists of the verb "will have" followed by the third participle of the verb. This tense is used to indicate an action that will happen and finish in the future before another action that will happen in the future as well. The action that will happen next comes in the simple present tense.

By the time the semester ends, I will have learned all verb tenses

Continuous Tense

And now to the third group of tenses in the English language, which is the continuous tense. Continuous tense is divided into present, past and future. This tense uses the present participle form of the verb, which consists of the simple present tense to the end of which the letters (-ing) are added.

Present Continuous

 It consists of the verb “to be” in the present tense (am, is, are) followed by the simple present tense of the verb to which the letters “ing-” (Present Participle) are added to the end of it. This tense refers to an action that is currently happening (at the time the verb is mentioned), or to an action that occurs constantly, such as a job, hobby, or study.

The father is helping his son solve his homework

This tense can also be used to refer to an action that will take place in the future, often with reference to the expected time of the action.

Hind is traveling to Italy this summer

Past Continuous

 It consists of the verb “to be” in the past tense (was, were) followed by the verb in the form of the “present participle”. The past continuous tense refers to an action that began and continued in the past, and during its occurrence, another action or event began. The second verb is written in the simple past tense.

I was going to university when you called

The students were solving the test when the principal walked in

Future Continuous

 It consists of the verb "will be" followed by the verb "present participle". This verb is used to indicate an action that will begin and continue in the future, but while this action is taking place, another action or event will occur.

 When I arrive, my sister will be cooking today's dinner

Perfect Continuous Tense

The tenses of the English language combine properties of two different tenses as well, such as the perfect continuous tense. The perfect continuous tense is divided into present, past and future:

Present perfect continuous

 It consists of "have been" or "has been" (the first is used if the subject is plural and the second if the subject is singular) followed by the verb in the form of "present participle". This verb is used to refer to an action that started in the past and is still continuing.

I have been studying since 5 pm

Past perfect continuous

It consists of "had been" followed by the "present participle" verb. This tense refers to an action that started and continued in the past before another action occurred in the past.

When I graduated, I had been living in London for 4 years

Note: The function is similar between the Past Perfect Continuous and the Past Continuous Tense, but the former is often used to indicate that an action that began in the past continued for a period of time before the action that followed it occurred.

Future Perfect Continuous

It consists of "will have been" followed by the verb "present participle". This verb is used to indicate an action that will begin and continue in the future and during the course of its occurrence another action or event will occur.

When this year ends, I will have been working with my company for two years

Note: The function is similar between the Future Perfect Continuous Tense and the Future Continuous Tense, but the former is usually used to indicate that an action that will begin in the future will continue for a period of time before the action that will follow it occurs.