Overview: The 12 English Tenses
English has 12 main verb tenses organized into 4 time periods (Present, Past, Future, Future-in-Past) and 3 aspects (Simple, Continuous, Perfect). Understanding these patterns will help you speak naturally and write correctly.
📍 Time Periods: Present, Past, Future, Future-in-Past
🎯 Aspects: Simple (action completed/habitual), Continuous (action in progress), Perfect (action completed with relevance to another time)
Present Tenses (3 types)
1. Present Simple
Present Simple
Subject + Base Verb (+ s/es for he/she/it)
Used for habitual actions, general facts, routines, schedules, and things that are always true.
✓ When to use:
• Habits: "I drink coffee every morning"
• Facts: "The Earth revolves around the Sun"
• Routines: "She works from 9 to 5"
• Scheduled events: "The train leaves at 10 AM"
Examples:
✓ I play tennis on weekends.
✓ He works as a doctor.
✓ They don't live in London.
✓ Do you speak Spanish?
2. Present Continuous
Present Continuous
am/is/are + -ing form of verb
Used for actions happening RIGHT NOW at this moment, and temporary situations.
✓ When to use:
• Now: "I'm writing an email right now"
• Temporary: "She's studying Chinese this year"
• Annoyance (repeated): "He's always complaining"
• Future plans: "We're meeting tomorrow"
Examples:
✓ I am writing a report.
✓ She is listening to music.
✓ They are not playing football.
✓ Are you watching TV?
3. Present Perfect
Present Perfect
have/has + past participle (-ed or irregular)
Used for past actions with present relevance. The action happened in the past, but matters NOW.
✓ When to use:
• Life experience: "I've traveled to 10 countries"
• Recent completion: "She's finished her homework"
• Unfinished time period: "I've read 3 books this month"
• "Just now": "They've just arrived"
Examples:
✓ I have completed the project.
✓ He has lived here for 5 years.
✓ They haven't seen that movie.
✓ Have you ever been to Paris?
Past Tenses (3 types)
4. Past Simple
Past Simple
Subject + past tense verb (-ed or irregular)
Used for completed actions in the past at a specific time. This is the main storytelling tense.
✓ When to use:
• Completed past: "I watched a movie yesterday"
• Stories/narratives: "She went to the store and bought milk"
• Specific time: "He was born in 1990"
• Sequential events: "I ate breakfast, then went to work"
Examples:
✓ I went to the beach last weekend.
✓ She worked at that company for 3 years.
✓ They didn't finish the race.
✓ Did you call your mother?
5. Past Continuous
Past Continuous
was/were + -ing form of verb
Used for actions that were in progress at a specific time in the past. Often interrupted by another action.
✓ When to use:
• Interrupted action: "I was eating when you called"
• Background action: "While she was studying, he was watching TV"
• Time in the past: "At 3 PM, I was working"
• Simultaneous past actions: "They were playing while we were cooking"
Examples:
✓ I was sleeping when the phone rang.
✓ She was reading a book.
✓ They were not talking.
✓ Were you listening to music?
6. Past Perfect
Past Perfect
had + past participle
Used for action completed before another past action. The earlier action in a sequence of past events.
✓ When to use:
• Before another past event: "She had finished dinner before I arrived"
• Story context: "He had never seen snow before he moved north"
• Sequence of events: "By the time we arrived, they had already left"
Examples:
✓ I had finished my homework before 8 PM.
✓ She had eaten lunch before the meeting.
✓ They hadn't met before the conference.
✓ Had you studied French before?
Future Tenses (3 types)
7. Future Simple (will)
Future Simple
will + base verb
Used for predictions, spontaneous decisions, offers, promises about the future.
✓ When to use:
• Predictions: "It will rain tomorrow"
• Promises: "I will help you move"
• Spontaneous decision: "I'll have coffee, thanks"
• Offers: "I'll carry those bags for you"
Examples:
✓ I will go to the party tomorrow.
✓ She will not work next weekend.
✓ Will you come to the wedding?
8. Future Continuous
Future Continuous
will be + -ing form of verb
Used for actions that will be in progress at a specific time in the future.
✓ When to use:
• At a specific future time: "At 8 PM, I'll be watching the game"
• Interruption: "Call me tomorrow; I'll be working"
• Simultaneous future actions: "While she's cooking, he'll be setting the table"
Examples:
✓ I will be flying to London next week.
✓ She will be studying at 3 PM.
✓ Will you be attending the meeting?
9. Future Perfect
Future Perfect
will have + past participle
Used for actions that will be completed before a specific future time.
✓ When to use:
• Before future deadline: "By next Friday, I'll have finished the report"
• Anticipated completion: "By the time you arrive, I'll have prepared dinner"
Examples:
✓ I will have completed the project by Friday.
✓ She will have graduated by 2026.
Future-in-Past Tenses (3 types)
These are used in reported speech or when describing what someone thought would happen in the past. Use would instead of will, was/were going to instead of future plans.
10. Future Simple (in Past)
would + base verb
Examples:
✓ He said he would arrive tomorrow. (He said: "I will arrive")
✓ I thought I would love the movie.
11. Future Continuous (in Past)
would be + -ing
Examples:
✓ She said she would be working late.
12. Future Perfect (in Past)
would have + past participle
Examples:
✓ He said he would have finished by 5 PM.
Quick Reference Table
| Tense |
Formula |
Example |
Key Use |
| Present Simple |
V (base) |
I play tennis |
Habits, facts |
| Present Continuous |
am/is/are + -ing |
I am playing |
Now/in progress |
| Present Perfect |
have/has + past part. |
I have played |
Past + relevant now |
| Past Simple |
V (past) |
I played |
Completed past |
| Past Continuous |
was/were + -ing |
I was playing |
Interrupted past action |
| Past Perfect |
had + past part. |
I had played |
Before another past action |
| Future Simple |
will + base |
I will play |
Predictions, promises |
| Future Continuous |
will be + -ing |
I will be playing |
Future in progress |
| Future Perfect |
will have + past |
I will have played |
Completed before future time |
💡 Tips for Mastering Verb Tenses
1. Think about WHEN (Time)
Present? Past? Future? This determines your main tense choice.
2. Think about ASPECT (What happened)
Simple (completed/habitual) → Continuous (in progress) → Perfect (before another time)
3. Practice with TIME MARKERS
Present Simple: "every day, always, usually"
Present Continuous: "right now, at the moment, currently"
Present Perfect: "yet, already, just, ever, never"
Past Simple: "yesterday, last week, in 2020, when I was..."
4. Speak Naturally
Record yourself. Listen to native speakers. Imitate their rhythm and intonation.
5. Understand Context
The same action can use different tenses depending on when you're speaking about it.
Ready to Practice?
Master tenses through conversation and real-world practice.