12 Tenses
In English
Grammar
English tenses can be helpful in learning
English language from the scratch. There are
three main types of tenses which give an idea
of the time when the incident mentioned in a
statement takes place.
PRESENT TENSE
SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE
Structure: S+ Base verb (+ -es/-ies/-s for third person):
Example: 1) I play game every day. 2) He studies in school.
PRESENT CONTINUOUS TENSE
Structure: S + is/am/are + present participle:
Example: 1) I am playing game.
2) He is studying in college.
PRESENT PERFECT TENSE
Structure: S+ Has/have + past participle:
Example: I have finished my home work.
PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE
Structure: S+ Has/have + been + present participle:
Example:
1) I have been finishing my home work for the last two hours.
2) He has been studying in school since his childhood.
PAST TENSE
SIMPLE PAST TENSE
Structure: S + Verb+ed or irregular verb:
Example: 1) You played the game.
2) He read the newspaper.
PAST CONTINUOUS TENSE
Structure: S + Was/were + present participle:
Example: 1) I was reading newspaper.
2) He was going to Karachi.
PAST PERFECT TENSE
Structure: S+ Had + past participle:
Example: 1) I had finished my home work. 2) He had
completed his task.
PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE
Structure: S+ Had + been + past participle:
Example:
1) I had been finishing my home work for 50 minutes.
2) He had been playing game since morning.
FUTURE TENSE
SIMPLE FUTURE TENSE
Structure: S+ Will+verb
Example: 1) I will go to my home town someday.
FUTURE CONTINUOUS TENSE
Structure: S+ Will be + present participle
Am/is/are + going to be + present participle:
Example: I will be colonizing Mars in 2060. / I am going to
be watching the news at 9pm.
FUTURE PERFECT TENSE
Structure: S+ Will have + past participle
Example: I will have played the game.
TENSES TABLE
PAST PRESENT FUTURE
Simple Past Simple Present Simple Future
The action that takes place once, never or several times
He will / is going to play the game
He played a game every Sunday. He plays a game every Sunday. every Sunday.
Actions that happen one after another
He played a game and then he He plays football and then he He will play football and then he
took bath. takes bath. will take bath.
State
He loved yoga. He loves yoga. He will love yoga.
Past Continuous/ Present Continuous/ Future Continuous/ Future
Past Progressive Present Progressive Progressive
Action going on at that moment
He was playing the game. He is playing a game. He will be playing a game.
Actions that are taking place at the same time
He was playing a game and she He is playing a game and she is He will be playing a game and she
was watching TV. watching. will be watching TV.
Past Perfect Simple Present Perfect Simple Future Perfect Simple
Action taking place before a certain moment in time; shows completion/result
He had won two matches until He will have won two matches by
that day. He has won two matches so far. then.
Past Perfect Continuous Present Perfect Continuous Future Perfect Continuous
Action taking place before a certain moment in time and beyond that time, emphasizes on the duration
He had been playing a game for He has been playing a game for He will have been playing a game
ten years. ten years. for ten years.
