Verb Tenses – What is Verb Tense? What are the types of Verb tenses?
Verb Tenses – What is Verb Tense? What are the types of Verb Tenses?
By: Larisa Chakarova
Larisa Chakarova
Community Contributor (USA)
Lara is a highly experienced, educated and professionally qualified English tutor from the USA. She likes to share her knowledge with others.
Master in English
Master in Geography
Community VIP Writer
Authorship – 10
[xyz-ips snippet=”author-post”]
Tired minds don’t plan well. Sleep first, plan later.
Walter ReischThe Verb Tenses
Tap on the verb tenses map below
What is verb tense?
The tense of a verb tells you when a person did something or when something existed or happened. So Verb tenses tell us how an action relates to the flow of time.
What are the types of verb tenses?
There are three main verb tenses:
- Present tense
- Past tense
- Future tense
Present Verb Tenses:
Present Continuous Tense
What is Present Simple Tense?
We form it with the base form of the verb and add the suffix -s for third person singular – he, she or it.
Example of Present Simple Tense: to love
1. I love | 1. We love |
2. You love | 2. You love |
3. He/She/It loves | 3. They love |
Where do we use the Present Simple Tense?
We use it for frequently repeated actions, permanent states, general truths, habits, likes/dislikes, reviews, timetables and schedules(as future tense)
Present Simple Tense Example:
- I go to work every day.
- He works as a doctor.
- Bats live in caves.
- I hate fish.
- The plane takes off at 6 p.m tomorrow.
Present Continuous Tense
What is Present Continuous Tense?
We form it with the help of the auxiliary verb am/is/are and the -ing form of the main verb.
Example of Present Continuous Tense: to read
1. I am reading | 1. We are reading |
2. You are reading | 2. You are reading |
3. He/She/It is reading | 3. They are reading |
Where do we use the Present Continuous Tense?
We use it for actions happening now, temporary states, developing situations and fixed future arrangements.
Present Continuous Tense Example:
- I am cooking lunch at the moment.
- I am not working this week.
- I am meeting my friends tonight.
Present Perfect Tense
What is Present Perfect Tense?
We form it with the help of the auxiliary verb have/has and the past participle of the main verb.
Example of Present Perfect Tense: to play
1. I have/’ve played | 1. We have/’ve played |
2. You have/’ve played | 2. You have/’ve played |
3. He/She/It has/’s played | 3. They have/’ve played |
Where do we use the Present Continuous Tense?
We use it for actions that happened at an unspecified time in the past. It is not important when the action happened. What is important is the result of it.
Present Continuous Tense Example:
- I have seen this film.
Present Perfect Continuous Tense
What is Present Perfect Continuous Tense?
We form it with the help of the auxiliary verb have/has plus been plus the -ing form of the main verb.
Example of Present Perfect Continuous Tense: to work
1. I have been working | 1. We have been working |
2. You have been working | 2. You have been working |
3. He/She/It has been working | 3. They have been working |
Where do we use the Present Perfect Continuous Tense?
We use it for actions which started in the past and continue up to now and for recently completed continuous actions, whose result is visible now.
Present Perfect Continuous Tense Example:
- I have been studying English for 10 years.
- I am tired because I have been working all day.
Past Verb Tenses:
Past Simple Tense
What is Past Simple Tense?
We form it by adding the suffix -ed for regular verbs and use the second form for irregular verbs.
Example of Past Simple Tenses Tense: to play
1. I played | 1. We played |
2. You played | 2. You played |
3. He/She/It played | 3. They played |
Where do we use the Past Simple Tense Tense?
We use it for actions which happened at a stated time in the past.
Present Past Simple Tense Example:
- I booked our holiday yesterday.
Past Continuous Tense
What is Past Continuous Tense?
We form it with the help of the auxiliary verb was/were and the -ing form of the main verb.
Example of Past Continuous Tense: to read
1. I was reading | 1. We were reading |
2. You were reading | 2. You were reading |
3. He/ She/It was reading | 3.They were reading |
Where do we use the Past Continuous Tense?
We use it for actions which were not completed at a stated time in the past.
Past Continuous Tense Example:
- I was watching a film at 6 pm yesterday.
Past Perfect Tense
What is Past Perfect Tense?
We form it with the help of the auxiliary verb had and the past participle of the main verb.
Example of Past Perfect Tense: to play
1. I had played | 1. We had played |
2. You had played | 2. You had played |
3. He/she/it had played | 3. They had played |
Where do we use the Past Perfect Tense?
We use it for an action which happened before another action in the past.
Present Past Perfect Tense Example:
- By the time he got to the cinema, the film had already started.
Past Perfect Continuous Tense
What is Past Perfect Continuous Tense?
We form it with the help of the auxiliary verb had plus been plus the -ing form of the main verb.
Example of Past Perfect Continuous Tense: to read
1. I had/’d been reading | 1. We had/’d been reading |
2. You had/’d been reading | 2. You had/’d been reading |
3. He/she/it had/’d been reading | 3. They had/’d been reading |
Where do we use the Past Perfect Continuous Tense Tense?
We use it for a continuous action which happened before another action in the past.
Past Perfect Continuous Tense Example:
- She had been watching TV for 2 hours before she went to bed.
Future Verb Tenses:
Future Simple Tense
What is Future Simple Tense?
We form it with will and the infinitive (base) form of the verb.
Example of Future Simple Tense: to read
1. I will/’ll read | 1. We will/’ll read |
2. You will/’ll read | 2. You will/’ll read |
3. He/she/it had/’d been reading | 3. They had/’d been reading |
Where do we use the Future Simple Tense?
We use it for predictions, on-the-spot decisions, future facts, promises, offers, hopes, threats
Future Simple Tense Example:
- People will live underwater in 2050.
- I will call you tonight.
Future with “going to” Tense
What is Future with “going to” Tense?
We form it with the help of the auxiliary verb am/is/are plus going to plus the infinitive(base) form of the main verb.
Example of Future with “going to” Tense: to read
1. I am/I’m going to read | 1. We are/We’re going to read |
2. You are/You’re going to read | 2. You are/You’re going to read |
3. He/she/it is/He’s/she’s/it’s going to read | 3. They are/They’re going to read |
Where do we use the Future with “going to” Tense?
We use it for future plans and intentions, and for predictions based on what we see.
Future with “going to” Tense:
- We are going to visit Paris in August.
- Look at the boy! he is going to fall off his bike.
Future Continuous Tense
What is Future Continuous Tense?
We form it with will be and the -ing form of the main verb.
Example of Future Continuous Tense: to read
1. I will/’ll be reading | 1. We will/’ll be reading |
2. You will/’ll be reading | 2. You will/’ll be reading |
3. He/she/it will/’ll be reading | 3. They will/’ll be reading |
Where do we use the Future Continuous Tense?
We use it for actions which will not be completed at a stated time in the future.
Future Continuous Tense Example:
- At this time tomorrow, I will be flying to NY.
Future Perfect Tense
What is Future Perfect Tense?
We form it with will have and the past participle of the main verb.
Example of Future Perfect Tense: to do
1. I will/’ll have done | 1. We will/’ll have done |
2. You will/’ll have done | 2. You will/’ll have done |
3. He/she/it will/’ll have done | 3. They will/’ll have done |
Where do we use the Future Perfect Tense?
We use it for actions which will be completed by a stated time in the future.
Future Continuous Tense Example:
- By this time tomorrow, I will have finished the report.
Future Perfect Continuous Tense
What is Future Perfect Continuous Tense?
We form it with will have been and the -ing form of the main verb.
Example of Future Perfect Continuous Tense: to read
1. I will/’ll have been reading | 1. We will/’ll have been reading |
2. You will/’ll have been reading | 2. You will/’ll have been reading |
3. He/she/it will/’ll have been reading | 3. They will/’ll have been reading |
Where do we use the Future Perfect Continuous Tense?
We use it for actions which will have continued for some time by a stated time in the future.
Future Perfect Continuous Tense Example:
- By the end of the year, I will have been working for this company for 15 years.
Visit The Official Blog Of
Here is the link to Larisa Chakarova original post: The verb tenses a short reference.
- Top Writing tips From Kali Blackstorm (Author of Find Me in the Afterglow)
- Prepositions Exercises and Grammar rules – Mohamed Abd Grammar Guides Vol.1
- How To Fix Your Sleep Schedule? Here Are 6 Top Tips From Einstein
- How To Speak English Easily In Just 7 Simple Steps, by Mubashir Tufail.
- The Time Test by Louisa Jolanda, Can you withstand the test of time?
Get Published
Building your writing career? Get Noticed?
You write, we share and help you get your masterpiece noticed FREE. All Are Welcome to submit.
Join our social learning community
We are also a fast growing English learning social community to gain and share knowledge. Together we are better, and if we are doing it together, we will succeed in helping millions of others to become confidence English speakers and learners.
CHATSIFIEDS.COM © 2024 | Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions| Disclaimer | DMCA
Quill With Ink icon and other icons are powered by Icons8
Knowledge sharing is caring, Please share this little piece of knowledge and wisdom.