Verb Tenses Chart | 12 Types of Verb Tenses

In this lesson, we are going to learn about verb tenses in English. Verb tenses tell us when an action happens—whether it is in the past, present, or future. Each tense has its own structure and use, and knowing how to use tenses properly will allow you to communicate more clearly and accurately.

Table of Contents

Verb tenses are divided into three main categories: Present, Past, and Future, and each category has four forms: Simple, Continuous, Perfect, and Perfect Continuous.

Verb Tenses in English

By the end of this lesson, you will:

Understand the different types of verb tenses.
Learn how to use them in sentences with examples.
Practice using tenses in everyday conversation.

Let’s explore the world of verb tenses and improve your English skills!

Types of Verb Tenses

1. Present Tenses

Present Simple Tense: Describes habits, routines, or general truths.

Structure:

Subject + base form of the verb (for he/she/it, add “-s” or “-es”).

Examples:

I walk to school every day.
She likes chocolate.

Present Continuous Tense: Describes actions happening right now or temporary actions.

Structure:

Subject + am/is/are + verb + ing.

Examples:

I am studying for my exams.
They are playing football.

Present Perfect Tense: Describes actions that happened at an unspecified time or have a result in the present.

Structure:

Subject + have/has + past participle of the verb.

Examples:

I have finished my homework.
She has visited London twice.

Present Perfect Continuous Tense: Describes actions that started in the past and continue into the present.

Structure:

Subject + have/has + been + verb + ing.

Examples:

We have been studying for hours.
He has been working here since 2019.

2. Past Tenses

Past Simple Tense: Describes completed actions in the past.

Structure:

Subject + past form of the verb.

Examples:

I watched a movie yesterday.
She went to the park last week.

Past Continuous Tense: Describes actions that were happening at a specific time in the past.

Structure:

Subject + was/were + verb + ing.

Examples:

I was reading a book at 8 PM.
They were playing outside when it started to rain.

Past Perfect Tense: Describes actions that were completed before another action in the past.

Structure:

Subject + had + past participle of the verb.

Examples:

I had finished my homework before dinner.
She had left the office when he arrived.

Past Perfect Continuous Tense: Describes actions that were ongoing until another point in the past.

Structure:

Subject + had + been + verb + ing.

Examples:

We had been waiting for an hour before the bus came.
He had been studying all night before the exam.

3. Future Tenses

Future Simple Tense: Describes actions that will happen in the future.

Structure:

Subject + will + base form of the verb.

Examples:

I will visit my grandparents next week.
They will play football tomorrow.

Future Continuous Tense: Describes actions that will be happening at a specific time in the future.

Structure:

Subject + will + be + verb + ing.

Examples:

I will be studying at 8 PM tonight.
They will be playing football at this time tomorrow.

Future Perfect Tense: Describes actions that will be completed before a certain time in the future.

Structure:

Subject + will + have + past participle of the verb.

Examples:

I will have finished my project by next Friday.
She will have left before you arrive.

Future Perfect Continuous Tense: Describes actions that will have been ongoing until a certain time in the future.

Structure:

Subject + will + have + been + verb + ing.

Examples:

I will have been studying for three hours by the time you get home.
They will have been working here for five years next month.

Comparing the Tenses with Examples

Tense	Structure	Example Sentence
Present Simple	Subject + Base form of the verb	She plays piano every day.
Present Continuous	Subject + am/is/are + Verb + ing	They are playing in the garden.
Present Perfect	Subject + have/has + Past participle	I have visited Paris.
Present Perfect Continuous	Subject + have/has + been + Verb + ing	He has been reading for two hours.
Past Simple	Subject + Past form of the verb	She watched a movie yesterday.
Past Continuous	Subject + was/were + Verb + ing	I was walking when it started to rain.
Past Perfect	Subject + had + Past participle	He had eaten dinner before I came.
Past Perfect Continuous	Subject + had + been + Verb + ing	They had been talking for an hour.
Future Simple	Subject + will + Base form of the verb	I will travel to Spain next year.
Future Continuous	Subject + will + be + Verb + ing	She will be studying at 8 PM.
Future Perfect	Subject + will + have + Past participle	They will have finished by tomorrow.
Future Perfect Continuous	Subject + will + have + been + Verb + ing	I will have been working here for a year.

Everyday Conversation Sentences Using Different Tenses:

Present Simple: I work from 9 to 5 every day.
Present Continuous: She is cooking dinner right now.
Present Perfect: I have seen that movie before.
Past Simple: They visited the museum last week.
Past Continuous: We were playing football when it started raining.
Future Simple: I will call you later tonight.
Future Continuous: They will be arriving at 6 PM.

Types of Verb Tenses Chart

Types of Verb Tenses

Verb tenses are essential for expressing when an action occurs. By learning the different types of verb tenses and their structures, you will be able to talk about actions in the past, present, and future with confidence.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What are verb tenses?
- Verb tenses indicate when an action happens (past, present, or future).
How many main types of tenses are there?
- There are three main tenses: Present, Past, and Future. Each has four forms: Simple, Continuous, Perfect, and Perfect Continuous.
What is the difference between Present Simple and Present Continuous?
- Present Simple is used for habits or facts (e.g., “I walk”), while Present Continuous is for actions happening now (e.g., “I am walking”).
When do we use the Past Perfect tense?
- Past Perfect is used for an action completed before another action in the past (e.g., “She had finished her work before he arrived”).
What is Future Perfect Continuous tense?
- Future Perfect Continuous describes an action that will have been ongoing for a period of time before a certain point in the future (e.g., “I will have been studying for three hours by the time you arrive”).
Can I use tenses to talk about future plans?
- Yes, you can use Future Simple (e.g., “I will travel”) and Present Continuous (e.g., “I am traveling tomorrow”) for future plans.

Practice Exercises for Verb Tenses

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb in parentheses.

I _______ (read) a book right now. (Present Continuous)
She _______ (finish) her homework last night. (Past Simple)
They _______ (study) for three hours before they took a break. (Past Perfect Continuous)
We _______ (visit) our grandparents tomorrow. (Future Simple)
He _______ (play) soccer every weekend. (Present Simple)

Exercise 2: Choose the correct tense.

I ____________ (have been cooking / cooked) dinner for two hours now.
By this time next week, I ____________ (will have finished / will finish) my project.
She ____________ (was watching / watched) TV when I called her.
They ____________ (have known / know) each other since childhood.
We ____________ (are playing / play) football every Sunday.

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences using the correct tense.

He (will finish) his work before 6 PM. (Future Perfect)
- He will have finished his work before 6 PM.
I (study) for the exam right now. (Present Continuous)
- I am studying for the exam right now.
They (play) football when it started raining. (Past Continuous)
- They were playing football when it started raining.
She (visit) her aunt last weekend. (Past Simple)
- She visited her aunt last weekend.
We (know) each other for five years. (Present Perfect)
- We have known each other for five years.