Verb Tenses are different forms of verbs describing something happened in the past, happening at present or will happen in the future. By expanding these three forms, you will learn 16 tenses in all.
There are three main types of verb tenses past, present and future.
PRESENT TENSE
Present tense shows the current action that is going to be performed. It has four types which are briefly described here.
1. Simple Present Tense
Structure
Subject + Verb (vI) + es/es
Examples
- I take exercise daily.
- She reads book in library.
2. Present Continuous Tense
Structure
Subject + is/am/are + Verb(+ing)
Example
- He is playing football.
- I am studying in a high school.
3. Present Perfect Tense
Structure
Subject + Has/have + Verb (v3)
Example
- He has made this colorful chart.
- I have completed my assignment.
4. Present Perfect Continuous Tense
Structure
Subject + Has/have + been + Verb(+ing)
Example
- I have been completing my assignment for the last three days.
- She has been working in this department since 2017.
PAST TENSE
Past tense expresses the actions that happened in the past. It has also four types.
5. Simple Past Tense
Structure
Subject + Verb (v2) or irregular verb:
Example
- He completed the assignment.
- I read the newspaper.
6. Past Continuous Tense
Structure
Subject + was/were + Verb(+ing)
Example
- He was reading the book.
- I was going to the park for morning walk.
7. Past Perfect Tense
Structure
Subject + had + Verb (v3)
Example
- I had finished my home work.
- He had completed his task.
8. Past Perfect Continuous Tense
Structure
Subject + had + been + Verb(+ing)
Example
- He had been completing his assignment for the last two hours.
- I had been playing football since morning.
FUTURE TENSE
9. Simple Future Tense
Structure
Subject+ will/shall+ verb(v1)
Example
- I shall go to the park for a walk.
- She will perform his duty.
10. Future Continuous Tense
Structure
Subject + will be/shall be + verb(+ing)
Example
- He will be playing football.
- We shall be eating the meal.
11. Future Perfect Tense
Structure
Subject + will have + verb(v3)
Example
- He will have played football.
- I will have completed my assignment.
12. Future Perfect Continuous Tense
Structure
Subject + will have been + verb(+ing)
Example
He will have been watching the football match for over fifty minutes.
PAST FUTURE TENSE
13. Past Future Tense
Structure
Subject + would + verb (v1)
Example
I told that I would leave in one hour.
14. Past Future Continuous Tense
Structure
Subject + should be/would be + Verb(+ing)
Example
I told that I would be doing my home work all the day long.
15. Past Future Perfect Tense
Structure
Subject + should have/ would have + Verb(v3)
Example
She said that she would have completed her assignment.
16. Past Future Perfect Continuous Tense
Structure
Subject + would have been + Verb(+ing)
Example
He said that I should have been working here for two hours by that time.
Future tense expresses the actions that have not happened yet OR “the actions that will likely to happen in future”. Its four types are described here.