Verb tenses list: How many tenses are there in

English?

The standard tense in English is the present tense, which is usually just the

root form of the verb. The past and future tenses often require changes or

additions to the root form, such as the suffix –ed for the past tense and the

modal verb will for the future.

However, for each of the past, present, and future tenses, there are four

different aspects that add additional details. For example, the continuous

tense shows that an action is ongoing. It can be used in the present (she is

sleeping), past (she was sleeping), or future (she will be sleeping).

Past, present, and future tenses

The past, present, and future are the central divisions of time in English. The

present represents actions happening now, while the past represents actions

that happened earlier, and the future describes actions that will happen later.

Simple tense

The simple tense is a grammatical aspect that refers to the normal forms of

the past, present, and future tenses—nothing fancy! Unlike the other aspects,
it doesn’t add any new information. True to its name, simple tenses are the

easiest to form and have the fewest rules.

Perfect tense

The definition of the perfect tense is a little more complicated. It’s used for

actions that relate to other points in time, either completed or ongoing.

For example, in the sentence I have played soccer since I was a child, the

perfect tense indicates that the action occurred continuously in the past and

still happens in the present. By contrast, in the sentence I played soccer when

I was a child, the simple past tense indicates that the action occurred only in

the past, and has no relation to the present.

The perfect tenses use a conjugation of the auxiliary verb have with the past

participle of the main verb.

Continuous tense

We use the continuous tenses (also known as the progressive tenses) for

ongoing actions or actions that happen a while before completion. For

example, They are studying all night means the studying lasts many hours

before it’s finished.

Please note that you usually do not use the continuous tense with stative

verbs like want, love, have, and need.

The continuous tenses use a conjugation of the auxiliary verb be along with

the main verb’s present participle, or –ing form.

Perfect continuous tense

When you combine the perfect and continuous tenses, you get the perfect

continuous tense. It’s typically used just like the perfect tense, except it

describes ongoing actions that happen over a period of time.

The construction of the perfect continuous tense uses a conjugation of the

auxiliary verb have, the auxiliary verb been (the past participle of be), and the

present participle of the main verb.

English tenses examples: verb tenses chart

Past Present Future

Simple I helped my neighbor I help my I will help my

yesterday. neighbor every neighbor tomorrow.
day.

Perfect I had helped my I have helped I will have helped

neighbor clean his my neighbor too my neighbor a
attic before I fixed his much this week. hundred times by
car. the end of the
month.

Continuou I was helping my I am helping my I will be helping

s neighbor when he neighbor while my neighbor next
brought me iced tea. he fixes up his month when he
 house. moves.

Perfect I had been helping I have been I will have been

continuou my neighbor for a helping my helping my
s year before he finally neighbor since I neighbor for a year
thanked me. moved in. next month.

Past tenses

Simple past

We use the simple past to show actions completed in the past, with no extra

emphasis.

For regular verbs, you form the simple past tense by adding the suffix –ed to

the end of the verb (or just –d if the past tense verb already ends in an e).

Be careful of irregular past tense verbs, however. These don’t follow the

normal rules and use their own unique forms for the past tense. For example,

the past tense of the irregular verb go is went.

Regular verbs: I picked up the glass, but it dropped from my hand.

Irregular verbs: This morning I went to the store, but I forgot the milk.

Past perfect

[had] + [past participle]

What if you’re talking about two different actions in the past and want to show

that one happened before the other? The past perfect, also known as the

pluperfect, shows that one past action happened earlier than another one.

She had arrived at the office before she realized it was Sunday.

I ran to my car when I noticed my wife had left already.

Past continuous

[was/were] + [present participle]

Use the past continuous to show an ongoing action in the past, especially if

the action was interrupted by another action. It’s also used for habitual actions

that occurred in the past but not in the present. It’s usually used with adverbs

like always or adverb phrases like all the time.

My dog was whimpering in his sleep when the TV woke him up.

As kids, my friends and I were always getting into trouble.

Past perfect continuous

[had] + [been] + [present participle]

The past perfect continuous tense is used just like the past perfect tense,

except it describes ongoing actions that happened in the past instead of a

one-time occurence. It’s often used with the words when, until, and before to

connect it to another past action.

Before he got his first job as a writer, he had been working as a proofreader.

I had been living on my friend’s couch for a year until they kicked me out.

Present tenses

Simple present

The simple present is the most basic of the English tenses. It’s used for

individual actions or habitual actions in the present.

Often the simple present is just the root verb with no changes or additions.

The main exception to this is when the subject is third person and singular. In

this case you add the suffix –s. If the verb ends in o, ch, sh, th, ss, gh, or z,

you add –es. If the verb ends in a consonant and y (and the subject is third-

person singular), drop the y and add –ies.

Today I feel like a million bucks!

My brother carries the groceries while my sister stays on the couch.

Present perfect

[have/has] + [past participle]

Although it’s quite common, the present perfect is one of the most difficult

English verb tenses. It is used to describe a few different types of actions,

including:

an ongoing action started in the past that is not yet completed

the same action completed multiple times in the past and likely to be

completed again

an action completed very recently (usually with just or now)

an uncompleted action that is expected to be finished (in the negative)

Additionally, the present perfect can be used to emphasize the significance of

a completed action, especially one that happened over time.

We have tricked him every April Fool’s Day since we were kids.

My niece has grown so much this year!

Present continuous

[am/is/are] + [present participle]

Use the present continuous to show an action happening right now or in the

near future.

I am reading The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy for the fifth time!

We are eating pizza tonight.

Present perfect continuous

[have/has] + [been] + [present participle]

The present perfect continuous shows an ongoing action in the present that

was started in the past. It is often used to emphasize the length of time.

We have been waiting for over an hour!

The team has been practicing nonstop for the tournament.

Future tenses

Simple future

Use the simple future for actions that have not happened yet but will later. To

form the simple future, just place the modal verb will before the root form of

the main verb. (Note that if the action will happen in the near future, you can

use the present continuous instead.)

She will be president one day.

I will not go to the wedding without a date!

Future perfect

[will] + [have] + [past participle]

The future perfect shows an action that will be completed in the future by a

specified time. Because it depends on another time, the future perfect is often

used with words like by, before, at, or when.

By the time you read this, I will have already left.

She will have eaten lunch before her sister even wakes up.

Future continuous

[will] + [be] + [present participle]

Use the future continuous tense for future actions happening over a period of

time, especially when a specific time is mentioned. The future continuous

tense also shows more certainty and likelihood than the simple future.

By this time tomorrow, I will be drinking margaritas on the beach.

We will be attending a meeting from noon until 3 p.m.

Future perfect continuous

[will] + [have] + [been] + [present participle]

The future perfect continuous depicts future ongoing actions that continue up

until a certain point. Like the future perfect and future continuous, it’s used

with a specified time.

In ten minutes, my parents will have been waiting in traffic for four hours.

I will have been eating healthy for a whole year by September.