Examples of English Tenses

7/14/2014 12 (All) English Tenses with Examples - MyEnglishTeacher.
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July 14, 2014
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12 (All) English Tenses with Examples
Tense and aspect, although they are two different categories, always appear together. There are six tenses and two aspects in English.
With reference to tense and aspect, we can speak about the following structures in practical usage. All English Tenses with Examples!
(Note: progressive aspect is often called continuous.)
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7/14/2014 12 (All) English Tenses with Examples - MyEnglishTeacher.eu Blog
(present tense + common aspect)
FORM
Affirmative: Subject + Base Form of the Verb
*note: for 3rd Person Singular (he/ she/ it) add s to the base form
- I/ You/ We/ They work in a bank.
- He/ She works in a bank.
Negative: Subject + dont/ doesnt + Base Form of the Verb
- I/ You/ We/ They dont (do not) work.
- He/ She/ It doesnt (does not) work.

Interrogative: Question Word + do/does + Subject + Base Form of the Verb
- Where do I/ you/we/they work?
- Where does he/ she work?

USE
1. Usual, regular action:
- I usually go fishing at weekends. I dont go fishing at weekends. Do I go fishing at weekends?
- You always know the answer. You dont always know the answer. Do you always know the answer?
- She never puts milk in her tea. She doesnt put milk in her tea. Does she ever put milk in her tea?
- My father plays the violin. My father doesnt play the violin. Does your father play the violin?
- We sometimes go to the cinema on Friday. We dont go to the cinema on Friday. Do we go to the cinema on Fridays?
- They never walk in the wood. They dont walk in the wood. Do they walk in the wood?
2. General existence; stating a fact:
- An ostrich has two legs. A rabbit doesnt have two legs. How many legs does a spider have?
- The earth goes round the sun. The sun doesnt go round the earth. Does the moon go round the earth?
- Water is liquid at room temperature. Gold isnt liquid at room temperature. Is gold solid at room temperature?
3. Dramatic narrative (theatre, sports, etc. events):
- Johnson takes the ball, he bounces it to the floor, then he throws and scores two points.
4. Timetables
- The train leaves at half past four. The train doesnt leave at five. What time does the train leave?
- The course starts on 1 July. The course doesnt start in June. When does the course start?
(present tense + progressive aspect)
FORM
Affirmative: Subject + BE + Verb-ING
- You are cooking.

Negative: Subject + BE not + Verb-ING
- You arent (are not) cooking.

Interrogative: Question Word + BE + Subject + Verb-ING
- What are you cooking?

USE
1. Action happening now:
- Im watching a film on TV now. Im not watching a film. Am I watching a film?
- Watch out, a cars coming. It isnt not coming. Is it coming?
- The boys are sleeping upstairs. They boys arent sleeping upstairs. Are the boys sleeping upstairs?
2. Action happening about this time, but not necessarily now:
- Hes studying Spanish and German. Hes not studying French. What languages is he studying?
- Theyre going to a business course. They arent going to a cooking course. What course are they going to?
- Youre visiting museums while youre here. Youre not visiting factories. Are you visiting museums in our city?
3. Definite arrangement in the near future:
- Im travelling to Paris tomorrow. Im not travelling to Paris tomorrow. Am I travelling to Paris tomorrow?
- My son is taking his girlfriend to dinner tonight. My son isnt taking his girlfriend to dinner tonight. Is he taking his
girlfriend to dinner tonight?
- Youre going to Italy on holiday this year, arent you? You arent going to Greece. Where are you going on holiday this
year?
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(past tense + common aspect)
FORM
Affirmative: Subject + Verb in Past Simple (2nd form)
- I/ You/ He/ She/ It/ We/ They lived in London ten years ago.

Negative: Subject + didnt (did not) + Base Form of the Verb
- I/ You/ He/ She/ It/ We/ They didnt like the film.

Interrogative: Question Word + did + subject + Base Form of the Verb
- Where did I/ you/ he/ she/ it/ we/ they meet Richard?

USE
Actions, events in the past:
- I had lunch with Mrs Robinson yesterday. I didnt have lunch with Mrs Robinson yesterday. Did I have lunch with Mrs
Robinson yesterday?
- Mother went to work on Tuesday. Mother didnt go to work on Tuesday. Did Mother go to work on Tuesday?
- You did the shopping this morning. You didnt do the shopping this morning. Where did you do the shopping this morning?
- She travelled to Spain last year. She didnt travel anywhere last year. Where did she travel last year?
(past tense + progressive aspect)
FORM
Affirmative: Subject + was/ were + Verb-ING
- I/He/She was having a shower when you called.
- We/ You/ They were watching TV when Bob arrived.

Negative: Subject + wasnt (was not)/ werent (were not) + Verb-ING
- I/ He/ She wasnt having a shower when you called.
- We/ You/ They weren watching TV when Bob arrived.

Interrogative: Question word + was/ were + Verb-ING
- What were you doing when Bob arrived?
- What was she doing when you called?

USE
Action in progress in the past:
- I was working in the garden when my sister arrived. I wasnt working in the garden when my sister arrived. Was I working
in the garden when my sister arrived?
- We were watching a film at ten last night. We werent watching a film at ten last night. Were we watching film at ten last
night?
- She was playing with the kids from eight to nine. She wasnt playing with the kids from eight to nine. Who was she playing
with?
(present perfect tense + common aspect)
FORM
Affirmative: Subject + have/ has + Past Participle (3rd Form of the Verb)
- I/ You/ We/ They have finished the letter.
- He/ She has finished the letter.
Negative: Subject + havent (have not)/ hasnt (has not) + Past Participle
- I/ You/ We/ They havent finished the letter.
- He/ She hasnt finished the letter.

Interrogative: Question Word + have/ has + Past Participle
- Have I/ you/we/ they finished the letter?
- Has he/she finished the letter?

USE
1. Action with a result:
- Sorry, Ive parked at the wrong place. I havent parked at the wrong place. Have I parked at the wrong place?
- Youve (already) printed the letters. You havent printed the letters (yet). Have you printed the letters (yet)?
- Weve (already) done the rooms. We havent done the rooms yet. Have we done the rooms (yet)?
- He has already repaired the lawn-mower. He hasnt repaired the lawn-mower yet. Has he repaired the lawn-mower yet?
2. Action in incomplete time:
- Our friends have visited us four times this summer. Our friends havent visited us this summer. How many times have our
friends visited us this summer?
- Ive been to the cinema a lot lately. I havent been to the cinema lately. Have I been to the cinema lately?
- Youve been on holiday this year. You havent been on holiday this year. Have you been on holiday this year?
3. Action in the past without saying when:
- Jane has already been to Italy. Jane has never been to Italy. Has Jane ever been to Italy?
- You have already swum in this lake. You havent swum in this lake yet. Have you ever swum in this lake?
- Youve been to the hairdressers. You havent been to the hairdressers. Where have you been?
4. Action beginning in the past and still continuing:
- The Simpsons have lived here for eight years. The Simpsons havent lived here for long. How long have the Simpsons lived
here?
- He has driven a car since 2002. He hasnt driven a car since 2002. Has he driven a car since 2002?
- Youve worked here for two years. You havent worked here for two years. How long have you worked here?
(present perfect tense + progressive aspect)
FORM
Affirmative: Subject + have/ has been + Verb-ING
- I/ you/ We/ They have been learning English for a year.
- He/ She has been learning English for a year.

Negative: Subject + havent/hasnt been + Verb-ING
- I/ You/ We/ They havent been playing tennis for a long time.
- He/ She hasnt been playing tennis for a long time.

Interrogative: Question Word + have/ has + Subject + been Verb-ING
- How long have I/ you/ we/ they been learning English?
- How long has he/ she been learning English?

USE
Action beginning in the past and still continuing (with the progress emphasized):
- Theyve been staying in this hotel for ten days. They havent been staying in this hotel for ten days. Have they been staying
in this hotel for ten days?
- He has been mowing the lawn all this morning. He hasnt been mowing the lawn all this morning. How long has he been
mowing the lawn?
- Youve been missing classes lately. You havent been coming to class lately. What have you been doing lately?
(past tense + common aspect)
FORM
Affirmative: Subject + had + Past Participle
- I/ You/ He/ She/ We/ They had already met Sarah before the party.

Negative: Subject + hadnt (had not) + Past Participle
- I/ You/ He/ She/ We/ They hadnt met Sarah before the party.

Interrogative: Question Word + had + Subject + Past Participle
- Had I/ you/ he/ she/ we/ they met Sarah before the party?

USE
Action in the past before another:
- She said she had written three letters the day before. She said she hadnt written any letters the day before. How many
letters had she written the day before?
- They had lived in York before they moved to Liverpool. They hadnt lived in York before they moved to Liverpool. Where
had they lived before they moved to Liverpool?
- Youd locked the door before you left. You hadnt locked the door before you left. Had you locked the door before you left?

(past perfect tense + progressive aspect)
FORM
Affirmative: Subject + had been + Verb-ING
- I/ You/ He/ She/ We/ They had been living in German for years before moving here.

Negative: Subject + hadnt been + Verb-ING
- I/ You/ He/ She/ We/ They hadnt been living in Germany for a long time before moving here.

Interrogative: Question Word + had + Subject + been Verb-ING
- How long had I/ you/ he/ she/ we/ they been living in Germany before moving here?

USE
Action in the past before another (with the progress emphasized):
- He said he had been mowing the lawn all that morning. He said he hadnt been mowing the lawn all that morning. How long
had he been moving the lawn when you met him?
- They had been working for the same company for a long time before they changed jobs. They hadnt been working for the
same company for a long time before they changed jobs. Had they been working for the same company for a long time before
they changed jobs?
- They had been living in York before they moved to Liverpool. They hadnt been living in York before they moved to
Liverpool. How long had they been living in York before they moved to Liverpool?
(future tense + common aspect)
FORM
Affirmative: Subject + Will + Base Form of the Verb
- I/ You/ He/ She/ We/ They will see Jane when she comes back from India.

Negative: Subject + Wont (will not) + Base Form of the Verb
- I/ You/ He/ She/ We/ They wont see Jane when she comes back from India.

Interrogative: Question Word + Will + Subject + Base Form of the Verb
- Will I/ you/ he/ she/ we/ they see Jane when she comes back from India?

USE
Fact, action or event in the future:
- I will be thirty years old next year. I wont be thirty years old again. Will I be thirty years old again?
- Well meet them at the station at six. We wont meet them at the station. Where will we meet them?
- Youll cross the channel by ferry. You wont cross the channel. How will you cross the channel?

(future tense + progressive aspect)
FORM
Affirmative: Subject + Will Be + Verb-ING
- I/ You/ He/ She/ We/ They will be having fun at the party.

Negative: Subject + Wont Be + Verb-ING
- I/ You/ He/ She/ We/ They wont be having fun at the party.

Interrogative: Question Word + Will + Subject + Be Verb-ING
- Will I/ you/ he/ she/ we/ they be having fun at the party?

USE
Action in progress at a given time of the future:
- This time tomorrow we will be flying to Los Angeles. We wont be flying to New York. Where will we be flying?
- Youll be doing housework with me at six tomorrow. You wont be playing football. What will you be doing at six
tomorrow?
- Ill be playing tennis from seven to nine. I wont be playing tennis at six. When will I be playing tennis?

(future perfect tense + common aspect)
FORM
Affirmative: Subject + Will Have + Past Participle
- I/ You/ He/ She/ We/ They will have met Doras husband by this time tomorrow.

Negative: Subject + Wont Have + Past Participle
- I/ You/ He/ She/ We/ They wont have met Doras husband by this time tomorrow.

Interrogative: Question Word + Will + Subject + Have + Past Participle
- Will you have met Doras husband by this time tomorrow?

USE
Action completed by a given time of the future:
- I will have done this work by the end of next week. I wont have done this work by the end of next week. Will I have done
this this work by the end of next week?
- Theyll have arrived by the time we return. They wont have arrived by the time we return. Will they have arrived by the
time we return?
- She will have taken three exams by next Tuesday. She wont have taken any exams by next Tuesday. How many exams will
she have taken by next Tuesday?
(future perfect tense + progressive aspect)
FORM
Affirmative: Subject + Will Have Been + Verb-ING
- I/ You/ He/ She/ We/ They will have been working with John for ten years next week.

Negative: Subject + Wont Have Been + Verb-ING
- I/ You/ He/ She/ We/ They wont have been working with John for ten years next week.

Interrogative: Question Word + Will + Subject + Have Been + Verb-ING
- How long will I/ you/ he/ she/ we/ they have been working with John next week?

USE
Action completed by or still in progress at a given time of the future (with the progress emphasized):
- We will have been staying here for a week tomorrow. We wont have been staying here for a week tomorrow. How long
will we have been staying here?
- You will have been living here for thirty years by this time next year. You wont have been living here for thirty years by
this time next year How long will you have been living here by this time next year?
- Ill have been playing the guitar for ten years by next year. I wont have been playing the guitar for ten years by next year.
How long will I have been playing the guitar?
Did you find this English lesson useful? Let me know in the comments below or share it with your friends!
ByAnastasia Koltai
On August 16, 2013
English GrammarLearn English
Tags:English Tenses, Tenses in English
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Add a comment 23 comments
Bliss Roen
It was AWESOME! It helped me very well and gave me a perfect score in my test. Thanks a lot!
Reply Like July 2 at 6:49pm 1
Melinda Makkos Top Commenter Facebook Page Manager and Blogger at
MyEnglishTeacher.eu
I'm really glad to hear that! Well done :)
Keep learning!
Reply Like July 3 at 11:13am
Dhatwalia Rahul G.N.D.U Amritsar, Punjab, India
I don't know how to pay thanks to you. I always have been a problem with tenses. They confused
me everytime but after reading it I'm feeling like "It was not so tough."
Thank You! very much.
and please rectify my comment if you think, that thing shouldn't be there.
Reply Like July 10 at 1:36pm
Melinda Makkos Top Commenter Facebook Page Manager and Blogger at
MyEnglishTeacher.eu
Hi there,
Thanks a lot for your comment. I'm glad you find this post useful! :)
Points to consider:
I don't know how to pay thanks to you = I don't know how to thank you
I always have been a problem = I have always had a problem
Keep learning!
Reply Like July 10 at 11:56pm
Mynn Htike Rangoon, Yangon, Burma
It's very useful for the learners like me . Thank you very much indeed.Be happy.
Reply Like April 24 at 2:34am 2
MyEnglishTeacher.eu
Thank you so much for the comment! I'm glad you find it useful :)
Best regards,
Mel
Reply Like April 25 at 1:37pm 2
Ruth M Cherry Yecla, Murcia, Spain
Why do you state that there are only 12 tenses in English grammar? There are at least 17
tenses in English and probably more like 26! Please, if you are going to ignore several tenses
then at least have the decency not to claim there are only 12. People like you erode the English
language with your incomplete grasp of it, which is very sad indeed.
Simple Present
Present Progressive
Simple Past
Past Progressive
Present Perfect Simple
Present Perfect Progressive
Past Perfect Simple
Past Perfect Progressive
Future I Simple [will]
Future I Simple [going to]
Future I Progressive
Future II Simple
Future II Progressive
Future II Progressive
Conditional I Simple... See More
Reply Like February 21 at 2:46am
View 3 more
2
Also, in correct English your "9 days course" would be "9 DAY course".
MyEnglishTeacher.eu
Thank you for your feedback, Ruth.
According to some linguists, there are only two tenses in English: Past and Non-
Past.
I believe this concept wouldn't be very practical for most learners, that is why
teachers of English as a Foreign Language usually try to break it down to 'digestible'
parts.
Although we have come up with 12 main forms, everybody is free to teach the
language as they feel appropriate.
In our experience, the list provided above is quite logical and useful to start off with.
You are obviously right in saying that there are much more areas to discuss and
teach, though I can't figure out why you call 'Conditional forms' tenses...
Thank you for pointing out the '9-Day' mistake, it has already been corrected on most
of the pages it appears- we might have missed a few.
Regards,
Mel
MyEnglishTeacher.eu
I wouldn't have commented at all except for the fact that you say ALL English tenses.
If you'd said 12 tenses most commonly used [or just lost the 'all'], I'd have let it go. All
12 English tenses means there are no more; it's a statement of fact. "Although we
have come up with 12 main forms, everybody is free to teach the language as they
feel appropriate.", really? Think about that statement. Yea, ike wat u jus sed...
I agree that making English accessible for non-native speakers is difficult but it is
very important, if you set yourself up as a teacher, to be correct, which would not stop
you teaching in bite-sized pieces and not overwhelming your students. I am an
English teacher too, so I understand, just be careful about making statements of
fact, which are patently not true and let's leave the semantics to the linguists.
Kind regards,
Reply Like February 21 at 4:13am 1
Shah Zubair Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
glad to read it and are very usefull for me .
Reply Like January 17 at 12:27pm 1
MyEnglishTeacher.eu
Thank you so much, we're glad to hear it! :)
Reply Like February 11 at 11:27am 1
Sim Niran Machin at Phnom Penh
It is nice for all students learner
Reply Like January 6 at 9:19pm 1
MyEnglishTeacher.eu
That's kind of you to say :) Thank you!
Reply Like January 9 at 10:58am
Nishit Jain Emerald Heights International School
you didn't wrote about future continuous tense
Reply Like November 19, 2013 at 6:12am 2
MyEnglishTeacher.eu
Hi there,
It's called Future Progressive in this post :)
Thank you for the comment!
Phaiphanome Bae
good
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Reply Like October 3, 2013 at 8:18pm 1
MyEnglishTeacher.eu
Thanks! Glad you like it :)
Carolyn Kuhns Northland Baptist Bible College
Yes, it's very useful as I'm preparing advanced students and they need to be able to visualize
the differences.
Reply Like August 16, 2013 at 4:30pm 2
Anastasia Koltai Etvs Lornd University
Thank you very much Carolyne! Let me know if you want us to create materials on
the topics you like. We will be glad to make them! Ana
Reply Like August 21, 2013 at 5:50am 1
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