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Verb Tenses
Verb tenses in English reflect two things: time and aspect. Every variation of verb form
is representative of the time and aspect it needs to show in the sentence, and there are
three variations each of time and aspect that are combined to create the verb tenses.
The three variations of time are: past, present, and future.
Past refers to things that have already happened.
Present refers to things that are currently happening.
Future refers to things that have yet to happen.
The three variations of aspect are: simple, continuous, and perfect.
Simple aspect refers to an event that has already happened, at one specific point in
time (the war ended in 1945), or to an event that always happens, or could be
considered a rule (it rains in winter).
Continuous aspect refers to an event that happens for an extended time (I am
writing a letter).
Perfect aspect refers to an event that has happened but is still relevant at the time of
speaking (She has lived in many places... and would therefore be a good travel
agent).
From these variations, there are twelve possible verb tenses in English.

The Twelve Tenses of English

*Combinations with a star refer to tenses that are only rarely used in English

Aspect

Time
Past

Simple

Simple Past

Present

Future

Simple Present

Simple Future

Continuous

Past Continuous

Present
Continuous

*Future
Continuous

Perfect

Past Perfect

Present Perfect

*Future Perfect

Perfect
Continuous

*Past Perfect
Continuous

*Present Perfect *Future Perfect

Continuous
Continuous

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Verb Tenses
The Simple Tenses
Simple Past: This tense is used to show something that happened at a moment in the
past and is now over. To show this, simply change the verb to the past tense by adding
'ed' to the verb base, or for irregular verbs, by changing the verb to its past tense form.
The verb in simple past does not change for singular or plural subjects.

Formula (for regular verbs):

Verb base + 'ed'*

*refers to the exception with irregular verbs and the use of their past tense form instead of the
addition of 'ed'.

Examples:
Dinosaurs roamed the earth until the end of the Cretaceous period.
The principal called you less than two minutes ago.
The Second World War began in 1939.
'began' is the past tense form of the irregular verb begin.
The cup broke when it fell on the floor.
'broke' is the past tense form of the irregular verb break.
Simple Present: This tense is used to show something that is currently happening, or
something that is true in the present. To write in the simple present, use the base form
of the verb and add an 's' if the subject is singular to ensure subject-verb agreement.
For the verb 'be', the singular form is 'is' and the plural form is 'are'.

Formula:

Verb base (+ s for

singular subjects)

Examples:
The capital city of Malaysia is Kuala Lumpur.
Uncle Ralph goes to church every Sunday.
The moon circles the Earth every twenty-eight days.
Lionesses usually defend their cubs from predators.

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Verb Tenses
Simple Future: This tense is used to refer to something that will happen at a specific
point in time in the future. There are two ways to write in the simple future, either with
will + verb base or be going to + verb base. The form with will does not need to change
to show agreement with the subject, but the form be going to does since it includes the
verb be.

Formula:

will + verb base

or
be going to + verb base

Examples:
The meeting will begin at eight o'clock tonight.
We are going to swim in the river after school today.
After you take this medicine, you will feel somewhat sleepy.
I am going to climb Lembert Dome this weekend.

The Continuous Tenses

The Past Continuous: This tense refers to a point of time in the past that continued for
a while before something else happened. It is often used to describe an event that was
happening right before, or during a different event that happened at a specific moment
in time. To write in the past continuous, use the past tense of the verb be, with the main
verb that has an -ing ending.

Formula:

be (was or were) +
verb+ing

Examples:
When we left home, it was snowing.
The war began when David was working in Zagreb.
When the guitarists were traveling in Mexico, one of them lost his instrument.
While we were having lunch, there was a flash mob in the cafeteria.

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Verb Tenses
The Present Continuous: This tense refers to something that is currently happening in
time, or to report an event as if it were happening in real time. To write in the present
continuous, use the present tense of the verb be, and add the verb with an -ing ending.

Formula:

be (is, are, or am) +

verb+ing

Examples:
The plane is moving down the runway at this very moment.
All the members of the basketball team are playing very well right now.
We are living in Baltimore for the time being, but we hope to move soon.
At the moment, I am working for a software company.
At the time I thought, "Wow, I am actually moving to another country!".
The Future Continuous: This tense is rarer, but is used to describe something in the
future that will be happening for a certain amount of time. Most often, it is used to
describe future plans or hypothetical situations. To write in the future continuous, use
the elements from the continuous tense- be and a verb with -ing- with elements from the
future tense- will or be going to.

Formula:

be (is, are, or am) +

will or be going to +
verb+ing

Examples:
By the time the letter gets here, Joan will be flying over the Atlantic Ocean.
Next year Kevin is going to be working for the Peace Corps in the Sudan.
If the emergency plan takes effect, the doctors will be working twelve-hour shifts.
I will be watering the garden when you arrive, so please come around to the back.
*When verbs cannot be continuous:
There are certain verbs in English that are referred to as 'stative verbs,' and these
cannot be used in the continuous tense. Stative verbs are constants and tend to relate
to four things: cognition, perception, emotion, and relation. These verbs stay in the
simple tense, even with a modifier such as 'at this moment'.

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Verb Tenses
Examples: (An asterisk (*) is used to show the incorrect form)
The chef forgets (*is forgetting) the recipe at this moment, so you'd better try later.
(Cognition)
We saw (*were seeing) our cousin when we went to the beach. (Perception)
The conservatives will hate (*will be hating) the new regulation when it becomes law.
(Emotion)
At present, Sheila's parents own (*are owning) several properties in the Sydney area.
(Relation)

The Perfect Tenses

The Past Perfect: This tense is used to refer to a specific moment in the past. It is often
used as a marker for referring to something else, either in the past or the present, for
which the specific event mentioned is relevant to show the order of events. To write in
the past perfect, use the auxiliary had before the simple past form of the verb.

Formula:

had + verb + 'ed'*

Examples:
The bus driver suddenly realized that he had taken the wrong road.
The miners said they had searched for years before they found any gold.
When she got home, Linda found that a thief had broken into her house.
When I invited him to lunch, he said that he had had lunch already.
The Present Perfect: This tense is used to refer to something in the past as it relates to
the present. It is often used when talking about current events and referring to
something that has happened but is still currently true. To write in the present perfect,
use the present tense of the verb 'has' with singular subjects or 'have' with plural
subjects, plus the simple past form of the verb.

Formula:

have (has or have) +

verb + 'ed'*

Examples:
Mrs. Bumphries has been the mayor of this town for six years.
The boys have visited Mexico City many times.
Nancy has read five Victorian novels this year.
So far, the soccer team has lost three times and won four.

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Verb Tenses
The Future Perfect: This tense is used to talk about the future as it would be if it were
in the present. It is not used very often and can be tricky, but is useful to talk about
future plans and hypothetical situations. To write in the future perfect, use the words 'will
have' before the simple perfect form of the verb.

Formula:

will have + verb + 'ed*'

Examples:
If Shirley passes Anatomy 1, she will have taken all the courses needed to graduate.
By the time this building is complete, it will have cost taxpayers ten million dollars.
The logging company will have removed every old-growth redwood in this region by
the time the court-ordered injunction to cease arrives.
By this time tomorrow, the hot-air balloon will have crossed the Atlantic Ocean.

The Perfect Continuous Tenses

The Past Perfect Continuous: This tense is used in the same way as the past perfect,
but to refer to an event that had a specific length of time in the past. To write in the past
perfect continuous, use the words 'had been' before a verb with an 'ing' ending.

Formula:

had been + verb + ing

Examples:
You could tell that the boys had been swimming because their hair was still wet.
The nurse had been helping hundreds of people each week until she became sick
herself.
It turned out the bank clerk had been taking money from the first moment he began
working at the new branch.
Julia had been driving for eight hours straight when the deer ran in front of her, and
she drove off the road.
The Present Perfect Continuous: This tense is used like the present perfect tense, but
to refer to something that has continued for a period of time into the present. To write in
the present perfect continuous, use the present tense of the auxiliary verb 'have', with
the word 'been' and the 'ing' form of the verb.

Formula:

have (has or have) +

been + verb+ing
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Verb Tenses
Examples:
The faucet has been leaking continuously for twenty-four hours. Don't you think we
should call a plumber?
It has been raining continuously since we arrived here.
Mr. and Mrs. Walton have been contributing to the Leukemia foundation every month
since their son died two years ago.
John has been playing the piano since he was a boy, but he's never taken a lesson.
The Future Perfect Continuous: This tense is very rare, but it is used to describe an
event at a specific point in time in the future that will continue for a period of time. To
write in the future perfect continuous, use the words 'will have been' followed by a verb
with an 'ing' ending.

Formula:

will + have + been +

verb+ing

Examples:
When Ms. Dahl retires next year, she will have been teaching science for forty years.
The mountaineers will have been climbing for ten hours straight by the time they reach
the summit.
If my old Volkswagen can survive until next month, it will have been running without
major repairs for two decades.
If we do indeed reach Teheran by nightfall, we will have been driving for six hours
without a decent meal.

*Information and examples taken from the Systems in English Grammar book by Peter
Master.
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