English Tenses: Types, Definitions & Examples

Tenses Chart with Examples

An explanation of the tenses chart follows.

Simple Present Tense:

Structure:

Simple Presentence Structure

Subject + Verb (vI) + es/es

Examples: 

1. I take exercise daily.
2. he reads a book in the library.
3. neha Watches T.V every day.
4. riya reads the book every day.
5. Ram eats bread and butter before going to school.

Present Continuous Tense:

Structure: 

Present Continuous Tense Structure

Subject + is/am/are + Verb(+ing)

Example: 

1. He is playing basketball.
2. I am studying in a high school.
3. Students are going to school.
4. It is Raining now.
5. I am Cooking biryani for the lunch.

Present Perfect Tense:

Structure:

Present Perfect Tense Structure

Subject + Has/have + Verb (v3)

Example:

1. He has made this colorful chart.
2. I have completed my assignment.
3. We have been to Canada.

Present Perfect Continuous Tense:

Structure: 

Present Perfect Continuous Tense Structure

Subject + Has/have + been + Verb(+ing)

Example: 

1. I have been completing my assignment for the last three days.
2. She has been working in this department since 2022.
3. I have been working on this project for months.
4. we have been working in this project for a week.

Simple Past Tense:

Structure: 

Simple Past Tense Structure

Subject + Verb (v2) or irregular verb:

Example:

1.  She completed the assignment.
2. I read the newspaper.
3. I washed the clothes.
4. Last month I travelled to France.
5. Dinesh went to supermarket yesterday.

Past Continuous Tense:

Structure:

Past Continuous Tense Structure:

Subject + was/were + Verb(+ing)

Example:

1. he was reading the book.
2. I was going to the park for a morning walk.
3. It was snowing today.
4. I was studying last night.
5. Everyone was clapping

Past Perfect Tense:

Structure:

Past Perfect Tense Structure:

Subject + had + Verb (v3)

Example:

1. I had finished my homework.
2. He had completed his task.
3. She had met him before the party.
4. The plane had left by the time I got to the airport.
5. Kate had wanted to see the movie, but she did not have money for the ticket.

Past Perfect Continuous Tense:

Structure:

Past Perfect Continuous Tense Structure:

Subject + had + been + Verb(+ing)

Example:

1.  He had been completing his assignment for the last two hours.
2. I had been playing football since morning.
3. He had been working at the company for five years.
4. Cathy had been throwing rocks at her window.
5. The program that was terminated had been working well since 1945.

Simple Future Tense:

Structure:

Simple Future Tense Structure:

Subject+ will/shall+ verb(v1)

Example:

1. I shall go to the park for a walk.
2. She will perform his duty.
3. I will write articles on different topics.
4. neha will go to the library tomorrow.
5. We will go shopping in the market tomorrow.

Future Continuous Tense:

Structure:

Future Continuous Tense Structure:

Subject + will be/shall be + verb(+ing)

Example:

1. He will be playing football.
2. We shall be eating the meal.
3. It will be raining tomorrow.
4. They will be staying at my place.
5. The doctor will be coming tomorrow.

Future Perfect Tense:

Structure:

Future Perfect Tense Structure:

Subject + will have + verb(v3)

Example:

1. He will have played football.
2. I will have completed my assignment.
3. He will have dressed up by the time you reach home.
4. She will have dressed up by the time you reach home.
5. They will have dressed up by the time you reach home. She will be taking her dog for a walk.

Future Perfect Continuous Tense:

Structure:

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:

Structure:

Past Future Tense Structure:

Subject + would + verb (v1)

Example:

1. I told that I would leave in one hour.
2. I will have been waiting here for three hours by six o’clock.
3. By 1999 will have been living in London for sixteen years.
4. When I finish this course, I will have been learning English for twenty years.
5. Next year I will have been working here for four years.

Tenses Chart: Frequently Asked Questions