Verb Tenses Chart
1) SIMPLE TENSES
Simple Present Tense
It snows in Alaska.
I watch television everyday.
I visit my cousin all the time.
Also see Tense Agreement
In general, the simple present expresses events or situations that exist always, usually, habitually; they exist now, they have existed in the past, and probably will exist in the future.
See Simple Present Tense for detailed grammar explanations.
PDFs: BE Positive BE Negative BE Questions BE Mixed WH Questions
Simple Past Tense
It snowed yesterday.
I watched television last night.
I visited my cousin last year.
At one particular time in the past, this happened. It began and ended in the past. See simple past detailed explanations
PDFs: Regular Positive Simple Past To Be Irregular Positive Irregular Negative & Questions Mixed Exercise
Simple Future Tense
It will snow tomorrow.
I will watch television tonight.
I will visit my cousin later.
At one particular time in the future, this will happen.
See Simple Future Tense for detailed grammar explanations.
2) PROGRESSIVE VERB TENSES
Present Progressive Tense
He is sleeping right now.
He is asleep at the moment. His sleep is in progress at the present time, and probably will continue.(at least for a while)
See Present Simple vs Present Continuous for detailed grammar explanations.
PDFs: Positive Negative & Questions Simple Present vs Continuous 1 2
Past Progressive Tense
He was sleeping when I arrived.
He went to sleep at 10:00 last night. I arrived at 11:00. He was still asleep. His sleep began before and was in progress at a particular time in the past. It probably continued.(at least for a while)
See Past Continuous Tense for detailed grammar explanations.
PDFs: Past Simple vs Past Continuous Worksheet 1 Worksheet 2
Future Progressive Tense
He will be sleeping when we arrive.
He will go to sleep at 10:00 tomorrow night. We will arrive around 11:00. The action of sleeping will begin before we arrive, and it will be in progress at a particular time in the future. His sleep will probably continue.(at least for a while) See Future Continuous Tense for details.
3) PERFECT VERB TENSES
Present Perfect Tense
I have already eaten.
I finished eating something before now. The exact time is not important.
See Present Perfect Tense for detailed grammar explanations.
PDFs: Positive Already / Just / Yet After Because Mixed
Past Simple vs Present Perfect Worksheet 1 / Worksheet 2
Past Perfect Tense
I had already eaten when they arrived.
First I finished eating. Later they arrived. My eating was completely finished before another time in the past
See Past Perfect Tense for more details, examples and exercises.
PDFs: Past Perfect vs Past Simple Worksheet
Future Perfect Tense
I will already have eaten when they arrive.
First I will finish eating. Later they will arrive. My eating will be completely finished before another time in the future. See Future Perfect Tense.
4) PERFECT PROGRESSIVE VERB TENSES
Present Perfect Progressive Tense I have been studying for two hours.
Event in progress: studying
When? Before now, up to now
How long? For two hours
See Present Perfect Continuous Tense for more explanations.
PDFs: Mixed Mixed 2 Present Perfect vs Perfect Continuous Exercise 1 / 2
Past Perfect Progressive Tense I had been studying for two hours before my friends came.
Event in progress: studying
When? Before another event in the past
How long? For two hours
See Past Perfect Progressive Details
Future Perfect Progressive Tense I will have been studying for two hours by the time you arrive.
Event in progress: studying
When? Before another event in the future
How long? For two hours
See Future Perfect Continuous Tense Details
See
Tenses Exercises
Instantly Download and Print
Comments