In English, there are typically 12 tenses that are commonly used. These tenses are used to indicate different times in relation to the present, past, and future.
Here is a breakdown of the 12 tenses and their common contexts:
PRESENT
Present Simple: Used for general facts, habits, and permanent situations.
Example: “I eat breakfast every morning.”
Present Continuous: Used for actions happening now or around the present moment.
Example: “She is reading a book right now.”
Present Perfect: Used for past actions with a connection to the present or for experiences.
Example: “I have visited Paris several times.”
Present Perfect Continuous: Used for actions that started in the past, continue in the present, and may continue in the future.
Example: “They have been studying English for three years.”
PAST
Past Simple: Used for completed actions in the past.
Example: “He watched a movie last night.”
Past Continuous: Used for actions in progress at a specific time in the past.
Example: “We were playing soccer when it started to rain.”
Past Perfect: Used to describe an action that happened before another action in the past.
Example: “She had already finished her homework when her friends arrived.”
Past Perfect Continuous: Used to describe a continuous action that happened before another action in the past.
Example: “I had been waiting for two hours before the bus finally arrived.”
FUTURE
Future Simple: Used for actions that will happen in the future.
Example: “They will go to the party tomorrow.”
Future Continuous: Used for actions that will be in progress at a specific time in the future.
Example: “At 7 PM tomorrow, I will be studying for my exam.”
Future Perfect: Used for actions that will be completed before a specific time in the future.
Example: “By next week, he will have finished writing the report.”
Future Perfect Continuous: Used for actions that will have been ongoing for a certain duration before a specific time in the future.
Example: “By the time she arrives, I will have been waiting for two hours.”
It’s important to note that some tenses may have additional nuanced uses and variations, but these are the basic contexts in which they are typically employed.
Summary
| Tense | Form | Usage | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Present Simple | Subject + Verb | General facts, habits, permanent situations | I eat breakfast every morning. |
| Present Continuous | Subject + “be” verb + Verb + “-ing” | Actions happening now or around the present moment | She is reading a book right now. |
| Present Perfect | Subject + “have” + Past Participle | Past actions with a connection to the present or experiences | I have visited Paris several times. |
| Present Perfect Continuous | Subject + “have been” + Verb + “-ing” | Actions started in the past, continue in the present, and may continue in the future | They have been studying English for three years. |
| Past Simple | Subject + Verb (Past Tense) | Completed actions in the past | He watched a movie last night. |
| Past Continuous | Subject + “be” verb (Past Tense) + Verb + “-ing” | Actions in progress at a specific time in the past | We were playing soccer when it started to rain. |
| Past Perfect | Subject + “had” + Past Participle | Action that happened before another action in the past | She had already finished her homework when her friends arrived. |
| Past Perfect Continuous | Subject + “had been” + Verb + “-ing” | Continuous action that happened before another action in the past | I had been waiting for two hours before the bus finally arrived. |
| Future Simple | Subject + “will” + Verb | Actions that will happen in the future | They will go to the party tomorrow. |
| Future Continuous | Subject + “will be” + Verb + “-ing” | Action that will be in progress at a specific time in the future | At 7 PM tomorrow, I will be studying for my exam. |
| Future Perfect | Subject + “will have” + Past Participle | Action that will be completed before a specific time in the future | By next week, he will have finished writing the report. |
| Future Perfect Continuous | Subject + “will have been” + Verb + “-ing” | Action that will have been ongoing for a certain duration before a specific time in the future | By the time she arrives, I will have been waiting for two hours. |