English Tenses

English Tenses – Simple & Clear Guide

English has 12 main tenses. They are grouped into:

• Present (4)

• Past (4)

• Future (4)

🔵 1. Present Tenses

1️⃣ Present Simple

Structure: Subject + V1 (base verb)
Use: Habits, facts, general truths

Example:

• I work every day.

• She teaches English.

• The sun rises in the east.

2️⃣ Present Continuous

Structure: Subject + am/is/are + V-ing
Use: Happening now

Example:

• I am working now.

• She is reading a book.

3️⃣ Present Perfect

Structure: Subject + has/have + V3
Use: Completed action (time not mentioned)

Example:

• I have finished my work.

• She has visited Colombo.

4️⃣ Present Perfect Continuous

Structure: Subject + has/have been + V-ing
Use: Action started in past and still continuing

Example:

• I have been working for 2 hours.

• She has been studying since morning.

🔴 2. Past Tenses

5️⃣ Past Simple

Structure: Subject + V2
Use: Completed action in the past

Example:

• I worked yesterday.

• She went to school.

6️⃣ Past Continuous

Structure: Subject + was/were + V-ing
Use: Action happening at a specific time in the past

Example:

• I was working at 5 PM.

• They were playing football.

7️⃣ Past Perfect

Structure: Subject + had + V3
Use: One action finished before another past action

Example:

• I had finished before he arrived.

8️⃣ Past Perfect Continuous

Structure: Subject + had been + V-ing
Use: Ongoing action before another past action

Example:

• I had been working for 3 hours before he came.

🟢 3. Future Tenses

9️⃣ Future Simple

Structure: Subject + will + V1
Use: Future decision/prediction

Example:

• I will work tomorrow.

• She will call you.

🔟 Future Continuous

Structure: Subject + will be + V-ing
Use: Action happening at a specific time in future

Example:

• I will be working at 5 PM tomorrow.

1️⃣1️⃣ Future Perfect

Structure: Subject + will have + V3
Use: Completed before a future time

Example:

• I will have finished by 6 PM.

1️⃣2️⃣ Future Perfect Continuous

Structure: Subject + will have been + V-ing
Use: Duration before a future time

Example:

• I will have been working for 5 hours by 6 PM.

📌 Quick Summary Table

Time	Simple	Continuous	Perfect	Perfect Continuous
Present	I work	I am working	I have worked	I have been working
Past	I worked	I was working	I had worked	I had been working
Future	I will work	I will be working	I will have worked	I will have been working