The 12 English Tenses

Quick reference · structure · use · example

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Tense	Use · Example
Present Simple `S + V1 (s/es)`	Habits, facts, timetables. She works at a hospital.
Present Continuous `S + am/is/are + V-ing`	Now, temporary, near future plan. They are studying grammar.
Present Perfect `S + have/has + V3`	Past with result now, life experience. I have lived here for 5 years.
Present Perfect Cont. `S + have/has + been + V-ing`	Started past, still going on. She has been studying for hours.

Tense	Use · Example
Past Simple `S + V2`	Finished past at a specific time. We visited Paris last year.
Past Continuous `S + was/were + V-ing`	In progress at a past moment. I was reading when she called.
Past Perfect `S + had + V3`	Earlier of two past actions. She had left before I arrived.
Past Perfect Cont. `S + had been + V-ing`	Duration up to a past point. He had been waiting for 2 hours.

Tense	Use · Example
Future Simple `S + will + V1`	Predictions, decisions, promises. I will help you tomorrow.
Future Continuous `S + will be + V-ing`	In progress at a future time. At 9pm I will be sleeping.
Future Perfect `S + will have + V3`	Done before a future time. By 2030 she will have graduated.
Future Perfect Cont. `S + will have been + V-ing`	Duration up to a future point. By June I will have been working 10 years.

Present Simple: always · usually · every day · on Mondays

Present Continuous: now · at the moment · this week · Look!

Present Perfect: just · already · yet · ever · since · for

Present Perf. Cont.: for + duration · since · all day · How long?

Past Simple: yesterday · last week · 2 days ago · in 1999

Past Continuous: while · when · as · at 8pm yesterday

Past Perfect: before · after · by the time · already

Past Perf. Cont.: for · since · before · all day · How long?

Future Simple: tomorrow · next week · soon · I think

Future Continuous: at 6pm tomorrow · this time next week

Future Perfect: by + time · by then · by 2030 · before

Future Perf. Cont.: by then · for + duration · by 2030