What are the different verb tenses in English?

English Grammar Questions Medium



80 Short 80 Medium 70 Long Answer Questions Question Index

What are the different verb tenses in English?

In English, there are twelve different verb tenses. They are:

1. Simple Present Tense: Used to describe actions that happen regularly or facts.
Example: I eat breakfast every morning.

2. Present Continuous Tense: Used to describe actions happening at the moment of speaking or temporary actions.
Example: She is studying for her exam right now.

3. Present Perfect Tense: Used to describe actions that happened in the past but have a connection to the present.
Example: They have visited Paris several times.

4. Present Perfect Continuous Tense: Used to describe actions that started in the past, continue in the present, and may continue in the future.
Example: He has been working on this project for two months.

5. Simple Past Tense: Used to describe actions that happened and were completed in the past.
Example: We went to the beach last weekend.

6. Past Continuous Tense: Used to describe actions that were happening in the past at a specific time or for a specific duration.
Example: She was reading a book when I called her.

7. Past Perfect Tense: Used to describe actions that happened before another action in the past.
Example: They had already left when we arrived.

8. Past Perfect Continuous Tense: Used to describe actions that started in the past, continued for a specific duration, and were still ongoing before another action in the past.
Example: I had been waiting for him for two hours before he finally arrived.

9. Simple Future Tense: Used to describe actions that will happen in the future.
Example: They will go on vacation next month.

10. Future Continuous Tense: Used to describe actions that will be happening at a specific time in the future.
Example: I will be studying for my exam tomorrow evening.

11. Future Perfect Tense: Used to describe actions that will be completed before a specific time in the future.
Example: By next year, she will have finished her degree.

12. Future Perfect Continuous Tense: Used to describe actions that will have been ongoing for a specific duration before a specific time in the future.
Example: By the time he arrives, I will have been waiting for him for three hours.