What are the different verb tenses in English?

In English, there are twelve different verb tenses. These tenses are used to indicate the time of an action or event in relation to the present, past, or future. The twelve verb tenses are as follows:

1. Simple Present Tense: This tense is used to describe actions or states that are habitual, general truths, or facts. It is formed by using the base form of the verb.

Example: She plays the piano every day.

2. Present Continuous Tense: This tense is used to describe actions that are happening at the moment of speaking or actions that are in progress. It is formed by using the present participle (-ing form) of the verb with the auxiliary verb "be."

Example: They are studying for their exams right now.

3. Present Perfect Tense: This tense is used to describe actions that started in the past and have a connection to the present. It is formed by using the past participle of the verb with the auxiliary verb "have."

Example: I have visited Paris several times.

4. Present Perfect Continuous Tense: This tense is used to describe actions that started in the past, have a connection to the present, and are still ongoing. It is formed by using the present participle (-ing form) of the verb with the auxiliary verb "have been."

Example: She has been working on her project for three hours.

5. Simple Past Tense: This tense is used to describe actions that happened and were completed in the past. It is formed by using the past tense form of the verb.

Example: He walked to the park yesterday.

6. Past Continuous Tense: This tense is used to describe actions that were happening in the past at a specific time or over a period of time. It is formed by using the past participle (-ing form) of the verb with the auxiliary verb "be."

Example: They were playing soccer when it started raining.

7. Past Perfect Tense: This tense is used to describe actions that happened before another action or event in the past. It is formed by using the past participle of the verb with the auxiliary verb "had."

Example: She had already finished her homework when her friends arrived.

8. Past Perfect Continuous Tense: This tense is used to describe actions that started in the past, continued for a period of time, and were still ongoing before another action or event in the past. It is formed by using the present participle (-ing form) of the verb with the auxiliary verb "had been."

Example: They had been waiting for the bus for an hour before it finally arrived.

9. Simple Future Tense: This tense is used to describe actions that will happen in the future. It is formed by using the base form of the verb with the auxiliary verb "will."

Example: I will visit my grandparents next week.

10. Future Continuous Tense: This tense is used to describe actions that will be happening at a specific time or over a period of time in the future. It is formed by using the present participle (-ing form) of the verb with the auxiliary verb "will be."

Example: They will be traveling to Europe this summer.

11. Future Perfect Tense: This tense is used to describe actions that will be completed before a specific time or another action in the future. It is formed by using the past participle of the verb with the auxiliary verb "will have."

Example: By the time you arrive, I will have finished cooking dinner.

12. Future Perfect Continuous Tense: This tense is used to describe actions that will have been ongoing for a period of time before a specific time or another action in the future. It is formed by using the present participle (-ing form) of the verb with the auxiliary verb "will have been."

Example: By the end of the year, she will have been working at the company for ten years.

These twelve verb tenses allow us to accurately express the time and duration of actions or events in English.