English tenses – in-depth analysis with examples

When beginners start acquiring the English language, understanding of the English tenses can be particularly challenging, that's why it is not usually covered enough at the initial stage of learning. Let's finally figure it out!

Contents

1. How English tenses are formed
2. Simple Tenses
    2.1. Present Simple
    2.2. Past Simple
    2.3. Future Simple
3. Continuous Tenses
    3.1. Present Continuous
    3.2. Past Continuous
    3.3. Future Continuous
4. Perfect Tenses
    4.1. Present Perfect
    4.2. Past Perfect
    4.3. Future Perfect
5. Perfect Continuous Tenses
    5.1. Present Perfect Continuous
    5.2. Past Perfect Continuous
    5.3. Future Perfect Continuous
6. Memorization lifehack – an easy table of English tenses
7. FAQs and study tips

How English tenses are formed

English has got three primary tenses – past, present, and future. An action happening in each tense can be characterized by four different states (aspects):

• Simple – emphasizes the fact of the action;
• Continuous (progressive) – emphasizes the duration;
• Perfect – focuses on the result;
• Perfect Continuous (progressive) – points out both the result and the duration.

The choice of combination depends solely on what aspect of the action you wish to emphasize and when it occurred. By modifying the verb form, you can express the desired grammar tense in English.

You can listen to simple, humorous explanations about the use of different tenses in this video:

Below you will find the comprehensive chart of all English tenses:

Simple Tenses

These English tenses are utilized to express facts or routine actions. They describe actions without clearly indicating whether they have ended or are ongoing. They are all employed to indicate the fact of committing an action.

Present Simple

This form is frequently used in communication and serves as the starting point for studying the general theory of English tenses. Present Simple is used when talking about:

1. Habits or everyday tasks that constitute our routine (My son goes to the swimming pool three times a week).

2. A state, fact, or general information that is true and/or constant at the current moment (His grandparents live in Kyiv).

3. General facts, laws of nature, or permanent states (Water boils when it’s 100° C).

Time markers:

• always
• often
• rarely
• usually
• never
• seldom
• sometimes

When constructing a sentence, pay attention to the verb. If it is the verb “to be”, then in Present Simple, it has three forms, as shown in the table of English tenses:

If a verb denotes any other action, the following rules apply:

• For the third person singular of Present Simple (he/ she/ it), the ending -s is added to the verb.
• In all other cases, the verb is used in the first form (V).
• In negative sentences and questions in Present Simple, it is necessary to use the auxiliary verbs “do” or “does”.

Past Simple

This English tense is employed to convey information about a specific event or action that occurred at a certain time in the past. It is used when talking about:

1. Commonly known facts about events that happened in the past (Vincent van Gogh cut off his left ear).

2. Repeated or single actions in the past (I ran every morning last month).

3. An action that started and finished in the past (I studied at university in 1998).

4. Actions that happened consecutively in the past, forming a chain of events in stories, narratives, etc. (She closed the door, took off shoes and her coat then she heard the phone call).

Time markers:

• yesterday
• ago
• last Sunday
• when I was young/ at school/ married…

When making sentences, pay attention to the verb. If it is the verb “to be”, then it has two forms in Past Simple, as shown in the table of English tenses:

All other past tense verbs in English are categorized as regular or irregular. Depending on this:

• We add the ending -ed to regular verbs (to cook – cooked, to jump – jumped etc.).
• We use the second form of irregular verbs (to catch – caught, to think – thought etc.).

When forming questions or negative sentences in Past Simple, the auxiliary verb “did” is used.

Future Simple

In the future tense, gender and number do not cause any changes. It is commonly taught after Present Simple and is typically used to talk about:

1. General facts about the future (Maybe I will study a second foreign language).

2. Assumptions, fears, predictions, or hopes (I hope I will travel to Lviv next month).

3. Unplanned (spontaneous) decisions about the future (It’s cold here! – Oh, I will close the window).

Time markers:

• tomorrow
• next (year, week, month, etc)
• soon
• in a (year, week, month, etc)
• the day after tomorrow

The construction of Future Simple is the simplest among all English simple tenses because only the auxiliary verb “will” needs to be added:

Continuous Tenses

All forms of the English continuous tenses are utilized to show the duration of an action at a specific moment in the present, past, or future.

This group has a peculiarity. It is impossible to employ state verbs, such as: to hear, to see, to taste, to think, to hate, to hope, to like, to love, etc. 

Present Continuous

This English tense is used to talk about:

1. An action that is happening right now, at the moment of speaking (You’re looking at the screen now).

2. Repeated or regular actions in the present, which are considered temporary and will be completed in the near future (I’m working with new colleagues these days).

3. Simultaneous actions occurring at a certain moment in the present (My sister is playing football while I’m walking with our dog).

Often in English, Present Continuous is utilized with words like “always”, “constantly”, “continuously” to describe events that are regular, unplanned, and quite unwanted and irritating (You’re always playing those stupid video games. It drives me crazy!).

Time markers:

• now
• at the moment 
• at present
• these days

Past Continuous

Past Continuous is used to talk about:

1. Continuous actions in a certain period of the past (I was cooking dinner yesterday at 5 pm).

2. Background events in stories, short stories, etc. (The sun was shining, birds were chirping and only I was crying).

3. Interrupted actions in the past. In this case, we have two actions: a long one – a process, in Past Continuous, and a short one – an instant action, in Past Simple (Jane was cleaning the house when her son came home).

Time markers:

• when
• while

Future Continuous

This English tense is employed to denote a process or prolonged action that will take place for a certain period of time in the future. This moment can be determined:

1. With an exact point in the future (His granny will be watching football tomorrow at 9 pm).

2. With another long or short action in the future:

• When you come home, I’ll be sitting in the kitchen.
• While my mom is cooking dinner, I’ll be watching TV.

Look at the sentences with “when” and “while”, when we are talking about two actions in the future. If the action is short, we use Future Simple, if the action is long, we use Present Continuous.

Time markers:

• at 9 p.m. tomorrow 
• this time next week 
• all day tomorrow
• in a year from now
• when you are from

Perfect Tenses

This category of English perfect tenses is employed to describe the result of an action. Its primary characteristic involves the utilization of the auxiliary verbs “have” (for the present) or “had” (for the past), together with the third form of the main verb (V3).

Present Perfect 

This English tense emphasizes the result of an already completed action in the present. The exact time of the action or its duration in the past is typically unknown. Present Perfect is commonly used to talk about:

1. Life experience up to the current moment; it is not important when the events occurred (I have jumped with a parachute). 

2. Actions that have just finished in the recent past:

• She has just cooked our dinner.
• They have finished a new project recently.

3. Events that started in the past and still continue in the present. Signal words such as “for” and “since” are typically employed:

• I have already worked here for 10 years.
• She has known her friend since their childhood.

Time markers:

• ever
• never
• before
• already
• so far
• up to now
• yet
• recently
• lately
• since
• for

Past Perfect

It indicates an action that occurred before a specific time in the past or before another action in the past:

• I had completed my working tasks before 7 pm yesterday. 
• I had completed my working tasks before I went home last Monday. 

In this context, we discuss the action that occurred earlier in the past using Past Perfect and the action that occurred later using Past Simple.

Time markers:

• already
• before
• by the time
• after

Future Perfect

Future Perfect is used when discussing an action that will be completed by a certain moment or before another action in the future:

• Scientists will have invented a lot of interesting devices by 2035.
• Jade will have answered all the questions by the time a teacher comes back.

When dealing with two events in the future, Future Perfect is used for the main event, while Present Simple is used for the secondary event.

Perfect Continuous Tenses 

They are employed to express prolonged actions that started in the past and are still in progress up to now (in the present) or up to another specific moment in the future. They are particularly useful for illustrating the causes and consequences of long-term actions. As part of the English continuous tenses group, it is essential to note that state verbs cannot be used in this context.

Present Perfect Continuous 

The duration of an action and its connection to the present moment are vital, the question «How long?» can be asked here. This tense is used when describing an action that:

1. Was in progress for some period of time and occurred in the recent past. The specific moment is not crucial, but the results are observable in the present (I have just been cleaning our house. – It looks pretty clean now!).

2. Started at a specific point in the past and has been ongoing up to the present or is still in progress, regardless of whether the action will continue in the future (She has been working in that company for 10 years).

3. Repeated actions that began at a particular point in the past and continue in the present. We don't know how many times the action was repeated (They have been visiting the same hotel in Egypt for more than 5 years).

Time markers:

• for
• since
• recently

Past Perfect Continuous

This English tense is utilized when there is a need to talk about an action that began at a specific moment in the past and was ongoing for a certain period of time before another action started or until a particular point in the past:

• Your dad had been working as a graphic designer for 20 years before he resigned..
• My dog had been barking the night before, so I was so sleepy at university. 

In the context of expressing two events in the past: Past Perfect Continuous is employed for a continuous event, while Past Simple is used for a short action.

Time markers:

• since
• for

Future Perfect Continuous

It describes a process or long action that will be in progress up to a certain point in the future and/or will have been completed by that specified time. This point can be indicated:

1. With a precise reference in the future (In 2025 she will have been living in that house for 30 years).

2. Through another one-time action in the future (By the time he graduates, he will have been studying at the university for six years).

In the case of expressing two events in the future: Future Perfect Continuous is used for a longer event, whereas Present Simple is employed for a shorter or one-moment event.

Time markers:

• by the time
• for
• by tomorrow
• by next week

Memorization lifehack – an easy table of English tenses

FAQs and study tips

1. How many forms do I need to know to speak fluently?

If your aim is basic conversational skills for everyday situations, understanding the basic English tenses (Present Simple, Past Simple, Future Simple) and common constructions should suffice. However, for ambitions like working in an international company, studying, or living abroad, a deeper knowledge is advisable.

2. How quickly can I learn all the tenses of the English language?

Learning all English tenses is not the most challenging task since they follow specific formulas. The complexity lies in using them effectively in conversation, and the time it takes to master them may vary among students.

3. Tips for studying

• Don't try to memorize everything at once. Gradually progress from the easiest to the more complex forms, enhancing your overall understanding.
• Try to grasp the general logic behind the formation of all structures. Tables of tenses in the English language can be really beneficial here.
• Create your own examples. Preferably ones that are humorous or nonsensical. Such sentences tend to stick in your memory.
• Relax and don't overwhelm your mind with information.