Verb Tense

In English grammar, the term "tense" traditionally refers to any conjugated form expressing grammatical
tense, aspect, or mood. The large number of different composite verb forms means that English has the
richest and subtlest system of tense and aspect of any Germanic language. This can be confusing for foreign
learners; however, the English system can be presented systematically by noting that each of the temporal
spheres (past, present, future) distinguishes simple forms from progressive (continuous), perfect, or both.
Simple Present

I study English every day.

Present Continuous

I am studying English now.

Present Perfect

Simple Past
Two years ago, I studied English in
England.
Past Continuous
I was studying English when you
called yesterday.
Past Perfect

Simple Future
If you are having problems, I will
help you study English.
I am going to study English next
year.
Future Continuous
I will be studying English when you
arrive tonight.
I am going to be studying English
when you arrive tonight.
Future Perfect
I will have studied every tense by
the time I finish this course.

I have studied English in several

different countries.

I had studied a little English before I

moved to the U.S.
I am going to have studied every
tense by the time I finish this
course.

Present Perfect Continuous

Past Perfect Continuous

I have been studying English for

five years.

I had been studying English for five

years before I moved to the U.S.

Future Perfect Continuous

I will have been studying English
for over two hours by the time you
arrive.
I am going to have been studying
English for over two hours by the
time you arrive.

Sentences can be active or passive. Therefore, tenses also have "active forms" and "passive forms".
This table, of course, omits a number of forms which can be regarded as additional to the basic system:

the intensive present I do write

the intensive past I did write
the habitual past I used to write
the intensive future I shall write
the "going-to future" I am going to write
the "future in the past" I was going to write
the conditional I would write
the perfect conditional I would have written
the subjunctive, if I be writing, if I were writing.