Exploring Tenses in

English
Embark on a journey to discover the secrets of English verb tenses. From simple
to continuous to perfect and perfect continuous, we'll guide you through each
one with examples and tips to master your skills.

by Tiago Deamici
Simple Tense
Example
She drinks coffee every morning.

1 2 3
Definition Tip
The basic form of a verb that indicates a Use the simple tense to describe repeated actions
straightforward action in the present, past or or facts.
future.
Continuous Tense
Definition Example
Describes an ongoing or progressive action that They are watching a movie right now.
is happening at a specific point in time.

Tip Practice
Use the continuous tense to highlight an action Read a paragraph and underline all the verbs in
in progress or to describe a situation that started continuous tense.
in the past and is still happening now.
Perfect Tense

Definition Example Tip

Indicates a completed action in I have graduated from college. Use the perfect tense to show the
the past that has a connection to relationship between a past event
the present. and the present.
Perfect Continuous Tense
1 Definition 2 Example
Indicates a continuing action that started in She has been dancing for three hours.
the past and continued up to a specific point in
time.

3 Tip 4 Practice
Use the perfect continuous tense to describe Write a short paragraph using the perfect
an action that started in the past, continues in continuous tense.
the present, and is expected to continue in the
future.
Choosing the Right Tense
Context
Consider the time and setting of
the sentence.
Purpose Subject
Think about what you want to Pay attention to the subject of
convey with your words. the sentence and how it relates
to the time frame.
Examples of Each Tense
Simple Present: He eats lunch every day.

Simple Past: We walked to the park yesterday.

Simple Future: I will travel to Paris next year.

Present Continuous: They are playing soccer at the stadium.

Past Continuous: She was reading a book last night.

Future Continuous: We will be driving to the beach tomorrow.

Present Perfect: He has finished his homework already.

Past Perfect: She had studied English before moving to the US.

Future Perfect: They will have completed the task by then.

Present Perfect Continuous: I have been learning Spanish for months.

Past Perfect Continuous: We had been waiting for hours when the train
finally arrived.

Future Perfect Continuous: By 2025, she will have been living in New York for
a decade.
Practice Your Skills

Take Notes Time Yourself Read Aloud

Watch a movie or TV show and Set a timer for 5 minutes and write Read a paragraph out loud and
write down sentences that use as many sentences as you can identify which tense is used for
different verb tenses. using a specific tense. each sentence.