12 Tenses

In English
Grammar
English tenses can be helpful in learning
English language from the scratch. There are
three main types of tenses which give an idea
of the time when the incident mentioned in a
statement takes place.

A Publication of
• Perfect tenses allow you to express a prior
action or condition that continues in a
present, past, or future time.
• PRESENT PERFECT
I have begun to compile the survey results
and will continue for the rest of the month.
• PAST PERFECT
I had begun to read the manual when the
lights went out.
• FUTURE PERFECT
I will have begun this project by the time
funds are allocated.
• Progressive tenses allow you to describe
some ongoing action or condition in the
present, past, or future.
• PRESENT PROGRESSIVE
I am beginning to be concerned that we will
not meet the deadline.
• PAST PROGRESSIVE
I was beginning to think we would not finish
by the deadline.
• FUTURE PROGRESSIVE
I will be requesting a leave of absence when
this project is finished.
 PRESENT TENSE
SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE
•The simple present tense represents action occurring in the present, without any
indication of time duration.
Structure: Base verb (+ es/es for third person):
Example: 1) I play game every day. 2) He studies in school.
PRESENT PROGRESSIVE TENSE
The present progressive tense indicates that something is happening at the time you
express it.
Structure: is/am/are + present participle:
Example: 1) I am playing game. 2) He is studying in college.
PRESENT PERFECT TENSE
The present tense indicates that an action is taking place at the time you express it,
or an action that occurs regularly.
Structure: Has/have + past participle:
Example: I have finished my home work.
PRESENT PERFECT PROGRESSIVE TENSE
Present perfect progressive for actions and situations that started in the past and
continue until now.
Structure: Has/have + been + present participle:
Example: 
1) I have been finishing my home work for the last two hours.
2) He has been studying in school since his childhood.
 PAST TENSE

SIMPLE PAST TENSE

•The simple past tense indicates that an action took place in its entirety in the
past.
Structure: Verb+ed or irregular verb:
Example: 1) You played the game. 2) He read the newspaper.
PAST PROGRESSIVE TENSE
The past progressive tense indicates two kinds of past action.
Structure: Was/were + present participle:
Example: 1) I was reading newspaper. 2) He was going to Karachi.
PAST PERFECT TENSE
The past perfect tense indicates an action occurring before a certain time in
the past.
Structure: Had + past participle:
Example: 1) I had finished my home work. 2) He had completed his task.
PAST PERFECT PROGRESSIVE TENSE
The past perfect progressive tense indicates that a past action went on until
another occurred.
Structure: Had + been + present participle:
Example: 1) I had been finishing my home work for 50 minutes.
2) He had been playing game since morning.
 FUTURE TENSE

SIMPLE FUTURE TENSE

The future tense indicates that an action will or is likely to take place.
Structure: Will/shall+verb
Example: 1) I shall go to my home town. 2) He will complete his task.
FUTURE PROGRESSIVE TENSE
The future progressive tense indicates a continuing in the future.
Structure: Will be + present participle
Am/is/are + going to be + present participle:
Example: I will be watching the news at 9pm. / I am going to be watching the news at
9pm.
FUTURE PERFECT TENSE
The future perfect tense indicates that an action will be finished by a certain time.
Structure: Will have + past participle
Am/is/are + going to have + past participle
Example: I will have played the game. / I am going to have played the game.
FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE
The future perfect progressive tense indicates that an action will continue until a
certain future time.
Structure: Will have been + present participle
Am/is/are + going to have been + present participle:
Example: I will have been watching the news for over ten minutes before you join me. /
I am going to have been watching the news for over ten minutes before you join me.
 TENSES TABLE

PAST PRESENT FUTURE

Simple Past Simple Present Simple Future

The action that takes place once, never or several times

He will / is going to play the game

He played a game every Sunday. He plays a game every Sunday. every Sunday.

Actions that happen one after another

He played a game and then he He plays football and then he He will play football and then he
took bath. takes bath. will take bath.

State

He loved yoga. He loves yoga. He will love yoga.

Past Continuous/ Present Continuous/ Future Continuous/ Future

Past Progressive Present Progressive Progressive

Action going on at that moment

He was playing the game. He is playing a game. He will be playing a game.

Actions that are taking place at the same time

He was playing a game and she He is playing a game and she is He will be playing a game and she
was watching TV. watching. will be watching TV.

Past Perfect Simple Present Perfect Simple Future Perfect Simple

Action taking place before a certain moment in time; shows completion/result

He had won two matches until He will have won two matches by
that day. He has won two matches so far. then.

Past Perfect Progressive Present Perfect Progressive Future Perfect Progressive

Action taking place before a certain moment in time and beyond that time, emphasizes on the duration

He had been playing a game for He has been playing a game for He will have been playing a game
ten years. ten years. for ten years.