English Verb Tenses: An Introduction for Language Learners
A challenging but important part of learning English is understanding verb tenses.
In this article we introduce the 12 areas of present, past and future versions of the simple, continuous (progressive), perfect and continuous (progressive) perfect verb aspects.
past – present – future
- walked – walk – will walk
- was walking – walking – will be walking
- had walked – have walked – will have walked
- had been walking – have been walking – will have been walking
Present
- Present Simple: – I walk to the park every day.
- Present Continuous: – I am walking to the park right now.
- Present Perfect: – I have walked to the park many times.
- Present Perfect Continuous: I have been walking to the park for hours.
Past
- Past Simple: – Yesterday, I walked to the park.
- Past Continuous: – While it was raining, I was walking to the park.
- Past Perfect: – By the time I arrived, I had walked to the park.
- Past Perfect Continuous: – I had been walking to the park when it started raining.
Future
- Future Simple: – Tomorrow, I will walk to the park.
- Future Continuous: – At 3 pm tomorrow, I will be walking to the park.
- Future Perfect: – By this time next year, I will have walked to the park 100 times.
- Future Perfect Continuous: -By the end of the week, I will have been walking to the park for seven days straight.
Perfect
- past – had worked – I had worked all day.
- present – have worked – I have worked for an hour.
- future will have worked – I will have worked by the time you arrive.
Present Perfect
Single
first person –
- I have completed my homework
I have traveled to Paris
second person
- You have read the book
- You have visited the museum
third person
- He has received the email
- She has finished her meal
- It has snowed outside
Plural
first person –
- We have finished our project
- We have eaten lunch
second person
- You have met many people
- You have watched the movie
third person
- They have gone to the beach.
- They have played soccer.
Past Perfect
Future Perfect
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