Verb Tenses Chart

Verb forms used: present root | present participle | past root | past participle

Simple Tenses:

Simple tenses are used whenever we are talking about a point in time. Past Simple Use for an action that happened at a point in time in the past. e.g. – I ate breakfast this morning. Present Simple Use when making a general statement of truth at the present point in time. e.g. – I eat breakfast every day. Future Simple Use for an action that will happen at a point in time in the future. e.g. – I will eat breakfast later.

Continuous Tenses:

Continuous tenses are used whenever we are talking about a length of time. Past Continuous Use for an action that was happening for a length of time in the past when another action happened in the middle of it.e.g. – I was eating breakfast when my brother arrived. Present Continuous Use for an action that is happening now.e.g. – Right now, I am eating breakfast. Future Continuous Use for an action that will be happening for a length of time in the future.e.g. – I will be eating breakfast from 9:00 to 9:30.

Perfect Tenses:

Perfect tenses are used whenever we are talking about a point in time before another point in time. Past Perfect Use for an action that happened in the past before another action.e.g. – I had already eaten breakfast when my brother arrived. Present Perfect Use for an action that happened in the past before the present moment.e.g. – I have already eaten breakfast. Future Perfect Use for an action that will happen in the future before another action.e.g. – I will have already eaten breakfast by the time my brothers arrives.

Perfect Continuous Tenses:

Perfect continuous tenses are used whenever we are talking about a length of time up to a point in time. Past Perfect Continuous Use for an action that was happening for a length of time in the past up to the moment when another action happened.e.g. – I had been eating breakfast for 30 minutes when my brother arrived. Present Perfect Continuous Use for an action that was happening for a length of time up to the present moment.e.g. – I have been eating my breakfast for 30 minutes. Future Perfect Continuous Use for an action that will be happening in the future for a length of time up to the moment when another action will happen.e.g. – I will have been eating my breakfast for 30 minutes by the time you arrive.

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