Verb Tenses in English

Verb tenses help us express when an action happens—past, present, or future. They are an essential part of English grammar, allowing us to talk about events, plans, and experiences.

In this guide, we’ll explore the main verb tenses in English, how they work, and when to use them. With simple explanations and examples, you’ll learn how to use tenses correctly and speak more confidently in English. Let’s go!

What are verb tenses?

Verb tenses tell us whether an action happened in the past, is currently happening in the present, or if it will take place in the future. This allows us to describe events, routines, plans, and experiences in a clear and structured way.

In English, tenses are formed by changing the verb or adding helping words like will or have. For example:

• I study every day. (present)
• I studied yesterday. (past)
• I will study tomorrow. (future)

Using the correct tense in our sentences is crucial because it helps avoid confusion and makes conversations easier to understand.

Types of Verb Tenses in English

There are 12 types of verb tenses in English, which are divided into three main time periods: past, present, and future. And each time period has four aspects: simple, continuous (progressive), perfect, and perfect continuous.

Here’s a list of all 12 verb tenses, along with their usage, formulas, and examples:

Present Tenses

Present Simple

We use present simple to talk about daily routines and habits, about facts and general truths, and about fixed schedules. You can form it with the following formula:

[Subject] + base verb (+s/es for he/she/it)

Examples:

• I study English every day.
• The sun rises in the east.
• They play soccer on Sundays.

Present Continuous (Progressive)

The present continuous is the one we use to talk about actions that are happening right now, as well as temporary actions or to discuss our future plans. We form it by using the following formula:

[Subject] + am/is/are + verb (-ing)

Examples:

• You are reading an article.
• She is talking to her friend.
• They are traveling to Spain next week.

Present Perfect

We use present perfect to talk about actions that started in the past but continue to be relevant in the present. It can also be useful to talk about our life experiences. Here is the formula you can use to form it:

[Subject] + have/has + past participle

Examples:

• I have finished my homework.
• She has visited Italy three times.
• They have lived here since 2015.

Present Perfect Continuous

The present perfect continuous is used for talking about actions that started in the past and are still happening. And, we can also use it to refer to actions that recently stopped but still have a visible effect. You can form it by using this formula:

[Subject] + have/has + been + verb (-ing)

Examples:

• I have been waiting for an hour.
• They have been learning French for six months.
• She is tired because she has been working overtime.

Past Tenses

Past Simple

The past simple, as the name suggests, we use for talking about facts, completed actions, or sequences of events that took place in the past. We form it by using this formula:

[Subject] + past simple verb (-ed for regular verbs, irregular verbs vary)

Examples:

• I watched a movie last night before bed.
• The Titanic sank in 1912.
• He woke up, brushed his teeth, and left the house.

Past Continuous (Progressive)

The past continuous is commonly used to talk about actions that were happening at a specific time in the past, as well as to talk about two actions happening at the same time. And, we can also use it to talk about a past action that was suddenly interrupted by another. This is the formula to form it:

[Subject] + was/were + verb (-ing)

Examples:

• He was driving home at 8 PM.
• She was reading while her husband was watching TV.
• I was studying when the power went out.

Past Perfect

The past perfect is useful when we want to talk about an action that happened before another past event and for reporting past experiences. We form it by using this formula:

[Subject] + had + past participle

Examples:

• I had finished my homework before we went out.
• She had already left when we arrived.
• They had visited Paris before moving to London.

Past Perfect Continuous

The past perfect is used generally while talking about actions that started in the past and had continued to go on until another past action happened. And, we can also use it to talk about the cause that lead to another event in the past. Here is the formula:

[Subject] + had + been + verb (-ing)

Examples:

• She had been waiting for a long time when the bus arrived.
• He was healthy because he had been working out.
• I had been working for five hours when my boss called.

Future Tenses

Future Simple

We use the simple future to talk about predictions, as well as to make promises and decisions made at the moment of speaking and for making offers and requests. This is the formula to form it:

[Subject] + will + base verb

Examples:

• It will rain tomorrow.
• I will help you with that later.
• Will you open the door, please?

Future Continuous

The future continuous is useful to talk about actions or events that will be happening at a  specific time in the future, as well as predictions of what will happen in the future. Here is the formula:

[Subject] + will be + verb (-ing)

Examples:

• This time tomorrow, I will be flying to New York.
• She will be tired after travelling all day
• They will be sleeping when we arrive.

Future Perfect

The future perfect is used to talk about actions that will be completed before a specific time in the future. This is the formula:

[Subject] + will have + past participle

Examples:

• They will have finished that project by Monday.
• She will have traveled to five countries by the end of the year.
• By next year, I will have finished my studies.

Future Perfect Continuous

Finally, we use future perfect continuous to discuss actions that will be ongoing until a certain time in the future. Here is the formula:

[Subject] + will have been + verb (-ing)

Examples:

• By next month, I will have been working here for a year.
• They will have been building that house for five months next week.
• We will have been waiting for an hour when the movie starts.

Understanding how verb tenses work is important for clear communication in English. Each tense helps describe when and how actions happen, so learning them will improve both your speaking and your writing skills.

Common Mistakes to Avoid with Verb Tenses in English

Learning verb tenses can be tricky, and many learners make common mistakes that can cause confusion. Here are some errors to watch out for and how to fix them.

1. Mixing Up Present Simple and Present Continuous

Use present simple whenever you want to talk about habits and routines, and present continuous for discussing actions that are happening right now.

Incorrect: I am go to school every day.
Correct: I study English every day. 

Incorrect: She works on a secret project right now.
Correct: She is working on a secret project right now. 

2. Using the Past Simple Instead of Present Perfect

Use past simple for completed actions with a specific time (e.g., yesterday, last year) and use present perfect for actions without a specific time or actions that still affect the present.

Incorrect: Yesterday, I have seen a good movie
Correct: Yesterday, I saw a good movie. 

Incorrect: She has finished her work an hour ago.
Correct: She finished her work an hour ago.

3. Forgetting to Use “Will” for Future Actions

Remember to always use "will" to talk about decisions, predictions, and future actions.

Incorrect: I go to the doctor tomorrow.
Correct : I will go to the doctor tomorrow.

Incorrect: She calls you later.
Correct: She will call you later.

4. Confusing Past Simple and Past Perfect

We use past perfect (had + past participle) when talking about an action that happened before another past event:

Incorrect: Before I arrived, he left.
Correct: Before I arrived, he had left.

Incorrect: She didn’t study before she took the exam.
Correct: She hadn’t studied before she took the exam.

5. Overusing “Will” Instead of Going to

Note that you should use "going to" when referring to future plans and predictions based on evidence. And use "will" for more spontaneous decisions and general predictions.

Incorrect: I will visit my grandma this weekend (already planned).
Correct: I am going to visit my grandma this weekend.

Incorrect: Look at the sky! It will rain!
Correct: Look at the sky! It is going to rain!

6. Incorrectly Forming Continuous and Perfect Tenses

When using Continuous tenses, always use “be” (am/is/are/was/were) + verb-ing. And, when using Perfect tenses, always use “have/has/had + past participle”.

Incorrect: She has been eat lunch for 30 minutes.
Correct: She has been eating lunch for 30 minutes.

Tips on How to Learn English Verb Tenses

Learning how to use the verb tenses correctly in English can feel overwhelming, but with the right strategies, it becomes much easier! Here are some tips to help you master them:

1. Learn one tense at a time: Trying to learn all 12 verb tenses at once can be confusing. Instead, focus on one tense at a time, starting with the most common ones: Past, present and future. Once you feel comfortable, you may move on to more advanced tenses.
2. Practice with real-life examples: Read short stories, listen to conversations, and watch movies or TV shows in English to see how verb tenses are used in real-life situations.
3. Use visual aid for memorizing common verbs: Create flashcards, charts or concept maps with common verbs and their past, present, and future forms. This will help you remember verbs more easily, especially irregular verbs.
4. Speak and write in English every day: Try writing short diary entries about your day, talking about past experiences, or discussing future plans with a friend or colleague. Using different tenses in everyday situations will help reinforce your knowledge and make them feel more natural over time.
5. Use language learning apps and other online tools: There are many tools and apps available online that will help you reinforce these concepts such as dictionaries, videos, e-books, and of course, apps like Promova that offer you interactive and structured lessons for learning verb tenses with speaking and listening exercises.

Final thoughts

Verb tenses are essential for clear and effective communication in English, as they allow us to provide important details about the timing and duration of current, past and future events.

Mastering the verb tenses in English takes practice, but with time and consistent effort, you’ll be able to use them correctly in conversations, writing, and everyday communication without overthinking it. 

Keep practicing, stay patient, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes—every mistake is a step toward improvement. Good luck!