English tenses
An English verb form shows two things at once: time and aspect. Time is present, past or future. Aspect is how we look at the action: as a plain fact, as something in progress, as something completed, or as something in progress up to a point.
Three times and four aspects give the twelve forms on this page. Each one has a line on when to use it and a link to its rule.
- Simple
- A fact, a habit or a finished action.
- Continuous
- In progress at a moment.
- Perfect
- Before a moment, and still connected to it.
- Perfect continuous
- In progress up to a moment.
Present
Simple
Present simple
verb, or verb + -s
Habits, routines and things that are always true.
She walks to work every day.
Continuous
Present continuous
am / is / are + -ing
Something happening now or around now.
Our neighbours are rebuilding their garden wall this month.
Perfect
Present perfect
have / has + past participle
A past action that matters now, or an experience with no time given.
We have finished the report.
Perfect continuous
Present perfect continuous
have / has been + -ing
An activity that started in the past and is still going on, or has only just stopped.
The lift has been making that noise since Tuesday.
Past
Simple
Past simple
verb + -ed, or an irregular form
A finished action at a known time in the past.
They moved here in 2019.
Continuous
Past continuous
was / were + -ing
An action in progress at a moment in the past, often when something else happened.
I was locking my bike when the bus pulled away.
Perfect
Past perfect
had + past participle
An action that happened before another moment in the past.
The bakery had sold out by the time I got there.
Perfect continuous
Past perfect continuous
had been + -ing
An activity that had been going on up to a moment in the past.
They had been queuing for forty minutes when the doors opened.
Future
Simple
Future simple (will)
will + verb
A prediction, a promise or a decision made at the moment of speaking.
Leave the box there. I'll carry it up later.
Continuous
Future continuous
will be + -ing
An action that will be in progress at a time in the future.
At nine tomorrow I will be sitting my driving theory test.
Perfect
Future perfect
will have + past participle
An action that will be finished before a time in the future.
By Friday I will have sent all the invitations.
Perfect continuous
Future perfect continuous
will have been + -ing
How long an activity will have lasted at a time in the future.
By the final whistle they will have been playing for over two hours.
Other ways to talk about the future
be going to
am / is / are going to + verb
A plan you already have, or a prediction from what you can see now.
I'm going to cancel my gym membership next month.
Present continuous for arrangements
am / is / are + -ing, with a future time
A fixed arrangement with a time or a place.
We're meeting the builder at ten tomorrow.
More about tenses
Comparisons, time words and other topics of the tenses area, in the order to read them.
- Verb to be: am / is / areA1Beginner
- have / have got (possession)A1Beginner
- Present Simple: negatives & questionsA1Beginner
- Present Simple vs Present Continuous (basic)A1Beginner
- Past of be: was / wereA1Beginner
- Past Simple: irregular verbsA2Elementary
- Past Simple: negatives & questionsA2Elementary
- Past Simple vs Past ContinuousA2Elementary
- Present Perfect: just / already / yetA2Elementary
- Stative verbsA2Elementary
- Present Perfect vs Past SimpleB1Intermediate
- for / since / How long…?B1Intermediate
- Present Perfect Simple vs ContinuousB1Intermediate
- Narrative tensesB1Intermediate
- used to / would (past habits)B1Intermediate
- Future forms reviewB1Intermediate
- Future in the pastB2Upper-intermediate
- be about to / be due to / be on the verge ofC1AdvancedComing soon
- Perfect infinitive and participleC1AdvancedComing soon
- Tense and aspect nuanceC2ProficiencyComing soon