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English Tenses Types and Examples

English Tenses plays a vital role in clearing the English Section in Banking examples as many questions are based on Tenses. Have a look at the English Tenses Types & Examples.

Priyanka Dahima5 Jul, 2024

Tenses: In English, the term "tense" describes the quality of the verb in a sentence. The exact instant that an event is occurring can be described using the tense of a verb.

English Tenses

Definition of Tense- The Merriam-Webster Dictionary gives a somewhat different definition of the term “tense,” which it defines as “any of the forms of a verb that may be used to show the time of the action or situation expressed by the verb.” It states that “a distinction of form in a verb to represent distinctions of time or duration of the action or state it denotes” is what the word “tense” means. The Collins Dictionary defines “tense” as “any of the forms of a verb which reveal the time at which an action happened,” while the Cambridge Dictionary defines “tense” as “any of the forms of a verb which show the time at which an action happened.”

Types of Tenses

The English language includes three primary tenses: past, present, and future, each of which can be simple, continuous, perfect, or perfect continuous. These forms are used to express various times, aspects, and sometimes the mood of an action or condition. Here’s an overview of each type with examples:

Simple Tenses

Simple Past : Used for actions that happened at a specific time in the past.

Example : "She visited her friends last week."

Simple Present : Indicates general truths, habits, or actions happening in the current time.

Example : "He writes emails every day."

Simple Future : Used for actions that will happen in the future.

Example : "They will travel to Japan next year."

Continuous (Progressive) Tenses :

Past Continuous : Used for actions that were ongoing at a specific time in the past.

Example : "I was reading when she called."

Present Continuous : Used for actions happening at the moment of speaking.

Example : "She is sitting right there."

Future Continuous : Indicates that an action will be in progress at a future time.

Example : "He will be working at nine o'clock tomorrow."

Perfect Tenses

Past Perfect : Used for actions that were completed before another action in the past.

Example : "They had finished their meal when we arrived."

Present Perfect : Used for actions that started in the past and continue to the present, or have happened at an unspecified time before now.

Example : "I have seen that movie six times."

Future Perfect : Used for actions that will be completed before a specific moment in the future.

Example : "By the time you arrive, she will have left ."

Perfect Continuous Tenses :

Past Perfect Continuous : Used to show that something started in the past and continued up to another action in the past.

Example : "She had been waiting for more than two hours when he finally arrived."

Present Perfect Continuous : Indicates an action that began in the past and has continued up to the present moment.

Example : "They have been talking for the last hour."

Future Perfect Continuous : Used to show that something will continue up until a particular event or time in the future.

Example : "He will have been studying for three hours by the time his friends arrive."

Tenses Chart with Rules and Examples in English

Tenses Chart with Rules and Examples in English
Tense	Formula & Rules	Example
Simple Present Tense	Subject + base form of the verb/verb+s/es (if needed) + rest of the sentence	He takes oats for breakfast.
Simple Past Tense	Subject + past form of the verb (verb 2) + rest of the sentence	She went for a walk early in the morning.
Simple Future Tense	Subject + helping verb (will) + base form of the verb + rest of the sentence	Jeffry will travel around the country in December.
Present Continuous Tense	Subject + am/is/are + present participle (verb+ing) + the rest of the sentence	I am watching television.
Past Continuous Tense	Subject + was/were + present participle (verb+ing) + the rest of the sentence	She was completing her work when her mother came back.
Future Continuous Tense	Subject + will be + present participle (verb+ing) + rest of the sentence	Children will be going to school.
Present Perfect Tense	Subject + have/has + past participle (third form of the verb) + rest of the sentence	I have worked as an educator for two years.
Past Perfect Tense	Subject + had + past participle (third form of the verb) + rest of the sentence	You had worked as a clerk for five years.
Future Perfect Tense	Subject + helping verbs (will have) + third form of the verb + object	I will have done this work before she comes.
Present Perfect Continuous Tense	Subject + have/has + been + present participle (verb+ing) + since/for (if needed) + the rest of the sentence	You have been telling the truth.
Past Perfect Continuous Tense	Subject + had + been + present participle (verb+ing) + since/for (if needed) + the rest of the sentence	I had been living at my uncle’s place.
Future Perfect Continuous Tense	Subject + will have + been + present participle (verb+ing) + since/for (if needed) + object	She will have been waiting here for three hours by seven o'clock.

Practice Questions on English Tenses

Directions: Study the following sentence and mark the erroneous part as your answer. In case there is no error, mark option (e), that is, ‘No Error’ as your answer.

The institution is running (a)/ a special course (b)/ on spoken English (c)/ since 2011.(d)/ No error

(1) b (2) c (3) a (4) d (5) No Error

Koushik went (a)/ to school after (b)/ he completed (c)/ his task for the day. (d)/ No error

(1) c (2) b (3) a (4) d (5) No Error

The new players(a)/ will played(b)/ the match (c)/before the chairman returns.(d)/No error

(1) b (2) a (3) c (4) d (5) No Error

According to (a)/Sayantani and her (b)/friends, it is time (c)/we go home.(d)/No error

(1) b (2) c (3) d (4) a (5) No Error

When her (a)/ grandmother reached (b)/ home from the (c)/ market, Soumili had her lunch. (d)/ No error

(1) b (2) c (3) a (4) d (5) No Error

English Tenses Types and Examples FAQs

Q1, What is the purpose of using different tenses in English?

Ans. Tenses help indicate the timing of actions, showing whether something happens in the past, present, or future.

Q2. Can the future continuous tense be used to make predictions?

Ans. Yes, the future continuous tense can be used to predict or assume about actions that will be ongoing at a future time.

Q3. How does the present perfect tense differ from the simple past tense?

Ans. The present perfect tense connects past actions to the present, unlike the simple past, which only refers to actions that happened at a specific time in the past.

Q4. Why use the past perfect tense instead of the simple past tense?

Ans. The past perfect tense is used to discuss actions that were completed before another past action, providing clarity on the sequence of events.

Q5. When should I use 'since' or 'for' with the perfect continuous tenses?

Ans. Use 'since' with a specific starting point (e.g., a date or time), and 'for' with a duration of time (e.g., two hours, six years).

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Tenses: In English, the term "tense" describes the quality of the verb in a sentence. The exact instant that an event is occurring can be described using the tense of a verb.

English Tenses

Types of Tenses

Simple Tenses

Simple Past : Used for actions that happened at a specific time in the past.

Example : "She visited her friends last week."

Simple Present : Indicates general truths, habits, or actions happening in the current time.

Example : "He writes emails every day."

Simple Future : Used for actions that will happen in the future.

Example : "They will travel to Japan next year."

Continuous (Progressive) Tenses :

Past Continuous : Used for actions that were ongoing at a specific time in the past.

Example : "I was reading when she called."

Present Continuous : Used for actions happening at the moment of speaking.

Example : "She is sitting right there."

Future Continuous : Indicates that an action will be in progress at a future time.

Example : "He will be working at nine o'clock tomorrow."

Perfect Tenses

Past Perfect : Used for actions that were completed before another action in the past.

Example : "They had finished their meal when we arrived."

Present Perfect : Used for actions that started in the past and continue to the present, or have happened at an unspecified time before now.

Example : "I have seen that movie six times."

Future Perfect : Used for actions that will be completed before a specific moment in the future.

Example : "By the time you arrive, she will have left ."

Perfect Continuous Tenses :

Past Perfect Continuous : Used to show that something started in the past and continued up to another action in the past.

Example : "She had been waiting for more than two hours when he finally arrived."

Present Perfect Continuous : Indicates an action that began in the past and has continued up to the present moment.

Example : "They have been talking for the last hour."

Future Perfect Continuous : Used to show that something will continue up until a particular event or time in the future.

Example : "He will have been studying for three hours by the time his friends arrive."

Tenses Chart with Rules and Examples in English

Tenses Chart with Rules and Examples in English
Tense	Formula & Rules	Example
Simple Present Tense	Subject + base form of the verb/verb+s/es (if needed) + rest of the sentence	He takes oats for breakfast.
Simple Past Tense	Subject + past form of the verb (verb 2) + rest of the sentence	She went for a walk early in the morning.
Simple Future Tense	Subject + helping verb (will) + base form of the verb + rest of the sentence	Jeffry will travel around the country in December.
Present Continuous Tense	Subject + am/is/are + present participle (verb+ing) + the rest of the sentence	I am watching television.
Past Continuous Tense	Subject + was/were + present participle (verb+ing) + the rest of the sentence	She was completing her work when her mother came back.
Future Continuous Tense	Subject + will be + present participle (verb+ing) + rest of the sentence	Children will be going to school.
Present Perfect Tense	Subject + have/has + past participle (third form of the verb) + rest of the sentence	I have worked as an educator for two years.
Past Perfect Tense	Subject + had + past participle (third form of the verb) + rest of the sentence	You had worked as a clerk for five years.
Future Perfect Tense	Subject + helping verbs (will have) + third form of the verb + object	I will have done this work before she comes.
Present Perfect Continuous Tense	Subject + have/has + been + present participle (verb+ing) + since/for (if needed) + the rest of the sentence	You have been telling the truth.
Past Perfect Continuous Tense	Subject + had + been + present participle (verb+ing) + since/for (if needed) + the rest of the sentence	I had been living at my uncle’s place.
Future Perfect Continuous Tense	Subject + will have + been + present participle (verb+ing) + since/for (if needed) + object	She will have been waiting here for three hours by seven o'clock.

Practice Questions on English Tenses

Directions: Study the following sentence and mark the erroneous part as your answer. In case there is no error, mark option (e), that is, ‘No Error’ as your answer.

The institution is running (a)/ a special course (b)/ on spoken English (c)/ since 2011.(d)/ No error

(1) b (2) c (3) a (4) d (5) No Error

Koushik went (a)/ to school after (b)/ he completed (c)/ his task for the day. (d)/ No error

(1) c (2) b (3) a (4) d (5) No Error

The new players(a)/ will played(b)/ the match (c)/before the chairman returns.(d)/No error

(1) b (2) a (3) c (4) d (5) No Error

According to (a)/Sayantani and her (b)/friends, it is time (c)/we go home.(d)/No error

(1) b (2) c (3) d (4) a (5) No Error

When her (a)/ grandmother reached (b)/ home from the (c)/ market, Soumili had her lunch. (d)/ No error

(1) b (2) c (3) a (4) d (5) No Error