Verb Tenses: A Complete Guide - Grammar Explanations

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Introduction to tenses in English

A verb in English has different forms. These forms are called tenses. There are three main tenses in English: present, past and future.

We will explain these verb tense in terms of the following aspects:

Simple tenses
Continuous tenses
Perfect tenses
Perfect continuous tenses

For more detailed explanations, check individual tenses under Grammar Explanations.

Simple Tenses

Present simple

It is used to talk about present habits, routine actions, general truths, actions that are true for a long time.

The base verb or base verb + s/es is used to express present simple actions.

I usually wake up early in the morning.
Birds fly.
She does not work for a big company.
Do you frequently go to the beach?

Past simple

It is used to talk about completed actions and routine actions in the past.

The past tense verb is used to express past actions.

They lived in Istanbul for a long time.
She took some notes during the lesson.
We did not buy anything online last week.
Did he attend yesterday’s class?

Future simple

It is used to talk about actions that will happen at a particular time in the future.

We express future actions using will + base verb and be + going + to + base verb.

I will visit them when I arrive there.
It will rain tomorrow
They are going to eat out tonight.
She will not attend my class today.
Will it snow tomorrow?

Here is a table that demonstrates simple tenses in both active and passive voices.

Forms	Active	Passive
Present Simple
Affirmative	I drink milk. We drink milk. You drink milk They drink milk. She drinks milk. He drinks milk. My cat drinks milk.	Milk is drunk by me. Milk is drunk by us. Milk is drunk by you. Milk is drunk by them. Milk is drunk by her. Milk is drunk by him. Milk is drunk by my cat.
Negative	I do not drink milk. We do not drink milk. You do not drink milk They do not drink milk. She does not drink milk. He does not drink milk. It does not drink milk.	Milk is not drunk by me. Milk is not drunk by us. Milk is not drunk by you. Milk is not drunk by them. Milk is not drunk by her. Milk is not drunk by him. Milk is not drunk by my cat.
Questions	Do I drink milk? Do we drink milk? Do you drink milk? Do they drink milk? Does she drink milk? Does she drink milk? Does my cat drink milk?	Is milk drunk by me? Is milk drunk by us? Is milk drunk by you? Is milk drunk by them? Is milk drunk by her? Is milk drunk by him? Is milk drunk by my cat?
Past Simple
Affirmative	I drank milk. We drank milk. You drank milk They drank milk. She drank milk. He drank milk. My cat drank milk.	Milk was drunk by me. Milk was drunk by us. Milk was drunk by you. Milk was drunk by them. Milk was drunk by her. Milk was drunk by him. Milk was drunk by my cat.
Negative	I did not drink milk. We did not drink milk. You did not drink milk They did not drink milk. She did not drink milk. He did not drink milk. It did not drink milk.	Milk was not drunk by me. Milk was not drunk by us. Milk was not drunk by you. Milk was not drunk by them. Milk was not drunk by her. Milk was not drunk by him. Milk was not drunk by my cat.
Questions	Did I drink milk? Did we drink milk? Did you drink milk? Did they drink milk? Did she drink milk? Did he drink milk? Did my cat drink milk?	Was milk drunk by me? Was milk drunk by us? Was milk drunk by you? Was milk drunk by them? Was milk drunk by her? Was milk drunk by him? Was milk drunk by my cat?
Future Simple
Affirmative	I will drink milk. We will drink milk. You will drink milk They will drink milk. She will drink milk. He will drink milk. My cat will drink milk.	Milk will be drunk by me. Milk will be drunk by us. Milk will be drunk by you. Milk will be drunk by them. Milk will be drunk by her. Milk will be drunk by him. Milk will be drunk by my cat.
Negative	I will not drink milk. We will not drink milk. You will not drink milk They will not drink milk. She will not drink milk. He will not drink milk. My cat will not drink milk.	Milk will not be drunk by me. Milk will not be drunk by us. Milk will not be drunk by you. Milk will not be drunk by them. Milk will not be drunk by her. Milk will not be drunk by him. Milk will not be drunk by my cat.
Questions	Will I drink milk? Will we drink milk? Will you drink milk? Will they drink milk? Will she drink milk? Will he drink milk? Will my cat drink milk?	Will milk be drunk by me? Will milk be drunk by us? Will milk be drunk by you? Will milk be drunk by them? Will milk be drunk by her? Will milk be drunk by him? Will milk be drunk by my cat?

Continuous Tenses

(Also called progressive)

Present continuous

It is used to talk about actions happening right now or at a time around now. It is also used to talk about planned future actions.

The verb form is verb be (am, is, are) + base verb + ing.

I am eating right now.
They are watching TV at the moment.
She is not sleeping.
Are they leaving tomorrow?

Past continuous

It is used to talk about actions that were in progress at a specific time in the past.

The verb used is past of verb be (was, were) + base verb + ing.

I was checking my email when you called.
They were eating at the restaurant at 5 pm.
She was not sleeping when they arrived.
Was she sleeping when they arrived?

Future continuous

It is used to talk about actions that will be in progress at a particular time in the future.

The verb form used is will + be + base verb + ing.

I will be packing the bags at 9 pm.
They will not be exercising at 7 o’clock in the morning.
Will she be sleeping when we arrive tomorrow?

Here is a table that demonstrates continuous tenses in both active and passive voices.

Forms	Active	Passive
Present Continuous
Affirmative	I am drinking milk. We are drinking milk. You are drinking milk They are drinking milk. She is drinking milk. He is drinking milk. My cat is drinking milk.	Milk is being drunk by me. Milk is being drunk by us. Milk is being drunk by you. Milk is being drunk by them. Milk isl being drunk by her. Milk is being drunk by him. Milk is being drunk by my cat.
Negative	I am not drinking milk. We are not drinking milk. You are not drinking milk They are not drinking milk. She is not drinking milk. He is not drinking milk. My cat is not drinking milk.	Milk is not being drunk by me. Milk is not being drunk by us. Milk is not being drunk by you. Milk is not being drunk by me. Milk is not being drunk by us. Milk is not being drunk by you. Milk is not being drunk by them. Milk is not being drunk by her. Milk is not being drunk by him. Milk is not being drunk by my cat.
Questions	Am I drinking milk? Are we drinking milk? Are you drinking milk? Are they drinking milk? Is she drinking milk? Is he drinking milk? Is my cat drinking milk?	Is milk being drunk by me? Is milk being drunk by us? Is milk being drunk by you? Is milk being drunk by them? Is milk being drunk by her? Is milk being drunk by him? Is milk being drunk by my cat?
Past Continuous
Affirmative	I was drinking milk. We were drinking milk. You were drinking milk They were drinking milk. She was drinking milk. He was drinking milk. My cat was drinking milk.	Milk was being drunk by me. Milk was being drunk by us. Milk was being drunk by you. Milk was being drunk by them. Milk was being drunk by her. Milk was being drunk by him. Milk was being drunk by my cat.
Negative	I was not drinking milk. We were not drinking milk. You were not drinking milk They were not drinking milk. She was not drinking milk. He was not drinking milk. My cat was not drinking milk.	Milk was not being drunk by me. Milk was not being drunk by us. Milk was not being drunk by you. Milk was not being drunk by them. Milk was not being drunk by her. Milk was not being drunk by him. Milk was not being drunk by my cat.
Questions	Was I drinking milk? Were we drinking milk? Were you drinking milk? Were they drinking milk? Was she drinking milk? Was he drinking milk? Was my cat drinking milk?	Was milk being drunk by me? Was milk being drunk by us? Was milk being drunk by you? Was milk being drunk by them? Was milk being drunk by her? Was milk being drunk by him? Was milk being drunk by my cat?
Future Continuous
Affirmative	I will be drinking milk. We will be drinking milk. You will be drinking milk They will be drinking milk. She will be drinking milk. He will be drinking milk. My cat will be drinking milk.	Milk will be being drunk by me. Milk will be being drunk by us. Milk will be being drunk by you. Milk will be being drunk by them. Milk will be being drunk by her. Milk will be being drunk by him. Milk will be being drunk by my cat.
Negative	I will not be drinking milk. We will not be not drinking milk. You will not be drinking milk They will not be drinking milk. She will not be drinking milk. He will not be drinking milk. My cat will not be drinking milk.	Milk will not be being drunk by me. Milk will not be being drunk by us. Milk will not be being drunk by you. Milk will not be being drunk by them. Milk will not be being drunk by her. Milk will not be being drunk by him. Milk will not be being drunk by my cat.
Questions	Will I be drinking milk? Will we be drinking milk? Will you be drinking milk? Will they be drinking milk? Will she be drinking milk? Will he be drinking milk? Will my cat be drinking milk?	Will milk be being drunk by me? Will milk be being drunk by us? Will milk be being drunk by you? Will milk be being drunk by them? Will milk be being drunk by her? Will milk be being drunk by him? Will milk be being drunk by my cat?

Perfect tenses

Present perfect

It is used to talk about actions that started (and maybe completed) in the past but still has effect on the present.

The verb form used is have/has + past participle verb.

I have lived in this city for 10 years.
We have submitted the project.
She has not eaten yet.
Have they booked a flight?

Past perfect

It is used to talk about actions that happened before a particular time in the past.

The verb form used is had + past participle verb.

They had already eaten when we arrived.
He had taken a shower before the alarm clock went off.
I had not completed reading the book when I lost it.
Had you heard the news before you met them?

Future perfect

It is used to talk about an action that will be completed before a particular time in the future.

The verb form used is will + have + past participle verb.

I will have read the whole chapter before the discussion starts.
She will not have cooked when the guests arrive.
Will you have completed the report by next Sunday?

Here is a table that demonstrates perfect tenses in both active and passive voices.

Forms	Active	Passive
Present Perfect
Affirmative	I have drunk milk. We have drunk milk. You have drunk milk They have drunk milk. She has drunk milk. He has drunk milk. My cat has drunk milk.	Milk has been drunk by me. Milk has been drunk by us. Milk has been drunk by you. Milk has been drunk by them. Milk has been drunk by her. Milk has been drunk by him. Milk has been drunk by my cat.
Negative	I have not drunk milk. We have not drunk milk. You have not drunk milk They have not drunk milk. She has not drunk milk. He has not drunk milk. My cat has not drunk milk.	Milk has not been drunk by me. Milk has not been drunk by us. Milk has not been drunk by you. Milk has not been drunk by them. Milk has not been drunk by her. Milk has not been drunk by him. Milk has not been drunk by my cat.
Questions	Have I drunk milk? Have we drunk milk? Have you drunk milk? Have they drunk milk? Has she drunk milk? Has he drunk milk? Has my cat drunk milk?	Has milk been drunk by me? Has milk been drunk by us? Has milk been drunk by you? Has milk been drunk by them? Has milk been drunk by her? Has milk been drunk by him? Has milk been drunk by my cat?
Past Perfect
Affirmative	I had drunk milk. We had drunk milk. You had drunk milk They had drunk milk. She had drunk milk. He had drunk milk. My cat had drunk milk.	Milk had been drunk by me. Milk had been drunk by us. Milk had been drunk by you. Milk had been drunk by them. Milk had been drunk by her. Milk had been drunk by him. Milk had been drunk by my cat.
Negative	I had not drunk milk. We had not drunk milk. You had not drunk milk They had not drunk milk. She had not drunk milk. He had not drunk milk. My cat had not drunk milk.	Milk had not been drunk by me. Milk had not been drunk by us. Milk had not been drunk by you. Milk had not been drunk by them. Milk had not been drunk by her. Milk had not been drunk by him. Milk had not been drunk by my cat.
Questions	Had I drunk milk? Had we drunk milk? Had you drunk milk? Had they drunk milk? Had she drunk milk? Had he drunk milk? Had my cat drunk milk?	Had milk been drunk by me? Had milk been drunk by us? Had milk been drunk by you? Had milk been drunk by them? Had milk been drunk by her? Had milk been drunk by him? Had milk been drunk by my cat?
Future Perfect
Affirmative	I will have drunk milk. We will have drunk milk. You will have drunk milk They will have drunk milk. She will have drunk milk. He will have drunk milk. My cat will have drunk milk.	Milk will have been drunk by me. Milk will have been drunk by us. Milk will have been drunk by you. Milk will have been drunk by them. Milk will have been drunk by her. Milk will have been drunk by him. Milk will have been drunk by my cat.
Negative	I will not have drunk milk. We will not have drunk milk. You will not have drunk milk They will not have drunk milk. She will not have drunk milk. He will not have drunk milk. My cat will not have drunk milk..	Milk will not have been drunk by me. Milk will not have been drunk by us. Milk will not have been drunk by you. Milk will not have been drunk by them. Milk will not have been drunk by her. Milk will not have been drunk by him. Milk will not have been drunk by my cat.
Questions	Will I have drunk milk? Will we have drunk milk? Will you have drunk milk? Will they have drunk milk? Will she have drunk milk? Will he have drunk milk? Will my cat have drunk milk?	Will milk have been drunk by me? Will milk have been drunk by us? Will milk have been drunk by you? Will milk have been drunk by them? Will milk have been drunk by her? Will milk have been drunk by him? Will milk have been drunk by my cat?

Perfect Continuous Tenses

Present perfect continuous

It is used to talk about an action that was in progress before another action or a particular time in the past. The focus is the duration of the first action.

The verb form used is have/has + been + base verb + ing.

I have been working for two hours.
He has been talking with her since 6 o’clock.
They have not been sleeping.
Has she been studying all this time?

Past perfect continuous

It is used to emphasize the duration of an action that was in progress before another action or a particular time in the past. The focus is the duration of the first action.

The verb form used is had + been + base verb + ing.

They had been working for a long time when the manager arrived.
She had been studying for four hours when she fell asleep.
I had not been eating for a long time when I saw a hair in the .
How long had he been playing when he broke his leg?

Future perfect continuous

It is used to emphasize the duration of an action that will be in progress before another action or a particular time in the future. The focus is the duration of the first action.

The verb form used is will + have + been + base verb + ing.

I will have been working for 5 hours when they get home.
The baby will have been sleeping for 2 hours when the babysitter leaves.
How long will the students have been reading before the library closes?

Here is a table that demonstrates perfect continuous tenses in both active and passive voices.

Forms	Active	Passive
Present Perfect Continuous
Affirmative	I have been drinking milk. We have been drinking milk. You have been drinking milk They have been drinking milk. She has been drinking milk. He has been drinking milk. My cat has been drinking milk.	Milk has been being drunk by me. Milk has been being drunk by us. Milk has been being drunk by you. Milk has been being drunk by them. Milk has been being drunk by her. Milk has been being drunk by him. Milk has been being drunk by my cat.
Negative	I have not been drinking milk. We have not been drinking milk. You have not been drinking milk They have not been drinking milk. She has not been drinking milk. He has not been drinking milk. My cat has not been drinking milk.	Milk has not been being drunk by me. Milk has not been being drunk by us. Milk has not been being drunk by you. Milk has not been being drunk by them. Milk has not been being drunk by her. Milk has not been being drunk by him. Milk has not been being drunk by my cat.
Questions	Have I been drinking milk? Have we been drinking milk? Have you been drinking milk? Have they been drinking milk? Has she been drinking milk? Has he been drinking milk? Has my cat been drinking milk?	Has milk been being drunk by me? Has milk been being drunk by us? Has milk been being drunk by you? Has milk been being drunk by them? Has milk been being drunk by her? Has milk been being drunk by him? Has milk been being drunk by my cat?
Past Perfect Continuous
Affirmative	I had been drinking milk. We had been drinking milk. You had been drinking milk They had been drinking milk. She had been drinking milk. He had been drinking milk. My cat had been drinking milk.	Milk had been being drunk by me. Milk had been being drunk by us. Milk had been being drunk by you. Milk had been being drunk by them. Milk had been being drunk by her. Milk had been being drunk by him. Milk had been being drunk by my cat.
Negative	I had not been drinking milk. We had not been drinking milk. You had not been drinking milk They had not been drinking milk. She had not been drinking milk. He had not been drinking milk. My cat had not been drinking milk.	Milk had not been being drunk by me. Milk had not been being drunk by us. Milk had not been being drunk by you. Milk had not been being drunk by them. Milk had not been being drunk by her. Milk had not been being drunk by him. Milk had not been being drunk by my cat.
Questions	Had I been drinking milk? Had we been drinking milk? Had you been drinking milk? Had they been drinking milk? Had she been drinking milk? Had he been drinking milk? Had my cat been drinking milk?	Had milk been being drunk by me? Had milk been being drunk by us? Had milk been being drunk by you? Had milk been being drunk by them? Had milk been being drunk by her? Had milk been being drunk by him? Had milk been being drunk by my cat?
Future Perfect continuous
Affirmative	I will have been drinking milk. We will have been drinking milk. You will have been drinking milk. They will have been drinking milk. She will have been drinking milk. He will have been drinking milk. My cat will have been drinking milk.	Milk will have been being drunk by me. Milk will have been being drunk by us. Milk will have been being drunk by you. Milk will have been being drunk by them. Milk will have been being drunk by her. Milk will have been being drunk by him. Milk will have been being drunk by my cat.
Negative	I will not have been drinking milk. We will not have been drinking milk. You will not have been drinking milk. They will not have been drinking milk. She will not have been drinking milk. He will not have been drinking milk. My cat will not have been drinking milk.	Milk will not have been being drunk by me. Milk will not have been being drunk by us. Milk will not have been being drunk by you. Milk will not have been being drunk by them. Milk will not have been being drunk by her. Milk will not have been being drunk by him. Milk will not have been being drunk by my cat.
Questions	Will I have been drinking milk? Will we have been drinking milk? Will you have been drinking milk? Will they have been drinking milk? Will she have been drinking milk? Will he have been drinking milk? Will my cat have been drinking milk?	Will milk have been being drunk by me? Will milk have been being drunk by us? Will milk have been being drunk by you? Will milk have been being drunk by them? Will milk have been being drunk by her? Will milk have been being drunk by him? Will milk have been being drunk by my cat?

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