12 Types of Tenses in English
I. Present Tenses (4 Types)
1. Present Simple Tense ✅
Usage: To express facts, habits, routines, and universal truths.
Structure:
• Positive: Subject + V¹ (+ s/es) + Object
• Negative: Subject + do/does + not + V¹ + Object
• Question: Do/Does + Subject + V¹ + Object?
Examples:
• She plays piano every day.
• The sun rises in the east.
2. Present Continuous Tense ✅
Usage: Actions happening right now or temporary situations.
Structure:
• Positive: Subject + is/are/am + V¹ + ing + Object
• Negative: Subject + is/are/am + not + V¹ + ing + Object
• Question: Is/Are/Am + Subject + V¹ + ing + Object?
Examples:
• I am studying English.
• They are playing cricket.
3. Present Perfect Tense ✅
Usage: Actions completed recently or having present relevance.
Structure:
• Positive: Subject + has/have + V³ + Object
• Negative: Subject + has/have + not + V³ + Object
• Question: Has/Have + Subject + V³ + Object?
Examples:
• He has finished his homework.
• We have visited Delhi many times.
4. Present Perfect Continuous Tense ✅
Usage: Actions that started in the past and are still continuing or have recently stopped.
Structure:
• Positive: Subject + has/have + been + V¹ + ing + Object + since/for
• Negative: Subject + has/have + not + been + V¹ + ing + Object
• Question: Has/Have + Subject + been + V¹ + ing + Object?
Examples:
• She has been working here since 2019.
• I have been reading this book for two hours.
II. Past Tenses (4 Types)
5. Past Simple Tense ✅
Usage: Actions completed in the past.
Structure:
• Positive: Subject + V² + Object
• Negative: Subject + did + not + V¹ + Object
• Question: Did + Subject + V¹ + Object?
Examples:
• I watched a movie yesterday.
• They visited the Taj Mahal last year.
6. Past Continuous Tense ✅
Usage: Actions in progress at a particular past time.
Structure:
• Positive: Subject + was/were + V¹ + ing + Object
• Negative: Subject + was/were + not + V¹ + ing + Object
• Question: Was/Were + Subject + V¹ + ing + Object?
Examples:
• She was cooking dinner when I arrived.
• They were playing football at 5 pm yesterday.
7. Past Perfect Tense ✅
Usage: An action completed before another past action.
Structure:
• Positive: Subject + had + V³ + Object
• Negative: Subject + had + not + V³ + Object
• Question: Had + Subject + V³ + Object?
Examples:
• I had completed my work before he came.
• She had left when I reached the station.
8. Past Perfect Continuous Tense ✅
Usage: Actions ongoing in the past up to a certain past time.
Structure:
• Positive: Subject + had + been + V¹ + ing + Object + since/for
• Negative: Subject + had + not + been + V¹ + ing + Object
• Question: Had + Subject + been + V¹ + ing + Object?
Examples:
• They had been studying for two hours before the test started.
• I had been working there for five years when I resigned.
III. Future Tenses (4 Types)
9. Future Simple Tense ✅
Usage: To express future actions, decisions, or predictions.
Structure:
• Positive: Subject + will/shall + V¹ + Object
• Negative: Subject + will/shall + not + V¹ + Object
• Question: Will/Shall + Subject + V¹ + Object?
Examples:
• I will call you tomorrow.
• She will buy a new phone next week.
10. Future Continuous Tense ✅
Usage: Actions in progress at a particular future time.
Structure:
• Positive: Subject + will/shall + be + V¹ + ing + Object
• Negative: Subject + will/shall + not + be + V¹ + ing + Object
• Question: Will/Shall + Subject + be + V¹ + ing + Object?
Examples:
• I will be sleeping at midnight.
• They will be traveling to Goa next week.
11. Future Perfect Tense ✅
Usage: Actions that will be completed before a specified future time.
Structure:
• Positive: Subject + will/shall + have + V³ + Object
• Negative: Subject + will/shall + not + have + V³ + Object
• Question: Will/Shall + Subject + have + V³ + Object?
Examples:
• By 2026, I will have finished my degree.
• She will have left before we arrive.
12. Future Perfect Continuous Tense ✅
Usage: Actions continuing up to a specific future point.
Structure:
• Positive: Subject + will/shall + have + been + V¹ + ing + Object + since/for
• Negative: Subject + will/shall + not + have + been + V¹ + ing + Object
• Question: Will/Shall + Subject + have + been + V¹ + ing + Object?
Examples:
• By next month, I will have been working here for five years.
• They will have been studying for three hours by 10 pm.
Summary Table of 12 Tenses
Tense Structure Example
Present Simple S + V¹ (+s/es) + O She plays piano.
Present Continuous S + is/are/am + V¹+ing + O I am reading.
Present Perfect S + has/have + V³ + O He has eaten.
Present Perfect
S + has/have + been + V¹+ing + O They have been studying.
Continuous
Past Simple S + V² + O I watched TV.
Past Continuous S + was/were + V¹+ing + O She was cooking.
Past Perfect S + had + V³ + O We had left.
Past Perfect Continuous S + had + been + V¹+ing + O He had been working.
Future Simple S + will/shall + V¹ + O I will travel.
Future Continuous S + will/shall + be + V¹+ing + O She will be sleeping.
Future Perfect S + will/shall + have + V³ + O I will have completed.
Future Perfect S + will/shall + have + been + V¹+ing They will have been
Continuous +O studying.
