12 Types Of Tenses With Examples And Formulas

The 12 types of tenses with examples and formulas are given below shown detail. These are the 12 tenses in English, each with its respective formula and an example sentence to illustrate its usage.

Simple Present Tense Present Continuous Tense Present Perfect Tense Present Perfect Continuous Tense
Simple Past Tense Past Continuous Tense Past Perfect Tense Past Perfect Continuous Tense
Simple Future Tense
Future Continuous Tense Future Perfect Tense Future Perfect Continuous Tense

12 Types Of Tenses With Examples And Formulas

12 Types Of Tenses With Examples And Formulas

12 Types Of Tenses With Examples And Formulas

Related Notes: Parts of Speech Click Here

1- Simple Present Tense with formulas and examples

The Simple Present Tense is used to talk about general truths, habitual actions, and permanent situations. Here are the formulas and examples for the Simple Present Tense:

  1. Formula (Positive): Subject + Verb (base form) + Object Example: She writes a letter every day. (Subject: She, Verb: writes, Object: a letter)
  2. Formula (Negative): Subject + Do/Does + Not + Verb (base form) + Object Example: He does not like coffee. (Subject: He, Does not + Verb: like Object: coffee)
  3. Formula (Question): Do/Does + Subject + Verb (base form) + Object? Example: Do you play the guitar? (Do + Subject: you, Verb: play, Object: the guitar)

Note: In the Simple Present Tense, we use the base form of the verb (without adding -s/-es for third-person singular subjects). It is important to note that the third-person singular (he, she, it) requires adding -s/-es to the verb.

2- Present continuous tense examples with Formulas

The present continuous tense is used to describe actions that are happening at the moment of speaking or actions that are in progress but not necessarily happening at the exact moment. It is formed using the auxiliary verb “to be” in the present tense, followed by the base form of the main verb plus the -ing ending.

Here are some examples of the present continuous tense:

  1. I am writing an email to my friend.
  2. She is studying for her exams.
  3. They are playing football in the park.
  4. We are watching a movie tonight.
  5. He is cooking dinner for us.
  6. The children are laughing and playing.
  7. The team is practicing for the upcoming match.
  8. My sister is working on a new project.
  9. It is raining heavily outside.
  10. The teacher is explaining a difficult concept.

Formula: Subject + to be (present tense) + verb (base form + -ing)

Remember to conjugate the auxiliary verb “to be” according to the subject: I am, you are, he/she/it is, we/they are.

3- Present Perfect Tense Formula and Examples

The present perfect tense is used to describe an action that was completed in the past but has a connection to the present. It is formed using the auxiliary verb “to have” in the present tense, followed by the past participle of the main verb.

Here are some examples of the present perfect tense:

  1. I have finished my homework.
  2. She has traveled to many countries.
  3. They have seen that movie before.
  4. We have visited Paris twice.
  5. He has already eaten lunch.
  6. The team won the championship.
  7. My sister has graduated from college.
  8. We have lived in this city for five years.
  9. He has lost his keys.
  10. The company has achieved its sales target.

Formula: Subject + have/has + past participle

Remember to conjugate the auxiliary verb “to have” according to the subject: I have, you have, he/she/it has, we/they have.

4- Present perfect continuous tense examples & Formula

The present perfect continuous tense is used to describe ongoing actions that started in the past, have continued until the present moment, and may still be ongoing. It is formed using the auxiliary verb “to have” in the present tense, followed by “been,” the present participle (“-ing” form) of the main verb, and “ing” at the end.

Examples:

  1. I have been studying for three hours.
  2. She has been working on her project all day.
  3. They have been playing tennis since morning.
  4. We have been waiting for the bus for over an hour.
  5. He has been practicing the piano for weeks.
  6. The children have been playing in the garden all afternoon.
  7. The team has been training hard for the upcoming match.
  8. My sister has been learning Spanish for six months.
  9. It has been raining heavily for hours.
  10. The workers have been constructing the building for months.

Formula: Subject + have/has + been + present participle (“-ing” form)

Remember to conjugate the auxiliary verb “to have” according to the subject: I have, you have, he/she/it has, we/they have.

5- Simple Past tense with examples & Formula

The simple past tense is used to describe actions or events that occurred and were completed in the past. It is usually formed by adding “-ed” to regular verbs, while irregular verbs have their own unique past tense forms.

Here are some examples of the simple past tense:

  1. I walked to the park yesterday.
  2. She ate dinner at the restaurant last night.
  3. They played soccer in the evening.
  4. We visited our grandparents over the weekend.
  5. He studied for the test all day.
  6. The team won the championship last year.
  7. My sister wrote a letter to her friend.
  8. We watched a movie together.
  9. He drove to work this morning.
  10. The company produced new products last month.

Formula: Subject + past tense of the verb

Regular verbs: Add “-ed” to the base form of the verb. Irregular verbs: Use the specific past tense form of the verb.

6- Past Continuous tense examples Formula

The simple past tense is used to describe actions or events that occurred and were completed in the past. It is usually formed by adding “-ed” to regular verbs, while irregular verbs have their own unique past tense forms.

Here are some examples of the simple past tense:

  1. I walked to the park yesterday.
  2. She ate dinner at the restaurant last night.
  3. They played soccer in the evening.
  4. We visited our grandparents over the weekend.
  5. He studied for the test all day.
  6. The team won the championship last year.
  7. My sister wrote a letter to her friend.
  8. We watched a movie together.
  9. He drove to work this morning.
  10. The company produced new products last month.

Formula: Subject + past tense of the verb

Regular verbs: Add “-ed” to the base form of the verb. Irregular verbs: Use the specific past tense form of the verb.

7- Past Perfect Tense Example with Formula

The past perfect tense is used to indicate an action that occurred before another action in the past. It is formed by using the auxiliary verb “had” followed by the past participle of the main verb.

Formula :

Subject + had + past participle of the verb + …

Here’s an example sentence using the past perfect tense:

  1. She had already finished her homework before her friends arrived.

In this sentence, the action of finishing the homework (past perfect tense) happened before the action of her friends arriving (simple past tense).

Note: The past perfect tense is often used in conjunction with another past tense, such as the simple past tense, to show the sequence of events in the past.

8- Past Perfect Continuous Tense Example / Formula

The past perfect continuous tense is used to describe an ongoing action that started in the past and continued until another point in the past. It is formed by using the auxiliary verb “had been” followed by the present participle (“-ing” form) of the main verb.

Formula :

Subject + had been + present participle of the verb + ing

Here’s an example sentence using the past perfect continuous tense:

  1. He had been studying for five hours before he finally took a break.

9- Simple Future Tense Formula and Example

The simple future tense is used to talk about actions or events that will happen in the future. It is formed by using the auxiliary verb “will” or “shall” (in some cases) followed by the base form of the main verb.

Formula:

Subject + will/shall + base form of the verb + …

Example :

  1. I will go to the beach tomorrow.

In this sentence, the action of going to the beach (simple future tense) is expressed as something that will happen in the future.

Note: “Shall” is typically used with the first-person pronouns “I” and “we” to indicate a strong intention or promise.

Example: 2. We shall meet at the restaurant at 7 p.m.

10- Future Continuous Tense Formula with Example

The future continuous tense is used to describe an ongoing action that will be happening at a specific time or during a specific period in the future. It is formed by using the auxiliary verb “will be” or “shall be” (in some cases) followed by the present participle (“-ing” form) of the main verb.

Formula :

Subject + will be/shall be + present participle of the verb + …

Example:

  1. They will be traveling to Paris next month.

Note: “Shall” is typically used with the first-person pronouns “I” and “we” to indicate a strong intention or promise.

Example: 2. I shall be working on the project all day tomorrow.

11- Future Perfect Tense with Example & Formula

The future perfect tense is used to describe an action that will be completed before a specific point or action in the future. It is formed by using the auxiliary verb “will have” or “shall have” (in some cases) followed by the past participle of the main verb.

Formula:

Subject + will have/shall have + past participle of the verb + …

Example:

  1. By the time you arrive, I will have finished cooking dinner.

In this sentence, the action of finishing cooking dinner (future perfect tense) will be completed before the specific point in the future when “you” arrive.

Note: “Shall” is typically used with the first-person pronouns “I” and “we” to indicate a strong intention or promise.

Example: 2. We shall have completed the project by the end of the month.

12- Future Perfect Continuous Tense Example with Formula

The future perfect continuous tense is used to describe an ongoing action that will be in progress up until a specific point or action in the future. It is formed by using the auxiliary verb “will have been” or “shall have been” (in some cases) followed by the present participle (“-ing” form) of the main verb.

Formula:

Subject + will have been/shall have been + present participle of the verb + …

Example :

  1. By next year, she will have been working at the company for ten years.

Note: “Shall” is typically used with the first-person pronouns “I” and “we” to indicate a strong intention or promise.

Example: 2. We shall have been living in this city for five years by the end of this month.

Use “For” and “Since”  Examples

Certainly! “For” and “since” are commonly used to indicate the duration of an action or event in relation to a specific point in time. Here are examples of how they can be used:

  1. “For” is used to indicate the duration of time an action or event has been going on:
  • I have been studying French for three years.
  • They have been living in that house for a decade.
  • She has been working at the company for six months.

In these examples, “for” is followed by a specific length of time (three years, a decade, six months) to indicate the duration of the action or event.

  1. “Since” is used to specify the starting point of an action or event:
  • He has been playing the piano since he was five years old.
  • We have known each other since high school.
  • They have been friends since they met in college.

In these examples, “since” is followed by a specific point in time (five years old, high school, met in college) to indicate when the action or event started.