Types of Tenses in English

There are three primary types of tenses:

1. Present Tense
2. Past Tense
3. Future Tense
Each of these tenses can be divided further into four subforms:

 Simple
 Perfect
 Continuous
 Perfect Continuous
These subforms allow speakers to convey nuances of time, such as
ongoing actions, completed actions, or actions that have been happening
for a duration.

12 Tenses Chart in English

 Present Tense
o Simple Present Tense
o Present Perfect Tense
o Present Continuous Tense
o Present Perfect Continuous Tense
 Past Tense
o Simple Past Tense
o Past Perfect Tense
o Past Continuous Tense
o Past Perfect Continuous Tense
 Future Tense
o Simple Future Tense

o Future Perfect Tense

TENSES CHART
Examples Sentences Chart of Tenses
Let’s learn tenses through a tenses chart with examples of different
tenses. This will help you understand how verbs change to express actions
in the past, present, and future.

Simple Present Tense

 Affirmative:
She plays tennis every weekend.
They visit the park regularly.
 Negative:
She does not play tennis on weekdays.
They do not go to the park often.
 Interrogative:
Does she play tennis on weekends?
Do they visit the park every day?
 Double Interrogative:
Why does she play tennis every weekend?
When do they visit the park?
Present Continuous Tense

 Affirmative:
He is reading a book now.
They are working on the project.
 Negative:
He is not reading a book now.
They are not working on the project.
 Interrogative:
Is he reading a book now?
Are they working on the project?
 Double Interrogative:
Why is he reading a book now?
What are they working on?
Present Perfect Tense

 Affirmative:
She has finished her homework.
They have visited Paris.
 Negative:
She has not finished her homework.
They have not visited Paris.
 Interrogative:
Has she finished her homework?
Have they visited Paris?
 Double Interrogative:
Why has she finished her homework early?
Where have they visited recently?
Present Perfect Continuous Tense

 Affirmative:
I have been studying for two hours.
They have been playing football since morning.
 Negative:
I have not been studying for two hours.
They have not been playing football since morning.
 Interrogative:
Have you been studying for two hours?
Have they been playing football since morning?
 Double Interrogative:
How long have you been studying?
Why have they been playing football since morning?
Simple Past Tense

 Affirmative:
She wrote a letter yesterday.
They visited the museum last week.
 Negative:
She did not write a letter yesterday.
They did not visit the museum last week.
 Interrogative:
Did she write a letter yesterday?
Did they visit the museum last week?
 Double Interrogative:
When did she write the letter?
Why did they visit the museum?
Past Continuous Tense

 Affirmative:
He was cooking dinner last night.
They were watching TV when I called.
 Negative:
He was not cooking dinner last night.
They were not watching TV when I called.
 Interrogative:
Was he cooking dinner last night?
Were they watching TV when you called?
 Double Interrogative:
What was he cooking last night?
Why were they watching TV when you called?
Past Perfect Tense

 Affirmative:
She had completed her task before the meeting.
They had left by the time we arrived.
 Negative:
She had not completed her task before the meeting.
They had not left when we arrived.
 Interrogative:
Had she completed her task before the meeting?
Had they left before you arrived?
 Double Interrogative:
When had she completed her task?
Why had they left before you arrived?
Past Perfect Continuous Tense
 Affirmative:
He had been working there for five years before he quit.
They had been waiting for an hour before the bus arrived.
 Negative:
He had not been working there for five years.
They had not been waiting for an hour.
 Interrogative:
Had he been working there for five years?
Had they been waiting for an hour?
 Double Interrogative:
How long had he been working there?
Why had they been waiting for an hour?
Simple Future Tense

 Affirmative:
I will visit you tomorrow.
They will attend the concert next week.
 Negative:
I will not visit you tomorrow.
They will not attend the concert next week.
 Interrogative:
Will you visit me tomorrow?
Will they attend the concert next week?
 Double Interrogative:
Why will you visit me tomorrow?
When will they attend the concert?
Future Continuous Tense

 Affirmative:
She will be working at 6 PM.
They will be traveling to Japan next month.
 Negative:
She will not be working at 6 PM.
They will not be traveling to Japan next month.
 Interrogative:
Will she be working at 6 PM?
Will they be traveling to Japan next month?
 Double Interrogative:
Where will she be working at 6 PM?
Why will they be traveling to Japan next month?
Future Perfect Tense

 Affirmative:
By tomorrow, I will have completed the project.
She will have graduated by next year.
 Negative:
By tomorrow, I will not have completed the project.
She will not have graduated by next year.
 Interrogative:
Will you have completed the project by tomorrow?
Will she have graduated by next year?
 Double Interrogative:
When will you have completed the project?
Why will she have graduated by next year?
Future Perfect Continuous Tense

 Affirmative:
By next month, I will have been working here for two years.
They will have been traveling for a week by the time they return.
 Negative:
By next month, I will not have been working here for two years.
They will not have been traveling for a week by the time they return.
 Interrogative:
Will you have been working here for two years by next month?
Will they have been traveling for a week by the time they return?
 Double Interrogative:
How long will you have been working here by next month?
How long will they have been traveling by the time they return?

Tenses Example Sentences Chart