Verb Tenses Explained, With Examples

Verb tenses are changes or additions to verbs to show when the action took place: in the past, present, or future. The phrase verb tense is also used for grammatical aspects, which add more details about the duration or time an action takes. When you combine the four grammatical aspects with the past, present and future, you end up with twelve main verb tenses in English.

Verb tenses are essential for speaking English correctly, but with all the different forms and functions, they can get confusing. In this guide, we give a quick overview of the English tenses, including when to use them and how to make them, and give plenty of verb tense examples.

What is a verb tense?

Verb tenses show when an action took place, as well as how long it occurred. The main verb tenses are the past, present, and future.

There are also additional aspects that give extra details, such as the length of time the action occurred, which actions happened first, or whether a past action has an impact on the present. These grammatical aspects are the simple tense, perfect tense, continuous tense, and perfect continuous tense.

Verb tenses list: How many tenses are there in English?

The standard tense in English is the present tense, which is usually just the root form of the verb. The past and future tenses often require changes or additions to the root form, such as the suffix –ed for the past tense and the modal verb will for the future.

However, for each of the past, present, and future tenses, there are four different aspects that add additional details. For example, the continuous tense shows that an action is ongoing. It can be used in the present (she is sleeping), past (she was sleeping), or future (she will be sleeping).

Past, present, and future tenses
The past, present, and future are the central divisions of time in English. The present represents actions happening now, while the past represents actions that happened earlier, and the future describes actions that will happen later.

Simple tense
The simple tense is a grammatical aspect that refers to the normal forms of the past, present, and future tenses—nothing fancy! Unlike the other aspects, it doesn’t add any new information. True to its name, simple tenses are the easiest to form and have the fewest rules.

Perfect tense
The definition of the perfect tense is a little more complicated. It’s used for actions that relate to other points in time, either completed or ongoing.

For example, in the sentence I have played soccer since I was a child, the perfect tense indicates that the action occurred continuously in the past and still happens in the present. By contrast, in the sentence I played soccer when I was a child, the simple past tense indicates that the action occurred only in the past, and has no relation to the present.

The perfect tenses use a conjugation of the auxiliary verb have with the past participle of the main verb.

Continuous tense
We use the continuous tenses (also known as the progressive tenses) for ongoing actions or actions that happen a while before completion. For example, They are studying all night means the studying lasts many hours before it’s finished.

Please note that you usually do not use the continuous tense with stative verbs like want, love, have, and need.

The continuous tenses use a conjugation of the auxiliary verb be along with the main verb’s present participle, or –ing form.

Perfect continuous tense
When you combine the perfect and continuous tenses, you get the perfect continuous tense. It’s typically used just like the perfect tense, except it describes ongoing actions that happen over a period of time.

The construction of the perfect continuous tense uses a conjugation of the auxiliary verb have, the auxiliary verb been (the past participle of be), and the present participle of the main verb.

English tenses examples: verb tenses chart
Past Present Future
Simple I helped my neighbor yesterday. I help my neighbor every day. I will help my neighbor tomorrow.
Perfect I had helped my neighbor clean his attic before I fixed his car. I have helped my neighbor too much this week. I will have helped my neighbor a hundred times by the end of the month.
Continuous I was helping my neighbor when he brought me iced tea. I am helping my neighbor while he fixes up his house. I will be helping my neighbor next month when he moves.
Perfect continuous I had been helping my neighbor for a year before he finally thanked me. I have been helping my neighbor since I moved in. I will have been helping my neighbor for a year next month.

Past tenses
Simple past
We use the simple past to show actions completed in the past, with no extra emphasis.

For regular verbs, you form the simple past tense by adding the suffix –ed to the end of the verb (or just –d if the past tense verb already ends in an e).

Be careful of irregular past tense verbs, however. These don’t follow the normal rules and use their own unique forms for the past tense. For example, the past tense of the irregular verb go is went.

Regular verbs: I picked up the glass, but it dropped from my hand.

Irregular verbs: This morning I went to the store, but I forgot the milk.

Past perfect
[had] + [past participle]

What if you’re talking about two different actions in the past and want to show that one happened before the other? The past perfect, also known as the pluperfect, shows that one past action happened earlier than another one.

She had arrived at the office before she realized it was Sunday.

I ran to my car when I noticed my wife had left already.

Past continuous
[was/were] + [present participle]

Use the past continuous to show an ongoing action in the past, especially if the action was interrupted by another action. It’s also used for habitual actions that occurred in the past but not in the present. It’s usually used with adverbs like always or adverb phrases like all the time.

My dog was whimpering in his sleep when the TV woke him up.

As kids, my friends and I were always getting into trouble.

Past perfect continuous
[had] + [been] + [present participle]

The past perfect continuous tense is used just like the past perfect tense, except it describes ongoing actions that happened in the past instead of a one-time occurance. It’s often used with the words when, until, and before to connect it to another past action.

Before he got his first job as a writer, he had been working as a proofreader.

I had been living on my friend’s couch for a year until they kicked me out.

Present tenses
Simple present
The simple present is the most basic of the English tenses. It’s used for individual actions or habitual actions in the present.

Often the simple present is just the root verb with no changes or additions. The main exception to this is when the subject is third person and singular. In this case you add the suffix –s. If the verb ends in o, ch, sh, th, ss, gh, or z, you add –es. If the verb ends in a consonant and y (and the subject is third-person singular), drop the y and add –ies.

Today I feel like a million bucks!

My brother carries the groceries while my sister stays on the couch.

Present perfect
[have/has] + [past participle]

Although it’s quite common, the present perfect is one of the most difficult English verb tenses. It is used to describe a few different types of actions, including:

an ongoing action started in the past that is not yet completed
the same action completed multiple times in the past and likely to be completed again.
an action completed very recently (usually with just or now)
an uncompleted action that is expected to be finished (in the negative)
Additionally, the present perfect can be used to emphasize the significance of a completed action, especially one that happened over time.

We have tricked him every April Fool’s Day since we were kids.

My niece has grown so much this year!

Present continuous
[am/is/are] + [present participle]

Use the present continuous to show an action happening right now or in the near future.

I am reading The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy for the fifth time!

We are eating pizza tonight.

Present perfect continuous
[have/has] + [been] + [present participle]

The present perfect continuous shows an ongoing action in the present that was started in the past. It is often used to emphasize the length of time.

We have been waiting for over an hour!

The team has been practicing nonstop for the tournament.

Future tenses
Simple future
Use the simple future for actions that have not happened yet but will later. To form the simple future, just place the modal verb will before the root form of the main verb. (Note that if the action will happen in the near future, you can use the present continuous instead.)

She will be president one day.

I will not go to the wedding without a date!

Future perfect
[will] + [have] + [past participle]

The future perfect shows an action that will be completed in the future by a specified time. Because it depends on another time, the future perfect is often used with words like by, before, at, or when.

By the time you read this, I will have already left.

She will have eaten lunch before her sister even wakes up.

Future continuous
[will] + [be] + [present participle]

Use the future continuous tense for future actions happening over a period of time, especially when a specific time is mentioned. The future continuous tense also shows more certainty and likelihood than the simple future.

By this time tomorrow, I will be drinking margaritas on the beach.

We will be attending a meeting from noon until 3 p.m.

Future perfect continuous
[will] + [have] + [been] + [present participle]

The future perfect continuous depicts future ongoing actions that continue up until a certain point. Like the future perfect and future continuous, it’s used with a specified time.

In ten minutes, my parents will have been waiting in traffic for four hours.

I will have been eating healthy for a whole year by September.

Verb tense FAQs
What are verb tenses?
Verb tenses are changes or additions to verbs to show when the action took place: in the past, present, or future. The phrase verb tense is also used for grammatical aspects, which show how long an action occurs.

What are the different types of verb tenses?
The three main verb tenses are the past, present, and future, but there are also four grammatical aspects: simple, continuous, perfect, and perfect continuous. When you combine the three time periods with the four aspects, you get twelve unique verb tenses.

What are some examples of the different verb tenses?
The simple tenses show actions happening at different times, while the perfect tenses show completed actions that relate to different time periods. The continuous tenses are for ongoing actions that take a while to complete. The perfect continuous tenses combine the perfect and continuous tenses to describe ongoing actions that happen over a period of time.Your writing, at its best.

HOW TO TEACH ADULTS HOW TO READ

Repeated reading is the most effective instructional technique for increasing reading fluency in adults. In repeated reading, a student reads a passage many times while a teacher provides feedback about rate and accuracy levels, helps with difficult words, and models fluent reading.

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HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR SPELLING AS AN ADULT?

There are many things you can do to make your spelling better as an adult. Here are some of them.

1. Dictionaries Are Your Friend!
Despite the fact that memory aids assist in memorizing difficult-to-spell words, good spellers do not rely solely on memory. They depend on a reliable and up-to-date dictionary to practice. Various types of dictionaries exist, both in print and online.

The important thing here is that you should use a dictionary that is compatible with the dialect you want to learn and use. And this brings us to our next point.

2. Choose Your Dialect
As you may know, English spelling changes significantly depending on the country you are in. American English, for example, removed many of the unspoken “u”s from words such as color (colour in British English), favor (favour), rumor (rumour), and so on.

These differences are not right or wrong. We can’t say color is wrong, and the correct spelling is colour. They are regional differences that have developed over time.

That’s why you have to be consistent in your writing. You can’t write colour in one sentence and behavior in the next. Consistency is key.

3. Keep on Reading!
One of the things that most people do is memorize spelling rules. Instead of focusing so much on rules, you should focus on practicing. Of course, if we are talking about how to improve your spelling as an adult, reading is the best answer!

Reading is one of the best ways to familiarize yourself with words and their spelling. The more you see something, the more you will be able to identify it the next time you encounter it.

Conclusion
Here are a few suggestions on how to improve your spelling: Keep a dictionary nearby, change your dialect as you grow, and best of all pursue your hobbies during your free time!

All of these practices will allow you to improve your spelling skills especially as you age.
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ENGLISH READING & WRITING MADE EASY FOR ADULTS IN NIGERIA

Repeated reading is the most effective instructional technique for increasing reading fluency in adult learners. In repeated reading, a student reads a passage many times while a teacher provides feedback about rate and accuracy levels, helps with difficult words, and models fluent reading.

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LEARNING TO SPELL FOR ADULTS

Spelling the English language can be a challenge. It typically, however, involves nothing more complicated than memorization. You can be a successful speller if you're willing to study and practice the art and science of spelling.

Reading, using a dictionary and playing online word games are all helpful. Sounding out words and breaking them into parts are good skills to develop.

Learning spelling rules is important, too, but the many exceptions to those rules can be rather frustrating. In the end it comes down mainly to memorization. This article will help you with the daunting task of spelling English words.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:
Small Words

Step 1 Learn the letters and sounds of the alphabet.

Learn the letters and sounds of the alphabet. This will allow you to recognize them when you hear them within words. Use flashcards or ask a tutor to help you connect letters to their sounds. Practice making those connections in your mind. This will help you recognize the appropriate letters when you sound out words.
Ask a family member or friend to help you learn the letter sounds.
As an alternative you can watch videos online that show you how to say each letter.

Step 2 Identify the sounds as you slowly say a word you want to spell.

Identify the sounds as you slowly say a word you want to spell. It helps to say the word more than once. Stretch out the word to help you identify each sound in it. If you say the word too quickly, you may miss a letter sound.
If the word has more than one syllable, separate them mentally or in writing. Pronounce each syllable individually.
For example, the word "probably" is very easy to misspell if you pronounce it "probly." Saying it slowly -- "prob-ab-ly" -- can help you hear the sounds in each syllable.

Step 3 Split up each letter sound in the word to help you hear them.

Split up each letter sound in the word to help you hear them. It's helpful to draw an underline on your paper for each sound that you hear. Don't worry about what the word is supposed to look like. Just focus on the sounds you hear when you say the word. Then think about which letter or letters might make each sound.
It helps to count out the number of sounds in the word. For example, let's say you want to spell the word "tiger." You might hear four sounds: t-i-g-er.

Step 4 Spell out each sound.

Spell out each sound. Write out the letter sounds you hear for each sound in the word. Then put the sounds together to form the word. Check your work by sounding out the word again while you look at your spelling, letter by letter.[3]
For a harder word you may need to refer to the spelling rules instead of just sounding the word out.

Method 2
Method 2 of 3:
Big Words

Step 1 Divide a big word into smaller words, syllables or parts.

Divide a big word into smaller words, syllables or parts. Say the word slowly, looking for smaller words within it, such as "grand" and "father" in "grandfather." If you can't find smaller words, focus on the syllables or patterns within the word. This makes it easier to spell the word, because you can more easily sound it out. You may already know how to spell the smaller words. Here are some ways to break down big words:
Break larger words into smaller words. For example, “baseball” is an example of what's known as a "compound" word: it can be broken into smaller words, in this case "base" and "ball."
Break up non-compound words into syllables. For example, you would break up “hospital” into three syllables this way: hos-pi-tal.
Break the word into convenient parts. For instance, “impossible” can be broken into im/poss/ible. Here you're not breaking the word into syllables, just artificial segments. The idea is to consider a longer word in shorter sections just so the task of spelling it becomes a bit easier.

Step 2 Look for a prefix to make spelling easier.

Look for a prefix to make spelling easier. A prefix is a short series of letters that can be added to the beginning of a word to change its meaning. The spelling of a prefix never changes, so just memorize its spelling. Here are the most common prefixes:
Mis, as in “misspell”
Dis, as in “disagree”
Un, as in “unlikely”
Re, as in “rewrite”
Anti, as in “antifreeze”
De, as in “dehydrate”
Non, as in “nonsense”
Fore, as in “forecast”
In, as in “injustice”
Im, as in “impossible”
Note that most of these prefixes mean "not."

Step 3 Notice whether the word has a suffix.

Notice whether the word has a suffix. A suffix appears at the end of a word and changes its meaning. The spelling of a suffix never changes, so memorize it. Here are the most common suffixes:
Ed, as in “spelled”
Ing, as in “spelling”
Ly, as in “likely”
Ful, as in “beautiful”
Able, as in “comfortable”
Ible, as in “possible”
Er, as in “higher”
Ment, as in “enjoyment”
Ness, as in “happiness”
Est, as in “biggest”

Step 4 Spell out each part of the word, and then put them all together.

Spell out each part of the word, and then put them all together. If you know how to spell smaller words or segments within the word, such as a prefix, spell those first. Then look for common letter patterns, and sound out each segment to help you spell them. Write out the letters you hear.
Check your spelling by sounding out the word. Would the spelling you’ve used sound right?
For example, when spelling "remind," you could break it down into "re" and "mind." If you know how the prefix "re" is spelled, write that first. Then you just need to spell "mind." If you aren't sure how to spell it, you could sound out "mind" as "m" and "ind." Then select the letters as you hear them.

Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Spelling Rules

Step 1 Recognize that some spelling rules have exceptions.

Recognize that some spelling rules have exceptions. English is a tricky language, because many of the rules have exceptions. Certain spellings simply don't follow the rules. However, knowing the rules will help you most of the time.
While it helps to know the exceptions, don’t try to learn them all at once. If you absorb them gradually, they won't seem so frustrating.
Your best bet is simply to memorize the spellings that don't conform to the rules.

Step 2 Remember the general rule that "i" precedes "e" much of the time except when they follow the letter "c."

Remember the general rule that "i" precedes "e" much of the time except when they follow the letter "c." This well-known rule pertains to words such as die, friend, yield, patient, convenience, piece and receive (where "ei" follows "c." Unfortunately, there are many words that disobey this rule, such as weight, height, sleigh and reins. When the rules fail, you're left with memorization.
If the i/e combination is followed immediately by a "gh" (as in weight or height), the "e" precedes the "i." It's another exception you simply have to memorize.
A few other words to memorize (that don't follow the "i before e" rule) include “either,” "neither," “leisure,” “protein,” “their,” and “weird.”

Step 3 Pay attention to other double vowels.

Pay attention to other double vowels. Remember the rhyme, “When two vowels go walking, the first one does the talking.” When two vowels are next to each other, often you pronounce only the first vowel. This makes it easier to place two vowels in the right order. (Of course, you have to remember that two vowels are called for in this case.)
For example, you hear the “o” sound in the word “coat,” so you know the “o” comes first. You hear the “e” sound in “mean,” so you put the “e” first.
Once again there are exceptions to this rule that you will need to memorize, such as “you,” “great,” and “phoenix.”

Step 4 Learn the “c” sound patterns.

Learn the “c” sound patterns. The letter “c” can be pronounced hard, as in “cat,” or soft, as in “cell.” Usually if the letter following the "c" is "a," "o," "u" or a consonant, the "c" is hard. Examples include cat, cot, cut, cute and clue. If the following letter is "e," "i" or "y," the "c" is usually soft. Examples include celery, citation and cycle.

Step 5 Look for consonant letter combinations where one letter is silent.

Look for consonant letter combinations where one letter is silent. English words sometimes have a letter that is silent, typically a consonant next to another consonant at the beginning of a word. Here are common letter combinations where one letter is silent:
Gn, pn, and kn: These letter combinations all have an “n” sound. The other letter is silent. Examples are "gnaw," "pneumonia" and "knock."
Rh and wr: Both of these combinations have an “r” sound. For example, rhyme and "write.
Ps and sc: These combinations both make an “s” sound, as in psychic and science.
Wh: Sometimes "wh" sounds like "h," as in "whole."
"Gh" is often silent, especially if it comes after “i.” This happens in words like "right" and weight." Sometimes “gh” makes an “f” sound, as in “cough” or "tough."

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