Sophisticated Sentences:

The Twelve Verb Tenses of English

Simple Past Simple Present Simple Future

For a finished action. For action happening at the moment of For action that will happen once in the
He ate. writing; also for habitual actions or future.
I sang. things that are always true. He will eat.
He eats. I will sing.
I sing.

Past Progressive Present Progressive Future Progressive

For ongoing or repeated actions in the
For action that is ongoing at the For ongoing actions to occur in the
past. moment of writing; also for scheduled future.
He was eating. events in the future. He will be eating.
I was singing. He is eating. I will be singing.
I am singing.

Past Perfect Present Perfect Future Perfect

For actions completed in the past.For action begun in the past that has For action that will be completed
He had eaten. been completed or is ongoing. before another action in the future.
I had sung. He has eaten. He will have eaten.
I have sung. I will have sung.

Past Perfect Present Perfect Future Perfect

Progressive
For an ongoing or repeated action
occurring in the past and continuing to
another action in the past.
He had been eating.
I had been singing.
Progressive Progressive
For action begun in the past and
For a continuing action that will be
continuing in to the present. completed by a specified time in the
He has been eating. future.
I have been singing. He will have been eating.
I will have been singing.

Last Updated 3/20/12