The 16 English verb tenses – How to form each one – Examples

Past Tenses Present Tenses Future Tenses Conditional Tenses

Past Present Future Conditional

Simple There is no formula – the simple
Tenses past tense is one of the 5 basic
forms of the verb
Mary lived in Pereira.
There is no formula – the simple will would
present tense is one of the 5 be going to
basic forms of the verb Bob would live in Cuenca, but he
They will live in Marinilla. works in Quito so he decided to
My friends live in Arequipa. You are going to live here. live there.

Conditional Progressive
Past Progressive Present Progressive Future Progressive

Verb "to be" in cond. tense

Progressive Verb "to be" in past tense
Tenses + +
present participle (ING)
We were living in Málaga.
Past Perfect
Verb "to be" in present tense
present participle (ING)
The bird is living in Bogotá.
Present Perfect
Verb "to be" in future tense
+
+
present participle (ING)
present participle (ING)
Jose would be living in Perú, but
Sue will be living in Granada.
he could not return.
Future Perfect
Conditional Perfect

will have + past participle

Perfect had + past participle have/has + past participle would have + past participle
Tenses
If we stay another month, we will
My teacher had lived in Xela from He has lived in Puerto Vallarta for I would have lived here, but it is
have lived in Medellín for five
2010 to 2012. at least 20 years. cheaper to live in Colombia.
months.
Past Perfect Progressive
Present Perfect Progressive Future Perfect Progressive Conditional Perfect Progressive

Perfect had + been + ING

have/has + been + ING will have + been + ING would have + been + ING
Progressive
Tenses
Sarah had been living in
Their family has been living in By next year, you will have been I would have been living in Spain,
Nicaragua before she returned to
Mexico for the last 4 months. living in Ecuador for two years. but then I got married.
Guatemala.