Verb Tenses

simple/progressive/perfect/perfect progressive

SIMPLE TENSES
Simple Present Form Meaning Example(s)
base form of regular verb Expresses events or situations that It snows in Alaska.
* add “s” to 3rd person singular exist always, usually, habitually; they I watch television every day.
xxxxxxxxxx exist now, have existed in the past, and
**irregular verbs exist probably will exist in the future.
Simple Past
base form of regular verbs + At one particular time in the past, this It snowed yesterday.
-d or –ed happened. It began and ended in the I watched television last night.
x past.
**irregular verbs exist
Simple Future
be (am/is/are) + going to + base At one particular time in the future, it will It will snow tomorrow.
form of verb happen. *It is going to snow tomorrow.
x will + base form of verb I will watch television tonight.
*I am going to watch television tonight.

Source: Understanding and Using English Grammar, Second Edition, Betty Schrampfer Azar
*Additional examples not in original publication added for clarification
 PROGRESSIVE TENSES
Present Form Meaning Example(s)
Progressive
be (am/is/are) + He went to sleep at 10:00 tonight. It is now 11:00 and He is sleeping right now.
10:00 11:00 base form of he is still asleep. His sleep began in the past, is in
x x verb + -ing progress at the present time, and probably will continue.
*I am sleeping right now.
You are sleeping right now.
We are sleeping right now.
They are sleeping right now.

Past Progressive
was/were + He went to sleep at 10:00 tonight. I arrived at 11:00. He was sleeping when I arrived.
10:00 11:00 base form of He was still asleep. His sleep began before and was in
x x verb + -ing progress at a particular time in the past. It probably *I was sleeping when…
continued. You were sleeping when…
We were sleeping when…
They were sleeping when…

Future Progressive
will be + base He will go to sleep at 10:00 tomorrow night. I will arrive He will be sleeping when I arrive.
10:00 11:00 form of verb + at 11:00. The action of sleeping will begin before I
x x -ing arrive and it will be in progress at a particular time in the
future. Probably his sleep will continue.

The progressive tenses give the idea that an action is in progress during a particular time. The tenses say that an action begins before, is in progress
during, and continues after another time or action.

Source: Understanding and Using English Grammar, Second Edition, Betty Schrampfer Azar
*Additional examples not in original publication added for clarification
 PERFECT TENSES
Present Perfect Form Meaning Example(s)
have/has + I finished eating sometime before I have already eaten.
past participle now. The exact time is not
eat now important. *You have…eaten.
x x He has… eaten.
(time?) They have…eaten.
We have…eaten.

Past Perfect
had + past First I finished eating. Later they I had already eaten when they arrived.
participle arrived. My eating was completely
eat arrive finished before another time in the
x x past.

Future Perfect
will have + First I will finish eating. Later they I will have already eaten when they arrive.
past participle will arrive. My eating will be
eat arrive completely finished before another
x x time in the future.

The perfect tenses give the idea that one thing happens before another time or event.

Source: Understanding and Using English Grammar, Second Edition, Betty Schrampfer Azar
*Additional examples not in original publication added for clarification
 PRESENT PERFECT PROGRESSIVE TENSES
Present Perfect Form Meaning Example(s)
Progressive
*have/has been Event in progress: studying. I have been studying for two hours.
+ base form of When? Before now, up to now.
verb + -ing How long? For two hours. You have been studying
x x He has been studying
They have been studying
2 hrs. We have been studying
Past Perfect
Progressive
*had been + Event in progress: studying. I had been studying for two hours before my friend came.
base form of When? Before another event in
x x verb + -ing the past.
How long? For two hours.
2 hrs.

Future Perfect
Progressive
*will have been + Event in progress: studying. I will have been studying for two hours by the time you
base form of When? Before another event in arrive.
x x verb + -ing the future.
How long? For two hours.
2 hrs.

The present perfect progressive tenses give the idea that one event is in progress immediately before, up to, until another time or event. The tenses are
used to express the duration of the first event.

Source: Understanding and Using English Grammar, Second Edition, Betty Schrampfer Azar
*Additional examples not in original publication added for clarification