What are tenses in English?

Verb tenses are grammatical rules of verbal conjugation that allow you to know the exact moment in which an
action is carried out. With the tenses you can express if the action belongs to the past, to the present or if it is
still to be carried out.

1. Present tense
There are four verb forms in English in relation to the present: the present simple, the present continuous and
two other particular forms of the verb in the present are: present perfect, present perfect continuous.

-present simple
It is formed with the verb in the infinitive without the "to". In the third person singular it is necessary to add the
suffix -s.

We use it for:
Actions that are usually performed
I study English from Monday to Friday
Facts and conditions that do not change
The sun rises every day

-Present Continuous
It is formed with the auxiliary verb in the present + the main verb with the suffix -ing.
We use it for:
Actions that take place at the time of speaking
It is so hot in here / It is very hot here
Future action or event that has already been scheduled
Are you coming next Saturday? / Will you come next Saturday?

-present perfect
It is formed using the auxiliary to have in the present (have/has) + the past participle of the main verb.
We use it for:
Express an action that started in the past and is still ongoing or that took place in a period of time that has not
yet ended.
I have lived in the US since 2010 / Vivo en Estados Unidos desde 2010.
An action or fact that occurred in the past but whose effects are still evident.
I am not ready to move. My health has not been good this year / I am not ready to move. My health has not been
the best this year.
An action that has just finished, expressed with the adverb just:
I have just finished my homework./ Just finished my homework
-Present Perfect Continuous
It is formed with the verb in the present perfect + the participle of the main verb. Its use is very similar to the
present perfect, what changes is that in this case the attention is focused not only on the result of the action but
also on its development.
Actions started in the past that continue in the present:
She has been studying all day

2. Past Tense

There are 4 past tenses in English: past simple, past continuous, past perfect, past perfect continuous.

-past simple
It is formed with the base verb + suffix ed, or with the appropriate form in the case of an irregular verb.
indicates
Action that occurred in the past and ended definitively and permanently:
Christopher Columbus discovered America in 1492. / Christopher Columbus discovered America in 1492
-past continuous
It is formed with the auxiliary of the verb to be (was/were) + present participle of the main verb. It is used to
indicate an action perceived as unfinished or in progress in the past. indicates
Description of a context in which a past event occurs
The dogs were playing in the garden when Maria decided to go for a walk /Los perros were playing in the
garden when Maria decided to go for a walk
..Action interrupted by an event or other action
- I was eating when my mom called / I was eating when my mom called

-past perfect
It is formed with the past tense of the verb to have (had) + the past participle of the main verb. It is used to
indicate an event that occurred before another event in the past.
- The movie had already started when we arrived
-Past Perfect Continuous
This tense corresponds to the present perfect continuous but in the past tense. Also in this case, the emphasis is
placed on the progress of the action and not only on its completion. It is formed with the past perfect of the verb
to be (been) + the present participle of the main verb. Indicates

Event or action that started before another action in the past

Had you been waiting for long before the train arrived? /Did you wait long before the train arrived?

3. Future tense

Also the future tense consists of 4 verb forms: future simple (two forms), future continuous and future perfect.

-Simple future (will)

The future simple is formed with will/shall + the base form of the verb. express

-spontaneous decision
-I will let you know soon / I will let you know soon
-Anticipation of a future event
- It will be rainy this afternoon / It will be rainy this afternoon

-Future Simple (going to)

It is formed with the auxiliary ser + going + infinitive of the main verb. It is used to indicate plans or decisions,
particularly future events strongly associated with the present.
-I am going to have dinner with my cousin tonight / I will go out to dinner with my cousin tonight.

Future Continuous
It is formed with the simple future of the verb to be + the present participle. It indicates a future action that is
seen in its development.

At this time next year, I will be going on holiday