Tense Structure Time Frame Example

Present Simple Subject + verb (base Habitual I speak English every day. (present habit)
form) actions,
general truths Water boils at 100°C. (general truth)
Present Subject + am/is/are + Actions I am writing a letter. (action now)
Continuous verb-ing happening
now/around She is watching TV. (action now)
now
Present Perfect Subject + have/has + Completed I have eaten breakfast. (action completed before
past participle actions now)
with They have lived here for 10 years. (experience)
connection to
the present We haven't finished the project yet. (unfinished)
Present Perfect Subject + have/has + Actions I have been working all day. (ongoing action)
Continuous been + verb-ing continuing
for a period of They have been studying Spanish for a year.
time (ongoing study)
Simple Past Subject + verb (past Completed I wrote a letter yesterday. (action in the past)
tense) actions
in the past She watched TV last night. (action in the past)
Past Continuous Subject + was/were + Actions I was writing a letter when you called. (past action in
verb-ing happening progress)
in the past They were playing football when it started raining.
(past action interrupted)
Past Perfect Subject + had + past Completed I had eaten breakfast before I left. (action before
participle actions another past action)
before another We hadn't finished the project by then. (unfinished
past action before another past action)

Past Perfect Subject + had + been Actions I had been working all day when you arrived.
Continuous + verb-ing continuing (ongoing action until a past point)
for a period of They had been studying Spanish for a year before
time they moved. (ongoing study until a past point)
Simple Future Subject + will/shall + Future actions I will write a letter tomorrow. (future action)
verb (base form)
Future Continuous Subject + will be + Future actions We will be watching TV tonight. (future planned
verb-ing action)
happening They will be playing football at 5pm. (future ongoing
action)
Future Perfect Subject + will have + Completed I will have eaten breakfast by 8am. (completed by a
past participle actions future point)
by a future We will have finished the project by next week.
point (finished by a future point)
Future Perfect Subject + will have Actions I will have been working all day by the time you get
Continuous been + verb-ing continuing home. (ongoing action until a future point)
for a period of They will have been studying Spanish for two years
time by December. (ongoing study until a future point)
Note: This table shows the most common forms of each tense. There are some irregular verbs and some
variations in usage that are not covered here.

I hope this table is helpful! Let me know if you have any questions.