The 12 English tenses

Subject + was/were verb.

Examples: She was late, I walked, it rained

• Past Simple

• Past Continuous

• Past Perfect

Subject + had + been verb + ing.

Examples: I had been living, it had been raining.

• Past Perfect

• Past continuous

• Past Perfect Continuous

Subject + verb (+s).

Examples: I am 48 years old, They run, She walks.

• Present Simple

• Present Perfect

• Past simple

Subject + have/has + been + verb + ing.

Examples: They have been walking. It has been raining.

• Present Perfect Continuous

• Past Perfect Continuous

• Present Continuous

Subject + will + be + verb + ing.

Examples: It will be raining. Will it be snowing? I will be working.

• Future Perfect

• Future Continuous

• Future Perfect Continuous

Subject + will + have + been + verb +ing.

Subject + am/is/are + be going to = have + been verb+ing.

Examples: It will have been raining. · She is going to have been working at that company for three years when it finally closes.

• Future Continuous

• Past perfect

• Future Perfect Continuous

Subject + am/is/are + verb + ing.

Examples: I am not sleeping, He is not listening. It is raining.

• Present Continuous

• Present simple

• Present Perfect Continuous

Subject + verb (+s).

Examples: Cats like milk. I play tennis. My bus leaves at midday.

• Future Simple

• Present Simple

• Future Continuous

Subject + had + past participle.

Examples: He had played. They had studied

• Past Simple

• Past Perfect

• Past Continuous

Subject + will + verb.

Subject + am/is/are + going to + verb.

Subject + shall + verb

Examples: It will rain tomorrow.

We are going to meet Joe after work tonight.

• Future Simple

• Future Perfect

• Future Continuous