English Tenses: A Complete Guide to All 12 Tenses

English tenses are verb forms that show when something happens and how you see it. The usual teaching system has 12 tenses: past, present and future, each in 4 forms called simple, continuous, perfect and perfect continuous. Once you see this pattern of 3 times and 4 forms, the tenses stop feeling like 12 separate rules.

This guide gives you a master table of all 12 tenses, a 4-step way to choose the right one and 20 exercises with an answer key.

Key takeaways

• English is usually taught with 12 tenses: 3 times (past, present, future) combined with 4 aspects (simple, continuous, perfect, perfect continuous).
• To choose a tense, find the time, ask whether you are looking back, then ask whether the action is in progress.
• A finished time such as yesterday needs the past simple, not the present perfect.

How many tenses are there in English?

English is usually taught with 12 tenses, because 3 times (past, present, future) combine with 4 aspects (simple, continuous, perfect, perfect continuous). The time says when. The aspect says how you see the action. This grid shows all 12 with the verb work.

Each row has its own meaning and building block:

• Simple: the plain fact or the whole event.
• Continuous (be + -ing): an action in progress at that time.
• Perfect (have + past participle): a look back from a later moment.
• Perfect continuous (have been + -ing): a look back at an activity and how long it lasted.

To move between columns, change only the first verb: am working, was working, will be working. Strictly, 12 is a teaching label (see the questions below).

English tenses table: all 12 tenses with form, use and example

This table gives the form, main use and an example for each of the 12 English tenses. "Past participle" means the third form of a verb, such as worked, gone or written.

Negatives and questions in any tense

Put not after the first helping verb, or move that verb in front of the subject: You have been working, You have not been working, Have you been working? The present simple and past simple need do, does or did: Does she work? Did she work? The verb be on its own does not: Is she ready?

How do you choose the right English tense?

To choose the right English tense, find the time, ask whether you are looking back, ask whether the action is in progress, then check the time words.

Step 1: Find the time

Decide whether you are standing in the past, now or in the future. This gives you the column. An earlier event that still matters now goes in the present column: I have lost my keys.

Step 2: Ask if you are looking back

If you are standing at one moment and looking back at an earlier time, use a perfect form. I have finished looks back from now, I had finished from a past moment and I will have finished from a future moment.

Step 3: Ask if the action is in progress

If the action is still going on at that moment, or you want to stress how long it has lasted, use a continuous form. For a plain fact or a finished result, use a simple form.

Step 4: Check the time words

Time words are clues, not rules. For example, for goes with the present perfect (I have lived here for 5 years) and also with the past simple (I lived there for 5 years, and then I moved).

Worked example: I _____ (study) for 2 hours when my friend called. The call is in the past. You are looking back from the call, so use the past perfect. The studying was still going on and you say how long, so use the continuous: I had been studying.

Which English tenses are easy to confuse?

The English tenses that are easiest to confuse come in pairs, and each pair has a quick test.

Present simple or present continuous

Is it regular or only for now? He works in a bank is his regular job. He is working at home this week is temporary.

Past simple or present perfect

Can you name a finished time? Then use the past simple: I lost my keys yesterday. For time up to now, use the present perfect: I have lost my keys, so I can't open the door. Some varieties of English use the past simple with already and yet. This guide teaches the present perfect with them.

Present perfect simple or present perfect continuous

Do you mean the result or the activity? I have cleaned the kitchen means the job is done. I have been cleaning the kitchen is about the activity, which may not be finished. With a few verbs such as live, both forms can mean the same.

Past simple or past perfect

Which came first? The bus left when I arrived means the bus left as I arrived or just after. The bus had left when I arrived means the bus went first.

Will, be going to or present continuous

Use 'll for a decision made while speaking (I'll get it), be going to for a decided plan or a prediction from what you can see now (Look at those clouds. It is going to rain), and the present continuous for an arrangement (I am meeting my teacher at 5 o'clock).

Which verbs are not used in continuous tenses?

Verbs that describe a state rather than an action, such as know, understand, believe, like, hate, hear, smell, taste and have when it means own, are not normally used in continuous tenses. Say I know the answer, not I am knowing the answer. I am having lunch and I am tasting the sauce are fine, because these are actions.

In what order should you learn the English tenses?

Learn the English tenses you need for everyday talk first, and leave the others for later. This order is a sensible path, not an official list.

1. First: present simple, present continuous, past simple, and the future with will and be going to.
2. Next: past continuous and present perfect simple.
3. Then: present perfect continuous, past perfect simple and future continuous.
4. Last: past perfect continuous, future perfect simple and future perfect continuous.

If you are starting from zero, read about English for beginners. If you are not sure of your level, try the free English level test, and use the CEFR levels guide to see what your result means.

If you are helping a child at home

Skip the tense names at first. Ask 2 questions about the sentence: "When did this happen?" and "Is it still happening?" Then let your child find the place in the grid.

Exercises

These 20 exercises cover all 12 tenses. Write your answers first, then check the answer key.

Part A: Write the correct form

Put the verb in brackets into the correct tense. Use will for the future items.

1. Water _____ (boil) at 100 degrees Celsius.
2. Please be quiet. The baby _____ (sleep) right now.
3. My family _____ (move) to this town 3 years ago.
4. I _____ (know) my best friend since I was 6.
5. I didn't hear the phone because I _____ (take) a shower at that moment.
6. By the time we reached the cinema, the film _____ already _____ (start).
7. This time tomorrow, I _____ (fly) home, so I won't answer messages.
8. By the end of this month, I _____ (read) all 6 books on my list.

Part B: Choose the correct form

Choose (a) or (b).

1. We _____ any rain since March. (a) didn't have (b) haven't had
2. The phone is ringing. Don't get up. _____ it. (a) I'll answer (b) I answer
3. By the time the bus came, we _____ for 40 minutes. (a) were waiting (b) had been waiting
4. By next summer, my sister _____ in this band for 10 years. (a) will be playing (b) will have been playing
5. I _____ this book for 2 hours, and I am only on page 30. (a) have read (b) have been reading
6. I _____ the question now. Thank you. (a) understand (b) am understanding

Part C: Correct the mistake

Each sentence has 1 mistake in the verb. Write the sentence correctly.

1. My brother go to the gym every Saturday.
2. I have seen that film last night.
3. When I arrived at the party, my friends have already left.
4. I have this phone since my last birthday.
5. Did you went to the park yesterday?
6. I will call you when I will get home.

Answer key

Short forms such as I've known are also correct.

Part A

1. boils: present simple, a fact.
2. is sleeping: present continuous, happening now.
3. moved: past simple, a finished time.
4. have known: present perfect simple, with since. Know is a state verb.
5. was taking: past continuous, in progress at a past moment.
6. had already started: past perfect simple, the earlier event.
7. will be flying: future continuous, in progress at a future moment.
8. will have read: future perfect simple, finished before a future moment.

Part B

1. (b) haven't had: present perfect simple, time up to now.
2. (a) I'll answer: future simple, a decision made while speaking.
3. (b) had been waiting: past perfect continuous, how long up to a past moment.
4. (b) will have been playing: future perfect continuous, how long up to a future moment.
5. (b) have been reading: present perfect continuous, still going on.
6. (a) understand: present simple, a state verb.

Part C

1. My brother goes to the gym every Saturday. The present simple adds -s or -es after he, she or it.
2. I saw that film last night. A finished time needs the past simple.
3. When I arrived at the party, my friends had already left. They left first, so use the past perfect.
4. I have had this phone since my last birthday. For time up to now, use the present perfect with since.
5. Did you go to the park yesterday? Use the base form after did.
6. I will call you when I get home. In a time clause such as when I get home, use the present simple for the future.

Common mistakes

• I have seen him yesterday. Use the past simple: I saw him yesterday.
• I live here since 2020. Use the present perfect: I have lived here since 2020.
• I am knowing the answer. Keep state verbs simple: I know the answer.
• She work in a shop. Add -s after he, she or it: She works in a shop.
• I will call when I will arrive. In a time clause with when, use the present simple for the future: I will call when I arrive.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a future tense in English?

English has no future tense form of the verb. English shows future time with will, be going to, the present continuous and the present simple. The name "future simple" for will + verb is still useful for learning the 12-tense grid.

What is the difference between the present perfect and the past simple?

The present perfect connects the past with now, while the past simple talks about a finished time. I have lost my keys means the keys are still missing. I lost my keys yesterday names a finished time and says nothing about now.

Which English tenses should I learn first?

Learners should start with the present simple, the present continuous, the past simple and the future with will and be going to. These forms cover daily routines, what is happening now, past events and plans. The present perfect simple is a good next step.

How can I practise English tenses at home?

To practise English tenses at home, choose 1 tense a week and write 5 true sentences about your own life. Say the sentences aloud, then change them into negatives and questions. Fleydo's free learning materials add lessons, stories and worksheets from Pre-A1 to C1.

Sources

• Wikipedia: Uses of English verb forms
• British Council LearnEnglish: Stative verbs
• Wikipedia: American and British English grammatical differences

Find out which tenses to work on next

Take the free English level test (32 questions, about 12 minutes, no sign-up) to see your indicative CEFR level. For a teacher's help, one-to-one lessons start with a level and goal analysis and a personal study plan, and a free trial lesson comes with no payment and no obligation.