Verb Tenses Overview With Examples: Present

Verb Tenses Overview with Examples
Tense: Tense is a form of a verb that is used to indicate the time of action or state of being. There
are 3 main verb tenses; Present, Past and Future.
Aspect: The aspect of a verb indicates whether the action is ongoing or completed. Depends on
Aspect each tense has divided into 4 sub tenses called Simple (Infinitive), Continuous
(Progressive), Perfect and Perfect Continuous.
Past
(Before now)
Present
(Now, or any time that
includes now)
Future
(After now)
5. Past Simple
I ate an apple
yesterday.
For the finished action at a
specific event or time in the
past.
1. Present Simple
I eat an apple every
day.
We use Present Simple
when the action is repeated
or usual or general.
9. Future Simple
I will eat an apple
tomorrow.
For the action that
happens at a specific event
or time in the future.
6. Past Continuous
I was eating an apple
when you called
yesterday.
2. Present
Continuous
I am eating an apple
right now.
10. Future
Continuous
I will be eating an
apple when you
For an action that was
happening at a specific event
or time in the past.
We use this Tense for
something is happening
now or at this very moment.
arrive tonight.
For an action that will be
happening at a specific
event or time in the future.
7. Past Perfect
I had eaten an apple
before (by the time)
you came yesterday.
For an action that occurred
before another action or time
in the past.
3. Present Perfect
I have eaten an
apple.
Used to describe that an
action happened at an
unspecified time before
now.
11. Future Perfect
I will have eaten
an apple before (by
the time) you arrive
tonight.
For an action that will
occur before another
action or time in the
future.
8. Past Perfect
Continuous
I had been eating
apples for 2 hours
when you came
yesterday.
For an action started in the
past & continued up until
another event or time in the
past.
4. Present Perfect
Continuous
I have been eating
apples for 2 hours.
Used to tell that an action
started in the past and has
continued up until now.
12. Future Perfect
Continuous
I will have been eating
apples for over 2 hours
when you arrive tonight.
For an action will continue
up until a particular event
or time in the future.
Subject: The subject of a sentence is the person, place, thing, or idea that is doing or being
something. The subject tells what the sentence is about.
Verb: A word used to describe an action, state, or occurrence. A verb is the essential part of a
sentence.
Object: An object is a part of a sentence and it refers to someone or something involved.
Noun: A word that can be refer to a person, animal, place, thing, quality, idea, or action and is
typically used in a sentence as subject or object.
Pronoun: A word that replaces a noun in the sentence, assigning people or things as the subject.
1. Present Simple Tense

USE 1: For Habitual / Repeated Actions
We use Present Simple when the action is repeated or usual or general.
The action can be a habit, a hobby, a daily event, a scheduled event.
Structure: Subject + Verb (base form / V1) + Object
Ex: I + drink + coffee.
Note: For third person singulars add s / es / ies to the verb
Ex: He + drinks + coffee.
Signal / clue words
Adverbs: Always, usually, frequently, often, sometimes, occasionally,
rarely / seldom and never. Note that the adverbs of frequency usually go
before the verb.
Time expressions made up of two or more words. Ex : One hour a day,
once a day, every morning, a night , every day, every Sunday, every
weekend, on Sundays, on weekdays, on weekends, once a week, once a
month etc.
Time expressions are placed either at the beginning or the end of a
sentence and usually at the end of questions.
1. Positive / Affirmative sentences
With subject “I”
1. I usually wake up at 6 o’clock.
2. I brush my teeth twice a day.
3. I always wash my hands before eating.
4. I eat chapati for dinner every day.
5. I never drink coffee at breakfast.
6. I go out with my friends on weekends.
7. I give him money whenever he needs.
8. I work as a teacher at a private school.
9. I do my housework every morning.
10. I sometimes have lunch at restaurants.
11. I play tennis five days a week.
12. I rarely check my Email on Hotmail.
You / Your brother and you / John and you etc.
1. You brush your teeth twice a day.
2. You always wash your hands before eating.
3. You go out with your friends on weekends.
4. You give her money whenever she needs.
5. You do your housework every morning.
6. You rarely check your Email on Hotmail.
He / My brother / Your brother / John etc.
1. He usually wakes up at 6 o’clock.
2. He brushes his teeth twice a day.
3. He always washes his hands before eating.
4. He eats chapati for dinner every day.
5. He never drinks coffee at breakfast.
6. He goes out with his friends on weekends.
7. He gives me money whenever I need.
8. He works as a teacher at a private school.
9. He does his housework every

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Verb Tenses Overview with Examples

1. Present Simple Tense

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