The twelve English verb tenses with a one-line explanation and example sentence for each.
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- What does the present simple tense express?
- A habitual action, general truth, or something true right now
- Give an example of a present simple sentence
- She plays tennis every Sunday.
- When is present simple used with habits?
- To describe actions that happen regularly or repeatedly
- What does the present continuous tense express?
- An action happening right now or a temporary situation
- Give an example of a present continuous sentence
- They are studying for their exam right now.
- How do we form the present continuous?
- am/is/are + present participle (verb-ing)
- What does the present perfect tense express?
- A past action with a result that matters now, or an action from the past that continues now
- Give an example of a present perfect sentence
- I have lived in this city for five years.
- How do we form the present perfect?
- have/has + past participle
- What does the present perfect continuous tense express?
- An action that started in the past, is still happening, and the duration matters
- Give an example of a present perfect continuous sentence
- She has been working here since Monday.
- How do we form the present perfect continuous?
- have/has + been + present participle (verb-ing)
- What does the past simple tense express?
- A completed action or event that happened at a specific time in the past
- Give an example of a past simple sentence
- He visited Paris last summer.
- What time words often signal the past simple?
- Yesterday, last week, in 1995, two days ago, last month