12 Types of Tenses with Examples and Formula

12 Types of Tenses with Examples and Formula: Rohan was sitting in the second row of his classroom, staring at his English notebook. The bell had just rung, and the English period was about to begin. His heart was beating fast because grammar class always made him nervous.

When the teacher entered the class, she asked a simple question to Rohan, “Rohan, tell me what were you doing yesterday evening at 6 p.m.?” Rohan said “mam, I was do my homework.” The whole class laughed quietly. Rohan’s face turned red, he felt embarrassed and sat down on the bench. Even though he knew what he wanted to say.

The teacher smiled and said gently, “You understand the action, but you are confused about the time.” Those words stayed in Rohan’s mind the whole day. That evening, Rohan realised something important that his problem was not English, it was tenses. He decided to understand when an action happens instead of memorising rules. From that day, he started seeing tenses as a way to understand time, not as a fear.

Table of Contents

Introduction

We always think that Tenses are not just grammar rules.They are time machines. Without tense we can not write a single English sentence. Because they tell:

• When an action happens
• How long it continues
• Whether it is completed or ongoing

Therefore in this article we will learn all 12 types of tenses slowly, deeply, and practically. We have described all the tenses with their structure and uses. We have already written a post on Types of Clauses in English Grammar with Examples if you wish you can read it.

12 Types of Tenses with Examples and Formula

 There are three main tense and they are:

1. Present Tense
2. Past Tense
3. Future Tense

 What are the 12 types of tenses?

Each of these tenses has four forms and they are: 

 

1. Present Tense

  1.1: Present Indefinite or Simple Present Tense

  1.2: Present Continuous Tense

  1.3: Present Perfect Tense

  1.4: Present Perfect Continuous Tense 

 

2. Past Tense

  2.1: Past Indefinite or Simple Past Tense

  2.2: Past Continuous Tense

  2.3: Past Perfect Tense

  2.4: Past Perfect Continuous Tense

3. Future Tense

  3.1: Future Indefinite Tense 

  3.2: Future Continuous Tense

  3.3: Future Perfect Tense

  3.4: Future Perfect Continuous Tense

1. Present Tense

  1.1: Present Indefinite or Simple Present Tense:

    Structure: Subject + Verb + Object

    Note: If the subject is third person singular number then we have to add s or es with the verb.

    Uses: This tense is used to express any universal or general truth or habit and routine.

    Examples:

1. I drink coffee every morning.
2. Honey is sweet.
3. The earth is revolves around the sun.
4. Water boil at 100° c.
5. I play cricket.   

Interrogative Sentence 

Structure: 

• Do/Does + Subject + V1 +......  
• Question word + do/does + Subject + V1 + ..... 

Examples:

1. Do you read the book? 
2. Do you play cricket? 
3. Why do you drink coffee? 
4. Does he go to the park? 
5. Why does she not clean the house?
   

 Negative Sentence

Structure: Subject + do/does + not + V1 +  ....... 

Example:

1. We do not know him. 
2. He does not love her. 
3. They do not play football. 
4. I do not drink tea. 
5. Ram does not watch tv.
   

  1.2: Present Continuous Tense:

 Structure: Subject + am/is/are + V+ing + Object

Uses: This tense is used to express any action happening now (at the time of speaking) or temporary activity.

Examples: 

1. It is raining outside.
2. I am playing cricket with my friends.
3. Avijit is learning to play guitar.
4. I am learning computer programming.
5. We are going to a tour.  

Interrogative Sentence 

Structure: 

• Am/Is/Are + Subject + V1 + ing + ...? 
• Question word + am/is/are + Subject + V1 + ing + .....? 

Example:

1. Is he going to school? 
2. Why you are watching the tv? 
3. Am I reading the book? 
4. Are you playing chess? 
5. Is she doing the party?
   

 Negative Sentence

Structure: Subject + am/is/are + not + V1 + ing + ..... 

Example: 

1.  I am not suffering from fever. 
2. He is not reading the book. 
3. They are not going to the office. 
4. He is not driving the car. 
5. You are not coming here.
   

 1.3: Present Perfect Tense:

 Structure: Subject + have/has + V3(past  participle form) + Object.

Uses: This tense is used to express any experience in life and recent action or event (here time is not mention). 

Examples: 

1. I have done it.
2. I have finished my home work (may be 5 minutes or 1 hour ago but here time is not important).
3. I have taught computer to many students.
4. My hand has broken.
5. She has died.   

Interrogative Sentence 

Structure:

• Have/Has + Subject + V3 + .....? 
• Question word + has/have + Subject + V3 + .....? 

Example:

1. Has he gone to school? 
2. Have I drunk coffee? 
3. What have you read today? 
4. Why has she come here? 
5. Why have they told lie? 

Negative Sentence

Structure: Subject + have/has + not + V3 + ...... 

Example:

1. I have not done it. 
2. He has not built the house.
3. You have not played cricket. 
4. You have not given the exam. 
5. Riya has not eaten yet.
   

1.4: Present Perfect Continuous Tense:

 Structure: Subject + has/have + been + V+ing + Object.

Uses: This tense is used to express any action that started in the past and are still continuing.

Examples:

1. I have been playing cricket for 5 years.
2. I have been living here for 10 years.
3. He has been waiting at the bus stand since 6pm.
4. She has been studying for 3 hours.
5. I have been waiting to see the doctor since 4pm.  

Interrogative Sentence 

Structure: 

• Have/Has + Subject + been + V1 + ing + ..... + since/for  + .....? 
• Question word + have/has + Subject + been + V1 + ing +..... + since/for + ....? 

Example:

1. Have you been playing since 3 o' clock? 
2. Has he been reading for two hours? 
3. Why have you been sleeping since 12 pm?
   
4. Has she been cooking for three hours? 
5. Have you been eating for one hour? 

Negative Sentence

Structure: Subject + have/has + not + been + V1 + ing +.... + since/for + ..... 

Example:

1. I have not been sleeping since 12 pm.
2. He has not been waiting for me since 4 o' clock.
3. She has not been reading for three hours. 
4. They have not been playing since 3 pm.
5. I have not been working for one month. 
   

2. Past Tense

  2.1: Past Indefinite or Simple Past: 

  Structure: Subject + V2 + Object

 Uses: This tense is used to express any completed action in the past or any habitual action in the past.

 Examples: 

1. I drank coffee.
2. My father built this house in 2008.
3. I played cricket with my friend.
4. He bought a car from kolkata.
5. I called him.

Negative Sentence 

Structure: Subject + did + not + V1 + object

Examples:

1. I did not drink milk.
2. He did not play cricket.
3. She did not go to school yesterday.
4. I did not read the newspaper.
5. He did not pass the exam.

Interrogative sentence 

Structure: 

• Did + Subject + V1 + Object?
• Question word + did + Subject + V1 + object?

Examples :

1. Did you go to market yesterday?
2. What did you eat?
3. When did you come from the school?
4. Did you do your homework?
5. Did you help her?

 2.2: Past Continuous Tense:

 Structure: Subject + was/were + V+ing + Object

Uses: This tense is used to express any unfinished, ongoing action in the past (+ finished action).

Examples: 

1. I was reading when he came.
2. It was raining when the power went out.
3. We were playing cricket.
4. I saw an accident while i was going to the market.
5. When i came she was crying.
   

Negative Sentence 

Structure: Subject + was/were + not + V1 + ing + object

Examples:

1. I was not drinking milk.
2. He was not playing cricket.
3. She was not going to school yesterday.
4. We were not reading the newspaper.
5. They were not watching TV when I came.

Interrogative Sentence 

Structure: 

• Was/Were + Subject + V1 + ing + Object?
• Question word + was/were + Subject + V1 + ing + object?

Examples :

1. Was he playing cricket?
2. What were you doing yesterday?
3. Where was she going last sunday?
4. Were they watching a movie?
5. Was it raining in the morning?

 2.3: Past Perfect Tense:

 Structure: Subject + had + V3(past participle form) + Object

Uses: This tense is used to express which action happen first when there are two more past action.

Examples: 

1. The train had left the platform before i reached the station.
2. He had read the book before i came.
3. He had come to the theater before i came.
4. I had fallen asleep before 9 o'clock.
5. I had reached my home before rain started.
   

Negative Sentence 

Structure: Subject + had + not + V3 + object

Examples:

1. I had not finished my homework.
2. He had not gone to the market.
3. She had not called me before leaving.
4. We had not visited the museum.
5. They had not completed the project on time.

Interrogative Sentence 

Structure: 

• Had + Subject + V3 + Object?
• Question word + had + Subject + V3 + object?

Examples :

1. Had he finished his homework?
2. What had you done before the party?
3. Where had they gone before the meeting started?
4. Had she written the letter?
5. Why had they left so early before I came?

2.4: Past Perfect Continuous Tense:

 Structure: Subject + had been + V+ing + Object.

Uses: This tense is used to denotes an continuous action in the past before another finished action.

Examples:

1.  I had been waiting for 2 hours when the doctor arrived.
2. I had been working when he came.
   
3. He had been suffering from fever before the doctor came.
4. They had been playing cricket before rain started.
5. I had been reading the book before she came to my house.
   

Negative Sentence 

Structure: Subject + had + not + been + V1 + ing + object + for/since + time

Examples:

1. I had not been working on the project for two hours.
2. He had not been waiting for the bus since morning.
3. She had not been studying for her exams for a week.
4. We had not been playing football since last evening.
5. They had not been traveling for three days.

Interrogative Sentence 

Structure: 

• Had + Subject + been + V1 + ing + object + for/since + time?
• Question word + had + Subject + been + V1 + ing + object + for/since + time?

Examples :

1. Had he been working on the project for two hours?
2. What had she been doing since morning?
3. How long had they been waiting for the train?
4. Had you been studying for your exams for a week?
5. Why had he been traveling for three days?

3. Future Tense

  3.1: Future Indefinite Tense:

 Structure: Subject + will/shall + Object

Uses: This tense is used to denotes an action that will happen in the future.

Examples: 

1. India will will win the world cup.
2. He will come to our home.
3. I shall go to the school.
4. He will buy a car from kolkata.
5. We shall go to the Tajmahal.
   

Negative Sentence 

Structure: Subject + will/shall + not + V1 + object

Examples:

1. I will not go to the market tomorrow.
2. He will not attend the meeting.
3. She will not call you tonight.
4. We will not complete the assignment on time.
5. They will not participate in the event.

Interrogative Sentence 

Structure: 

• Will/Shall + Subject + V1 + Object?
• Question word + will/shall + Subject + V1 + object?

Examples :

1. Will you go to the market tomorrow?
2. When will she call you?
3. Where will they stay during the trip?
4. Shall we visit the park this evening?
5. Will he complete the project on time?

3.2: Future Continuous Tense:

 Structure: Subject + shall/will + be + V+ing + Object

Uses: This tense is used to denotes any on going action in the future.

Examples:

1. I will be driving at that time.
2. She will be doing it.
3. I shall be workin in the office when he come home.
4. Tomorrow she will be washing the clothes.
   

Negative Sentence 

Structure: Subject + will/shall + not + be + V1 + ing + object

Examples:

1. I will not be attending the meeting tomorrow.
2. He will not be watching TV in the evening.
3. She will not be traveling to Delhi next week.
4. We will not be working on the project this time tomorrow.
5. They will not be playing football in the afternoon.

Interrogative Sentence 

Structure: 

• Will/Shall + Subject + be + V1 + ing + Object?
• Question word + will/shall + Subject + be + V1 + ing + object?

Examples :

1. Will you be attending the meeting tomorrow?
2. What will she be doing at this time tomorrow?
3. Where will they be staying during their trip?
4. Shall we be working on the project next week?
5. Will he be writing his report in the evening?

3.3: Future Perfect Tense:

 Structure: Subject + shall/will + have + V3(past participle form) + Object

Uses: This tense is used to denotes any action will be completed at some point of time in the future.

Examples:

1. I shall have finished the work before you come.
2. He will have completed the work by monday.
3. She will have finished the book.
4. It will have stopped raining.
   

Negative Sentence 

Structure: Subject + will/shall + not + have + V3 + object

Examples:

1. I will not have finished my homework by 5 PM.
2. He will not have reached the station by then.
3. She will not have completed the project by next week.
4. We will not have written the report by tomorrow.
5. They will not have arrived before the meeting starts.

Interrogative Sentence 

Structure: 

• Will/Shall + Subject + have + V3 + Object?
• Question word + will/shall + Subject + have + V3 + object?

Examples :

1. Will you have completed the assignment by tomorrow?
2. What will she have done by evening?
3. Where will they have gone by next month?
4. Shall we have prepared for the exam by then?
5. Will he have submitted the report by the deadline?

3.4: Future Perfect Continuous Tense:

This tense is no longer in practical use

 Structure: Subject + will + have + been + V+ing + Object

 Uses: This tense is used to denotes any ongoing action in the future with duration.

 Examples:

1. By august i will have been living in London for six months.
2. By january he will have been saving money for one year.

Negative Sentence 

Structure: Subject + will/shall + not + have + been + V1 + ing + object + for/since + time

Examples:

1. I will not have been working here for five years by next January.
2. He will not have been studying for three hours by the time you arrive.
3. She will not have been teaching in this school since 2020.
4. We will not have been traveling for two days by tomorrow evening.
5. They will not have been playing cricket since morning.

Interrogative Sentence 

Structure: 

• Will/Shall + Subject + have + been + V1 + ing + Object + for/since + time?
• Question word + will/shall + Subject + have + been + V1 + ing + object + for/since + time?

Examples :

1. Will you have been working here for five years by next January?
2. How long will she have been studying by the time I reach?
3. What will they have been doing for so long?
4. Shall we have been preparing for the test since morning?
5. Will he have been traveling for two weeks by then?

Tense Practice Exercise

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

1. I ______ (study) English every morning.
   Answer: study
2. She ______ (prepare) for the exam right now.
   Answer: is preparing
3. I ______ (complete) my homework before my father came home.
   Answer: had completed
4. They ______ (wait) for the bus since 7 a.m.
   Answer: have been waiting
5. He ______ (join) the company last year.
   Answer: joined
6. At 9 p.m. tomorrow, we ______ (watch) the match.
   Answer: will be watching
7. She ______ already ______ (finish) her work.
   Answer: has already finished
8. When I entered the room, they ______ (discuss) the problem.
   Answer: were discussing
9. I ______ (help) you with this work tomorrow.
   Answer: will help
10. He ______ (work) in this office for five years by 2026.
    Answer: will have been working
11. The sun ______ (rise) in the east.
    Answer: rises
12. She ______ (lose) her keys and is very upset now.
    Answer: has lost
13. We ______ (sleep) when the earthquake happened.
    Answer: were sleeping
14. They ______ (finish) the work by next week.
    Answer: will have finished
15. I ______ never ______ (see) such a beautiful place before.
    Answer: have never seen

Exercise 2: Identify the Tense

1. She has been preparing for the exam since January.
   Answer: Present Perfect Continuous Tense
2. I went to Kolkata last year.
   Answer: Simple Past Tense
3. At this time tomorrow, I will be attending the meeting.
   Answer: Future Continuous Tense
4. They had completed the task before the deadline.
   Answer: Past Perfect Tense
5. He studies English every evening.
   Answer: Simple Present Tense
6. We were playing cricket when it started raining.
   Answer: Past Continuous Tense
7. She has never traveled by air.
   Answer: Present Perfect Tense
8. By next month, I will have finished this book.
   Answer: Future Perfect Tense
9. They are watching a movie right now.
   Answer: Present Continuous Tense
10. He will call you in the evening.
    Answer: Simple Future Tense
11. I had been waiting for an hour before the bus arrived.
    Answer: Past Perfect Continuous Tense
12. The train arrives at 6 a.m.
    Answer: Simple Present Tense
13. She was writing a letter at that time.
    Answer: Past Continuous Tense
14. I have just completed my assignment.
    Answer: Present Perfect Tense
15. By 2027, he will have been working here for ten years.
    Answer: Future Perfect Continuous Tense