All 12 Types of tenses with example, Structure, Uses

All 12 tenses are used in English, and help users write more complex sentences. They also have useful structures to use when writing dialogue-driven fiction or nonfiction. This article discusses the different types of tenses with example uses and their structure.

The “12 types of tenses with examples” is a list of 12 different tenses that includes the structure, uses and examples.

Tense specifies the moment of action as well as the state. There are 12 types of tenses, each with an example.

There are 12 different sorts of tenses, each with examples.

1. Indefinitely present
2. Simple In the Past
3. a straightforward future
4. Continual Present
5. Continuous in the past
6. Continual Future
7. Perfect Present
8. Perfect in the past
9. Perfect in the future
10. Perfect Present Continuous
11. Perfect in the past Continuous
12. Perfect in the future Continuous

(See examples below for a list of 12 different types of tenses.)

Note: Frequently, questions are based on perplexing pairings.

Pairs of tenses that are perplexing

• (Simple present & Continual Present)
• (Continuous & Perfect continuous)
• (Perfect Present & Simple In the Past)
• (Simple In the Past & Perfect in the past)

Indefinitely present tense

Under Indefinitely present we included the following activities:

(Action that is taken on a regular basis)

• I come here on a daily basis.
• Unusual Action: An earthquake strikes Japan.
• He is a cigarette smoker.
• The sun rises in the east, which is a universal truth.

Simple present tense is used in newspaper headlines and sports commentary.

Examples:

1. The Prime Minister seals the agreement.
2. The ball is struck by Sachin Tendulkar and flies past the boundary lines.

To convey a planned activity in the near future, use the simple present tense.

PM is going for China next week, for example.

Forming a sentence

(I, we, they, you, or plural if Sub is I, we, they, you, or plural)

• Subject + V1 + object = a positive statement.
• Subject + do not (don’t) + V1 + object = negative phrase.
• Do you have any questions about Do + Subject + V1 + object? Do not + Subject + V1 + object? Isn’t + Subject + V1 + object a no-no?

If the topic is he, she, it, name, or singular, use he, she, it, name, or single.

• Subject + V1 s/es + obj = positive phrase 
• Subject + does not (doesn’t) + V1 + Object = Negative sentence.
• Is it true that + Subject + V1 + object? Is it true that + Subject + does not + V1 + object? Isn’t + Subject + V1 + object the same as + Subject + V2 + object?

Consider the phrases below:

1.	What do you think he knows about you? (wrong) What information does he have about you? (Right)
2.	I’m not sure whether he knows anything about you. (Right)
3.	The victims’ request to transfer the riot case to a different state has no bearing on the case’s merits. (Because the primary topic is ‘appeal,’ change ‘do’ to ‘does.’)

Explanation of the phrases above.

• The word ‘what’ is used to ask a question in the first sentence. As a result, following ‘what,’ the interrogative form should be used.
• In the second sentence, the word ‘what’ connects two clauses. As a result, ‘what’ should be followed by a conventional phrase.
• A verb should always agree with the sentence’s major topic. The verb is often associated with the closest subject, however this is incorrect. (Examples of different tenses)

Simple In the Past tense with example

(An action that is over is expressed in Simple In the Past tense.)

I saw you, but you didn’t see me, for example.  

Forming a sentence

• Subject + V2 + Object = Positive Sentence
• Subject + Did not (didn’t) + V1 + Object = Negative phrase
• Do you have any questions about + Subject + V1 + Object? Did you put + Subject + V1 + Object together? Didn’t + Subject + V1 + Object already exist?

Note: If the phrase begins with the words ‘It’s time,”It’s high time,’ or ‘it’s high time,’ and is followed by a subject, the verb that follows the subject will be in second (V2) form.

Examples:

• It is now time for you to study. (wrong)
• It’s past time for you to study. (right)

V1′ will be utilized if ‘It’s time’ is followed by ‘to’.

It’s time to study, for example.

‘Do’, ‘Does’, and ‘Did’ are not usually employed as an assisting verb in a positive statement. However, we use ‘do,’ ‘does,’ and ‘did’ before the primary word to emphasize it. The primary verb in these phrases should be in the ‘V1’ form. 

1. You do come here on a daily basis. (Right)
2. He did made a blunder (Right) 

If past time is given in a sentence, the sentence is in Simple In the Past Tense.

Examples:

1. I arrived the day before yesterday. (wrong)
2. I arrived the day before yesterday. (Right)

a straightforward future tense

An action to take place in future comes under a straightforward future Tense.

I’ll see you tomorrow, for example.

Forming a sentence

• Sub + Shall/Will + V1 + obj + positive phrase
• Sub + shall/will + not + V1 + obj + negative sentence
• Questions: Sub + V1 + obj + Shall/Will? Sub + not + V1 + obj + Shall/Will? Sub + V1 + obj + Shan’t/Won’t?

Modals explains how to use shall and will.

Continual Present tense

(An action that is going on at the time of speaking comes in Continual Present Tense.)

For instance, I am now learning English.

Sometimes some events are going on even at the time of speaking but we cannot see them, they too come in (Examples of different tenses) Continual Present Tense.

Examples:

1. The sea level is rising, and coastal areas are being flooded.
2. Every day, the population grows.

Note: For events that will take place in the near future, Continual Present Tense is used 

For example, I’ll be in Mumbai tomorrow. 

Forming a sentence

• Sub + is/am/are + V1 + ing + obj + positive sentence
• Negative phrase: V1 + not + ing + obj + sub + is/am/are V1 + ing + obj + sub + isn’t/aren’t/am not
• Is/am/are + Sub + not + V1 + ing + obj + Is/am/are + Sub + not + V1 + ing + obj? Is/am/are + Sub + not + V1 + ing + object? Isn’t/aren’t + Sub + not + V1 + ing + obj + isn’t/aren’t

There is no contracted form for ‘am not.’ As a result, the question tag isn’t utilized.

Isn’t it true that I’m fine? 

Use of the pronouns is/am/are

• Is he/she/it/name/singular he/she/it/name/singular he/she/it/name/s
• am: I am with 
• Are you/we/they/all/plural with you/we/they/all/plural with you/we/they/plural with you

Note:  

• My father works at a bank, and my younger brother is a student. (wrong)
• My father works at a bank, and my younger brother is a student. (Right)

If the statement deals with a routine action, Simple Present Tense is used and not Continual Present Tense. But if the work is just a temporary routing action, Continual Present Tense is used. 

For example, I am now studying for competitive tests.

Continuous in the past tense

If an action was in continuation in the past, Simple In the Past Tense is used 

I was looking forward to seeing you.

Forming a sentence

• Sub + was/were + V1 + ing + obj + positive sentence
• Negative phrase: V1 + ing + obj + sub + was/were + not V1 + ing + obj + sub + wasn’t/weren’t
• Was/were there + Sub + V1 + ing + obj? Was/weren’t + Sub + V1 + ing + obj? Wasn’t + Sub + V1 + ing + obj?

Use of the words was and were

• He/she/it/name/singular was
• Were – you/us/them/plural/everyone

‘Were’ is used with all subjects in an imaginative sentence, whether as an assisting verb or as the primary verb.

Examples:

1. I wish I were a bird (main verb).
2. He pretended to be (assisting verb) asleep.

Continual Future tense

(An action going on in future comes under Continual Future Tense.)

For instance, we will take the test at this time next month.

Forming a sentence

• Subject + shall/will + be + V1 + ing + object in a positive sentence
• Negative phrase: V1 + ing + object + subject + shall/will not + be V1 + ing + object + subject + shan’t/won’t
• Will/Shall + Subject + be + V1 + ing + obj + questions Subject + not + be + V1 + ing + obj + will/shall Subject + be + V1 + ing + obj + Won’t/Shan’t

It’s worth noting that certain verbs don’t use the ‘ing’ form. As a result, they are not available in the Continuous tense.

The following is a list of such verbs:

1.	Perception verbs include:	Please observe, identify, and see, taste, and smell her.
2.	Processing Thinking Verb:	Consider, consider, consider, consider, consider, consider, consider, consider, consider, consider, consider, consider, consider, consider, consider, consider
3.	Possession-indicating verb:	Own, own, own, own, own, own, own, own, own, own, own, own, own, own, own, own, own, own
4.	Feelings or a state of mind are expressed by the verb:	Believe, like, detest, love, adore, want, want, desire, hate, agree, trust, and fantasize are all words that people use to describe themselves.
5.	In general, verbs include:	Look, seem, seem, affect, resemble, cost, demand, become, hope, and reject are all words that may be used to describe anything.

Examples:

• He has a vehicle. He owns an automobile (wrong). (right)
• I am the owner of this property. (Incorrect) This home is mine (right)
• I’m not trying to offend anybody. (bad) I don’t intend to offend anybody. (right)
• I see a guy standing nearby. (wrong) I see a guy standing nearby. (right)

Note: If ‘have’ means ‘to have fun or eat,’ it is not used in the ‘ing’ form; but, if ‘have’ means ‘to have fun or eat,’ it may be used in the ‘ing’ form.

Examples:

• I’m going to have a slice of cake. (right) I’m going to get an automobile. (wrong)
• I own a vehicle. (right)

If the verbs think, recall, feel, look, appear, and so on are used to indicate emotions or are utilized in a progressive stage, they might be in the ‘ing’ form. (Examples of different tenses)

Examples:

• I believe you are correct. (wrong) I believe you are correct. (right)
• I’m considering you. (right) It seemed as though they intended to murder us. (false) I gave the impression that they were going to murder us. (right)
• You have a nice appearance. (right)
• Look! He’s taking a whiff of the rose. (right)

In ‘Gerund’ & ‘Present Participle’, verbs are used in ‘ing’ form.

Examples:

1. I was unable to attend due to illness.
2. Nowadays, getting a job is simple.
3. It is only through seeing that one can believe.
4. Swimming is an excellent kind of exercise.

The verb will be in the ‘ing’ form if it is used following a preposition.

Examples:

1. Ultrasonic waves may be heard by bats (V1 ing).
2. Smoking must be avoided at all costs (V1 ing). 

Perfect Present tense

An action that has recently finished is expressed in the Perfect Present Tense.

For instance, he just visited Delhi.

If the action is important and not the time of action, and the time of action is not given, we use Perfect Present Tense.

Examples:

1. We’ve come a long way.
2. We’ve made it to the moon.

Forming a sentence Formula chart

• Subject + has/have + V3 object = positive phrase
• Negative phrase: V3 object + subject + has/haven’t V3 object + subject + hasn’t/haven’t
• Has/has + Subject + V3 + object? Is it possible to combine Subject + not + V3 + object? Subject + V3 + object + hasn’t/haven’t

Has/Have use

• He/She/It/Name/Singular has–with 
• I/We/They / You / Plural / All I/We/They / You / Plural / All I/We/They / You / Plural / All

Consider the following:

1. Many innovative innovations have come from science. (Right)
2. We’ve made it to the moon. (Right)
3. In the nineteenth century, science provided us with a plethora of new innovations. (wrong)
4. On October 22nd, 2008, we made it to the moon. (wrong)

If past time is given, use Simple In the Past Tense and not Perfect Present Tense.

The proper sentences are as follows:

1. In the nineteenth century, science provided mankind with a plethora of life-saving medications. (Right)
2. On October 22nd, we made it to the moon (Right)

Note: Any version of ‘have’ may be followed by ‘had’ in the phrase (here, ‘had’ will be the primary verb). This is because such combos are employed in Perfect Tense.

1. I’ve had my fill of difficulties in this town (Right)
2. He’s finished his meal. (Right)

‘Usually’, ‘recently’, ‘already’, ‘yet’, ‘so far’ are used in Perfect Tense. ‘Yet’ is generally used in negative sentences of Perfect Present.

Examples:

1. He has not reached home yet (Perfect Present)
2. He had not done any work so far. (Perfect in the past)

If ‘since’ is followed by ‘Simple In the Past Tense’, ‘since’ is preceded by ‘Perfect Present Tense’.

I haven’t seen him since he left India, for example.

Note that the perfect form of any modal may also be employed in such statements.

He may have aged since she last saw him, for example.

If since is used at the start of a sentence, the sentence will be formed as follows:-

He has not taken a single leave since joining the army.

Perfect in the past tense

Take a Take a look at the sentences below:

• I spotted him before he came to a complete halt. (wrong) I had noticed him before he came to a complete halt. (Right)
• The thief fled before he could comprehend anything. (wrong) The thief had vanished before he could comprehend anything. (Right)
• After I completed my job, I ran into him. (wrong) After I completed my job, I ran into him. (Right)
• The performance had already begun by the time I arrived at the venue. (wrong) The performance had already begun by the time I arrived at the venue. (Right)
• When Anand arrived at his village, he saw that the rumor about him had already spread. (Right)

If two actions take place in the past, one after the other, the 1st action will be in Perfect in the past Tense and the 2nd action will be in Simple In the Past Tense, (Examples of different tenses).

Forming a sentence

• Subject + Had + V3 + Object = Positive Sentence 
• Subject + Had + Not + V3 + Object = Negative Sentence 
• Had + Subject + V3 + Object = Questions V3 + object + had + subject + not Subject + V3 + item + hadn’t 

Take note of the fifth phrase.

When Anand arrived at his village, he saw that the rumor about him had already spread.

Explanation: ‘Precede’ means ‘to come before’. The 1st action is ‘the coming of the news’ which must be in Perfect in the past Tense and the 2nd action is ‘And going to the village’ which must be in Simple In the Past Tense.

Perfect in the future tense with example

(Definition: An action that will have been completed in the future, comes under Perfect in the future Tense.)

For instance, by the end of next month, you will have completed your curriculum. 

Take a look at the sentences below:

Examples:

1. The train will have departed by the time I get at the station.
2. By the time, Simple Present, Perfect in the future

Forming a sentence

• Subject + will/shall + have + V3 + obj in a positive sentence
• Negative phrase: V3 + obj + subject + will/shall + not + have V3 + obj + subject + won’t/shan’t +
• Will/should + sub + have + V3 + Obj? Will or will not + sub + have + V3 + Obj? Will you/will you not + sub + have + V3 + Obj?

Consider the following: 

1. The train will have departed by the time I get at the station.
2. The train had already gone by the time I arrived at the station.

Perfect Continuous tense in the present

(An action already started and still going on comes under Perfect Continuous tense in the present.

For instance, I have lived in Delhi for the last five years.

Forming a sentence

• Sub + has/have + been + V1 + ing + obj + for/since + time is a positive sentence.
• Sub + has/have + not + been + V1 + ing + obj + for/since + time is a negative sentence. V1 + ing + obj + for/since + time + sub + hasn’t/haven’t
• Is/has + Sub + been + V1 + ing + obj + for/since + time? Is/are + Sub + not + V1 + ing + obj + for/since + time? Isn’t/hasn’t + Sub + been + V1 + ing + object + for/since + time?

Examples:

1. I’ve been teaching you for an hour. (wrong)
2. For the last hour, I’ve been educating you. (right)

Is only utilized for a short duration.

Examples:

1.	For the last two years, for two hours.
2.	For the last five years, and especially the last two months.
3.	For the last ten years, and especially the last three weeks.

Since: refers to a certain moment in time.

Examples:

1.	Since Monday, all the way back to the beginning.
3.	From 2008, since the beginning of time.
4.	Since last year, at 7 p.m.

Examples of different tenses

Perfect in the tense of the past continuous with example 

(An activity that started in the past, continued and finished in past comes under Perfect in the past Continuous.)

For instance, I had been expecting you since the morning.

Forming a sentence formula

• Sub + had + been + V1 + ing + obj + for/since + time is a positive sentence.
• Sub + had + not + been + V1 + ing + obj + for/since + time is a negative sentence.
• Hadn’t + Sub + been + V1 + ing + obj + for/since + time? Hasn’t + sub been + V1 + ing + obj + for/since + time? Isn’t it true that + sub + has been + V1 + ing + obj + for/since + time?

Perfect in the Continuous tense in the future

An action that continues upto some future point of time comes under Perfect in the future Continuous.

For instance, at the end of this year, I will have lived in Delhi for five years.

Forming a sentence

• Sub + Shall/will + have + been + V1 + ing + obj + for/from + time is a positive sentence.
• Sub + Shall/will + not + have + been + V1 + ing + obj + for/from + time is a negative sentence. Sub + Shan’t/won’t + be + V1 + ing + obj + for/from + time
• Shall/will + not + have + been + V1 + ing + obj + for/from + time + questions Shall/will not be + V1 + ing + obj + for/from + time l + sub + not + have + been + V1 + ing + obj + for/from + time shan’t/won’t

The ‘continuous/perfect continuous tense’ does not utilize verbs that are not in the ‘ing’ form.

Indefinite Tense should be used instead of Continuous Tense for such verbs.

Consider the following scenario:

I am familiar with you. (wrong) I’m familiar with you (Right)

Instead of using Perfect Continuous Tense, such verbs should be utilized in Perfect Tense.

Consider the following scenario: I have been knowing him for five years. (wrong) I have known him for five years. (right)

For/since is used in both Perfect & Perfect Continuous Tense.

Examples:

1. I’ve lived in Delhi for the last five years. (Left)
2. He had been a friend of mine for two years. (right)

The Perfect or Perfect Continuous Tense is used when ‘for/since + time’ is employed in a phrase.

For instance, I haven’t eaten anything since the morning. (Wrong) I haven’t had anything to eat since the morning. (right)

Tenses in Different Forms (PDF)

Types of Tenses Tenses in Different Forms (PDF) download (835 downloads)

 

In this article, you will find the 12 different types of tenses in English grammar with examples. You will also learn about their structure and uses. Reference: types of tenses in english grammar with examples ppt.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the 12 types of tenses and their structure?

A: The 12 types of tenses and their structure are as follows.
Present, Imperfect, Perfect, Future Indefinite
Past Perfect Progressive / Preterite Past Progressive/ Present Perfect
Future Continuous / Preterite Future Continuous

What are the structures of tenses?

A: This is a tricky question to answer. In English, we have three tenses – past tense, present tense and future tense. For example, I ate yesterday means that the action of eating happened in the past and (at least) one day has passed since then. The sentence I will eat tomorrow implies that on some time today or possibly even now there is an event which will happen after another momentous occasion in the future but before this particular point currently exists where it was stated not to exist yet; however it also likely indicates that food being eaten right now doesnt contribute much to its overall significance as what might be happening later still influences more than current actions do because at this point theyre near simultaneous with each other while two days ago potentially had already happened by itself without any implication on how soon anything else would occur following these processes

What are 12 types of tenses definition and examples?

A: There are 12 types of tenses definition and examples. The present tense is used for stating facts; the future tense is used to express predictions, wishes or commands; there are three past tenses which represent completed actions in the past that have a definite effect on the current state of things happening now (e.g., I took your book); while theres also two other passive forms of past tense, one called successive and another denoting repeated events without any noticeable cause-and-effect relation between them (e.g., He was shot twice).

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