Practice
Verb tenses: forms and examples
At 9:00, Dario says, "I am writing the email." At 9:15, he says, "I wrote the email." The verb changes because the first action is in progress and the second one is complete.
Choose a verb tense by matching the form to the time and meaning of the sentence.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
is checking /ɪz ˈtʃekɪŋ/
The short answer
First find the time the sentence means. Then ask whether the action is usual, happening now, complete, or continuing. Use a simple form for a fact or finished event, a continuous form for an action in progress, and a perfect form for an earlier action connected to another time.
The train leaves at six every morning.
Why it works: Leaves is simple present because the sentence states a regular schedule.
5 more examples
-
Maya checks the inventory every Friday.
Simple present describes Maya's regular task.
Not this:Maya
is checkingthe inventory now. What changes: Present continuous shows the task in progress at this moment. -
The neighbors moved last weekend.
Simple past places the move in a completed past time.
Not this:The neighbors
have moved, so the house is empty. What changes: Present perfect connects the earlier move to a result now. -
I will call you after the meeting.
Will call refers to a future action.
Not this:I
am callingyou after the meeting. What changes: Present continuous can express a personal arrangement for the future. -
By noon, Tariq had finished the budget.
Past perfect shows that the work was complete before a past reference time.
Not this:Tariq
finishedthe budget at noon. What changes: Simple past reports the event at the stated past time. -
We have lived near the park for three years.
The situation began earlier and continues to now.
Not this:We
livednear the park in 2021. What changes: The year is a finished period, so simple past is used.
Read the full guide
Do not choose a tense from one time word alone. The whole meaning matters. Today can describe a routine, something happening now, or a completed action earlier today. Read for the time frame first, then choose the verb form that gives the listener the right picture.
Start with the time the sentence means
Look for the time frame before you choose a verb. A routine often uses simple present. A completed day, week, or date often uses simple past. A plan or prediction can refer to the future.
Our office opens at eight on weekdays.
Opens describes a regular timetable, not one action happening now.
Choose the tense for a completed time: We ___ the report yesterday.
Use simple past: We finished the report yesterday.
Use simple tenses for facts, habits, and complete events
Simple present is common for facts, habits, and schedules. Simple past tells about an event in a finished past period. Will plus the base verb can state a future prediction or decision.
The library closed early last Friday.
Last Friday is complete, so closed is a simple past form.
Complete the routine: My brother ___ coffee before work.
Use drinks: My brother drinks coffee before work.
Use continuous forms for an action in progress
Use be plus a verb ending in ing when you want to show an action in progress around a time. The form can be present, past, or future: am working, was working, or will be working.
At this time tomorrow, I will be traveling to the conference.
Will be traveling shows the journey as ongoing at a future time.
Choose the form for an action happening now: The children ___ outside.
Use are playing: The children are playing outside.
Use perfect forms to look back from a reference time
Perfect forms use have, has, or had plus a past participle. Present perfect connects an earlier action to now. Past perfect puts one completed action before another past point. Future perfect looks back from a future deadline.
By July, the team will have completed the training.
Will have completed means the training will be complete before July ends.
Complete the sentence about experience up to now: I ___ never tried scuba diving.
Use have: I have never tried scuba diving.
Check whether the time period is finished or still open
A finished time often needs simple past: last month, in 2022, or two hours ago. An open period can work with present perfect when the action matters now: this week, today, or so far. The speaker's meaning decides whether the period is open.
This week, I have answered twenty customer messages.
The week is still continuing, so the completed work is connected to the present period.
Choose the form: She ___ the workshop two days ago.
Use attended: She attended the workshop two days ago.
Before you go
Remember this
Choose the tense by time and meaning. Use simple forms for routines and completed events, continuous forms for actions in progress, and perfect forms for an earlier action linked to another time. Read the whole sentence before you choose.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "Verb tenses: forms and examples"
What are the main English verb tenses?
English verb forms express present, past, and future meaning. Each time can use a simple form, a continuous form, a perfect form, or a perfect continuous form. The best choice depends on whether the action is usual, in progress, complete, or continuing.
Maya checks the inventory every Friday.
When should I use a continuous tense?
Use a continuous form when you want to present an action as in progress around a particular time. Make it with a form of be and a verb ending in ing, such as is reading, was reading, or will be reading.
Maya is checking the inventory now.
What is the difference between simple past and present perfect?
Simple past places an action in a finished past time, such as last Tuesday or in 2022. Present perfect connects an earlier action to now, often without naming a completed time, or describes a situation that continues to the present.
The neighbors moved last weekend.
How do I form the present perfect?
Use have or has followed by a past participle. Use have with I, you, we, and they. Use has with he, she, it, and singular nouns. For example, they have arrived and she has written a note.
The neighbors have moved, so the house is empty.
Can present continuous describe the future?
Yes. Present continuous can describe a planned personal arrangement when the context makes the future time clear. For example, I am meeting my supervisor tomorrow presents the meeting as an arrangement, while will meet can sound more like a decision or prediction.
I will call you after the meeting.