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English Grammar: Tenses Chart with Examples

English Grammar: Tenses Chart with Examples 

                                     Tense

                               Examples

1. Simple present tense is used to describe everyday events, habits, and facts.

(i) We go to school at eight o'clock.
(ii) It is cold in winter.
(iii)The Sun rises in the east.

2. Present continuous tense is used to describe an action that is continuing or going on at the time of speaking.

(i) I am studying tenses.
(ii) They are working on a project.

3. Present perfect tense is used to show an action that has just happened or to describe past events whose effect continues in the present. It is also used to talk or write about actions whose time is not definite.

(i) He has just arrived in Delhi.
(ii)We have learnt how to cook.
(iii)They have been to Imphal.

4. Present perfect continuous tense is used to describe an action that started in the past and is still continuing.

(i) I have been studying for three hours.
(ii)They have been working since last night.

5. Simple past tense is used to describe an action completed at a particular time in the past.

(i) I did not go to school yesterday.
(ii) She went to the malI last week.

6. Past continuous tense is used to talk about the things that were happening at a particular time in the past.

(i) I was taking a bath when the doorbell rang.
(ii) We were sleeping when you called.

7. Past perfect tense is used to describe an action that took place before a certain time in the past. We also use it to indicate which action happened first when two actions happened in the past.

(i) Yesterday, I had eaten my dinner before eight.
(ii)We had finished our work before the teacher collected the books.

8. Past perfect continuous tense is used to describe an action that began before a certain time in the past and continued up to that time.

(i) I had been living in Delhi for two years when I got my first job.
(ii) When I joined the school, Ms. Preston had been teaching there for twenty years.

9. Simple future tense is used to talk about events and actions we think will happen at a time in the future. It is also used to talk about the future events that are beyond our control.

(i) I will spend my holidays with Grandmother.

(ii) I shall be six years old next year.

10. Future continuous tense is used to talk  about events that will be in progress at a point in time in the future.

(i) Going by the weather forecast, it will be raining by the time we reach.
(ii)She will be working on the weekend.

11. Future perfect tense is used to talk about actions that will be completed by a certain time in the future. It is also used when two actions are going to occur in the future, we use the future perfect tense to indicate which action will occur first.

(i) I will have reached Delhi by noon tomorrow.

(ii)By the time I reach home, she will have left for airport.

12. Future perfect continuous tense is used to describe actions which will be in progress over a period of time that will end in the future.

(i) By this December, I will have been learning French for six months.
(ii) In three days' time, our ship will have been sailing for a year.

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