English tenses
English tenses overview
In this English tenses table you can find all English tenses with information about the use, the form, signal words and some examples.
| Tense | Use | Form | Examples | Signal words |
|
Simple Present |
habits, something happens repeatedly, generalizing statements, instructions |
Infinitive he/she/it + -(e)s |
I cook. I don’t cook. |
always, every day, often, sometimes, usually, normally, never |
| She cooks. She doesn’t cook. |
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| Present Progressive |
something is happening at the moment, fixed plans, repeated acts |
to be + Infinitive + -ing |
I am cooking. I’m not cooking. |
(right) now, just at that moment, this week, today, still |
|
Simple Past |
action finished in the past |
Infinitive + -ed | I cooked. I didn’t cook. |
yesterday, the other day, last Tuesday, in 2012, a month ago |
| special form for irregular verbs (draw): | I drew. I didn’t draw. |
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| Past Progressive |
actions in the past that lasted for a while, something starting in the past, while something else was already happening |
was/were + Infinitive + -ing |
I was cooking. I wasn’t cooking. |
while, as long as |
|
Present Perfect |
something happened in the past that has a connection to the present |
has/have + Infinitive + -ed (past participle ) |
I have cooked. I haven’t cooked. |
up until now, yet, so far, since, ever, recently, lately, never, for |
| irregular verbs (draw): | I have drawn. I haven’t drawn. |
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| Present Perfect Progressive |
action that started in the past and has just stopped or is still ongoing |
has/have + been + Infinitive + -ing |
I have been cooking. I haven’t been cooking. |
for hours, all afternoon, how long? |
|
Past Perfect |
actions that ended before a specific point in the past |
had + Infinitive + -ed (past participle ) |
I had cooked. I hadn’t cooked. |
before, after, when, as soon as, until that day, once |
| irregular verbs (draw): | I had drawn. I hadn’t drawn. |
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| Past Perfect Progressive |
actions that happened over a certain time in the past before something else happened |
had + been + Infinitive + -ing |
I had been cooking. I hadn’t been cooking. |
since, for, how long? |
|
Will-Future
(Future Simple) |
predictions about the future, general statements about the future, spontaneous decisions |
will + Infinitive |
I will cook. I won’t cook. |
tomorrow, next week, in the summer |
| Going to- Future |
fixed plans for the future, logical assumptions |
to be + going to + Infinitive | I am going to cook. I’m not going to cook. |
|
|
Future Progressive |
actions that will happen in the future and last for a certain time |
will + be + Infinitive + -ing |
I will be cooking. I won’t be cooking. |
during the summer, while, for several weeks |
|
Future Perfect
|
something will have happened in the future |
will + have + Infinitive + -ed (past participle ) |
I will have cooked. I won’t have cooked. |
by Tuesday, within a year |
| irregular verbs (draw): | I will have drawn. I won’t have drawn. |
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| Future Perfect Progressive |
something will already have happened before a certain time in the future |
will + have + been + Infinitive + -ing |
I will have been cooking. I won’t have been cooking. |
by the time that, for the longest time, all day long |
Irregular verbs
Now you know everything about all English tenses! As you can see, some verbs have special forms in past tenses in English. These are called irregular verbs. Take a look at this (German) video and the comprehensive list of irregular verbs to be able to form every tense for every word.
