Verb Tense Tips in English Grammar

Besides showing the action or state of being in the sentence, the verb also indicates the time the action or “being” took place. By learning about the different kinds of simple, perfect, past, and present tenses, your speaking and writing will be clear and concise.

• Simple present tense: tells what is happening now

• Simple past tense: tells what happened before now

• Simple future: talks about what has not happened yet

• Present perfect tense: expresses an action or state of being in the present that has some connection with the past

• Past perfect tense: places an event before another event in the past

• Future perfect tense: talks about something that has not happened yet in relation to another event in the future