Rules of Verb Tenses
While English may seem fun to learn, there are some difficult and challenging topics there that we need to thoroughly understand for us to widen our vocabulary and to know how to construct appropriate sentences and wordings. Also, it is important for us to know how to properly use the verb tenses to maintain consistency in our sentences, especially when writing lengthy ones like essays, articles, and such.
Moving on, let us now discuss and expound on the tenses of the verb, their functions, and some examples. There are three main tenses of the verb which are known to be the past, present, and future tense. As we move over, we will also learn other branched tenses apart from those three main ones.
- Simple Present Tense – This simply describes an action currently happening. Some keywords that will indicate when the action is taking place at the present time are: often, every day, usually, rarely, on Mondays, etc.
Examples:
- Karl eats an apple every day.
- My aunt’s daughter rarely cries.
2. Present Continuous Tense – The action in this tense is continuously happening. Some keywords for this verb tense are: now, right now, this quarter
Examples:
- Shane is singing right now.
- The girl
3. Present Perfect Tense – The action in this tense has already ended and is perfect. Some keywords for this tense are: already, yet, just, ___ times, etc. To better grasp this, here are some examples:
- I can’t join you for dinner. I have eaten already.
- I have visited Japan several times.
4. Present Perfect Continuous Tense – In here, the action has taken place before but is still ongoing. Some keywords are: for, since, and lately.
Examples:
- I have been waiting for so long.
- I have been working since five am.
5. Simple Past Tense – In this sense, the action has already happened. For the keywords, some of those are last night, this morning, last week, last year.
Examples:
- I married her last year.
- I bought this car last week.
6. Past Continuous Tense – In this, the action was ongoing till a certain time in the past. Some keywords are: while, when
Examples:
- He was not studying when I called him.
- Was she checking my phone while I went out?
7. Past Perfect Tense -This tense describes an action that happened before another action in the past. Some of the keywords are: already, before. by the time
Examples:
- I had lived in France before I moved to Australia.
- Had the delivery guy called when I went to the restroom?
8. Past Perfect Continuous Tense – In this sense, the action has started in the past and continued until another time in the past. Some of the keywords are: for, since
Examples:
- Shane and I had been talking for a while before Danne fetched her.
- How long had you been waiting to get a new membership card?
9. Simple Future Tense – This expresses planning a thing to do in the future.
Examples:
- I will buy a new car.
- I will check my emails.
10. Future Continuous Tense – This expresses an action that will happen in the future.
Examples:
- Shan will be auditioning for the dance troupe.
- I will be accepting commissions on various paperwork requirements.
11. Future Perfect Tense – This tense expresses an action that will take place at a specific time.
Examples:
- I will have finished cooking by the time you arrive.
- Masha will have left by seven pm.
12. Future Perfect Continuous Tense – This tense of the verb is usually in the form will+have+been+verb (ending in ing).
Examples:
- Keith will have been studying at this university for over a year already.
- I will have been sleeping for three hours by now if I did not join this party.
