What Is Verb Tense? (with Examples)The tense of a verb is determined by when the action took place. The three tenses are:

The Past TenseThe Present TenseThe Future TenseExamples of Tenses

Here are some examples of verbs in different tenses:

I walked to work.(The verb walked is in the past tense.)I walk to work.(The verb walk is in the present tense.)I will walk to work.(The verb will walk is in the future tense.)Remember, verbs do not just express actions. They can also express a state of being. For example:

I was happy.(The verb was is in the past tense.)I am happy.(The verb am is in the present tense.)I will be happy.(The verb will be is in the future tense.)Examples of Verbs in Different TensesHere are some more examples of verbs in the past, present, and future tenses:

The hardest that I have laughed at a movie was probably Team America. I laughed 'til I thought I was going to throw up. (Ron White)(The shaded verbs are in the past tense.)

You laugh at me because I'm different. I laugh at you because you are all the same. (Jonathan Davis)(The shaded verbs are in the present tense.)

Nobody will laugh long who deals much with opium; even its pleasures are of a grave and solemn complexion. (Thomas de Quincey)(The shaded verbs are in the future tense.)You will notice that some of the verbs in the past tense example about Team America are made up of more than one word (have laughed, was going). We need these different versions of the tenses because the tenses are further categorized depending on whether the action (or state of being) they describe is in progress or completed. For example, the different versions of the verb to laugh are:

Past Tense: laughed, was/were laughing, had laughed, had been laughing

Present Tense: laugh, am/is/are laughing, has/have laughed, has/have been laughing

Future Tense: will laugh, will be laughing, will have laughed, will have been laughing

The Full List of TensesThe table below shows the full list of the tenses:

The 4 Past TensesExample

simple past tenseI went

past progressive tenseI was going

past perfect tenseI had gone

past perfect progressive tenseI had been going

The 4 Present TensesExample

simple present tenseI go

present progressive tenseI am going

present perfect tenseI have gone

present perfect progressive tenseI have been going

The 4 Future TensesExample

simple future tenseI will go

future progressive tenseI will be going

future perfect tenseI will have gone

future perfect progressive tenseI will have been going

What Is the Past Tense? (with Examples)Thepast tensedescribes a past event or a state of being. For example: I jumped in the lake.(past event) I was happy.(past state of being)The tense of averbis determined by when the action took place. The three main tenses are: past tense present tense future tenseExamples of the Types of Past TensesThe past tense is categorized further depending on whether the action was in progress or has been completed. The four past tenses are:The 4 Past TensesExamplesUses

simple past tense I went. The Martians landed near the aqueduct.The simple past tense is used to describe a completed activity that started in the past and ended in the past.

past progressive tense I was going. He was painting the door when a bird struck the window.The past progressive tense is used to describe an on-going activity in the past. Often, it is used to set the scene for another action.

past perfect tense I had gone. Silverfinger had taken the pill before the team reached him.The past perfect tense is used to emphasize that an action was completed before another took place.

past perfect progressive I had been going. She had been painting the door before the dog scratched it.The past perfect progressive tense is used to show that an on-going action in the past has ended.

Diagrams for the Four Past TensesThe infographics below show how each past tense is formed and a quick overview of how each one is used:Simple Past TenseFor example: I played when I was younger.Past Progressive TenseFor example: I was playing for an hour.Past Perfect TenseFor example: I had played already.Past Perfect Progressive TenseFor example: I had been playing since I was ten.

What Is the Present Tense? (with Examples)Thepresent tensepredominantly describes a current event or state of being. However, somewhat unusually, thepresent tensecan also be used to describe past and future events (more on this below). For example: I jump in the lake every Saturday.(present event) I am happy.(present state of being) The meeting ends at 6 o'clock.(future event)(See "Uses" for Simple Present Tense in the table below.) A man walks into a bar. Ouch!(past event)(See "Uses" for Simple Present Tense in the table below.)The tense of averbis determined by when the action took place. The three main tenses are: past tense present tense future tenseExamples of the Types of Present TenseThe present tense is categorised further depending on whether the action is in progress or completed. The four present tenses are:The 4 Present TensesExamplesUses

simple present tense I go. I like chocolate. The train gets in at 5 o'clock. A horse walks into a bar, and the barman says, "why the long face?"The simple present tense is used:

(1) To describe facts and habits.(2) To describe scheduled events in the future.(3) To tell stories to make your listener or reader feel more engaged with the story.

present_progressive tense I am going. Barny is looking for the latest brochure.The present progressive tense is used for an on-going action in the present.

present perfect tense I have gone. David has worked alongside two of the world's finest scientists in the field of entomology.The present perfect tense is used to describe actions that began in the past and are still continuing into the present.

present perfect progressive I have been going. Amanda has been relying on a pay rise to pay her student loan.The present perfect progressive tense is used for:

(1) a continuous activity that began in the past and continues into the present, or(2) a continuous activity that began in past but has now finished (usually very recently).

Diagrams for the Four Present TensesThe infographics below show how each present tense is formed and a quick overview of how each one is used:Simple Present TenseFor example: I play every TuesdayPresent Progressive TenseFor example: I am playing at the moment.Present Perfect TenseFor example: I have played for his team before.Present Perfect Progressive TenseFor example: I have been playing for a year.

Future Tense (with Examples)Thefuture tenseexpresses a future event or a future state of being. For example: I will jump in the lake.(future event) I will be happy.(future state of being)The tense of averbis determined by when the action took place. The three main tenses are: past tense present tense future tenseExamples of the Types of Future TenseThe future tense is categorized further depending on whether the action will be in progress or will be completed. The four future tenses are:The 4 Future TensesExamplesUses

simple future tense I will go. We will celebrate our anniversary by flying to New York.The simple future tense is used for an action that will occur in the future.

future progressive tense I will be going. The Moscow State Circus will be performing in Cheltenham for the next 3 weeks.The future progressive tense is used for an on-going action that will occur in the future.

future perfect tense I will have gone. By the time you arrive, we will have finished the meal and the speeches.The future perfect tense is used to describe an action that will have been completed at some point in the future.

future perfect progressive I will have been going. In July next year, you will have been studying for 3 years.The future perfect progressive tense is used for an on-going action that will be completed at some specified time in the future.

Diagrams for the Four Future TensesThe infographics below show how each future tense is formed and a quick overview of how each one is used:Simple Future Tense

For example: I will play after breakfast.Future Progressive Tense

For example: I will be playing for an hour.Future Perfect Tense

For example: I will have played by breakfast.Future Perfect Progressive Tense

For example: I will have been playing for 2 hours by breakfast.