Compare ten present, past, and future forms by purpose, sentence pattern, and example.
simple present
PhraseDescribes actions that happen now or often.
I eat breakfast every morning.
Subject + base form of the verb
Subject + do/does + not + base form of the verb
Do/Does + subject + base form of the verb ?
For the third person singular (he, she, it), the base form of the verb is used with 's' or 'es' added.
present continuous
PhraseDescribes actions happening now.
I am writing a letter.
Subject + am/are/is + present participle
Subject + am/are/is + not + present participle
Am/Are/Is + subject + present participle ?
present perfect
PhraseDescribes actions completed recently or still relevant.
She has already finished her homework.
Subject + has/have + past participle
Subject + has/have + not + past participle
Has/Have + subject + past participle ?
present perfect continuous
PhraseDescribes an action that started in the past, has continued up to the present, and may continue into the future. It emphasizes the duration or ongoing nature of the action.
She has been studying for hours.
Subject + has/have + been + present participle
Subject + has/have + not + been + present participle
Has/Have + subject + been + present participle ?
simple past
PhraseDescribes completed actions in the past.
She visited Paris last summer.
Subject + past tense of the verb
Subject + did + not + base form of the verb
Did + subject + base form of the verb ?
past continuous
PhraseDescribes ongoing actions in the past.
She was visiting Paris last summer.
Subject + was/were + present participle
Subject + was/were + not + present participle
Was/Were + subject + present participle + ?
past perfect
PhraseDescribes completed actions before another action in the past.
She had already finished her homework before dinner.
Subject + had + past participle
Subject + had + not + past participle
Had + subject + past participle ?
past perfect continuous
PhraseDescribes an action that had been ongoing for a period of time before another action or point in the past. It emphasizes the duration or continuity of an action that was happening before something else occurred.
She had been studying for hours before the exam.
Subject + had + been + present participle
Subject + had + not + been + present participle
Had + subject + been + present participle ?
future: be going to
ExpressionDescribes planned or expected future actions, intentions, or predictions. It suggests that there is already a plan or intention to do something in the future, or that a future event is likely to happen based on present evidence or circumstances.
She is going to visit Paris next summer.
Subject + am/is/are + going to + base form of the verb
Subject + am/is/are + not + going to + base form of the verb
Am/Is/Are + subject + going to + base form of the verb + ?
simple future
PhraseDescribes actions that will happen in the future.
I will call you tomorrow.
Subject + will + base form of the verb
Subject + will + not + base form of the verb
Will + subject + base form of the verb ?