Verb tenses

12 common tenses

Perfect usually end in –ed Helping verb is a form of “have” Progressive ends in –ing Helping verb is a form of “to be” Perfect progressive both “have” and “to be”

Action began in the past and continues or the effect still continues Present perfect Action began in the past and continues or the effect still continues

Past perfect The action began and was completed in the past before another action or event

Future perfect The action will have been completed at a specified time in the future

Present progressive The action is happening at the same time as the statement is being made She is skiing.

The action in the past occurred at the same time as another Past progressive The action in the past occurred at the same time as another She was skiing.

The action is ongoing or continuous Future progressive The action is ongoing or continuous She will be skiing again.

Present perfect progressive The action has just stopped An emphasis is placed on time I have been working all afternoon.

Past perfect progressive The action was continuous but occurred in the past I had been walking.

Future perfect progressive Action is continuous and will be completed in the future We will have been walking.