By Estuardo Castillo

Many people confuse verb forms with verb tenses in English. Here is the key difference. Verb forms are independent of wheter or not the statement is in present, past or future. They remain unchanged. Here are some examples: Base FormInfinitivePast form Past participle Present participle GoTo-goWentGoneGoing EatTo-eatAteEatenEating StudyTo-studyStudied Studying SeeTo-seeSawSeenseeing

For simple present, simple past and simple future you only change the main verb. i.e. I study English. I studied English. I will study English. I am going to study English. For simple present, simple past and simple future you only change the main verb. i.e. I study English. I studied English. I will study English. I am going to study English.

With progressive or continuous tenses, we use a form of be (in present, past or future) and the main verb ending in ING Susan is studying English. Susan was studying English. Susan will be studying English. Susan is going to be studying English. With progressive or continuous tenses, we use a form of be (in present, past or future) and the main verb ending in ING Susan is studying English. Susan was studying English. Susan will be studying English. Susan is going to be studying English.

To form the Present perfect, past perfect and future perfect tenses, we use have (conjugated in present past of future) and the main verb in the past participle form Susan has studied English. Susan had studied English (before she learned French). By 2020 Susan will have studied two English courses.

The perfect progressive tenses require 2 auxiliary verbs; a form of have and the past participle of to be (BEEN) followed by the main verb in the ING form. Susan has been studying English since 7 o’clock. Susan had been studying English when I called her. In December, Susan will have been studying English for six months.