This document provides examples of how to use different tenses in English, including present, past, and future simple, continuous, perfect, and perfect continuous forms. For each tense, it gives an example sentence using the target verb form and briefly explains what the tense describes about the timing or continuity of an action. A legend at the bottom defines the abbreviations used for subject, verb, and past participle.

1. Asli Alcinkaya 2021
Formula Usage Example
Present
Simple
Continuous
Perfect
Perfect Continuous
S + V (base)
S + "Be" + V - ing OR
S + "Be" + Going to + V (base)
S + "Have" + V (p.p.)
S + "Have" + V (p.p.)
I go to the grocery store every Sunday.
I am going to the grocery store.
She has bought all of her groceries.
I have been shopping all day.
Past
Simple
Continuous
Perfect
Perfect Continuous
S + V (past)
S + "Be" (past) + V - ing
S + Had + V (p.p.)
S + Had + Been + V - ing
I went to the grocery store.
They were going to the store when
their car ran out of gas.
He had gotten gas before leaving for
the store.
They had been driving for 30 minutes
when they ran out of gas.
Future
Simple
Continuous
Perfect
Perfect Continuous
S + Will + V (base)
S + Will + Be + V - ing
S + Will + Have +V (p.p.)
S + Will + Have + Been + V - ing
I will go to the grocery store on Sunday.
She will be shopping at the grocery
store later.
They will have finished shopping by
the time you get home from school.
I will have been waiting all day to get
those chips.
Describes a routine
Describes what is
happening right now.
Describes what is
happening right now.
Describe actions started in the past
and continuing in the present
Describe an action already completed
Describes an action isn't complete because it
is interrupted by another action
Describes two actions at two different times. Before
the second action occurs, the first action is complete.
Describes complete action that
happened before a second action.
Describes an action you plan to do in the future
Describes a continuous future action
Describes an action will be completed in
the future before another is completed.
Describes an action will be
continuing in the future,
LEGEND: S = Subject V = Verb p.p. = Past Participle