16 Tenses in English: Formulas and Examples
In English, tenses are used to express time and duration. There are 16 tenses in total, which can be classified into three main categories: past, present, and future. Here's a comprehensive list of the 16 tenses, along with their formulas and examples:
Present Tenses
1. Present Simple
Formula: Subject + Base Form of Verb
Example: I go to school every day.
2. Present Continuous
Formula: Subject + is/are + Verb-ing
Example: I am studying for my exam.
3. Present Perfect
Formula: Subject + has/have + Past Participle of Verb
Example: I have eaten breakfast already.
4. Present Perfect Continuous
Formula: Subject + has/have + been + Verb-ing
Example: I have been studying English for three years.
Past Tenses
5. Past Simple
Formula: Subject + Past Tense of Verb
Example: I went to the park yesterday.
6. Past Continuous
Formula: Subject + was/were + Verb-ing
Example: I was watching TV at 8 pm.
7. Past Perfect
Formula: Subject + had + Past Participle of Verb
Example: I had eaten breakfast before I went to school.
8. Past Perfect Continuous
Formula: Subject + had been + Verb-ing
Example: I had been studying for three hours when my friend arrived.
Future Tenses
9. Future Simple
Formula: Subject + will + Base Form of Verb
Example: I will go to the party tonight.
10. Future Continuous
Formula: Subject + will be + Verb-ing
Example: I will be studying for my exam at 8 pm.
11. Future Perfect
Formula: Subject + will have + Past Participle of Verb
Example: I will have finished my project by tomorrow.
12. Future Perfect Continuous
Formula: Subject + will have been + Verb-ing
Example: I will have been studying English for five years by next year.
Special Tenses
13. Present Perfect Continuous for Future Action
Formula: Subject + has/have been + Verb-ing + until/as soon as
Example: I have been studying for three hours, and I will continue until I finish my homework.
14. Future in the Past Simple
Formula: Subject + was/were going to + Base Form of Verb
Example: I was going to attend the meeting, but I forgot.
15. Future in the Past Continuous
Formula: Subject + was/were going to be + Verb-ing
Example: I was going to be studying for my exam at 8 pm yesterday.
16. Future in the Past Perfect
Formula: Subject + had been going to + Base Form of Verb
Example: I had been going to attend the concert, but it was canceled.
Mastering the 16 tenses in English will help you express yourself more accurately and effectively in your writing and speaking. Practice using these formulas and examples to improve your understanding and usage of English tenses.
