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We can divide the simple aspect into three tenses: simple past, simple present, and simple future. Likewise, we can divide the progressive (also called continuous tense) aspect into three tenses: past progressive, present progressive, and future progressive.
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How Many Aspects and Tenses Does the English Language Have?
In english, there are three verb tenses: Past, Present, and Future. These tenses are divided into four aspects: The Simple, Progressive, Perfect, and Perfect Progressive.
The following tables explain all three tenses in each aspects:
| Simple Present Tense | The turtle eats lettuce. |
| Simple Past Tense | The turtle ate lettuce. |
| Simple Future Tense | The turtle will eat lettuce. |
| Present Progressive Tense | The turtle is eating lettuce. |
| Past Progressive Tense | The turtle was eating lettuce. |
| Future Progressive Tense | The turtle will be eating lettuce. |
| Present Perfect Tense | The turtle has eaten lettuce. |
| Past Perfect Tense | The turtle had eaten lettuce. |
| Future Perfect Tense | The turtle will have eaten lettuce. |
| Present Perfect Progressive Tense | The turtle has been eating lettuce. |
| Past Perfect Progressive Tense | The turtle had been eating lettuce. |
| Future Perfect Progressive Tense | The turtle will have been eating lettuce. |
Simple Tenses in English: Past, Present and Future Explained
Simple Past
The simple past tense is used to talk about a completed action that has already happened.
When a simple past verb is negative, the simple past form of the verb becomes the base form of the verb (the infinitive without to).
-
I walked to school.
I did not walk to school. -
Yesterday, I rode my bike.
Yesterday, I did not ride my bike. -
Did he call you?
Didn’t he call you?
-
I was in South Africa last year.
I was not in South Africa last year.
| Affirmative | Negative | Interrogative |
| I danced | I didn’t dance | Did I dance? |
| You danced | You didn’t dance | Did you dance? |
| He/she/it danced | He/she/it didn’t dance | Did he/she/it dance? |
| We danced | We didn’t dance | Did we dance? |
| You danced | You didn’t dance | Did you dance? |
| They danced | They didn’t dance | Did they dance? |
- If you are dealing with a regular verb (walk, play, cook), you only need to add –ed to make it past tense in the affirmative.
- If you are dealing with an irregular verb (go, think, eat), you just need to know the past tense form!
Simple Present
The simple present tense can be used to describe a habit, a general truth, a constant situation; to give instructions; or to talk about a future situation.
- I bite my nails. (habit)- The Earth is round. (general truth)
- Bring a #2 pencil to the exam on Friday. (instructions)
- I am a teacher. (constant situation)
- We go to Starbucks every morning. (repeated action)
- I will try to see you before I leave. (future situation)
- Am I too hard on myself? (habit)
| Affirmative | Negative | Interrogative |
| I dance | I don’t dance | Do I dance? |
| You dance | You don’t dance | Do you dance? |
| He/she/it dances | He/she/it doesn’t dance | Does he/she/it dance? |
| We dance | We don’t dance | Do we dance? |
| You dance | You don’t dance | Do you dance? |
| They dance | They don’t dance | Do they dance? |
Simple Future
The simple future tense expresses actions that happen in the future with certainty. To form the future tense, use will/shall + base form of the verb (the infinitive without to). Shall is mostly used in British English, with the first person (I or we), or to express determination (One day you shall know the truth). Shall is rarely used in American English.
Affirmative:
- I will see.
- I shall see.
Negative:
- They will not go.
Interrogative:
- Will she leave?
Interrogative Negative:
- Won’t she leave?
| Affirmative | Negative | Interrogative |
| I will dance | I will not dance | Will I dance? |
| You will dance | You will not dance | Will you dance? |
| He/she/it will dance | He/she/it will not dance | Will he/she/it dance? |
| We will dance | We will not dance | Will we dance? |
| You will dance | You will not dance | Will you dance? |
| They will dance | They will not dance | Will they dance? |
- The negative contraction of “shall” is “shan’t.”
- The contraction of “will not” is “won’t.”
Progressive Tenses in English: Past, Present and Future Explained
Past Progressive
The past progressive tense shows a continuing action that was happening sometime in the past for a limited duration of time while something else was happening. This tense is formed with the auxiliary verb to be in the past tense + the present participle of the verb (ending in –ing).
- Was he gardening all morning?
- I lost my earring while I was dancing.
- We were driving all day yesterday.
| Affirmative | Negative | Interrogative |
| I was dancing | I was not dancing | Was I dancing? |
| You were dancing | You were not dancing | Were you dancing? |
| He/she/it was dancing | He/she/it was not dancing | Was he/she/it dancing? |
| We were dancing | We were not dancing | Were we dancing? |
| You were dancing | You were not dancing | Were you dancing? |
| They were dancing | They were not dancing | Were they dancing? |
Present Progressive
The present progressive tense is used to describe a continuing action that is going on right now. It is formed with the auxiliary verb to be in the present tense + the present participle of the main verb (ending in –ing).
| Affirmative | Negative | Interrogative |
| I am dancing | I am not dancing | Am I dancing? |
| You are dancing | You are not dancing | Are you dancing? |
| He/she/it is dancing | He/she/it is not dancing | Is he/she/it dancing? |
| We are dancing | We are not dancing | Are we dancing? |
| You are dancing | You are not dancing | Are you dancing? |
| They are dancing | They are not dancing | Are they dancing? |
This tense can also be used to describe an action that is going to happen in the future. In these cases, it is usually modified with a time word.
She is moving back to Berlin this fall.
Future Progressive
The future progressive tense indicates a future action that will occur continuously. This tense is formed with the modal will + be + the present participle of the main verb (ending in –ing).
- We will be sleeping when you get home.
- This time next week, I will be relaxing in the Bahamas.
- Will we be spoiling ourselves if we go to that 5-star restaurant?
| Affirmative | Negative | Interrogative |
| I will be dancing | I will not be dancing | Will I be dancing? |
| You will be dancing | You will not be dancing | Will you be dancing? |
| He/she/it will be dancing | He/she/it will not be dancing | Will he/she/it be dancing? |
| We will be dancing | We will not be dancing | Will we be dancing? |
| You will be dancing | You will not be dancing | Will you be dancing? |
| They will be dancing | They will not be dancing | Will they be dancing? |
There is no future progressive for the verb to be! (ex. I will be
being)
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