Tense Map
Choose a time, then explore four tense forms.
Quick overview
Present tenses
Use these to talk about now, habits, facts, and actions connected to now.
๐ง1. Present simple
subject + base verb (+ s)Use it for habits, routines, facts, and things that are generally true.
- I walk to school every day.
- The sun rises in the east.
- I do not walk to school on Sundays.
- Do you walk to school every day?
๐2. Present progressive
am / is / are + verb-ingUse it for something happening now or for a temporary situation.
- I am reading a book right now.
- They are staying with their aunt this week.
- I am not reading a comic right now.
- Are you reading a book?
โ 3. Present perfect
have / has + past participleUse it for a past action that connects to now, such as an experience or a recent result.
- I have visited the museum.
- She has finished her homework.
- I have not visited the new museum.
- Have you visited the museum?
โณ๐4. Present perfect progressive
have / has been + verb-ingUse it to highlight how long an action has continued from the past until now.
- I have been studying for two hours.
- They have been playing for a long time.
- I have not been studying all morning.
- Have they been playing for an hour?
One verb: play
See all four present forms together.
Past tenses
Use these to talk about actions or states before now.
๐ธ1. Past simple
past form of the verbUse it for finished actions, specific past times, stories, and past habits.
- I walked to school yesterday.
- They ate dinner at 8 PM.
- I did not walk to school yesterday.
- Did they eat dinner at 8 PM?
๐ฌ๐2. Past progressive
was / were + verb-ingUse it for an action that was in progress at a past time, often when another action happened.
- We were watching a movie at midnight.
- I was sleeping when you arrived.
- We were not watching TV at midnight.
- Were you sleeping when I called?
โฎ๏ธโ 3. Past perfect
had + past participleUse it for an action completed before another past action.
- She had eaten before the meeting.
- We had seen that movie already.
- She had not eaten before the meeting.
- Had you seen that movie already?
โณโฎ๏ธ๐4. Past perfect progressive
had been + verb-ingUse it to show an action that continued for a time before another past moment.
- He had been running for an hour when it started raining.
- We had been waiting since noon.
- He had not been running for long.
- Had you been waiting since noon?
One verb: play
See all four past forms together.
Future tenses
Use these to talk about predictions, plans, and actions that will happen later.
๐ฎ1. Future simple
will + base verbUse it for predictions, promises, or decisions made at the moment.
- It will rain tomorrow.
- I will help you.
- It will not rain tomorrow.
- Will you help me?
๐๐2. Future progressive
will be + verb-ingUse it for an action that will be in progress at a future time.
- I will be sleeping at 10 PM.
- They will be arriving soon.
- I will not be sleeping at 10 PM.
- Will they be arriving soon?
๐โ 3. Future perfect
will have + past participleUse it for an action that will be finished by a future time.
- She will have graduated by June.
- We will have finished by Friday.
- She will not have graduated by June.
- Will we have finished by Friday?
โณ๐๐4. Future perfect progressive
will have been + verb-ingUse it to show how long an action will have continued up to a future point.
- By next year, I will have been learning English for two years.
- She will have been working for five hours by noon.
- By next year, I will not have been learning for two years.
- Will she have been working for five hours by noon?
One verb: play
See all four future forms together.
Verb Guide
See how present verbs change.
Most verbs: add -ed
This is the most common regular change.
Words ending in e: add -d
The word already has an e.
Consonant + y: change y to i, then add -ed
Remember: y โ ied.
Some short words double the last letter
For example, a short vowel plus one consonant.
Irregular verbs: learn each special form
These verbs do not simply add -ed.
Some past and past participle forms match
Their grammar jobs can still be different.
Common Verb
Five forms from your verb list.
Search the verb list
Type the first letter of the infinitive to filter the list.
| Base form | Past form | Past participle | S / ES / IES | Ing form |
|---|
Match Quest
Match each present verb with its past forms!