Tenses in the English Language

Simple Present

Base verb (V1)

Habits, facts, routines, and things that are generally true

I work every day.

Present Continuous

am/is/are + verb-ing

Actions happening now or around the present time; temporary situations

I am working from home this week.

Present Perfect

have/has + past participle (V3)

Past actions connected to the present; experiences; unfinished time periods

I have worked here for five years.

Present Perfect Continuous

have/has + been + verb-ing

Actions that started in the past and are still continuing, or have recently stopped with a visible result

I have been working since 8 a.m.

Simple Past

Past form (V2)

Completed actions or situations in the past, usually at a definite time

I worked yesterday.

Past Continuous

was/were + verb-ing

An action that was in progress at a particular time in the past; background actions

I was working when she called.

Past Perfect

had + past participle (V3)

An action that happened before another past action

I had finished the report before the meeting started.

Past Perfect Continuous

had + been + verb-ing

An action that continued for some time before another past event

I had been working for three hours when she arrived.

Simple Future

will + base verb (V1)

Predictions, spontaneous decisions, promises, offers, and future facts

I will call you tomorrow.

Future Continuous

will + be + verb-ing

An action that will be in progress at a particular time in the future

I will be working at 10 tomorrow.

Future Perfect

will + have + past participle (V3)

An action that will be completed before a particular future time

I will have finished the report by Friday.

Future Perfect Continuous

will + have + been + verb-ing

An action that will have continued for a period of time up to a future point

By June, I will have been working here for ten years.