English Verb Tenses: A Comprehensive Look
Present Perfect
(Actions completed in the past that have importance in the present)
- I, You, We, They – have “talked, learned…”
- He, She, It – has “talked, learned…”
Affirmative Sentence
(Subject + Auxiliary Verb “have” + Past Participle…)
- I have talked to Peter. (I have spoken with Peter.)
- She has gone to work. (She has gone to her job.)
Negative Sentence
(Subject + Auxiliary Verb “have” + not + Past Participle…)
- We haven’t been to London. (We have not gone to London.)
- They haven’t learned English. (They have not learned English.)
Interrogative Sentence
(Auxiliary Verb “have” + subject + Past Participle…?)
- Have you talked to Peter? (Have you spoken with Peter?)
- Has she gone to work? (Has she gone to her job?)
USES: For actions that occurred at a non-specific time before now. Non-specific time expressions such as “never, ever, many times…” are used. (e.g., I have never flown in a plane.)
Past Simple
(For regular verbs, add “ed” – e.g., “want-wanted”)
Affirmative Sentences
(Subject + Main Verb…)
- She was a doctor.
- I wanted to dance.
- They believed him.
- The keys were in the drawer.
- He learned English.
Negative Sentences
To Be: (Subject + to be + not…)
- She wasn’t a doctor.
- The keys weren’t in the drawer.
Other Verbs: (Subject + to do + not + Main Verb…)
- I didn’t want to dance.
- He didn’t learn English.
- They didn’t believe him.
Interrogative Sentences
To Be: (To be + Subject…?)
- Was she a doctor?
- Were the keys in the drawer?
Other Verbs: (To do + subject + main verb…?)
- Did you want to dance?
- Did he learn English?
- Did they believe him?
USES: To talk about a specific action that started and finished in the past. Time expressions include “last year, yesterday…” (e.g., Tom stayed at home last night.)
Will
Used for voluntary actions decided at the moment of speaking (e.g., They will clean their rooms – They will clean their rooms) and to express a promise (e.g., He promises he will call when he arrives – He promised to call when he arrives).
Affirmative Sentence
(Subject + will + main verb…)
- I will ring you tonight. (I will call you tonight.)
- She will arrive late.
Negative Sentence
(Subject + will + not + main verb…)
- I will not ring you tonight. (I will not call you tonight.)
- She will not arrive late.
Interrogative Sentence
(Will + subject + main verb…?)
- Will you ring me tonight? (Will you call me tonight?)
- Will she arrive late?
Going To
Used for plans, an intention to do something (e.g., We are going to have a party tonight – We are going to have a party tonight.)
I am; you are; he/she is; we are; they are
Affirmative Sentence
(Subject + to be + going to + main verb…)
- I am going to ring you tonight. (I am going to call you tonight.)
- She is going to arrive late.
Negative Sentence
(Subject + to be + not + going to + main verb…)
- I am not going to ring you tonight. (I am not going to call you tonight.)
- She is not going to arrive late.
Interrogative Sentence
(To be + subject + going to + main verb…?)
- Are you going to ring tonight? (Are you going to call me tonight?)
- Is she going to arrive late?