Tense Chart: Learning of tenses with rules and examples
by Yogi P - June 21, 2024
Tense Chart with rules and examples
Learning of tenses in English grammar is crucial as they indicate the timing of actions, events, or conditions. Verbs, in their various forms, are used to demonstrate these time frames, known as tenses.
There are three primary tenses in English: present, past, and future tense. Each of these is divided further into four aspects – Simple, Continuous, Perfect, and Perfect Continuous.
Let us check these tenses in details with tense chart, rules and examples.
What is Tense?
The concept of tense is central to English grammar. It’s defined as a verb form that shows the time of an action or situation:
- Oxford Dictionary: “Tense is any of the forms of a verb that may be used to show the time of the action or situation expressed by the verb.”
- Merriam-Webster Dictionary: “Tense means a distinction of form in a verb to express distinctions of time or duration of the action or state it denotes.“
- Collins Dictionary: “Tense is any of the forms of a verb which reveal the time at which an action has happened.”
- Cambridge Dictionary: “Tense is any of the forms of a verb which show the time at which an action happened.“
Types of Tenses
Tenses in English grammar are categorized into three types:
- Present Tense
- Past Tense
- Future Tense
Each type is further classified into four forms:
- Simple
- Perfect
- Continuous
- Perfect Continuous
In total, there are 12 distinct tenses in English. Below is a detailed tense chart.
Tense Chart and Examples
| Tense | Form | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Present Tense | Simple Present Tense | He drives a car. |
| Present Perfect Tense | He has driven a car. | |
| Present Continuous Tense | He is driving a car. | |
| Present Perfect Continuous Tense | He has been driving a car since morning. | |
| Past Tense | Simple Past Tense | He drove a car. |
| Past Perfect Tense | He had driven a car. | |
| Past Continuous Tense | He was driving a car. | |
| Past Perfect Continuous Tense | He had been driving the car since 7 am. | |
| Future Tense | Simple Future Tense | He will drive a car. |
| Future Perfect Tense | He will have driven a car. | |
| Future Continuous Tense | He will be driving a car. | |
| Future Perfect Continuous Tense | He will have been driving the car at 6 am tomorrow. |
Significance of the Tense Chart
As we all know tenses are a cornerstone of English grammar. They help in framing sentences correctly, expressing the state of actions or events accurately, and enabling the creation of complex sentence constructions. For effective communication it is essential to know about all these twelve tenses and their applications. Here are the detailed tense charts with rules and examples:
Tense Chart with Rules and Examples
Simple Present Tense
| Rule: Subject + Verb (base form/third person plural) + Rest of the Sentence |
Example: “Rajesh eats bread and butter before going to school.”
Present Continuous Tense
| Rule: Subject + Helping Verb (am/is/are) + Main Verb + ing + Rest of the Sentence |
Example: “Students are going to school.”
Present Perfect Tense
| Rule: Subject + Helping Verb (have/has) + Past Participle of the Main Verb + Rest of the Sentence |
Example: “She has lived here all her life.”
Present Perfect Continuous Tense
| Rule: Subject + Have/Has + Been + Verb+ ing + Rest of the Sentence |
Example: “I have been working on this project for a week.”
Simple Past Tense
| Rule: Subject + Verb in Past Tense + Rest of the Sentence |
Example: “Nupur went to the supermarket yesterday.”
Past Continuous Tense
| Rule: Subject + Helping Verb (was/were) + Main Verb + ing + Rest of the Sentence |
Example: “It was snowing today.”
Past Perfect Tense
| Rule: Subject + Helping Verb (had) + Past Participle of the Main Verb + Rest of the Sentence |
Example: “She had met him before the party.”
Past Perfect Continuous Tense
| Rule: Subject + Had + Been + Verb + ing + Rest of the Sentence |
Example: “He had been drinking milk out of the carton when Mom walked into the kitchen.”
Simple Future Tense
| Rule: Subject + will/shall + Verb (base form) + Rest of the Sentence |
Example: “I will write articles on different topics.”
Future Continuous Tense
| Rule: Subject + will be/shall be + Verb (base form) + ing + Rest of the Sentence |
Example: “I will have been waiting here for three hours by six o’clock.”
Future Perfect Tense
| Rule: Subject + will have/shall have + Past Participle of the Main Verb + Rest of the Sentence |
Example: “I will have dressed up by the time you reach home.”
Future Perfect Continuous Tense
| Rule: Subject + will have been + Verb (base form) + ing + Rest of the Sentence |
Example: “I will have been waiting here for three hours by six o’clock.”
Comparative Tense Chart
| Tense Category | Present Tense | Past Tense | Future Tense |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simple | Subject + Verb (base form/third person plural) + Rest of the Sentence
Example: Rajesh eats bread and butter. |
Subject + Verb in Past Tense + Rest of the Sentence
Example: Nupur went to the supermarket yesterday. |
Subject + will/shall + Verb (base form) + Rest of the Sentence
Example: I will write articles on different topics. |
| Continuous | Subject + Helping Verb (am/is/are) + Main Verb + ing + Rest of the Sentence
Example: Students are going to school. |
Subject + Helping Verb (was/were) + Main Verb + ing + Rest of the Sentence
Example: It was snowing today. |
Subject + will be/shall be + Verb (base form) + ing + Rest of the Sentence
Example: I will be waiting here for three hours by six o’clock. |
| Perfect | Subject + Helping Verb (have/has) + Past Participle of the Main Verb + Rest of the Sentence
Example: She has lived here all her life. |
Subject + Helping Verb (had) + Past Participle of the Main Verb + Rest of the Sentence
Example: She had met him before the party. |
Subject + will have/shall have + Past Participle of the Main Verb + Rest of the Sentence
Example: I will have dressed up by the time you reach home. |
| Perfect Continuous | Subject + Have/Has + Been + Verb + ing + Rest of the Sentence
Example: I have been working on this project for a week. |
Subject + Had + Been + Verb + ing + Rest of the Sentence
Example: He had been drinking milk out of the carton when Mom walked into the kitchen. |
Subject + will have been + Verb (base form) + ing + Rest of the Sentence
Example: I will have been waiting here for three hours by six o’clock. |
Tense chart pdf file download
Present Tense Chart with rules and examples
| Tense Type | Rule | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Simple Present Tense | Subject + Verb (base form/third person plural) + Rest of the Sentence | Rajesh eats bread and butter. |
| Present Continuous Tense | Subject + Helping Verb (am/is/are) + Main Verb + ing + Rest of the Sentence | Students are going to school. |
| Present Perfect Tense | Subject + Helping Verb (have/has) + Past Participle of the Main Verb + Rest of the Sentence | She has lived here all her life. |
| Present Perfect Continuous Tense | Subject + Have/Has + Been + Verb+ ing + Rest of the Sentence | I have been working on this project for a week. |
Present Tense Chart with rules and examples pdf
Past Tense Chart with rules and examples
| Tense Type | Rule | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Simple Past Tense | Subject + Verb in Past Tense + Rest of the Sentence | Nupur went to the supermarket yesterday. |
| Past Continuous Tense | Subject + Helping Verb (was/were) + Main Verb + ing + Rest of the Sentence | It was snowing today. |
| Past Perfect Tense | Subject + Helping Verb (had) + Past Participle of the Main Verb + Rest of the Sentence | She had met him before the party. |
| Past Perfect Continuous Tense | Subject + Had + Been + Verb + ing + Rest of the Sentence | He had been drinking milk out of the carton. |
Past Tense Chart with rules and examples pdf
Future Tense Chart with rules and examples
| Tense Type | Rule | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Simple Future Tense | Subject + will/shall + Verb (base form) + Rest of the Sentence | I will write articles on different topics. |
| Future Continuous Tense | Subject + will be/shall be + Verb (base form) + ing + Rest of the Sentence | I will be waiting here for three hours. |
| Future Perfect Tense | Subject + will have/shall have + Past Participle of the Main Verb + Rest of the Sentence | I will have dressed up by the time you arrive. |
| Future Perfect Continuous Tense | Subject + will have been + Verb (base form) + ing + Rest of the Sentence | I will have been waiting here for three hours by six o’clock. |
Future Tense Chart with rules and examples pdf
Tense Chart in Hindi
Learning tenses (काल) in Hindi is equally important. Tenses in Hindi express the time and state of an action or event. They are categorized into present (वर्त्तमान काल), past (भुतकाल), and future (भविष्यकाल) tenses.
Below is a comprehensive chart outlining tenses in Hindi:
| Tense (काल) | Present (वर्त्तमान काल) | Past (भुतकाल) | Future (भविष्यकाल) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indefinite | ता है, ती है, ते हैं | था, ता, ती, थे | गा, गी, गे |
| Continuous | रहा है, रही है, रहे हैं | रहा था, रही थी, रहे थे | रहा होगा, रही होगी |
| Perfect | चुका है, चुकी है | चुका था, चुकी थी | चुकेगा, चुकेगी |
| Perfect Continuous | रहा है, रही है, रहे है + समय के साथ ‘से’ | रहा था, रही थी, रहे थे + समय के साथ ‘से’ | रहा होगा, रही होगी, रहे होंगे + समय के साथ ‘से’ |
Frequently Asked Questions about Tense Chart
Q1. What is a tense chart and why is it important in learning English?
- A tense chart is a reference tool that outlines all the tenses in English grammar, showing their forms and uses. It’s important because it helps learners understand how verbs change according to time and aspect, aiding in the correct formation of sentences and improving overall communication skills.
Q2. Can the tense chart help in improving spoken English?
- Yes, the tense chart is a valuable resource for improving spoken English. By understanding the different tenses and their uses, learners can speak more accurately and confidently, using the appropriate tense for various contexts and conversations.
Q3. How many tenses are there in the tense chart and what are they?
- The tense chart typically includes 12 tenses, divided into three main categories: Present, Past, and Future. Each category has four aspects: Simple, Continuous, Perfect, and Perfect Continuous. These tenses cover different times and aspects of actions or states.
Q4. Is the tense chart the same in all English-speaking countries?
- Generally, yes. The basic structure of the tense chart and the grammatical rules it represents are consistent across English-speaking countries. However, there might be slight variations in usage or terminology in different regions.
Q5. How can beginners effectively use a tense chart to learn English tenses?
- Beginners can start by familiarising themselves with the basic structure of each tense, understanding the differences in their usage. Regular practice in forming sentences using each tense, along with referring to the chart for clarification and guidance, can greatly aid in mastering English tenses.
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