English Verb Tenses

Sometimes English verb tenses seem complicated, don't they?

But they don't have to be, not if you really understand them.

What does TENSE Mean?

A tense is a form of a verb which shows the time at which an action
happens.

It comes from the Latin word "tempus", which means "time".

Examples
"Sang" is a form of the verb "sing". This form shows the action happened
in the past. This is the Past Tense.

"Sleeps" is a form of the verb "sleep". This form shows the action
happens in the present. This is the Present Tense.

In fact, English verb tenses are not much more complicated than that.
We will go over them step by step so that you get full a understanding of them.

We will start with the Simple English Tenses.

A Simple tense is a form of a verb that simply shows when the action takes place.

 The Simple Past is a form of the verb that shows the action took place in the past.

For example: Lisa danced yesterday.

 The Simple Present is a form of the verb that shows the action takes place in the
present.

For example: Lisa dances every day.

 The Simple Future is a form of the verb that shows the action will take place in the
future.

For example: Lisa will dance tomorrow.

 Progressive (Continuous) Tenses
PROGRESSIVE means "continuing".

A Progressive tense is a form of a verb that shows the action is in progress. Or in other
words, that it continues.

 The Past Progressive is a form of the verb that shows the action was in progress at
some time in the past.

For example: Lisa was dancing yesterday at 8 o'clock.

 The Present Progressive is a form of the verb that shows the action is in progress
in the present.

For example: Lisa is dancing right now.

 The Future Progressive is a form of the verb that shows the action will be in
progress at some time in the future.

For example: Lisa will be dancing tomorrow at 8 o'clock.

Perfect Tenses
PERFECT means "complete, finished".

A Perfect tense is a form of a verb that shows the action is complete. It does not mean the
action is "perfect" (100%). It means the action is finished.

 The Past Perfect is a form of the verb that shows the action was complete before
some time in the past.

For example: Lisa had danced before she came.

 The Present Perfect is a form of the verb that shows the action was complete
before the present.
 For example: Lisa has already danced.

 The Future Perfect is a form of the verb that shows the action will be complete
before sometime in the future.

For example: Lisa will have danced tomorrow by 9 o'clock.

Perfect + Progressive?!
Yes! There are 3 more tenses. These are the Perfect Progressive (Continuous) tenses.

A Perfect Progressive tense is a form of the verb that shows the action started, continued,
and was complete until some point.

 The Past Perfect Progressive is a form of the verb that shows the action started in
the past and continued until some point in the past.

For example: Lisa had been dancing for 2 hours before she was tired.

 The Present Perfect Progressive is a form of the verb that shows the action
started in the past and continued until the present.

For example: Lisa has been dancing for 3 hours without stopping!

 The Future Perfect Progressive is a form of the verb that shows the action will
continue until some point in the future.

For example: By tomorrow morning, Lisa will have been dancing for 12 hours!

Exercise:
 Simple Present Tense
The Simple Present is a very common tense in English. You should understand it, and
know it well.

How do we use this tense?

The Simple Present is a form of the verb that shows the action takes place in the present.

Here are the different usages of this tense:

 Repeating actions or habits

 Facts or things which are true at all times
 Conditions (not actions) taking place at this moment

Repeating actions or habits

(The verbs are in bold)

They travel every Sunday.

He goes to school by bike.

He always loses his papers.

They usually get a lot of fish.

They go to work every day.

Facts or things which are

true at all times

Cows eat grass.

Paris is in France.

People sleep at night.

Conditions (not actions)

taking place at this moment

This is a big ship.

They feel tired.

 Examples of
Typical Time Expressions
Always

Usually

Often

Frequently

Sometimes

Rarely

Never

Once a _______ (minute, hour, day, week, month, year, etc)

Every _______ (minute, hour, day, week, month, year, etc)

Simple Present Rules

Here you can find tables with Simple Present rules on:
positive sentences, negative sentences and questions.

Positive Sentences

Form of
Who? Examples
verb

I verb I run every day.

He runs every day.

He/She/It verb + s She runs every day.
It runs every day.

You verb You run every day.

We verb We run every day.

They verb They run every day.

 Spelling Rules for Adding "s"
Introduction
Vowel = a sound we make when the breath flows out through the mouth freely, without
being blocked. The English letters a, e, i, o, u are called vowels, because they represent
such sounds.

Consonant = a sound we make that is not a vowel. The breath is somehow blocked on its
way out of the mouth. For example, the sound b is made when breath flow is stopped with
the lips. All the other English letters which are not vowels are called consonants. These
are: b, c, d, f, g, h, j, k, l, m, n, p, q, r,s, t, v, w, x, y, z.

Some verbs change their spelling when the letter "s" is added to them.

Verbs ending with "s", "ch", "sh", "x" or "z"

When a verb ends with s, ch, sh, x or z, we add the letter e, and then we add the letter s.

In the following examples the part before the letter s is in purple and the letters es are
in red.

miss => miss + es => misses

kiss => kiss + es => kisses

watch => watch + es => watches

teach => teach + es => teaches

wash => wash + es => washes

push => push + es => pushes

mix => mix + es => mixes

fix => fix + es => fixes

buzz => buzz + es => buzzes

 Verbs ending with "o"
When a verb ends with o, we add the letter e, and then we add the letter s.

In the following examples the letter o is in purple and the letters es are in red.

go => go + es => goes

do => do + es => does

Verbs ending with "y"

When a verb ends with y and there is a consonant before it, the y changes into ie. Then
the letter s is added.

In the following examples the consonant is in blue, the part before the letter s is
in green, and the letter s is in red.

fly => flie + s => flies

try => trie + s => tries

cry => crie + s => cries

study => studie + s => studies

When a verb ends with y, and there is a vowel before it, we simply add the letter s to the
verb.

In the following examples the vowel is in orange, the part before the letter sis in green,
and the letter s is in red.

buy => buy + s => buys

say => say + s => says

pay => pay + s => pays

 play => play + s => plays

enjoy => enjoy + s => enjoys

So these were the spelling rules for adding "s" in the Simple Present.

Negative Sentences
Form of
Who? Examples
verb

I do not / don't I don't run every day.

He does not run every day.

He doesn't run every day.
She does not run every day.
He/She/It does not / doesn't
She doesn't run every day.
It does not run every day.
verb It doesn't run every day.

You do not run every day.

You do not / don't
You don't run every day.

We do not / don't We don't run every day.

They do not / don't They don't run every day.

Question Sentences
Form of
Who? Examples
verb

Do I Do I run every day?

verb Does he run every day?

Does he/she/it Does she run every day?
Does it run every day?
 Do you Do you run every day?

Do we Do we run every day?

Do they Do they run every day?

So these are the Simple Present rules.

Simple Present – Exercise 01

Change the verb into the correct form

1. I usually (go) to school.

2. They (visit) us often.

3. You (play) basketball once a week.

4. Tom (work) every day.

5. He always (tell) us funny stories.

6. She never (help) me with that!

7. Martha and Kevin (swim) twice a week.

8. In this club people usually (dance) a lot.

9. Linda (take care) of her sister.

10. John rarely (leave) the country.

11. We (live) in the city most of the year.

12. Lorie (travel) to Paris every Sunday.

13. I (bake) cookies twice a month.

14. You always (teach) me new things.

15. She (help) the kids of the neighborhood.

Simple Present – Exercise 02

Change the verb into the correct form:

1. London (be) in England.

2. The summer (be) hot.

3. She (drive) very well.

4. They (open) the store at 8:00.

5. Linda (be) a very pretty girl.

6. I (have) several jobs.

7. Water (boil) at 100 degrees.

8. Water (freeze) at 0 degrees.

9. My sister (speak) English.

10. He (have) a big apartment.

11. A triangle (have) three corners.

12. My birthday (be) in June.

13. Books (have) pages.

14. Dogs (be) good friends.

15. I (work) hard.

Simple Present – Exercise 03

Change the verb into the correct form:

1. I (love) you.

2. This (weigh) 20 kilograms.

3. Ron (seem) serious.

4. We (like) tomatoes.

5. The boy (want) to play.

6. You (need) to sleep.

7. They (agree) with me.

8. She (hear) something strange.

9. The box (contain) food.

10. Emma (appear) sad.

11. David (know) how to fix a car.

12. Daniel and Liz (seem) happy.

13. This (smell) bad.

14. I (believe) you.

15. We (be) number one!

Simple Present – Exercise 04

Change the verb into the correct form:

1. I (go) to the city once a week.

2. You (play) the guitar very well.

3. She never (visit) me.

4. Tom always (find) new ways to do things.

6. Ann (want) to speak.

7. Toronto (be) in Canada.

8. Cars (have) wheels.

9. My mother (have) a big house.

10. We (play) a lot.

11. They (sell) fruit and eggs.

12. The building (be) on fire.

13. Marta (seem) sad.

14. I usually (help) my neighbors.

15. His brother rarely (leave) town.

Simple Present – Exercise 05

Change the verb into the correct form:

1. Daniel (fly) to Paris once a year.

2. She never (do) her homework.

3. Lisa (try) to help her sister.

4. Mark (go) home at seven.

5. The baby (cry) every night.

6. He (miss) her a lot.

7. Joe (study) really hard.

8. A boy (kiss) a girl.

9. Joana (buy) new stuff all the time.

10. Tim (watch) this show every night.

11. Sara (say) this all the time.

12. The teacher (teach) us new things.

13. He (pay) me well.

14. Barbara (wash) the dishes, and Leo washes the floor.

15. Nick (play) tennis twice a week.

16. This girl always (push) somebody.

17. Isabella (enjoy) listening to music.

18. David never (mix) milk and eggs.

19. The bee (buzz).

20. Taylor (fix) cars.

Simple Present – Exercise 06

Change the verb into the correct form:

1. I (not ride) horses.

2. You (not sell) cars.

3. He (not bring) gifts.

4. She (not take) pictures.

5. It (not cost) so much.

6. We (not seem) so happy.

7. They (not buy) new products.

8. Michael (not dance).

9. Michel (not run) fast.

10. Tim and Kate (not work) every day.

11. Lucas and Clara (not eat) meat.

12. I (not swim) much.

13. You (not ski) at all.

14. It (not hurt).

15. We (not give up).

Simple Present – Exercise 07

Change the verb into the correct form:

1. (I wake up) at five in the morning?

2. (you go) to work by train?

3. (she drink) coffee every morning?

4. (he smoke)?

5. (it hurt)?

6. (we dance)?

7. (they travel)?

8. (Emma cook) well?

9. (Alexander exercise) regularly?

10. (I look) well?

11. (you rest) enough?

12. (William work) too hard?

13. (they travel) often?

14. (Anthony go) to sleep too late?

15. (you bake) cakes?

Simple Present – Exercise 08

Change the verb into the correct form:

1. Christopher (drive) a bus.

2. We (have) some money.

3. (you watch) movies?

4. They (not work) for us.

5. I (love) to dance.
6. She (have) many friends.

7. Alexis and her husband always (come) for the summer.

8. (he draw) well?

9. James (not remember) me.

10. Laura (be) a beautiful girl.

11. I don't eat (not eat) cheese.

12. Cats (like) to sleep.

13. You (be) a smart boy.

14. She (wash) the dishes every evening.

15. (you be) ready?

16. I (be) ready.