Not only do verbs have tense (past, present and future) but each of these can be written in 4 different verb tenses.

The verb tense can be:
Simple
Progressive
Perfect
Perfect progressive

Let's look at some examples:

1. Simple present
   • Events/situations that exist now, have existed in the past, and will probably exist in the future.
   • ex: Beth eats every day.
2. Present progressive (is + -ing)
   • Events/situations that began in the past, are in progress at the present time, and will probably continue in the future.
   • ex: Beth is eating right now.
3. Present perfect (has + past participle)
   • Events/situations have finished some amount of time before now.
   • ex: Beth has already eaten.
4. Present perfect progressive (has been + -ing)
   • Events/situations that are in progress immediately before or up to now.
   • ex: Beth has been eating for 30 minutes.

1. Simple present
   • Events/situations that exist now, have existed in the past, and will probably exist in the future.
   • ex: Beth eats every day.
2. Present progressive (is + -ing)
   • Events/situations that began in the past, are in progress at the present time, and will probably continue in the future.
   • ex: Beth is eating right now.
3. Present perfect (has + past participle)
   • Events/situations have finished some amount of time before now.
   • ex: Beth has already eaten.
4. Present perfect progressive (has been + -ing)
   • Events/situations that are in progress immediately before or up to now.
   • ex: Beth has been eating for 30 minutes.

1. Simple past
   • Events/situations that began and ended in the past.
   • ex: Beth ate last night.
2. Past progressive (was + -ing)
   • Events/situations that began before and was in progress at a particular time in the past.
   • ex: Beth was eating when they came.
3. Past perfect (had + past participle)
   • Events/situations that have been completely finished before another time in the past.
   • ex: Beth had already eaten sandwiches before she began eating dessert.
4. Past perfect progressive (had been + -ing)
   • Events/situations in progress before another event in the past.
   • ex: Beth had been eating for 45 minutes before her friends came.

1. Simple future
   • Events/situations that will happen at a particular time in the future.
   • ex: Beth will eat tomorrow.
2. Future progressive (will be + -ing)
   • Events/situations that will begin before, and will be in progress at a particular time in the future.
   • ex: Beth will be eating when you come.
3. Future perfect (will + past participle)
   • Events/situations that will be completely finished before another time in the future.
   • ex: Beth will already have eaten breakfast before she eats lunch.
4. Future perfect progressive (will have been + -ing)
   • Events/situations will be in progress before another event in the future.
   • ex: Beth will have been eating for an hour by the time her mom gets home.

• Search the OWL website for your questions:
  http://owl.english.purdue.edu
• Visit the Writing and Speaking Tutorial center
• Other resources:
  • Azar, Betty S. Understanding and Using English Grammar: Third Edition.

Created by Michelle Prouty, NC State University, Fall 2007