English has 12 main tense forms: present, past and future, each in simple, continuous, perfect and perfect continuous forms. You don't need all of them at once. Start with the present simple, present continuous, past simple and future, which cover most everyday English.
The 12 English tenses
| Tense | Form | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Present simple | I work / she works | habits, routines, facts | I work in a café. The bus leaves at 8. |
| Present continuous | I am working | now, around now, future plans | I'm working from home today. |
| Present perfect | I have worked | experience; from the past until now | I've worked here for two years. |
| Present perfect continuous | I have been working | an activity from the past until now (focus on duration) | I've been waiting for 20 minutes. |
| Past simple | I worked | finished actions in the past | I worked late yesterday. |
| Past continuous | I was working | an action in progress in the past | I was working when you called. |
| Past perfect | I had worked | an earlier past action | The bus had left when I arrived. |
| Past perfect continuous | I had been working | duration before a past moment | I had been working there for a year before I got promoted. |
| Future simple (will) | I will work | decisions now, promises, predictions | I'll call you back. |
| Future with going to | I am going to work | plans and evidence-based predictions | I'm going to apply for the job. |
| Future continuous | I will be working | an action in progress in the future | This time tomorrow, I'll be flying to Perth. |
| Future perfect | I will have worked | finished before a future time | By June, I'll have finished the course. |
Which tenses should I learn first?
- Present simple and present continuous: your routine and what's happening now. Lessons: present simple, present continuous.
- Past simple: what you did. Lessons: was/were and -ed, irregular verbs.
- Future: going to and will.
- Present perfect: experience and "since/for". Lessons: present perfect, present perfect vs past simple.
Tenses quiz
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Frequently asked questions
How many tenses are there in English?
There are 12 main tense forms: present, past and future, each in simple, continuous, perfect and perfect continuous forms.
Which English tenses are used most?
The present simple, past simple, present continuous, present perfect and the future with will or going to.
What's the difference between the past simple and the present perfect?
The past simple is for finished times (yesterday, in 2020); the present perfect connects the past to now (I've lived here since 2020).