Welcome to the next topic in our fun Grammar Guide series.

This week are are hopping into the fun world of English Verb Tenses.  English has three basic verb tenses:

• Past - actions that occurred in the past
• Present - actions that are occurring at the moment
• Future - actions that will occur in the future.

In English, these 3 basic verb tenses each have 4 aspects and this means, (if you're keeping up with the math), 12 verb tenses.

• Simple - actions that are usual or repeated
• Progressive - actions that are ongoing
• Perfect - actions that are completed
• Perfect Progressive - actions that will be completed at a definitive time

Examples:

• Past
  • Simple - I walked to the library
  • Progressive - I was walking to the library
  • Perfect - I had walked to the library
  • Perfect Progressive - I had been walking to the library.
• Present
  • Simple - I walk to the library.
  • Progressive - I am walking to the library.
  • Perfect - I have walked to the library.
  • Prefect Progressive - I have been walking to the library.
• Future
  • Simple - I will walk to the library.
  • Progressive - I will be walking to the library.
  • Perfect - I will have walked to the library.
  • Perfect Progressive - I will have been walking to the library.

Important Take Away

In English, only two verb tenses can be formed from the verb by itself: past and present.  All other tenses require a form of have, will, or be as a helping or auxiliary verb.

Cool Tip from the Infographic Guide to Grammar -

Test your verb tenses by starting your intended sentence with Yesterday, Today, or Tomorrow, to check your past, present, and future tenses respectively.

"Today, I walk to the library." "Yesterday, I walked to the library." "Tomorrow, I will walk to the library"

• References:
  • Kern, Jara. (2020). The Infographic Guide to Grammar. Adams Media
  • Venolia, Jan. (2001). Write Right! (4th ed.). Ten Speed Press