Grammar · Verb Tenses

When the action happens — and keeping it steady

A verb's tense tells us when an action happens: past, present or future. Each time also has simple (the plain action), progressive (an action in progress, with -ing), and perfect (a completed action, with has/have/had) forms. You also need to keep the tense consistent within a sentence. Learn each below.

1 The three times: past, present, future

Tense tells us when the action happens.

Pastalready happened — walked, ran, was

Presenthappening now — walk/walks, is

Futurewill happen — will walk, is going to run

2 Simple tense — the plain action

The simple form just states the action, with no helper verb.

past: played · present: plays · future: will play ✓

3 Progressive — an action in progress

Made with am/is/are/was/were + -ing. It shows an action going on at the time.

present: She is running. · past: She was running. · future: She will be running. ✓

4 Perfect — a completed action

Made with has/have/had + the past form. It links a finished action to now (or to another time).

present: She has finished. · past: She had finished. · future: She will have finished. ✓

5 Keep the tense consistent

Don't switch tense in the middle of a sentence without a reason.

✗ She ran to the shop and buys milk. → ✓ She ran ... and bought milk.

If one verb is in the past, the others usually should be too.

The 30-second method

How to handle any tense question fast

When? Decide past (did), present (does), or future (will).
Plain action? Simple tense (walked, walks, will walk).
-ing with a helper? Progressive (is walking, was walking).
has/have/had + past form? Perfect (has walked, had walked).
Consistency: match the other verbs to the same time.

10 worked examples

Read the question, then the answer with the rule that solves it.

1. Past simple of 'go'?

went — irregular past (Rule 2).

2. Future of 'eat'?

will eat — 'will' + verb (Rule 2).

3. What tense? — She is reading.

Present progressive — is + -ing (Rule 3).

4. What tense? — They had left.

Past perfect — had + past form (Rule 4).

5. What tense? — He has eaten.

Present perfect — has + past form (Rule 4).

6. What tense? — We were waiting.

Past progressive — were + -ing (Rule 3).

7. Make it present simple: She ___ (play) daily.

plays — present simple, add -s (Rule 2).

8. Fix: I woke up and eat breakfast.

I woke up and ate breakfast. — keep both past (Rule 5).

9. Which is future progressive? — She ___ tomorrow.

will be running — will be + -ing (Rule 3).

10. Past perfect of 'see'?

had seen — had + past form (Rule 4).

Mock paper — 20 questions

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Pick one answer (A–E) for each question. The timer starts when you answer your first.