Tenses - Uses, Keywords, Examples & Quizzes

There are three primary tenses (past, present, future) and four aspects (simple, continuous, perfect, perfect continuous) which together form the twelve tenses. 

Past Tenses

Past Tenses	Uses	Keywords	Examples
Simple Past                                                     (V2)	Completed actions in the past.	yesterday, last week, ago, in 1990.	She traveled to Paris last summer.
Past Continuous (was/ were + ing)	Actions in progress at a specific time in the past.	while, when, as	I was studying when the phone rang.
Past Perfect (had V3)	Completed actions before another action in the past.	before, after, by the time.	She had already eaten by the time  I arrived.
Past Perfect Continuous (had been V+ing)	Continuous actions that were ongoing before and up to a certain point in the past.	for, since	He had been working for five hours before taking a break.

Present Tenses

Present Tenses	Uses	Keywords	Examples
Simple Present                                     (V1/ V1+s/es/ies)	General truths, habits, and regular actions.	always, usually, often	The sun rises in the east.
Present Continuous (am/ is/ are V+ ing)	Actions happening now or around the present time	now, at the moment, currently.	I am reading a book now.
Present Perfect (had + V3)	Actions completed recently with a connection to the present.	just, already, yet.	They have already finished their homework.
Present Perfect Continuous (has/have been V+ing)	Continuous actions that started in the past and continue to the present.	for, since	She has been studying for two hours.

Future Tenses

Future Tenses	Uses	Keywords	Examples
Simple Future                                           (will/ shall V1)	Predictions, spontaneous decisions, promises about the future.	tomorrow, next week	We will meet at the park tomorrow.
Future Continuous (will / shall be V+ ing)	Ongoing actions at a specific future time.	at 6 PM, this time tomorrow	I will be cooking dinner at 7 PM.
Future Perfect (will have V + ing)	Completed actions at a specific future time.	by the time, before	They will have finished the project by Friday.
Future Perfect Continuous (will have been V + ing)	Continuous actions that will be ongoing before and up to a certain point in the future.	for, since	By next year, she will have been working here for a decade.