12 kinds of Tense Chart in English Grammar PDF

Tense Chart in English Grammar PDF:

Tense chart in English: Are you looking for Chart for Tenses in English grammar ?

Then your query is going to end here . Because here in this post I have throughly described the full Tense chart in English with examples.

 I have also attached a Tense chart PDF file in the end of this post.

 Make sure to download the PDF file of Tense chart in English. It is absolutely free for you.

 Why is Tense important in English ?

Tense is the base of English. It plays a crucial role in English grammar.

 If you want to learn English perfectly then you have to learn tense first. 

It is not very difficult to learn tense as you think. It will be super easy for you to memorize my Tense Chart in English.

What is a tense in English grammar ?

Tense is a form of a verb that is used to show the time of an action.

 For example: when an action happened. The actions are called verbs.

Tense generally expresses time relative to the moment of speaking. 

Some students find it very difficult to memorize the full tense chart in English.

But I am promising you that you will be master in Tense if you throughly read this Tense chart.

I faced many difficulties in my student life to memorize the full tense chart in English.

 But it is not going to happen with you because I am here to help you with my experience and useful tips.

Here in this post I have described all 12 kinds of tense with chart and examples and structure in English.

You can also download the Tense chart in English pdf from here very easily.

 The download link of Tense chart in English is given below.

There is a verb tense exercise also given. Please try to to solve it after reading the whole article.

So basically there are three principal tenses.

1) Present Tense: It describes an action in the present time: I eat, He eats, They are eating.

(Hints:- Now, at this moment, everyday e.t.c)

2) Past Tense: It describes an action in the past time: I ate , He was sleeping.

(Hints:- Ago, before, earlier, last week or last night or last year e.t.c)

3) Future Tense: It describes an action in the future time: I shall eat, They will go.

Hints:-( later, tomorrow, after, next e.t.c)

Each of these three principle Tenses(Present,Past,Future) has four parts.

1) Indefinite

2) Continuous

3) Perfect

4) Perfect Continuous.

We will discuss about all four parts of all three kinds of Tense step by step with Tense Chart in English throughly.

So read this post with full concentration to understand the basics of Tense.

 And also try to solve the Tense chart exercise given below of this post.

Types of Tenses(With Tense chart in English):

1)Present Tense:

i) Present Indefinite Tense:  Structure:- [S+V1+O]

[S- Subject, V1- Present form of verb, O- Object. ]

The Present Indefinite Tense is used to refer to:

a) A universal or general truth : The earth revolves round the Sun.

b) An habitual or permanent action: He works hard.

c) A future action : He will go home when you come.

d) Past events in order to make the narrative more vivid. This is called the Historic Present: Alexander now rushes upon the enemy.

e) A present action: It rains.

f) Quotations from authors: Goldsmith says, " Handsome is that handsome does."

g) The present perfect tense: I hear( I have heard).

Present Indefinite Tense Chart in English:

*** Only in present Indefinite Tense we use s/es after the verb form in 3rd person singular number.

In other cases the main verb is used straight away.

We do not use s/es after verb form in other tenses except Present Indefinite Tense.

It varies from verb to verb where to use s/es.

Affirmative Sentence:- I eat rice. ( Think it as:- I do eat rice)

Negative sentence:- I do not eat rice.

Interrogative sentence:- Do I eat rice ?

Or, Do I not eat rice ?

For third person singular number:-

 Affirmative Sentence:- He eats rice. (Think it as:- He does eat rice)

Negative sentence:- He does not eat rice.

Interrogative sentence:- Does he eat rice?

Or, Does he not eat rice?

ii)Present Continuous Tense:

Structure:-[S+am/is/are+(V1+ing)+O]:

The present Continuous Tense expresses:

a) An action going on at present: I am eating.

b) A future action: I am going to Delhi tomorrow.

C) This tense is not generally used with verbs of perception or verbs denoting a feeling or emotion, or verbs of knowing, thinking, e.t.c., such as believe, feel, hear, hope, know, like, love, wish, wonder e.t.c.

Other verbs not used in this tense form are belong, consist, contain, matter, possess, resemble, e.t.c. 

Examples:-

i) I feel (not, am feeling) unwell.

ii) I hope (not, am hoping) for the best .

iii) I wish (not, am wishing) you success.

iv) I wonder (not, am wondering) where he is.

iii) Present Continuous Tense Chart in English:

Affirmative Sentence:- I am eating rice.

Negative sentence:- I am not eating rice.

Interrogative sentence:- Am I eating rice?

Or, Am I not eating rice?

iii)Present Perfect Tense: Structure:-[S+have/has+V3+O]

 

V3- Third form of verb.

The Present Perfect Tense is used:

a) To express an action just finished: I have finished my homework.

b) To express a past action the results of which still continue: I have done a great wrong.(i.e., I am suffering from the consequences of my doing the wrong in the past)

c) To express an action done in a space of time not yet gone out fully: I have been active from my childhood (i.e., I am still active)

d) To express a future perfect when produced by when, before,after, as soon as, etc: I shall go there after I have finished the work.

Present Perfect Tense Chart in English:

 

Affirmative Sentence:- I have eaten rice.

Negative sentence:- I have not eaten rice.

Interrogative sentence:- Have I eaten rice?

Or, Have I not eaten rice?

iv)Present Perfect Continuous Tense:

Structure:-[S+have/has+been+(V1+ing)+O]

Present perfect Continuous Tense denotes that an action had been going on at or before some point of time in the past.

Present perfect Continuous Tense Chart in English:

 

It is very easy to identify the present perfect Continuos tense. Because in these kinds of sentences we will find word like "since" , "for" e.t.c.

Use of since and for:-

I) 'For' is used to express the duration of time.

Examples: For two hours, for 5 months e.t.c.

II) 'Since' is used to express the starting point of any action.

Examples: Since 1990, Since January e.t.c.

An action which started in the past but still running in present is called present perfect Continuous Tense.

Examples:-

1) I have been reading since morning.

Here in this sentence I (subject) started to read in the morning but I am reading till now.

So here in this sentence the work which started in the past is still going on. That's why it is a present perfect Continuous Tense.

2) I have been living here for 3 years.

In the above sentence I (subject) started to live here three years ago but I am living here till now.

So it is also an example of present perfect Continuous Tense.

2)Past Tense:

i)Past Indefinite Tense: Structure:-[ S+V2+O]

V2- Past form of verb

a) A single act in the past: I did it.

b) An action actually going on in the past: 'While they danced (=were dancing) we sang(=were singing).

c) An habitual action in the past: He studied (=used to study) hard.

Past Indefinite Tense Chart in English:

Affirmative Sentence:- I ate rice.( Think it as:- I did eat rice.)

Negative sentence:- I did not eat rice.

Interrogative sentence:- Did I eat rice?

Or, Did I not eat rice?

ii)Past Continuous Tense: Structure:-[S+was/were+ (V1+ing)+O]

The Past Continuous Tense denotes that an action was going on in the past: He was sleeping when I saw him.

It was raining when we came here.

Past Continuous Tense Chart in English:

Affirmative Sentence:- I was eating rice.

Negative sentence:- I was not eating rice.

Interrogative sentence:- Was I eating rice?

Or, Was I not eating rice?

iii)Past Perfect Tense: Structure:-[ S+had+V3+O]

The Past Perfect Tense expresses an action completed before another past action: 

The patient had died before the doctor came.

The train had left the station before we reached the station.

Past Perfect Tense Chart in English:

Affirmative Sentence:- I had eaten rice.

Negative sentence:- I had not eaten rice.

Interrogative sentence:- Had I eaten rice?

Or, Had I not eaten rice?

iv)Past Perfect Continuous Tense: Structure:-[S+had+been+(V1+ing)+O]

Past perfect Continuous Tense shows an action which started in past and and continued up until another time in the past.

Past Perfect Continuous Tense Chart in English:

Here in this tense also you will find word like "since" and "for".

Examples:- 

1) They had been taking for over an hour before Tony arrived.

2) They had been sleeping when the accident happened.

3)Future Tense

i)Future Indefinite Tense: Structure:-[ S+shall/will+V1+O]

The Future Indefinite Tense denotes an action that will happen in the future: I shall go there.

Future Indefinite Tense Chart in English:

Affirmative Sentence:-  I shall eat rice.

Negative Sentence:- I shall not eat rice.

Interrogative sentence:- Shall I eat rice?

Or, Shall I not eat rice?

ii)Future Continuous Tense: Structure:-[S+shall/will+be+(V1+ing)+O]

The Future Continuous Tense represents an action as going on at some future time: He will be singing in the evening.

Future Continuous Tense Chart in English:

Affirmative Sentence:- I shall be eating rice.

Negative sentence:-  I shall not be eating rice.

Interrogative sentence:- Shall I be eating rice?

Or, Shall I not be eating rice?

iii)Future Perfect Tense: Structure:-[S+shall/will+have+V3+O]

The Future Perfect Tense denotes that an action will be completed at some point of time in future: He will have done his job before you come(=will come).

Future Perfect Tense Chart in English:

Affirmative Sentence:- I shall have eaten rice.

Negative sentence:- I shall have not eaten rice.

Interrogative sentence:- Shall I have eaten rice?

Or, Shall I have not eaten rice?

iv) Future Perfect Continuous Tense: Structure:-[S+shall/will+have+been+(V1+ing)+O]

Future Perfect Continuous Tense Chart in English:

We don't use this tense very much in present time.

Some important tips for you :

Uses of different supporting verbs in Tense.

Singular .                        Plural

Is .                                      Are

Has .                                  Have

Was .                                 Were

Auxiliary Verbs Chart:-

List of Auxiliary Verbs

Present Tense

Am,Is,Are, Have,Has,Do,Does

Past Tense

Was,Were,Had,Did

Future Tense

Shall,Will

Tense Formula Chart:-

Tense  Formula
Present Indefinite Tense
Subject+main verb+Object
Present Continuous Tense
Sub+am/is/are+(V1+ing)+Obj
Present Perfect Tense
Sub+have/has+V3+Obj
Present Perfect Continuous  Tense
Sub+have/has+been+(V1+ing) +Obj
Past Indefinite Tense
Sub+V2+Obj
Past Continuous Tense
Sub+was/were+(V1+ing)+Obj
Past Perfect Tense
Sub+had+V3+Obj
Past Perfect Continuous Tense
Sub+had+been+(V1+ing)+Obj
Future Indefinite Tense
Sub+shall/will+V1+Obj
Future Perfect Tense
Sub+shall/will+have+V3+Obj
Future Continuous Tense
Sub+shall/will+be+(V1+ing)+ Obj
Future Perfect Continuous  Tense
Sub+shall/will+have+been+ (V1+ing)+Obj

So these are the 12 kinds of Tense. I hope this will make you perfect in Tense. Memorize the full tense Chart and become master in tense.

And if you still have any doubt on this topic "Tense Chart in English" then do not hesitate to ask me in the below comment box.

I shall surely try my best to clear your doubts.

You can also download full Tense chart in English pdf file from Here. 

The English Tenses Practical Grammar Guide:

Now let's practice what you just learned. Please try to solve it by yourself.

The answers of these questions (verb tense exercises) have been given below.

Verb Tense exercises:

Fill in the blanks with right form of verbs.

1) I _(see) him yesterday.

2) They have_ (do) their work.

3) He _(come) to school today.

4) I _(do) it tomorrow.

5) They_(work) for two hours.

6) The girl_ (play) in the field now.

7) I _(read) since morning.

8) He _ (hope) to finish the work today.

9) It _(rain) since morning.

10) He_(cry) all morning.

11) They_(sleep) when the accident happened.

12) The patient_(die) before the doctor came.

13) He _(write) a letter now.

14) I _(lose) my book yesterday.

15) A good boy_(obey) his parents.

16) We _(come) this town in 1990.

17) Einstein_(discover) the Theory of Relativity.

18) I _(do) this work by tomorrow.

19) I _(talk) to him very soon.

20) She usually_(go) to school by bus.

21) He _ (watch) tv everyday.

22) She often_ (go) to market on the weekend.

23) They_(live) here since 2 years.

24) By the time you reach home, I _(clean) the room.

25) They _(know) each other for a long time.

26) They _(visit) Australia later.

27) By next December I _(stay) here for three years.

28) I _( read) the book by the next class.

29) The headmaster_(want) to talk to you.

30) Jane _(live) with her parents.

I hope you have attempted all the questions of verb Tense exercises. Now let's see your answers of Tense exercises from the below list.

Answers of verb Tense  exercises:

1) saw

2) done

3) has come(v3).

4) shall do.

5) have been working.

6) is playing.

7) have been reading.

8) hopes.

9) has been raining.

10) has been crying.

11) have been sleeping.

12) had died.

13) is writing.

14) lost.

15) obeys.

16) came.

17) discovered.

18) shall have done.

19) shall talk.

20) goes.

21) watches.

22) goes.

23) have been living.

24) shall have cleaned.

25) have known.

26) will visit.

27) shall have been staying.

28) shall have read(v3).

29) want.

30) lives.

Frequently Asked Questions about Tense chart in English:-

1) What are the 12 types of tenses ?

Ans:- There are three types of main tense. And every tense has four parts. 

Four parts of Present Tense : Present Indefinite Tense, Present Continuous Tense, Present Perfect Tense, Present Perfect Continuous Tense.

Four parts of Past Tense: Past Indefinite Tense, Past Continuous Tense, Past Perfect Tense, Past Perfect Continuous Tense.

Four parts of Future Tense: Future Indefinite Tense, Future Continuous Tense, Future Perfect Tense, Future Perfect Continuous Tense.

2) Are there 12 or 16 Tenses in English ?

Ans: There are 12 kinds of Tenses in English Grammar not 16.

3) What is the English Tense ?

And: Basically Tense is a form of verb which actually expresses the time of an action.

4) What is Tense chart ?

Ans: Tense chart is the summary of all 12 tenses together. Download the full Tense Chart in English from here.

5) How can I learn tenses easily ?

Ans: To learn tense easily you have to practice again and again and also you have to memorize full Tense Chart and structure.

6) How do you use tenses in story ?

Ans: We usually use past tense to write a story. As stories are not real, we can't use any other tense to write stories.

7) How can I improve my tenses ?

Ans: First of all memorize the full Tense chart in English and also the structure of all tenses and practice again and again. The more you practice the more you will become perfect.

Because practice makes a man perfect. There is not shortcut of becoming perfect.

What are the 3 Tenses ?

Ans:- There are three principal Tenses. 

1) Present Tense

2) Past Tense

3) Future Tense.

And every Tense has four parts. So overall there are 12 tenses.

So how was your experience ? Please let me know in the below comment box.