e Writing Center
The Samuel Rudin Academic Resource Center
1
VERB TENSES
by Kelsey Tavarez and Ana Marjanovic
Past Present Future
Simple Yesterday, I walked to
campus.
I walk to the park every
evening.
I will walk ve miles a day to
become healthier.
The action started and ended
at a specic time in the past.
The action occurs habitually
or generally.
The action will happen in the
future.
Continuous/
Progressive
I was walking to meet
up with my friend.
I am walking to the train
now.
I will be walking to the
movie theater tomorrow.
The action The action happened
continuously in the past.
Use was/were with present
participle.
1
The action is happening now
and may continue. Use is/are/
am with present participle.
1
The action will occur and last
some time in the future. Use
will with present participle.
1
Perfect I had walked for two
hours before I finally
found the gas station.
I have not walked to that
monument in years.
I will have walked 100
miles by the end of the year.
The action took place before
another action in the past.
Use had with past participle.
2
The action has happened at an
unspecied time.
3
Use have/
has with past participle.
2
The action will be completed
before another event happens.
Use will have with past
participle.
2
Perfect
Continuous
I had been walking to
the bank when I found a
lost dog.
I have been walking since
two o’clock.
I will have been walking for
two hours by the time I arrive
at the bank.
The action started and ended
before another past action.
Use had been with present
participle.
1
The action started in the past
and may or may not been
completed. Use has/have
been with present participle.
1
The action is ongoing and will
be completed at some point in
the future. Use will have been
with present participle.
1
“Respice, adspice, prospice” — look to the past, look to the present, and to the future. Verb tense does exactly
that! Tense describes when an action takes place. The three major moments in time are past, present, and
future. Below is a table breaking down each tense with the verb walk.
Notes
The present participle of a verb is formed by adding -ing to the base form of that verb.
2
The past participle of most regular verbs ends in -ed.
3
Prepositions such as never, ever, yet, since, and for can help to express action that happened at an unspecied time.
2
VERB TENSES : ALTERNATE EXAMPLES
Past Present Future
Simple
Action completed Action relates to general truth or Action may happen in the future
routine
You successfully downloaded I own a smart-phone. I will be o social media
the le. tomorrow.
Continuous/
Progressive
Past action that took place over a Activity in progress Future action that will take place
period of time over a period of time
I was watching movies last night. Your le is buering. Six other friends will be
attending a two-day event.
Perfect
Action occurred at an Action will be completed by or Past event or condition completed
before another event in the past unspecied time in the past before a specied time in the future
I had entered 7 incorrect I have never updated my apps. I will have completed my
passwords before I accessed the purchase before the system
main menu. empties my cart.
Perfect
Continuous
Action lasted some time in the past Action began in the past, has Action will last some time in the
and stopped before another past continued into the present, and future and will be completed before
action may continue into the future another future action
I had been syncing the large The le has been downloading I will have been working o-
le to the cloud before sharing for hours, and it hasn't nished line for a week when a technician
it with you. yet. nally restores my wi.
Here is a set of alternative explanations using the multimedia design jargon that should be familiar to you.
