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Tense Chart: Learning tenses and the use of different forms of verbs is essential for learning the English language. You can convey your message, feelings or emotions clearly only if you have knowledge of tenses and know how to build sentences accurately. This article is going to help in learning the language essentials with the help of the Tenses Chart discussed below.

What is a Tense Chart?

A tense chart is a visual representation of various actions occurring at various points of time. It has various types of tenses organised into a table format which provides a clear overview of the various forms of verbs used to indicate different time frames in which an action takes place.

This is a helpful tool for learning and understanding the English tense system. So, if you are struggling with the usage of tenses and English sentence formation, then the tense chart below is a perfect guide for you.

What is a Tense?

Tense denotes the time of action. It indicates when an action or state takes place in relation to the present, past, or future.

Importance of Tenses in Learning Language

Tenses are an important part of the English language because they help to indicate the time of an action or event which is essential for clear and effective communication.

Types of Tenses

There are 3 types of tense.

I.Present Tense

II.Past Tense

III.Future Tense

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Each tense is further divided into 4 types. These are stated below with examples:

Present Tense

Past Tense

Future Tense

1.Present Simple Tense

Example: She writes a letter every day.

2.Present Continuous Tense

Example: She is writing a letter right now.

3.Present Perfect Tense

Example: She has written a letter today.

4.Present Perfect Continuous Tense

Example: She has been writing letters for two hours.

1.Past Simple Tense

Example: She wrote a letter yesterday.

2.Past Continuous Tense

Example: She was writing a letter when I called her.

3.Past Perfect Tense

Example: She had written the letter before I arrived.

4.Past Perfect Continuous Tense

Example: She had been writing the letter for an hour when I arrived.

1.Future Indefinite Tense

Example: She will write a letter tomorrow.

2.Future Continuous Tense

Example: She will be writing a letter at 5 PM tomorrow.

3.Future Perfect Tense

Example: She will have written the letter by the time you arrive.

4.Future Perfect Continuous Tense

Example: She will have been writing the letter for two hours by the time you call her.

Tense Formulas

Tense Formulas for Present Tense

Tense

Assertive

Negative

Interrogative

Simple Present Tense

Subject + V1 + s/es + Object

Example: He goes to school.

Subject + does not + V1 + Object

Example: He does not go to school.

Does + Subject + V1 + Object

Example: Does he go to school?

Present Continuous Tense

Subject + is/am/are + V1+ing + Object

Example: He is going to school.

Subject + is/am/are + not + V1+ing + Object

Example: He is not going to school.

is/am/are + Subject + V1+ing + Object

Example: Is he going to school?

Present Perfect Tense

Subject + has/have + V3 + Object

Example: He has gone to school.

Subject + has/have + not + V3 + Object

Example: He has not gone to school.

Has/have + Subject + V3 + Object

Example: Has he gone to school?

Present Perfect Continuous Tense.

Subject + has/have + been + V1+ing + Object

Example: He has been going to school.

Subject + has/have + not + been + V1+ing + Object

Example: He has not been going to school.

Has/Have + Subject + been + V1+ing + Object

Example: Has he been going to school?

Tense Formulas for Past Tense

Tense

Assertive

Negative

Interrogative

Simple Past Tense

Subject + V2 + Object

Example: He went to school.

Subject + did not + V1 + Object

Example: He did not go to school.

Did + Subject + V1 + Object

Example: Did he go to school?

Past Continuous Tense

Subject + was/were + V1+ing + Object

Example: He was going to school.

Subject + was/were + not + V1+ing + Object

Example: He was not going to school.

Was/were + Subject + V1+ing + Object

Example: Was he going to school?

Past Perfect Tense

Subject + had + V3 + Object

Example: He had gone to school.

Subject + had + not + V3 + Object

Example: He had not gone to school.

Had + Subject + V3 + Object

Example: Had he gone to school?

Past Perfect Continuous Tense.

Subject + had been + V1+ing + Object

Example: He had been going to school.

Subject + had + not + been + V1+ing + Object

Example: He had not been going to school.

Had + Subject + been + V1+ing + Object

Example: Had he been going to school?

Tense Formulas for Future Tense

Tense

Assertive

Negative

Interrogative

Simple Future Tense

Subject + will/shall + V1 + Object

Example: He will go to school.

Subject + will/shall + not + V1 + Object

Example: He will not go to school.

Will/shall + Subject + V1 + Object

Example: Will he go to school?

Future Continuous Tense

Subject + will/shall + be + V1+ing + Object

Example: He will be going to school.

Subject + will/shall + not + be + V1+ing + Object

Example: He will not be going to school.

Will/shall + Subject + be + V1+ing + Object

Example: Will he be going to school?

Fututre Perfect Tense

Subject + will/shall + have + V3 + Object

Example: He will have gone to school.

Subject + will/shall + have + not + V3 + Object

Example: He will have not gone to school.

Will + Subject + have + V3 + Object

Example: Will he have gone to school?

Future Perfect Continuous Tense.

Subject + will/shall + have + been + V1+ing + Object

Example: He will have been going to school.

Subject + will/shall + not + have + been + V1+ing + Object

Example: He will not have been going to school.

Will/shall + Subject + have + been + V1+ing + Object

Example: Will he have been going to school?

12 Tenses: Quick Revision with help of examples

Tense	Present	Past	Future
Simple	He drives a car.	He drove a car.	He will drive a car.
Continuous	He is driving a car.	He was driving a car.	He will be driving a car.
Perfect	He has driven a car.	He had driven a car.	He will have driven a car.
Perfect Continuous	He has been driving a car since morning.	He had been driving a car since morning.	He will have been driving a car since morning.

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Tenses Chart with Rules and Examples PDF

What is a Tense Chart?

What is a Tense?

Importance of Tenses in Learning Language

Types of Tenses

Tense Formulas

12 Tenses: Quick Revision with help of examples