Tense Chart in English - Rules, Examples, Types & Mind map
Last Updated : 21 May, 2025
The Tense Chart is a visual representation of the various verb tenses in English. It organizes the verb tenses in English. It outlines the various forms of the verb according to their uses. By using a tense chart, one can easily understand the relationship between the various forms of verbs and be able to make appropriate verb choices in speech and writing. A tense chart generally helps to organize the chart by time and shows how sentences are formed using different tenses.
Tense chart with example
The English language is rich and complex, and it allows a variety of verb tenses that allow us to express different times, actions, and states. One of the major styles for learning verb tenses is using the tense chart. Developing a clear and solid understanding of trends is a mandatory part of your clear and accurate expression and action. Also, you'll gain confidence if you use correct sentences when communicating with others.
What is Tense?
In English Grammar, Tense is a form of Verb which majorly used to express the time of the action or situation expressed by the Verb. According to Oxford Dictionary, Tense is defined as “Any of the forms of a verb that may be used to show the time of the action or situation expressed by the verb”.
Tense is a grammatical representation that helps us to understand and express the time at which an action, event, or state occurs accordingly. By combining auxiliary verbs(such as "be", "have", or "will") with main verbs in different forms tenses are formed. Tense helps us to convey whether an action is happening in the past, or will occur in the future. Understanding the use of tenses correctly is crucial for better and more effective communication with others.
Types of Tenses
In English Grammar, there are three types of Tenses.
- Present Tense
- Past Tense
- Future Tense
Types of tenseEach tense has various forms and can be further categorized into simple, continuous, perfect, and perfect continuous tenses. The choice of tenses depends on the context, the intended meaning, and the relationship between the action and the time being referred to.
There are 12 tenses which are as follows:
Tense Chart Rules and Examples
Tense Chart |
| Tenses | Rules and Formula |
| Simple Present Tense | Subject + V1 (s/es) + Object |
Simple Past Tense | Subject + V2 (ed) + Object |
Simple Future Tense | Subject + will/shall + V1 + Object |
| Present Continuous Tense | Subject + am/is/are + V1 + ing + Object |
Past Continuous Tense | Subject + was/were + V1 + ing + Object |
Future Continuous Tense | Subject + will/shall + be + V1 + ing + Object |
| Present Perfect Tense | Subject+ has/have + V3 + Object |
Past Perfect Tense | Subject + had + V3 + Object |
Future Perfect Tense | Subject + will /shall + have + V3 + Object |
| Present Perfect Continuous Tense | Subject + has/have + been + V1+ ing + Object + for/since + time |
| Past Perfect Continuous Tense | Subject + had + been + V1 + ing + Object + for/since + time |
| Future Perfect Continuous Tense | Subject + will have been + V1 + ing + Object + for/from + time |
Tense Chart in Hindi
| Tenses (काल) - पहचान |
|---|
| Tenses | Present | Past | Future |
|---|
| Simple | ता है, ती है, ते, है Do/ does | आ, ई, ये, या, था, ता, ती, थे, Did+ V1 | गा, गी, गे, Will |
| Continuous | रहा है, रही है, रहे है, Is/are/am + ing | रहा था, रही थी, रहे थे, Was/Were + ing | रहा होगा, रही होगी, Will be+ ing |
| Perfect | चुका है, चुकी है, Has/Have + V3 | चुका था, चुकी थी, लिया था Had+ V3 | चुकेगा, चुकेगी, चुकोगे, Will have+ V3 |
| Perfect Continuous | रहा है, रही है, रहे है + समय के साथ 'से' के लिए Has/Have+ Been+ ing + Since/ For | रहा था, रही थी, रहे थे+ समय के साथ 'से' के लिए Had been+ ing + Since/For | रहा होगा, रही होगी, रहे होंगे+ समय के साथ 'से' के लिए Will have been+ ing + Since/For |
Simple Tenses:
1. Simple Present Tense: This tenses express habitual action or the universal truth.
The General Formula for Present Simple Tense is:
Subject + V1 (s/es) + Object
Example: She wakes up early every morning.
2. Simple Past Tense: This tense describes the actions happened or completed in the past.
The General formula for Past Simple Tense is:
Subject + V2 (ed) + Object
Example: They played cricket yesterday.
3. Simple Future Tense: This tense generally indicates that an action that will occur in the future.
The General Formula for Future Simple Tense is:
Subject + will/shall + V1 + Object
Example: I will go to school next morning.
Continuous Tenses:
4. Present Continuous Tense: This tense describes situations that are happening in the present.
The General Formula for Present Continuous Tense is:
Subject + Helping Verb(am/is/are) + Main verb (V1) + ing + Object
Example: They are playing cricket to practice for the tournament.
5. Past Continuous Tense: This tense refers to actions that were happening in the past.
The General Formula for Past Continuous Tense is:
Subject + Helping Verb(was/were) + Main verb (V1) + ing + Object
Example: She was playing cricket when I called her.
6. Future Continuous Tense: This tense refers to the actions that generally going to happen within a specific time in the future.
The General Formula for Future Continuous Tense is:
Subject + will /shall + be + V1 + ing + Object
Example: I will be working late tomorrow.
Perfect Tenses:
7. Present Perfect Tense: This tense refers to the actions that has recently finished.
The General Formula for Present Perfect Tense is:
Subject + Helping Verb (has/have) + V3 + Object + for/since + time
Example: He has come to Delhi recently.
8. Past Perfect Tense: This tense refers to the action completed in past.
If two action takes place in the past, one after the other, the first action will be in Past Perfect Tense and the second action will be in Simple Past Tense.
The General Formula for Past Perfect Tense is:
Subject + Helping Verb (had) + V3 + Object
Example: She had already eaten when he arrived
9. Future Perfect Tense: This tense describes actions that will certainly be completed at a point in future.
The General Formula for Future Perfect Tense is:
Subject + will /shall + have + V3 + Object
Example: By this time I reach the station, the train will have left.
Perfect Continuous Tenses:
10. Present Perfect Continuous: This tense refers to the action began in past and still in progress.
Used with time phrases like for, since, long, all week.
The General Formula for Present Perfect Continuous is:
Subject + has/have + been + V1 + ing + Object
Example: I have been Studying all day.
11. Past Perfect Continuous: This tense refers to the action that is generally initiated in the past, continued and finished in the past.
The General Formula for Present Perfect Continuous is:
Subject + had + been + V1 + ing +Object + for/since + time
Example: I had been waiting for you since the morning.
12. Future Perfect Continuous: This tense refers to the actions that will continue up until a point in the future.
The General Formula for Present Perfect Continuous is:
Subject + shall/will + have + been + V1 + ing + Object + for/from + time
Example: I shall have been living in Delhi for five years by the end of this year.
Let's examine the structure of the tense chart:
Tense | Forms | Examples |
|---|
Present Tense | Simple Present Tense | She drives a car |
|---|
Present Continuous Tense | She is driving a car |
Present Perfect Tense | She has driven a car |
Present Perfect Continuous Tense | She has been driving a car since the evening |
Past Tense | Simple Past Tense | She drove a car |
|---|
Past Perfect Tense | She was driving a car |
Past Continuous Tense | She had driven a car |
Past Perfect Continuous Tense | She had been driving the car since 5 am |
Future Tense | Simple Future Tense | She will drive a car |
|---|
Future Perfect Tense | She will be driving a car |
Future Continuous Tense | She will have driven a car |
Future Perfect Continuous Tense | She will have been driving the car at 5 am tomorrow. |
Utilizing the Tense Chart
To make effective and perfect use of the Tense Chart, Consider the following steps:
- Check the Time Frame: While checking the action you need to check the time whether the action is happening in the future, past, or present. The only thing you need to understand is to check the time frame of the sentences.
- Appropriate tense: Understand the time frame and then select the relevant tense for the same. After selecting the timeframe choose an appropriate tense to use in a sentence.
- Sentences need to be constructed: Understand the structure of the tense identify verbs, verb forms, and necessary adverbs or prepositions.
- Do practice: By practicing regularly will help you to get a better understanding and the usage of the different tenses. Learning the usage of tenses is not tough you need to practice it accordingly.
Conclusion
The Tense Chart is a valuable tool for English learners, which aids in the comprehension and application of several different verb tenses. By understanding properly the tense chart and by daily practicing it, you can easily navigate the intricacies of English Grammar, expressing yourself in any given situation. Remembering and mastering the tense chart may be quite tough but the consequences are amazing.
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