Verb Tense

Verb tense indicates when an action occurs. Mainly, you can study the simple tense, progressive tense, and perfect tense to specifically show if the verb is completed, ongoing, or habitual. 

Simple verb tense shows three main time frames: simple past, simple present, and simple future. The base verb is used for this tense, and the uses are pretty simple. 

• Simple past tense shows that the verb was completed in the past (e.g. I cried yesterday). 
• Simple present tense has multiple common uses. You can show general truths and facts. These statements in simple present tense are unchanging (e.g. the sun rises every morning). You could also show habitual actions that happen regularly (e.g. I make my bed). Moreover, you can show current state of emotions or possessions (e.g. I have a lot of homework, so I am tired). 
• Simple future tense is used to show verbs that will occur in the future. You can use this tense to predict, promise, offer, request, or decide (e.g. I will finish the homework by tonight). 

Progressive verb tense shows three main time frames: progressive past, progressive present, and progressive future. You will have to use “~ing” form of the verb to show ongoing actions or actions that are in progress at a specific moment in time. Oftentimes, you can use progressive tense to show an action interrupted by another action, and actions happening simultaneously. 

• Progressive past tense shows an action that was ongoing in the past. It can emphasize the duration of the action, or provide more context for another action (e.g. I was reading when she called me). 
• Progressive present tense shows an ongoing action that is happening now. Unlike simple present tense, progressive present tense can be temporary. The actions can change or develop later in time (e.g. I am shopping today). 
• Progressive future tense describes action that will be happening and continuing at some time in the future. You can use this tense when you want to convey that an action will be continuing when another action occurs (e.g. I will be shopping when you arrive home). 

Perfect verb tense shows three main time frames: perfect past, perfect present, and perfect future. This tense requires more practice as it uses had/has/have plus the past participle of the verb. So, why use this complicated tense? If you want to emphasize the result of an action more than the action itself or if you want to show a connection between the past and one of the three main time frames, then the perfect tense is PERFECT!  Let’s break it down. 

• Perfect past tense uses “had” and the past participle of the main verb. You can use it to refer to a past action that happened before ANOTHER past action (e.g. Bob and Kim had been friends long before they worked together”).
• Perfect present tense uses either “has” or “have” and the past participle of the main verb. It’s usually preferred when you want to focus on the result or impact of the action more than the time frame that the action occurred (e.g. I have not graduated yet). 
• Perfect future tense uses “will have” and the past participle of the main verb. It shows that an action will be completed before another action in the future. For example  “by the time you come home, I will have cooked dinner”  focuses on the fact that dinner will be made before the person’s arrival. It’s different from “by the time you come home, I will be cooking dinner” because the progressive future tense here indicates that the cooking will be in progress by the time of the person’s arrival. Also, it’s different from “by the time you come home, I will cook dinner” because the simple future tense shows a decision or a promise.