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Verb tenses are changes or additions to verbs to show when the action took place: in the past, present, or future. The phrase verb tense is also used for grammatical aspects, which add more details about the duration or time an action takes. When you combine the four grammatical aspects with the past, present and future, you end up with twelve main verb tenses in English.
Verb tenses are essential for speaking English correctly, but with all the different forms and functions, they can get confusing. In this guide, we give a quick overview of the English tenses, including when to use them and how to make them, and give plenty of verb tense examples.
Verb tenses show when an action took place, as well as how long it occurred. The main verb tenses are the past, present, and future.
There are also additional aspects that give extra details, such as the length of time the action occurred, which actions happened first, or whether a past action has an impact on the present. These grammatical aspects are the simple tense, perfect tense, continuous tense, and perfect continuous tense.
The standard tense in English is the present tense, which is usually just the root form of the verb. The past and future tenses often require changes or additions to the root form, such as the suffix –ed for the past tense and the modal verb will for the future.
However, for each of the past, present, and future tenses, there are four different aspects that add additional details. For example, the continuous tense shows that an action is ongoing. It can be used in the present (she is sleeping), past (she was sleeping), or future (she will be sleeping).
The past, present, and future are the central divisions of time in English. The present represents actions happening now, while the past represents actions that happened earlier, and the future describes actions that will happen later.
The simple tense is a grammatical aspect that refers to the normal forms of the past, present, and future tenses—nothing fancy! Unlike the other aspects, it doesn’t add any new information. True to its name, simple tenses are the easiest to form and have the fewest rules.
The definition of the perfect tense is a little more complicated. It’s used for actions that relate to other points in time, either completed or ongoing.
For example, in the sentence I have played soccer since I was a child, the perfect tense indicates that the action occurred continuously in the past and still happens in the present. By contrast, in the sentence I played soccer when I was a child, the Past simple tense indicates that the action occurred only in the past, and has no relation to the present.
The perfect tenses use a conjugation of the auxiliary verb have with the past participle of the main verb.
We use the continuous tenses (also known as the continuous tenses) for ongoing actions or actions that happen a while before completion. For example, They are studying all night means the studying lasts many hours before it’s finished.
Please note that you usually do not use the continuous tense with stative verbs like want, love, have, and need.
The continuous tenses use a conjugation of the auxiliary verb be along with the main verb’s present participle, or –ing form.
When you combine the perfect and continuous tenses, you get the perfect continuous tense. It’s typically used just like the perfect tense, except it describes ongoing actions that happen over a period of time.
The construction of the perfect continuous tense uses a conjugation of the auxiliary verb have, the auxiliary verb been (the past participle of be), and the present participle of the main verb.
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For regular verbs, you form the Past simple tense by adding the suffix –ed to the end of the verb (or just –d if the past tense verb already ends in an e).
Be careful of irregular past tense verbs, however. These don’t follow the normal rules and use their own unique forms for the past tense. For example, the past tense of the irregular verb go is went.
Regular verbs: I picked up the glass, but it dropped from my hand.
Irregular verbs: This morning I went to the store, but I forgot the milk.
[had] + [past participle]
What if you’re talking about two different actions in the past and want to show that one happened before the other? The past perfect, also known as the pluperfect, shows that one past action happened earlier than another one.
She had arrived at the office before she realised it was Sunday.
I ran to my car when I noticed my wife had left already.
[was/were] + [present participle]
Use the past continuous to show an ongoing action in the past, especially if the action was interrupted by another action. It’s also used for habitual actions that occurred in the past but not in the present. It’s usually used with adverbs like always or adverb phrases like all the time.
My dog was whimpering in his sleep when the TV woke him up.
As kids, my friends and I were always getting into trouble.
[had] + [been] + [present participle]
The past perfect continuous tense is used just like the past perfect tense, except it describes ongoing actions that happened in the past instead of a one-time occurance. It’s often used with the words when, until, and before to connect it to another past action.
Before he got his first job as a writer, he had been working as a proofreader.
I had been living on my friend’s couch for a year until they kicked me out.
The present simple is the most basic of the English tenses. It’s used for individual actions or habitual actions in the present.
Often the Present simple is just the root verb with no changes or additions. The main exception to this is when the subject is third person and singular. In this case you add the suffix –s. If the verb ends in o, ch, sh, th, ss, gh, or z, you add –es. If the verb ends in a consonant and y (and the subject is third-person singular), drop the y and add –ies.
Today I feel like a million bucks!
My brother carries the groceries while my sister stays on the couch.
[have/has] + [past participle]
Although it’s quite common, the present perfect is one of the most difficult English verb tenses. It is used to describe a few different types of actions, including:
an ongoing action started in the past that is not yet completed
the same action completed multiple times in the past and likely to be completed again
an action completed very recently (usually with just or now)
an uncompleted action that is expected to be finished (in the negative)
Additionally, the present perfect can be used to emphasize the significance of a completed action, especially one that happened over time.
We have tricked him every April Fool’s Day since we were kids.
My niece has grown so much this year!
[am/is/are] + [present participle]
Use the present continuous to show an action happening right now or in the near future.
I am reading The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy for the fifth time!
We are eating pizza tonight.
[have/has] + [been] + [present participle]
The present perfect continuous shows an ongoing action in the present that was started in the past. It is often used to emphasize the length of time.
We have been waiting for over an hour!
The team has been practicing nonstop for the tournament.
Use the future simple for actions that have not happened yet but will later. To form the Future simple, just place the modal verb will before the root form of the main verb. (Note that if the action will happen in the near future, you can use the present continuous instead.)
She will be president one day.
I will not go to the wedding without a date!
[will] + [have] + [past participle]
The future perfect shows an action that will be completed in the future by a specified time. Because it depends on another time, the future perfect is often used with words like by, before, at, or when.
By the time you read this, I will have already left.
She will have eaten lunch before her sister even wakes up.
[will] + [be] + [present participle]
Use the future continuous tense for future actions happening over a period of time, especially when a specific time is mentioned. The future continuous tense also shows more certainty and likelihood than the Future simple.
By this time tomorrow, I will be drinking margaritas on the beach.
We will be attending a meeting from noon until 3 p.m.
[will] + [have] + [been] + [present participle]
The future perfect continuous depicts future ongoing actions that continue up until a certain point. Like the future perfect and future continuous, it’s used with a specified time.
In ten minutes, my parents will have been waiting in traffic for four hours.
I will have been eating healthy for a whole year by September.
What are verb tenses?
Verb tenses are changes or additions to verbs to show when the action took place: in the past, present, or future. The phrase verb tense is also used for grammatical aspects, which show how long an action occurs.
What are the different types of verb tenses?
The three main verb tenses are the past, present, and future, but there are also four grammatical aspects: simple, continuous, perfect, and perfect continuous. When you combine the three time periods with the four aspects, you get twelve unique verb tenses.
What are some examples of the different verb tenses?
The simple tenses show actions happening at different times, while the perfect tenses show completed actions that relate to different time periods. The continuous tenses are for ongoing actions that take a while to complete. The perfect continuous tenses combine the perfect and continuous tenses to describe ongoing actions that happen over a period of time.
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Nouns and verbs can both express number, but only verbs can express tense, or when the action of the sentence is performed or a state of being is experienced.
Keeping tense clear and consistent throughout one’s writing is essential, but it is often overlooked by writers wanting to rush through their work. Getting in the habit of establishing your verb tense early on and sticking with it helps in two ways: first, your writing will flow more smoothly; second, you will avoid a large chunk of editing later on.
While there are several different types of verb tenses, the foundational tenses are past, present, and future. These are called simple verb tenses.
There are also perfect verb tenses, continuous verb tenses, and there are even some irregular verbs that do not follow the rules when changing tense.
When you’re ready, test yourself with a quiz and practice with our high-quality, standards-aligned questions here.
What We Review
3 Tips for Understanding Simple Verb Tenses
Tip #1. Facts and current actions are always written in Present simple tense
Tip #2. Historical events, events in the past, and author’s decisions are all written in Past simple tense
Tip #3. Verb tense must stay consistent in your writing to avoid confusion
What is Simple Verb Tense?
Simple verb tenses can be divided into three categories: past, present, and future.
â–Ş Present Tense: He writes a letter today.
â–Ş Past Tense: I wrote a letter yesterday.
â–Ş Future Tense: I will write a letter tomorrow.
While some verb tenses, such as present tense and past tense, can be expressed by simply changing the form of the verb itself, other verbs need the help of an auxiliary verb to show tense, especially future tense.
In the examples above, the present tense verb, writes, looked only slightly different in past tense, wrote. However, this same verb needs the auxiliary verb, “will” joined with the present tense form of the verb, write to create future tense.
How is Past simple Tense Used in Academic Writing?
Student writers use Past simple tense verbs to describe something that happened prior to the current action in a narrative, an author’s ideas in a literary essay, or historical events in a research paper.
For example:
â–Ş Narrative: The charred wallpaper peeling mournfully from the walls indicated that a fire had broken out sometime overnight.
In this example, the narrator makes an assumption about an event that occurred earlier in the story.
▪ Literary Essay: Inspired by her own childhood, Harper Lee crafted Jean Louise “Scout” Finch in close resemblance to herself.
In this example, the student writer analyzes Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, focusing on how this novel originated during the 1960’s.
â–Ş Research Paper: When Disney World first opened in 1971, tickets were only $3.50.
In this example, the student writer uses Past simple tense to share historical information.
How is Present simple Tense Used in Academic Writing?
Student writers use present tense in narratives to describe what is happening in the current moment, in scientific papers to state facts, or in literary analyses to incorporate the writer’s own ideas.
For example:
â–Ş Narratives: He steps through the open portal, and he finds himself in another dimension.
â–Ş Scientific Writing: Many creatures in the natural world, such as frogs, still experience the stages of evolution.
â–Ş Literary Analysis: I am proud of Harper Lee for using her skilled voice as a writer to speak out against racial injustice.
How is Future simple Tense Used in Academic Writing?
Future simple verb tense is used less often in academic writing than Present simple or Past simple tense, but that does not mean it is any less important.
In narrative writing, students can take the role of an omniscient or all-knowing narrator that can share the future for his or her characters.
For example:
â–Ş Narrative: He has no idea that his decision will lead to his tragic downfall.
How is Simple Verb Tense Different from Perfect Verb Tense?
While simple verb tense can express an action that did happen, is happening, or will happen, the perfect verb tense indicates an action that has already been completed or “perfected”. The perfect verb tense always appears with the auxiliary verb have or had. You can learn more about perfect verb tenses in this blog post.
For example:
â–Ş Present simple: I eat my lunch.
â–Ş Present perfect: I have eaten my lunch.
â–Ş Past simple: I walked to school yesterday.
â–Ş Past perfect: I had walked to school yesterday.
â–Ş Future simple: I will finish my homework tomorrow.
â–Ş Future perfect: I will have finished my homework by tomorrow.
How is Simple Verb Tense Different from continuous Verb Tense?
While simple verb tense expresses an action that did happen, is happening, or will happen and perfect verb tense expresses an action that has already been completed, continuous verb tense expresses an ongoing action. continuous verb tense always uses a form of the “to-be” verb and an -ing verb.
â–Ş Present simple: I ate my lunch.
â–Ş Present continuous: I am eating my lunch.
â–Ş Past simple: I walked to school yesterday.
â–Ş Past continuous: I was walking to school yesterday.
â–Ş Future simple: I will finish my homework tomorrow.
â–Ş Future continuous: I will be finishing my homework by tomorrow.
Here are some important tips to help you understand simple verb tense:
Tip #1. Facts and current actions are always written in Present simple tense
For example:
Many plants need sunlight and water to survive.
Tip #2. Historical events, events in the past, and author’s decisions are all written in Past simple tense
For example:
Inspired by ancient Greek games, the international Olympics started in 1896.
Tip #3. Verb tense must stay consistent in your writing to avoid confusion
Tips for Understanding Simple Verb Tense
For example:
Incorrect: The hockey game last night was brutal; no one scores until the third period.
Because the initial verb in this sentence is in past tense, the second verb also must be in past tense. See the corrected sentence below:
Correct: The hockey game last night was brutal; no one scored until the third period.
Applying the Basics: Simple Verb Tenses Review & Practice
Now that you understand how simple verb tense functions in sentences, review the anchor chart below and complete the review to fully understand how to use and recognise simple verb tense as well as how to differentiate it from other verb tenses.
The Ultimate List of Verb Tenses
Refer to the graphic below to learn the different types of Verb Tenses:
The Ultimate List of Verb Tenses
Download this free resource
This list, obviously, does not include all possible verbs and their tenses; however, it is meant to be used as a guide while identifying different types of verb tenses.
Simple Verb Tense Exercises and Review
Now that you understand simple verb tense, test your ability to recognise which verb tense in needed in the sentences below:
Select the correct verb tense in the sentences below. Remember, past verb tense describes events that happened in the past, present verb tense describes events that are happening currently, and future verb tense describes events that are yet to happen.
Simple Verb Tense Sentence Structure...
1. Before Elsa awoke the spirits of the forest, Anna was/is/will be confident that nothing in her life will change for the worse.
In this sentence, was is the correct verb tense to use. Since the context clues in the sentence reference something that happened earlier in the movie, a Past simple tense verb is needed.
2. Throughout the movie, it is/was/will be clear that Elsa regretted ever trusting Prince Hans of the Southern Isles.
In this sentence, was is the correct verb to use. We know this because another Past simple tense verb is used later in the sentence: regretted. In order to be consistent in our use of verb tense, both verbs must be in past tense.
3. Once she finds out what really happened between Arendelle and the Northuldra tribe, Elsa is/was/will be determined to make things right.
In this sentence, “is” is the correct verb to use because it is in Present simple tense, just like the other verb in the sentence, finds.
4. Olaf no longer needs his own snow flurry to stay frozen because last month, Elsa gives/gave/will give him permafrost.
In this sentence, gave, or the past tense form of the verb, is needed because the context clue, last month, implies that Elsa giving Olaf his permafrost happened in the past.
5. Grand Pabbie warns Elsa that bad things are happening/have happened/will happen if Elsa does not conquer the spirits of the forest.
In this sentence, will happen, or the future tense verb, is needed because the sentence sets up a contingent relationship. Because Grand Pabbie knows all, he can predict what will happen if Elsa is unsuccessful on her quest.
Pro tip: Simple verb tense can be narrowed down into three simple categories that show when an action occurred or when a state of being was experienced in a sentence. These three categories, past, present, and future, perform best when verbs of the same tense are used consistently within one piece of writing.
Try for Yourself: Simple Verb Tenses Quiz
Feeling confident in your understanding of Simple Verb Tense?
Take this short six-question quiz to see what you’ve learned:
1. Which verb tense shows that the action in the sentence is ongoing: simple, perfect, or continuous?
Answer: continuous
Correct Explanation: That’s right! continuous verb tense shows action that is ongoing while simple verb tense can show action that already happened, is happening, or will happen.
Incorrect Explanation: Sorry, that’s not right! Remember, continuous verb tense shows action that is ongoing while simple verb tense can show action that already happened, is happening, or will happen.
2. True or False: Future simple verb tense can be expressed without the help of auxiliary verbs.
Answer: False
Correct Explanation: That’s right! Future simple verb tense, unlike Present simple or Past simple tense, must have an auxiliary verb attached to it in order to express future tense.
Incorrect Explanation: Sorry, that’s not right! Remember, Future simple verb tense, unlike Present simple or Past simple tense, must have an auxiliary verb attached to it in order to express future tense.
3. In this sentence, is the present tense verb, “have finished” simple, perfect, or continuous tense?
I have finished sewing a quilt for my baby nephew.
Answer: Perfect Verb Tense
Correct Explanation: That’s right! The verb have finished expresses an action that has already been completed, so it must be a perfect verb tense.
Incorrect Explanation: Sorry, that’s not right! Remember, perfect verb tenses express actions that have already been completed, so have finished is perfect, not simple or continuous.
4. In this sentence, is the past tense verb, hiked, simple, perfect, or continuous tense?
We hiked a large section of the Smoky Mountain National Park yesterday.
Answer: Simple Verb Tense
Correct Explanation: That’s right! The past tense verb, hiked, expresses an action that was done on the previous day, or in the past. Since the action is not explicitly ongoing or completed (they may hike more today), the tense is Past simple.
Incorrect Explanation: Sorry, that’s not right! Remember, Past simple tense expresses an action that happened in the past, not one that is ongoing or one that has been completed.
5. In this sentence, is the future tense verb, will be attending, simple, perfect, or continuous tense?
They will be attending the awards ceremony this evening.
Answer: continuous verb tense
Correct Explanation: That’s right! In this sentence, the phrase will be attending implies an ongoing activity that will occur in the future; therefore, a future continuous verb is required.
Incorrect Explanation: Sorry, that’s not right! Remember, future continuous verb tense implies an ongoing activity that will occur in the future, such as, will be attending.
6. In this sentence, is a Past simple or Present simple tense verb needed?
While we were trick-or-treating last night, I bump/bumped into someone that looked like Frankenstein’s monster.
Answer: bumped: Past simple tense
Correct Explanation: That’s right! Since the tense of the first verb in the sentence is past (were), the tense of the second verb also needs to be past, which is bumped.
Incorrect Explanation: Sorry, that’s not right! Remember, in order to be consistent in your writing, if another verb in the sentence is past tense, then any subsequent verbs must also be in past tense.
How many times have you read a student’s paper only to find that the verb tense changes nearly every sentence? Often students do not realise the importance of consistency when it comes to verb tense. Even though students may understand the fundamentals of subject and verb usage in a sentence, the Common Core English Language continuous Skills Chart shows that there are always ways to build on students’ knowledge and create even stronger writers.
There are many verb tenses out there to choose from, but the most important thing is choosing the right tense for the type of writing you are doing and then sticking with it!
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In English grammar, the continuous tenses are used to describe ongoing or continuous actions, events, or states at a specific time. They indicate that an action is in progress or happening at a given moment. There are three continuous tenses: present continuous, past continuous, and future continuous.
Let's explore each in detail:
Formation: Subject + "be" verb (am/are/is) + present participle (-ing form) of the main verb.
Usage: Describes actions or events that are happening at the present moment or around the current time.
Example:
She is studying for her exam right now.
They are playing basketball in the park.
We are having dinner at a restaurant tonight.
Formation: Subject + "be" verb (was/were) + present participle (-ing form) of the main verb.
Usage: Describes actions or events that were in progress at a specific time in the past.
Example:
I was reading a book when the phone rang.
They were watching a movie at the theater yesterday.
She was cooking dinner while he was setting the table.
Future Continuous Tense:
Formation: Subject + "will be" + present participle (-ing form) of the main verb.
Usage: Describes actions or events that will be in progress at a specific time or during a specific period in the future.
Example:
We will be traveling to Paris next month.
They will be attending a conference tomorrow.
He will be studying for his exam all day on Saturday.
â–Ş Continuous tenses emphasise the ongoing nature of actions or events.
â–Ş They are formed using a "be" verb (am/are/is, was/were, will be) followed by the present participle (-ing form) of the main verb.
â–Ş The time frame of the action or event determines the tense used (present, past, or future).
â–Ş Continuous tenses often include time expressions to specify the duration or timing of the action.
â–Ş These tenses are especially useful for describing ongoing activities, temporary situations, or actions happening at a specific time.
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The present perfect tense is an English verb tense used for past actions that are related to or continue into the present. It’s easily recognised by the auxiliary verbs (or helper verbs) have and has, as in, “I have gone fishing since I was a child.”
Of all the English verb tenses, the present perfect is one of the most complicated because there’s not always a direct translation in other languages. So in this guide, we explain everything you need to know to use it perfectly, including how and when to use it, with plenty of present perfect tense examples.
The present perfect tense is one of the common verb tenses in English, used to show an action that happened in the past that is directly related to the present, such as actions that are still continuing or that indicate a change over time. We cover a complete list of when to use the present perfect tense below.
Don’t let the name confuse you—even though the word present is there, the present perfect tense deals with actions that happened or started in the past. In fact, the present perfect tense is often used interchangeably with the Past simple tense, although there are some special situations in which you can only use one or the other, also explained below.
In the present perfect tense, the main verbs always use the auxiliary verbs (helper verbs) has or have. The main verb takes a participle form, specifically the past participle. The past participle is often the same form as the Past simple form of the verb, unless it’s an irregular verb, which each have their own unique past participle form. We explain in more detail how to form them in our guide to participles.
Only the auxiliary verbs are conjugated to fit the subject-verb agreement in the present perfect tense; the past participle of the main verb remains the same no matter what the subject is. Generally, you use have for all subjects except the singular third-person, which instead uses has.
â–Ş First-person: I have come a long way.
â–Ş Second person: You have come a long way.
â–ŞThird-person plural: They have come a long way.
â–Ş Third-person singular: He/she/it has come a long way.
The present perfect tense has specific constructions for standard statements, negatives, and questions, explained below. We also discuss how to use the present perfect tense with adverbs and with the passive voice.
The present perfect tense for statements
For general statements, the most common use of the present perfect, use have or has plus the past participle form of the main verb.
[have/has] + [past participle]
Charlotte has become friends with Wilbur.
We’ve broken up before, but this time feels different.
The present perfect tense for negatives
To use the present perfect tense in the negative, simply add the negative word (like not or never) after the auxiliary verb but before the past participle.
[have/has] + [negative] + [past participle]
I have not slept well since exams started.
My Midwestern friend has never seen the ocean.
This construction works for neither, nor sentences, too.
It’s 11 in the morning, and she has neither eaten breakfast nor gotten dressed.
Please note that it’s clearest to avoid subject contractions when using the present perfect tense with the negative, at least in American English.
I’ve not seen the Eiffel Tower.
I have not seen the Eiffel Tower.
The present perfect tense for questions
When asking a question in the present perfect tense, the auxiliary verb comes first, followed by the subject, and then the past participle of the main verb. This follows a similar construction as questions with the auxiliary verb do, which also comes before the subject.
[have/has] + [subject] + [past participle]
Have you eaten dinner yet?
Has the party started?
How to use the present perfect tense with adverbs
Although you can still use adverbs after the verb (as you do normally), with the present perfect tense you can also place the adverb between the auxiliary verb and the past participle.
[have/has] + [adverb] + [past participle]
They have gradually advanced their career from cashier to senior manager.
All the guests have already arrived.
Be careful, though. Certain adverbs—especially yet and just—have special rules for where they’re placed. Moreover, because these adverbs relate to time, they’re often used together with the present perfect tense.
The adverb yet, used often with a negative or in questions, almost always comes at the end of a sentence or clause.
Sadly, he hasn’t finished the race yet.
Have you finished your homework yet?
Conversely, the adverb just is always placed between the auxiliary verb and the past participle.
I’ve just woken up.
Their plane has just landed.
When discussing writing, we often talk about the active vs. passive voice. Although we recommend using the active voice as much as possible, sometimes the passive voice is unavoidable.
To use the present perfect tense in the passive voice, use been (the past participle of the verb be) before the past participle of the main verb.
[have/has] + [been] + [past participle]
She has been given an award.
You have just been handed a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
You can also combine the present perfect tense with the present continuous tense to show an ongoing action that started in the past and continues to the present. This hybrid tense is called the present perfect continuous tense. The construction is similar to using the present perfect tense in the passive voice, except that the main verb uses the present participle instead of the past participle.
[have/has] + [been] + [present participle]
She has been seeing a physical therapist since her surgery.
It has been raining all day.
Like all continuous tenses, the present perfect continuous tense can not be used with stative verbs like want, need, love, or hate.
Here’s a tip: You don’t have to guess whether you’re using certain words correctly or breaking grammar rules in your writing. Just copy and paste your writing to check your grammar and get instant feedback on grammar, spelling, punctuation, and other mistakes you might have missed.
â–Ş Knowing when to use the present perfect tense is an important part of English grammar, but it can be confusing even for primary English speakers. Below, we explain the six main uses of the present perfect tense, including examples.
This is the main usage of the present perfect tense, which demonstrates the relationship between an action started in the past and its effects on the present.
The professor has taught here for two decades.
They have played piano since the age of three.
Note that you can also use the present perfect continuous tense for this situation, as long as the action has not been completed yet (and it’s not a stative verb). The difference between the present perfect tense and the present perfect continuous tense, in this case, is emphasis:
â–Ş The present perfect tense emphasizes the effects or consequences of the action.
â–Ş The present perfect continuous tense emphasizes the action itself or the length of time.
So, for example, if you want to plainly say where you live, use the normal present perfect tense.
▪I’ve lived in Lagos my whole life.
▪ If you want to emphasise how long you’ve been living in a place, use the present perfect continuous tense.
▪ I’ve been living in Lagos my whole life.
â–Ş What about an action started in the past that has already been completed? For that, you can use the Past simple.
She worked there for five years but was fired last week.
When the same action has happened a few times already, you can use the present perfect tense if the action will likely happen again in the future. If the action probably won’t happen again, you can use the Past simple tense.
I’ve seen the movie six times! [probably will see it again]
I saw the movie six times! [probably will not see it again]
If an action was only completed very recently, you can describe it with the present perfect tense. Even though the action happened in the past, it was so recent that it’s directly connected to the present. These cases usually use adverbs like just or now to show that the action happened not long ago.
I shouldn’t eat anymore because I’ve just brushed my teeth.
We’ve finished practice now, so let’s go home.
The present perfect tense is often used to emphasize a change that happened over an extended period of time.
My cousin has grown so much since I saw her two years ago.
Thanks to the many months of playing, I have become an expert at Wordle.
If an action started in the past but was not completed, you can describe it with the present perfect tense if it’s likely to be completed in the future. This situation uses the negative form to show that the action is still unfinished and often uses the adverb yet.
The jury has not reached a verdict yet.
I haven’t finished my paper, but it’s due in an hour!
Last, you can use the present perfect tense to make any past action sound more important. The present perfect tense is often used with great achievements or accomplishments, as well as dramatic or rare events. This makes it appropriate for newsworthy events or major life experiences.
Macbeth has killed the king.
I’ve met the love of my life!
When not to use the present perfect tense
Now that you know when to use the present perfect tense, let’s talk about when to avoid it.
A lot of times, the difference between the present perfect tense and the Past simple tense is a matter of emphasis or whether or not the action is truly finished. However, there’s one rule in particular that should be mentioned: Do not use the present perfect tense with a specific time.
I have gone for a walk on Tuesday.
I went for a walk on Tuesday.
This might be confusing, however, because you can use the present perfect tense with a broad time period. The present perfect tense is only incorrect if used with one specific time. Using the present perfect tense with a general time range is perfectly acceptable.
I have gone for a walk every Tuesday this year.
Present perfect tense FAQs
What is the present perfect tense?
The present perfect tense is an English verb tense used to describe a past action that is related to the present.
How does the present perfect tense work?
The present perfect tense uses the auxiliary verb has or have and the past participle form of the main verb. For example, if you want to use go in the present perfect tense, you say, “I have gone.”
When is the present perfect used?
The present perfect tense is commonly used with events that started in the past and continue into the present. However, it has a few other uses too, including events that happened very recently in the past.
