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Survey of verb tenses (active voice)

Survey of tenses (active voice)

See also Verb tenses commonly used in the passive voice

Simple present tense base form or -s form
• for actions occurring at the time of the speaking • for actions occurring regularly • for general facts • for constant states	College students often study late at night. Trenton is the capital of New Jersey.
Simple past tense base form + -ed or –d or irregular form
• for actions occurring at the time of the speaking • for actions occurring regularly • for general facts • for constant states	The storm destroyed their property.
Simple future tense will + base form
• for actions that will occur in the future • for promises or predictions	I will exercise tomorrow.
Present perfect tense have, has + past participle
• for repetitive or constant actions that began in the past and continue to the present • for actions that happened at an unknown or unspecific time in the past	I have loved cats since I was a child. Steph has visited Wales three times.
Past perfect tense had + past participle
• for actions that began or occurred before another time in the past	She had just crossed the street when the runaway car crashed into the building.
Future perfect tense will + have + past participle
• for actions that will be completed before or at a specific future time	By the end of this year, I will have seen three concerts.
Present progressive form am, is, are + present participle
• for actions in progress at the present time • for future actions (with leave, go, come, move, etc.)	The students are taking an exam in Room 105. I am leaving tomorrow morning.
Past progressive form was, were + present participle
• for actions that were in progress at a specific past time • for a continuing action that was interrupted by another action	The students were taking an exam in Room 105. They were swimming when the storm struck.
Future progressive form will + be + present participle
• for actions that will be in progress at a specific time in the future	The students will be taking an exam in Room 105 tomorrow morning. Brad will be cooking when his parents arrive.
Present perfect progressive form have, has + been + present participle
• for continuous actions that began in the past and continue to the present	My sister has been trying to get a job in Boston for five years.
Past perfect progressive form had + been + present participle
• actions that began and continued in the past until some other past action	By the time I entered high school, I had been taking piano lessons for eight years.
Future perfect progressive form will + be + present participle
• for actions that are or will be in progress before a specified time in the future	When Carol is eighty years old, she will have been living in Vermont for sixty-two years.