As you learned in the previous modules, there are six verb tenses, each of which can be expressed in simple and continuous (progressive) forms. In total, you have reviewed 12 different ways to properly use and write verb tenses.
Use this chart to review each:
The Simple and Continuous Forms of Verb Tenses
| Verb Tense | Formula | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Simple Present | Subject + Verb (s/es) + Object | She writes history textbooks for a living. |
| Simple Past | Subject + Verb (-ed) + Object | She wrote about the US Constitution last year. |
| Simple Future | Subject + will + verb base formOrSubject + am/is/are + going to + root form verb | She will write about Roman expansion next year. Or She is going to write about Roman expansion next year. |
| Present Continuous | Subject + am/is/are + -ing form of the verb | She is writing a newsletter about rare coins. |
| Past Continuous | Subject + was/were + -ing form of the verb | She was updating information in her newsletter. |
| Future Continuous | Subject + will be + -ing form of the verb | She will be publishing a new book soon. |
| Present Perfect | Subject + have/has + past participle of the verb | She has written for many years. |
| Past Perfect | Subject + had + past participle verb form | She had written her first article by the time she was eighteen. |
| Future Perfect | Subject + will have + past participle verb form | She will have published eight books by the time she is 40. |
| Present Perfect Continuous | Subject + has/have + been + present participle verb | She has been writing for over two decades. |
| Past Perfect Continuous | Subject + had been + present participle verb | She had been giving speeches on history when her first book was published. |
| Future Perfect Continuous | Subject + will have been + present participle verb | By the end of this year, she will have been writing about history for over two decades. |