All Twelve English Verb Tenses

Here is an overview of all 12 English verb tenses, their forms, and how to use them.

FORM:	MEANING AND USE:
Present Simple ~Verb Form	Present Simple ~Verb Use
Present Progressive ~Verb Form	Present Progressive ~Verb Use
Present Perfect Progressive ~Verb Form	Present Perfect Progressive ~Verb Use
Past Simple ~Verb Form	Past Simple ~Verb Use
Past Progressive ~Verb Form	Past Progressive ~Verb Use
Past Perfect ~Verb Form	Past Perfect ~Verb Use
Past Perfect Progressive ~Verb Form	Past Perfect Progressive ~Verb Use
Future Simple ~Verb Form	Future Simple ~Verb Use
Future Progressive ~Verb Form	Future Progressive ~Verb Use
Future Perfect~Verb Form	Future Perfect ~Verb Use
Future Perfect Progressive ~Verb Form	Future Perfect Progressive ~Verb Use

 

Present Perfect Progressive – Verb Meaning and Use

This post will show you how to use the Present Perfect Progressive. To see how to form the Present Perfect Progressive, click here.

The Present Perfect Progressive, also called the Present Perfect Continuous, is used with continuing activities. We often use since and for with this verb tense.

• My English has been improving lately.
• I have been living in Vancouver for six months.
• They have been studying English since January.
• It has been raining since Monday.
• She has not (hasn’t) been exercising since she hurt her back.
• How long have you been going to the new Conversation Club for?
• Who have you been talking to for hours?

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The Present Perfect Progressive is also used for activities that were in progress, but have just ended.

• It’s finally done! I’ve been writing this essay all month!
• He has been working all day so he is very tired.
• You have been sleeping for ten hours!

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We also use the Present Perfect Progressive to make excuses with an apology.

• I’m sorry I haven’t called you, I haven’t been feeling well lately.
  
• I’m sorry I didn’t go grocery shopping, I have been working too much these days.

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Some common verbs can be used in the Present Perfect or the Present Perfect Progressive with no difference in meaning. Some of these verbs are live, teach, wear, work, study, stay, and feel.

• Mr. Rodriguez has lived here since 2010.
• Mr. Rodriguez has been living here for three years.

• He has taught Spanish for a long time.
• He has been teaching Spanish for a long time.

• He has worn the same jacket for years.
• He has been wearing the same jacket for years.

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Sometimes, using the Progressive tense can show a more intense feeling.

• I’ve waited for an hour.
• I’ve been waiting for an hour. (I am very annoyed)

•  I’ve thought about this for days.
• I’ve been thinking about this for days. (I can’t stop thinking about it)

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While the Present Perfect can express a completed activity that may or may not have been recent, the Present Perfect Progressive shows that an activity is continuing up to the present time, or was very recently completed.

• I’ve read a book about psychology. (I finished it at some indefinite time in the past)
• I’ve been reading a book about psychology. (I’m not finished. Or I’ve just finished it)

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Usually, we do not use the Present Perfect Continuous when we say how many times an activity has been repeated.

✔ I’ve watered the garden three times.

✘ I’ve been watering the garden three times.

Present Perfect Progressive – Verb Forms

This post will show you how to form the Present Perfect Progressive. To see how to use the Present Perfect Progressive, click here.

With the Present Perfect Progressive, also called the Present Perfect Continuous, there are  are two auxiliary verbs “have” or “has”, and “been” plus the main verb in its  “-ing” form.

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Affirmative Statements

Subject	Have/Has	Been	Verb+ing
I	have	been	studying	all week.
You	have	been	sitting	at the back of the class.
She/He/It	has	been	exercising	at the gym.
We	have	been	trying	to call the doctor
They/You (plural)	have	been	reading	that book too.

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Negative Statements

Subject	Have/Has	Not	Been	Verb-ing
I	have	not	been	studying	very hard.
You	have	not	been	playing	soccer these days.
She/He/It	has	not	been	raining	all day.
We	have	not	been	experiencing	any problems.
They/You (plural)	have	not	been	eating	at home lately.

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Yes/No questions

Have/Has	Subject	Been	Verb-ing
Have	I	been	working	for an hour already?
Have	you	been	waiting	long?
Has	she/he/it	been	getting	enough sleep?
Have	we	been	driving	in the wrong direction?
Have	they/you (plural)	been	lying	to us all this time?

Short Answers

Yes	Subject + Be
Yes,	I am.
Yes,	you are.
Yes,	he/she/it is.
Yes,	we are.
Yes,	they/you (plural) are.

No	Subject + Be + Not
No,	I’m not.
No,	you’re not.
No,	he/she/it isn’t.
No,	we aren’t.
No,	they/you (plural) aren’t.

We do not use contractions with short affirmative answers.

✔ Yes, I am.

✘ Yes, I’m

✔ Yes, you are.

✘ Yes, you’re.

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Information questions

Wh-Word	Have/Has	Subject	Been	Verb-ing
What	have	I	been	waiting	for?
Who	have	you	been	talking	to?
Where	has	she	been	going	after school?
Why	have	we	been	skipping	school?
How	have	they	been	doing?