This lesson is designed to give you an easy introduction to some of the most important grammar lessons (rules) in English. These simple guidelines will help you understand how to form sentences in different tenses.
Quick & Simple Guide to English Tenses

Present Tense
The present tense is used to talk about things happening now or habits and routines.
- For “I, you, we, they”: Use do or the base verb (no extra ending).
- Example: I do my homework every day.
- Example: They play soccer on weekends.
- For “he, she, it”: Use does or add -s/-es to the verb.
- Example: She does her homework every day.
- Example: He plays soccer on weekends.
- Verb “to be”:
- I am happy.
- She/He/It is happy.
- You/We/They are happy.
Also Read: Not Only But Also Difference
Past Tense
The past tense is used to talk about things that happened before now.
- General verbs: Add -d/-ed to the base verb.
- Example: I played soccer yesterday.
- Example: She walked to school.
- For all subjects (I, you, we, they, she, he, it): Use did for questions or negatives.
- Example: Did you finish your homework?
- Example: They did not come to the party.
- Verb “to be”:
- I/He/She/It was at home.
- You/We/They were at home.
Present Continuous Tense
Use the present continuous to describe actions happening right now or temporary situations.
- For “I”: Use am + verb + -ing.
- Example: I am reading a book.
- For “he, she, it”: Use is + verb + -ing.
- Example: She is studying English.
- For “you, we, they”: Use are + verb + -ing.
- Example: They are playing outside.
Present Perfect Tense
Use this tense for actions that started in the past but are still relevant now.
- For “I, you, we, they”: Use have + verb (past participle).
- Example: They have finished their work.
- For “he, she, it”: Use has + verb (past participle).
- Example: She has gone to the store.
Future Tense
The future tense is used to talk about things that will happen.
- For all subjects (I, you, we, they, he, she, it): Use will/shall + base verb.
- Example: I will visit my grandparents.
- Example: They shall attend the meeting.
Also Read: If … Is Anything to Go By
Past Continuous Tense
The past continuous tense describes actions that were happening at a specific moment in the past.
- For “you, we, they”: Use were + verb + -ing.
- Example: We were watching a movie.
- For “I, he, she, it”: Use was + verb + -ing.
- Example: She was reading a book.
Future Continuous Tense
Use this tense to talk about actions that will be happening at a specific time in the future.
- For all subjects (I, you, we, they, he, she, it): Use will be + verb + -ing.
- Example: I will be traveling tomorrow at this time.
Past Perfect Tense
The past perfect describes an action that was completed before another past event.
- For all subjects: Use had + verb (past participle).
- Example: They had left before I arrived.
Also read: English Spelling Rules With Examples
Future Perfect Tense
The future perfect describes actions that will be completed before a specific time in the future.
- For all subjects (I, you, we, they, he, she, it): Use will have + verb (past participle).
- Example: By next year, she will have graduated from college.
Conclusion
These grammar rules form the foundation of English. Start by practicing each tense with simple sentences, and don’t worry if it takes time—it’s all part of the learning process. Remember, practice makes perfect! Keep going, and soon you’ll feel confident with English grammar.
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