Introduction
How many tenses are there in English? Some students may get confused because some grammar textbooks mention that English has 12 verb forms while others list 16 tense forms. This page will try to answer this question. Tense formulas and examples will be also provided
For more detailed explanations, you may visit the Grammar Study Pages and study the different tenses.
How Many Tenses Are There In English?
How many tenses are there in English? The answer to this inquiry varies. While some assert that there are 12 tenses in English, others contend that the language uses 16 tenses. Yet another group argues that there are only three tenses. In the following sections, we will address this question comprehensively, offering detailed information about the various tense formulations and providing illustrative examples.
Are there 12 or 16 tenses in English?
You might be surprised to know that in linguistic analysis, only two tenses are identified in English
- The present tense.
- The past tense.
The future is not considered a tense because to form it, we need a helping verb, namely, the modal “will” or “shall”.
However, for pedagogical reasons, teachers prefer to focus on three major tenses in English: the present, past, and future. These three tenses may be used in combination with four different aspects: simple, progressive, perfect, and perfect progressive.
NOTE: While tense refers to the time when actions occur (i.e. past, present, or future), aspect indicates time features such as the completion, duration, or repetition of an action.
The tense/aspect combinations produce 12 verb tenses:
| Tense | Example |
|---|---|
| Present Simple | I work in an office. |
| Present Progressive (Continuous) | I am working on a project. |
| Present Perfect | I have worked here for five years. |
| Present Perfect Progressive (Continuous) | I have been working on this task for hours. |
| Past Simple | Yesterday, I worked late. |
| Past Progressive (Continuous) | At 3 PM yesterday, I was working on a report. |
| Past Perfect | Before the meeting, I had finished my work. |
| Past Perfect Progressive (Continuous) | By 5 PM, I had been working for ten hours. |
| Future Simple | I will work on the assignment tomorrow. |
| Future Progressive (Continuous) | At this time tomorrow, I will be working. |
| Future Perfect | By next year, I will have completed my degree. |
| Future Perfect Progressive (Continuous) | In a month, I will have been working here for a year. |
Some grammar textbooks may add 4 other verb tenses to the list. They are related to the conditional mood.
NOTE: the conditional mood is used for events whose realization is dependent upon another condition. Generally speaking, the conditional mood is formed using the modal verb would in combination with the bare infinitive.
The tense combinations with the conditional mood include:
| Tense | Example |
|---|---|
| Conditional Simple | If it rained, I would stay indoors. |
| Conditional Progressive (Continuous) | If it were raining, I would be working from home. |
| Conditional Perfect | If I had known, I would have attended the meeting. |
| Conditional Perfect Progressive (Continuous) | If it had been raining, I would have been working inside. |
What are the 16 tenses in English?
The following table summarizes the 16 tenses in English:
| Aspect or Mood | Present | Past | Future | Conditional |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Simple | I walk | I walked | I will walk | I would walk |
| Progressive | I am walking | I was walking | I will be walking | I would be walking |
| Perfect | I have walked | I had walked | I will have walked | I would have walked |
| Perfect Progressive | I have been walking | I had been walking | I will have been walking | I would have been walking |
What is the formula of all tenses?
Here are the 16 verb tenses in English. Verb forms and examples are provided:
| Tense | Formula | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Present Simple | VERB/ VERB +S | I/you/we/they play He/she/it plays |
| 2. Present Progressive (Continuous) | AM/IS/ARE + VERB + ING | I am playing you/we/they are playing He/she/it is playing |
| 3. Present Perfect | HAVE/HAS + PAST PARTICIPLE | I/you/we/they have played He/she/it has played |
| 4. Present Perfect Progressive (Continuous) | HAVE/HAS + BEEN + VERB + ING | I have been playing He/she/it has been playing |
| 5. Past Simple | VERB + ED (except irregular verbs) | I played. I wrote (irregular) |
| 6. Past Progressive (Continuous) | WAS/WERE + VERB + ING | I/he/she was playing you/we/they were playing |
| 7. Past Perfect | HAD + PAST PARTICIPLE | I had played |
| 8. Past Perfect Progressive (Continuous) | HAD + BEEN + VERB + ING | I had been playing |
| 9. Future Simple | WILL + VERB | I will play |
| 10. Future Progressive (Continuous) | WILL + BE + VERB +ING | I will be playing |
| 11. Future Perfect | WILL + HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE | I will have played |
| 12. Future Perfect Progressive (Continuous) | WILL + HAVE + BEEN + VERB + ING | I will have been playing |
| 13. Conditional Simple | WOULD + VERB | I would play |
| 14. Conditional Progressive (Continuous) | WOULD BE + VERB + ING | I would be playing |
| 15. Conditional Perfect | WOULD + HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE | I would have played |
| 16. Conditional Perfect Progressive (Continuous) | WOULD + HAVE + BEEN + VERB + ING | I would have been playing |
For more information about tenses click here.
Conclusion
In conclusion, for pedagogical clarity, we can assert that English comprises three primary tenses: present, past, and future. When considering the aspects and moods (simple, progressive, perfect, and conditional), the total number of tenses expands to 16. Each tense is used within specific contexts through a distinct formula, contributing to the nuanced and comprehensive structure of the English language.
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