Verb Tense Timeline

The Past Tenses

Past Perfect

= used for an action that was completed before some point in the past, for example:

"I had written a book."

 

Past Simple

= used for an action that occurred in the past, for example:

"I wrote a book."

 

Past Perfect Continuous

= used for an action that was completed over a period of time before some point in the past, for example:

"I had been writing a book."

 

Past Simple Continuous

= used for a continuing action that began in the past, for example:

"I was writing a book."

 

The Present Tenses

Present Perfect

= used for a completed action or an action that began in the past and continued until the present, for example:

"I have written a book."

 

Present Simple

= used for an action that is happening usually or regularly, for example:

"I write a book."

 

Present Perfect Continuous

= used for an ongoing action that began in the past, for example:

"I have been writing a book."

 

Present Simple Continuous

= used for an action that is happening now and many continue, for example:

"I am writing a book."

 

The Future Tenses

Future Perfect

= used for an action that will be completed before some point in the future, for example:

"I will have written a book."

 

Future Simple

= used for an action that will begin and be completed in the future, for example:

"I will write a book."

 

Future Perfect Continuous

= used for an action that will continue until some point in the future, for example:

"I will have been wriitng a book."

 

Future Simple Continuous

= used for an action that will begin in the future and continue, for example:

"I will be wriitng a book."

 

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