What Is Verb Tense?

A verb is an action word and there are three types of tenses - past, present and future. Hence, verb tenses depict how an action was done relating to the flow of time. The verb tenses in other languages can be quite difficult to learn and understand. However, the English verb tenses give information regarding the time and action in a very simple manner. It focuses on the details and answers questions like

How the action took place?
How many times the action was repeated?
What time did the action take place?
Is the action a regular habit?
Is the action done now?
Did the action take place at a known time?
Did the action take place at an unknown time?

A verb tense indicates the time point and period of time in which the action took place. A verb indicates the action whereas tense represents the time in which the action took place. There are three major kinds of tenses, including:

Simple Tenses of the Verb

There are three types of verb tenses. These include:
1. Past tense: the past tense uses some different patterns when it comes to grammatical composition. It depicts that the action has been done in the past.
2. Present tense: the present tense is also known as the original form of a verb. This is because it does not make any changes in the verb. The present tense indicates that the action is happening right now in the present.
3. Future tense: the future tense is used to tell what will happen in the future. It simply uses "will" with the verb to indicate that the action will be done in the future.

Here are some of the examples of verbs in all three tenses.

Have
- I had an apple. (past tense)
- I have an apple. (present tense)
- I will have an apple later. (future tense)
Run
- I ran three kilometers yesterday. (past tense)
- I run every day to keep myself fit. (present tense)
- I will run tomorrow. (past tense)

Eat
- She ate the food inside. (past tense)
- She eats her food inside. (present tense)
- She will eat her food inside. (past tense)

These three verb tenses are classified into further categories to elaborate whether the action is completed, ongoing or habitual.

I. Simple Tenses

Simple or indefinite tenses focus on a single action. Simple tenses are generally used to explain any fact, situation or regular experience in the past, present or upcoming future.
Simple present: She plays basketball after school.
Simple past: I played basket basketball yesterday.
Simple future: I will play basketball tomorrow.

II. Progressive Tenses

Progressive also known as continuous tenses reflect the action being in process or any unfinished event.
Past progressive: I was writing when mom called.
Present progressive: I am writing a letter right now.
Future progressive: I will be writing my assignment when you will call.

III. Perfect Tenses

Perfect tenses represent the action or sequence of events that have either passed or will be passed soon. It explains the idea of completion of an event/action happening before another action or event.
Present perfect: Mother has cooked dinner.
Past perfect: Mother had already cooked dinner in the evening.
Future perfect: Mother will have cooked dinner for tomorrow.

IV. Perfect Progressive Tenses

Perfect progressive or perfect continuous tense express the point of time with respect to action. It indicates the duration or how long an action would take place or since when it's happening. They are most easy to understand because of the usage of adverbs "for and since" in the sentence.
Present perfect progressive: I have been working since this morning.
Past perfect progressive: I had been working for three hours before I stopped to get ready for home from the office.
Future perfect progressive: I will be working for five hours by the time I leave office for home.

How to Use Verb Tenses in Sentences?

Verb tenses are of three types - past tense, present tense, and future tense. Each of these verb tenses are further divided into four similar types - simple verb tense, continuous verb tense, the perfect verb tense, and perfect continuous verb tense.

The past tense is used to describe events that have already happened in the past, the present tense describes events that are happening in the present time frame, and future verb tense is used to refer to upcoming events. These verb tenses are used differently in different sentences, depending on whether those sentences are affirmative, negative or interrogative by nature. Here are specific rules determining the use of these verb tenses in various time frames and in relevance to the nature of the sentence:

Using Past Verb Tense

In simple past, the verb tenses are used in the second form in affirmative or simple statements. In the past continuous sentences, there is an addition of '-ing' with the first form of verb. In the past perfect sentences, these verb tenses are used in their third form with the helping verb 'had'. In the past perfect continuous sentences, verb tenses are used in their first form with an '-ing'.

Using Present Verb Tense

In simple present, the verbs are used in their first form and there is an addition of '-ing' in it if the sentence is in present continuous. In present perfect sentences, these verb tenses are used in their third form. In perfect continuous sentences, verb tenses are used in their first form with an '-ing'.

Using the Future Verb Tense

Verbs are used in their first form in future simple, continuous, and perfect continuous sentences, but their third form is used in future perfect sentences.

How to Use Verb Tense to Explain Conditions?

There are a lot of ways to express conditions in the English language. However, the most common way to write and express conditions that is used by majority of people in their daily lives is through using the verb tenses to explain conditions. The use of word "If" is another common way to represent that the sentence is talking about a condition.

Depending on the likelihood of the occurrence of a particular condition, verb tenses are used in four different ways in a sentence. Here are those four ways in which the verb tenses are used under specific circumstances:

Verb Tense Use in Zero Conditional: "Real Condition"

When a sentence talks about something which always happens universally in the same way or is understood to happen as an effect to some cause, the verb tense is used in its present form in all the clauses.

Verb Tense Use in First Conditional: "Likely Condition"

When a situation has not yet happened, but its chances to happen are very probable, then we use the present verb tense in the clause with ‘if' and future verb tense in the other clause with verb.

Verb Tense Use in Second Conditional: "Unlikely Condition"

When a sentence talks about a condition that has never happened in the past, is not happening in present, and has no chances to happen in the near future too, we use past tense in the clause with ‘if' and future perfect in the other clause.

Verb Tense Use in Third Conditional: "Unreal Past Condition"

If a sentence is referring to a condition that is only imagined to have happened in the past, we use past perfect in the clause with ‘if' and ‘would have' in the other clause.