Little Venice, Maida Vale, London

The Tense Tables

Tense Tables

Positive / Negative / Question Forms in All Tenses

 

For English learners who find tables and charts helpful this guide to the verb structure of all 12 English tenses (13 counting the future with 'going to') will be helpful. In the chart each tense is clearly labelled with a link to more information on the tense included on the positive forms. This tense table provides all forms for all subjects in the positive, negative and question forms.

 

Positive Forms

 

The first table shows positive forms in all tenses.

Tense

Subject

Helping Verb

Main Verb (String)

Objects     Time     Place

Present Simple

I

-

eat

breakfast at 8 in the morning.

 

You

-

eat

breakfast at 8 in the morning.

 

He

-

eats

breakfast at 8 in the morning.

 

She

-

eats

breakfast at 8 in the morning.

 

It

-

eats

breakfast at 8 in the morning.

 

We

-

eat

breakfast at 8 in the morning.

 

You

-

eat

breakfast at 8 in the morning.

 

They

-

eat

breakfast at 8 in the morning.

Present Continuous

I

am

learning

English online right now.

 

You

are

learning

English online right now.

 

He

is

learning

English online right now.

 

She

is

learning

English online right now.

 

It

is

eating

dinner right now.

 

We

are

learning

English online right now.

 

You

are

learning

English online right now.

 

They

are

learning

English online right now.

Past Simple

I

-

went

to the store yesterday.

 

You

-

went

to the store yesterday.

 

He

-

went

to the store yesterday.

 

She

-

went

to the store yesterday.

 

It

-

went

with me to the store yesterday.

 

We

-

went

to the store yesterday.

 

You

-

went

to the store yesterday.

 

They

-

went

to the store yesterday.

Past Continuous

I

was

cooking dinner

when you came home yesterday.

 

You

were

cooking dinner

when you came home yesterday.

 

He

was

cooking dinner

when you came home yesterday.

 

She

was

cooking dinner

when you came home yesterday.

 

It

was

sleeping

when you came home yesterday.

 

We

were

cooking dinner

when you came home yesterday.

 

You

were

cooking dinner

when you came home yesterday.

 

They

were

cooking dinner

when you came home yesterday.

Future with Will

I

will

come

to class tomorrow

 

You

will

come

to class tomorrow

 

He

will

come

to class tomorrow

 

She

will

come

to class tomorrow

 

It

will

come

to class tomorrow

 

We

will

come

to class tomorrow

 

You

will

come

to class tomorrow

 

They

will

come

to class tomorrow

Future with Going to

I

am going to

fly

to New York next week.

 

You

are going to

fly

to New York next week.

 

He

is going to

fly

to New York next week.

 

She

is going to

fly

to New York next week.

 

It

is going to

fly

to New York next week.

 

We

are going to

fly

to New York next week.

 

You

are going to

fly

to New York next week.

 

They

are going to

fly

to New York next week.

Future Continuous

I

will be

working

at 5 pm tomorrow evening.

 

You

will be

working

at 5 pm tomorrow evening.

 

He

will be

working

at 5 pm tomorrow evening.

 

She

will be

working

at 5 pm tomorrow evening.

 

It

will be

working

at 5 pm tomorrow evening.

 

We

will be

working

at 5 pm tomorrow evening.

 

You

will be

working

at 5 pm tomorrow evening.

 

They

will be

working

at 5 pm tomorrow evening.

Present Perfect

I

have

taught

English for many years.

 

You

have

taught

English for many years.

 

He

has

taught

English for many years.

 

She

has

taught

English for many years.

 

It

has

worked

in the army for many years.

 

We

have

taught

English for many years.

 

You

have

taught

English for many years.

 

They

have

taught

English for many years.

Present Perfect Continuous

I

have been

watching

TV for three hours.

 

You

have been

watching

TV for three hours.

 

He

has been

watching

TV for three hours.

 

She

has been

watching

TV for three hours.

 

It

has been

barking

 for three hours.

 

We

have been

watching

TV for three hours.

 

You

have been

watching

TV for three hours.

 

They

have been

watching

TV for three hours.

Past Perfect

I

had

eaten lunch

before you came home yesterday.

 

You

had

eaten lunch

before you came home yesterday.

 

He

had

eaten lunch

before you came home yesterday.

 

She

had

eaten lunch

before you came home yesterday.

 

It

had

eaten lunch

before you came home yesterday.

 

We

had

eaten lunch

before you came home yesterday.

 

You

had

eaten lunch

before you came home yesterday.

 

They

had

eaten lunch

before you came home yesterday.

Past Perfect

Continuous

I

had been

working

for three hours before he arrived.

 

You

had been

working

for three hours before he arrived.

 

He

had been

working

for three hours before he arrived.

 

She

had been

working

for three hours before he arrived.

 

It

had been

working

for three hours before he arrived.

 

We

had been

working

for three hours before he arrived.

 

You

had been

working

for three hours before he arrived.

 

They

had been

working

for three hours before he arrived.

Future Perfect

I

will have

finished

the report by three o'clock tomorrow afternoon.

 

You

will have

finished

the report by three o'clock tomorrow afternoon.

 

He

will have

finished

the report by three o'clock tomorrow afternoon.

 

She

will have

finished

the report by three o'clock tomorrow afternoon.

 

It

will have

finished

its dinner by three o'clock.

 

We

will have

finished

the report by three o'clock tomorrow afternoon.

 

You

will have

finished

the report by three o'clock tomorrow afternoon.

 

They

will have

finished

the report by three o'clock tomorrow afternoon.

Future Perfect Continuous

I

will have been

studying

English for five hours by four o'clock this afternoon.

 

You

will have been

studying

English for five hours by four o'clock this afternoon.

 

He

will have been

studying

English for five hours by four o'clock this afternoon.

 

She

will have been

studying

English for five hours by four o'clock this afternoon.

 

It

will have been

studying

English for five hours by four o'clock this afternoon.

 

We

will have been

studying

English for five hours by four o'clock this afternoon.

 

You

will have been

studying

English for five hours by four o'clock this afternoon.

 

They

will have been

studying

English for five hours by four o'clock this afternoon.

 

Negative Forms

The second table shows negative forms in all tenses.

Tense

Subject

Helping Verb + Not

Main Verb (String)

Objects / Time / Place

Present Simple

I

don't/do not

visit

my friends every day.

 

You

don't/do not

visit

my friends every day.

 

He

doesn't/does not

visit

my friends every day.

 

She

doesn't/does not

visit

my friends every day.

 

It

doesn't/does not

visit

my friends every day.

 

We

don't/do not

visit

my friends every day.

 

You

don't/do not

visit

my friends every day.

 

They

don't/do not

visit

my friends every day.

Present Continuous

I

I'm/ am not

studying

maths at the moment.

 

You

aren't/are not

studying

maths at the moment.

 

He

isn't/is not

studying

maths at the moment.

 

She

isn't/is not

studying

maths at the moment.

 

It

isn't/is not

studying

maths at the moment.

 

We

aren't/are not

studying

maths at the moment.

 

You

aren't/are not

studying

maths at the moment.

 

They

aren't/are not

studying

maths at the moment.

Past Simple

I

didn't

play

soccer last week.

 

You

didn't

play

soccer last week.

 

He

didn't

play

soccer last week.

 

She

didn't

play

soccer last week.

 

It

didn't

play

soccer last week.

 

We

didn't

play

soccer last week.

 

You

didn't

play

soccer last week.

 

They

didn't

play

soccer last week.

Future with Will

I

won't

cook

dinner tomorrow.

 

You

won't

cook

dinner tomorrow.

 

He

won't

cook

dinner tomorrow.

 

She

won't

cook

dinner tomorrow.

 

It

won't

cook

dinner tomorrow.

 

We

won't

cook

dinner tomorrow.

 

You

won't

cook

dinner tomorrow.

 

They

won't

cook

dinner tomorrow.

Future with Going to

I

am not going to

fly

to Chicago next week.

 

You

aren't going to

fly

to Chicago next week.

 

He

isn't going to

fly

to Chicago next week.

 

She

isn't going to

fly

to Chicago next week.

 

It

isn't going to

fly

to Chicago next week.

 

We

aren't going to

fly

to Chicago next week.

 

You

aren't going to

fly

to Chicago next week.

 

They

aren't going to

fly

to Chicago next week.

Future Continuous

I

will not/won't be

sitting

at a computer next week at this time.

 

You

will not/won't be

sitting

at a computer next week at this time.

 

He

will not/won't be

sitting

at a computer next week at this time.

 

She

will not/won't be

sitting

at a computer next week at this time.

 

It

will not/won't be

sitting

at a computer next week at this time.

 

We

will not/won't be

sitting

at a computer next week at this time.

 

You

will not/won't be

sitting

at a computer next week at this time.

 

They

will not/won't be

sitting

at a computer next week at this time.

Present Perfect

I

have not/haven't

seen

Tom since 2008.

 

You

have nothaven't

seen

Tom since 2008.

 

He

has not/hasn't

seen

Tom since 2008.

 

She

has not/hasn't

seen

Tom since 2008.

 

It

has not/hasn't

seen

Tom since 2008.

 

We

have not/haven't

seen

Tom since 2008.

 

You

have not/haven't

seen

Tom since 2008.

 

They

have not/haven't

seen

Tom since 2008.

Present Perfect Continuous

I

haven't been

studying

for very long.

 

You

haven't been

studying

for very long.

 

He

hasn't been

studying

for very long.

 

She

hasn't been

studying

for very long.

 

It

hasn't been

studying

for very long.

 

We

haven't been

studying

for very long.

 

You

haven't been

studying

for very long.

 

They

haven't been

studying

for very long.

Past Perfect

I

hadn't

eaten

lunch before I arrived.

 

You

hadn't

eaten

lunch before I arrived.

 

He

hadn't

eaten

lunch before I arrived.

 

She

hadn't

eaten

lunch before I arrived.

 

It

hadn't

eaten

lunch before I arrived.

 

We

hadn't

eaten

lunch before I arrived.

 

You

hadn't

eaten

lunch before I arrived.

 

They

hadn't

eaten

lunch before I arrived.

Past Perfect Continuous

I

hadn't been

sleeping

very long when I woke him.

 

You

hadn't been

sleeping

very long when I woke you.

 

He

hadn't been

sleeping

very long when I woke him.

 

She

hadn't been

sleeping

very long when I woke her.

 

It

hadn't been

sleeping

very long when I woke the dog.

 

We

hadn't been

sleeping

very long when I woke him.

 

You

hadn't been

sleeping

very long when I woke you.

 

They

hadn't been

sleeping

very long when I woke them.

Future Perfect

I

won't have

prepared

the report by Friday.

 

You

won't have

prepared

the report by Friday.

 

He

won't have

prepared

the report by Friday.

 

She

won't have

prepared

the report by Friday.

 

It

won't have

prepared

the report by Friday.

 

We

won't have

prepared

the report by Friday.

 

You

won't have

prepared

the report by Friday.

 

They

won't have

prepared

the report by Friday.

Future Perfect Continuous

I

won't have been

driving

for very long this time tomorrow.

 

You

won't have been

driving

for very long this time tomorrow.

 

He

won't have been

driving

for very long this time tomorrow.

 

She

won't have been

driving

for very long this time tomorrow.

 

It

won't have been

driving

for very long this time tomorrow.

 

We

won't have been

driving

for very long this time tomorrow.

 

You

won't have been

driving

for very long this time tomorrow.

 

They

won't have been

driving

for very long this time tomorrow.

Question Forms

The third table shows question forms in all tenses.

Tense

Question Word

Helping Verb

Subject

Main Verb (String)

Objects / Time / Place?

Present Simple

How often

do

I

eat

dinner in a restaurant?

 

How often

do

you

eat

dinner in a restaurant?

 

How often

does

he

eat

dinner in a restaurant?

 

How often

does

she

eat

dinner in a restaurant?

 

How often

does

it

eat

dinner in a restaurant?

 

How often

do

we

eat

dinner in a restaurant?

 

How often

do

you

eat

dinner in a restaurant?

 

How often

do

they

eat

dinner in a restaurant?

Present Continuous

What

am

I

doing

right now?

 

What

are

you

doing

right now?

 

What

is

he

doing

right now?

 

What

is

she

doing

right now?

 

What

is

it

doing

right now?

 

What

are

we

doing

right now?

 

What

are

you

doing

right now?

 

What

are

they

doing

right now?

Past Simple

Where

did

I

go

last week?

 

Where

did

you

go

last week?

 

Where

did

he

go

last week?

 

Where

did

she

go

last week?

 

Where

did

it

go

last week?

 

Where

did

we

go

last week?

 

Where

did

you

go

last week?

 

Where

did

they

go

last week?

Future with Will

When

will

I

help

you with your homework?

 

When 

will

you

help

me with my homework?

  When

will

he

help

me with my homework?

 

When

will

she

help

me with my homework?

 

When

will

it

help

me with my homework?

 

When

will

we

help

him with his homework?

 

When

will

you

help

me with my homework?

 

When

will

they

help

me with my homework tomorrow?

Future with Going  to

Where

am

I

going to stay

in New York next week?

 

Where

are

you

going to stay

in New York next week?

 

Where

is

he

going to stay

in New York next week?

 

Where

is

she

going to stay

in New York next week?

 

Where

is

it

going to stay

in New York next week?

 

Where

are

we

going to stay

in New York next week?

 

Where

are

you

going to stay

in New York next week?

 

Where

are

they

going to stay

in New York next week?

Future Continuous

Where

will

I

be staying

tomorrow night?

 

Where

will

you

be staying

tomorrow night?

 

Where

will

he

be staying

tomorrow night?

 

Where

will

she

be staying

tomorrow night?

 

Where

will

it

be staying

tomorrow night?

 

Where

will

we

be staying

tomorrow night?

 

Where

will

you

be staying

tomorrow night?

 

Where

will

they

be staying

tomorrow night?

Present Perfect

How long

have

I

lived

in my current house?

 

How long

have

you

lived

in your current house?

 

How long

has

he

lived

in your current house?

 

How long

has

she

lived

in your current house?

 

How long

has

it

lived

in your current house?

 

How long

have

we

lived

in your current house?

 

How long

have

you

lived

in your current house?

 

How long

have

they

lived

in your current house?

Present Perfect Continuous

How long

have

I

been studying

today?

 

How long

have

you

been studying

today?

 

How long

has

he

been studying

today?

 

How long

has

she

been studying

today?

 

How long

has

it

been studying

today?

 

How long

have

we

been studying

today?

 

How long

have

you

been studying

today?

 

How long

have

they

been studying

today?

Past Perfect

Where

had

I

eaten

lunch before I arrived this afternoon?

 

Where

had

you

eaten

lunch before I arrived this afternoon?

 

Where

had

he

eaten

lunch before I arrived this afternoon?

 

Where

had

she

eaten

lunch before I arrived this afternoon?

 

Where

had

it

eaten

lunch before I arrived this afternoon?

 

Where

had

we

eaten

lunch before I arrived this afternoon?

 

Where

had

you

eaten

lunch before I arrived this afternoon?

 

Where

had

they

eaten

lunch before I arrived this afternoon?

Past Perfect Continuous

How long

had

I

been working

before Tom telephoned yesterday?

 

How long

had

you

been working

before Tom telephoned yesterday?

 

How long

had

he

been working

before Tom telephoned yesterday?

 

How long

had

she

been working

before Tom telephoned yesterday?

 

How long

had

it

been working

before Tom telephoned yesterday?

 

How long

had

we

been working

before Tom telephoned yesterday?

 

How long

had

you

been working

before Tom telephoned yesterday?

 

How long

had

they

been working

before Tom telephoned yesterday?

Future Perfect

How many books

will

I

have finished

by the end of next year?

 

How many books

will

you

have finished

by the end of next year?

 

How many books

will

he

have finished

by the end of next year?

 

How many books

will

she

have finished

by the end of next year?

 

How many books

will

it

have finished

by the end of next year?

 

How many books

will

we

have finished

by the end of next year?

 

How many books

will

you

have finished

by the end of next year?

 

How many books

will

they

have finished

by the end of next year?

Future Perfect Continuous

How long

will

I

have been working

by the end of the day?

 

How long

will

you

have been working

by the end of the day?

 

How long

will

he

have been working

by the end of the day?

 

How long

will

she

have been working

by the end of the day?

 

How long

will

it

have been working

by the end of the day?

 

How long

will

we

have been working

by the end of the day?

 

How long

will

you

have been working

by the end of the day?

 

How long

will

they

have been working

by the end of the day?