Overview of the 16 Verb Forms in English (B1-B2)

Verb tense forms in English indicate the time at which an action occurs or the state of being. There are 16 primary verb tense forms in English, which are categorized into three main categories: simple, continuous (progressive), and perfect.

1. Simple Tenses:

   • Present Simple: Used for habitual actions or general truths. (e.g., I eat breakfast every morning.)
   • Past Simple: Used for actions that occurred at a specific point in the past. (e.g., She went to the store yesterday.)
   • Future Simple: Used for actions that will occur at a specific point in the future. (e.g., They will arrive tomorrow.)

2. Continuous (Progressive) Tenses:

   • Present Continuous: Used for actions that are happening now or around the present moment. (e.g., She is watching TV.)
   • Past Continuous: Used for actions that were ongoing in the past. (e.g., I was reading a book when you called.)
   • Future Continuous: Used for actions that will be ongoing at a specific point in the future. (e.g., They will be studying at this time tomorrow.)

3. Perfect Tenses:

   • Present Perfect: Used for actions that occurred at an unspecified time in the past, with relevance to the present. (e.g., I have finished my homework.)
   • Past Perfect: Used for actions that were completed before another action in the past. (e.g., She had already eaten when I arrived.)
   • Future Perfect: Used for actions that will be completed before a specific point in the future. (e.g., By next year, he will have graduated.)

4. Perfect Continuous (Progressive) Tenses:

   • Present Perfect Continuous: Used for actions that started in the past and continue up to the present. (e.g., They have been working hard.)
   • Past Perfect Continuous: Used for actions that were ongoing in the past and continued up to another point in the past. (e.g., She had been waiting for hours.)
   • Future Perfect Continuous: Used for actions that will have been ongoing up to a specific point in the future. (e.g., By the end of the month, they will have been living here for five years.)

These 16 verb tense forms allow speakers to convey precise information about the timing and duration of actions or states in English sentences.