Verbs can have many forms in English, and these almost always help us to work out exactly WHEN the action was taking place. So, I find it useful to use a diagram called a 'timeline' to try to explain what each of the forms, or 'tenses' really means. As always in English, there exceptions to many of these 'rules' - especially with irregular verbs - but this page should be a good basic guide to understanding the main English tenses.
You can usually make yourself understood (and some languages have only these tenses) using the Simple tenses. The Simple tenses are formed from the root verb (without 'to'). The Past is formed by adding -d or -ed (except for Irregular verbs). If used in the 3rd person singular ('he', 'she' or 'it) form the Present by adding -s or -es to the root verb. The Future is formed by preceding the root verb with 'will'.
You can usually make yourself understood (and some languages have only these tenses) using the Simple tenses. The Simple tenses are formed from the root verb (without 'to'). The Past is formed by adding -d or -ed (except for Irregular verbs). If used in the 3rd person singular ('he', 'she' or 'it) form the Present by adding -s or -es to the root verb. The Future is formed by preceding the root verb with 'will'.
However, just using the Simple tenses is very limiting and it does make sense to develop skills in using other tenses. The Continuous tenses allow you to express the idea that the verb was happening over a period of time. We build the Continuous tenses using the Past, Present or Future of the verb be + the root verb + ing.
If you want to talk about something that happened before another point in time, you would want to use one of the Perfect tenses. Form the Perfect tenses by preceding the past participle of the verb with 'had', 'have' or 'will have'.
The last main group of tenses are the Perfect Continuous tenses. These are very useful when we need to talk about something happening in a period of time before, or up to, another point in time. Form the Perfect Continuous Tenses by using the appropriate Simple tense of 'have' + 'been' + Present Participle of the root verb (the '-ing' form)
There ARE other tenses that you will need to study eventually, especially the Conditional tenses, but these twelve will give you a good start.
All credits for the timelines to ESLCharts.com.
All credits for the timelines to ESLCharts.com.