TENSES
In this review of all important grammatical tenses, you will find brief explanations about the use of the different tenses, how to form them, and short examples for each tense.
For more information about all English tenses or a complete overview, please download the printable PDF documents listed at the bottom of this page.
Overview - Irregular Verbs - Forms of "to be"
Past Perfect Tenses - Past Tenses - Present Perfect Tenses - Present Tenses - Future Tenses
The verb "to be" is very important in many fields of the English grammar. Apart from all progressive tenses it is also needed for changing the modal verbs 'can' and 'may' into tenses other than present tense and necessary for forming the passive in all tenses.
However, many students seem to have problems with the forms of the verb 'to be'. So here is a list of all forms (sentence, question, negation) in all tenses:
present simple
present progressive (only used for passive sentences)
past simple
past progressive
present perfect
(there is no form of "to be" in the progressive form)
past perfect
(there is no form of "to be" in the progressive form)
"will" future
"going to" future
modal verbs
normal statements
I am
you are
he/she/it is
we are
you are
they are
I am being
you are being
he/she/it is being
we are being
you are being
they are being
I was
you were
he/she/it was
we were
you were
they were
I was being
you were being
he/she/it was being
we were being
you were being
they were being
I have been
you have been
he/she/it has been
we have been
you have been
they have been
I had been
you had been
he/she/it had been
we had been
you had been
they had been
I will be
you will be
he/she/it will be
we will be
you will be
they will be
I am going to be
you are going to be
he/she/it is going to be
we are going to be
you are going to be
they are going to be
I can/may/must be
you can/may/must be
he/she/it can/may/must be
we can/may/must be
you can/may/must be
they can/may/must be
questions
am I
are you
is he/she/it
are we
are you
are they
am I being
are you being
is he/she/it being
are we being
are you being
are they being
was I
were you
was he/she/it
were we
were you
were they
was I being
were you being
was he/she/it being
were we being
were you being
were they being
have I been
have you been
has he/she/it been
have we been
have you been
have they been
had I been
had you been
had he/she/it been
had we been
had you been
had they been
will I be
will you be
will he/she/it be
will we be
will you be
will they be
am I going to be
are you going to be
is he/she/it going to be
are we going to be
are you going to be
are they going to be
can/may/must I be
can/may/must you be
can/may/must he/she/it be
can/may/must we be
can/may/must you be
can/may/must they be
negation
I'm not .
you're not
he/she/it isn't
we aren't
you aren't
they aren't
I'm not being
you aren't being
he/she/it isn't being
we aren't being
you aren't being
they aren't being
I wasn't
you weren't
he/she/it wasnt
we weren't
you weren't
they weren't
I wasn't being
you weren't being
he/she/it wasn't being
we weren't being
you weren't being
they weren't being
I haven't been
you haven't been
he/she/it hasn't been
we haven't been
you haven't been
they haven't been
I hadn't been
you hadn't been
he/she/it hadn't been
we hadn't been
you hadn't been
they hadn't been
I won't be
you won't be
he/she/it won't be
we won't be
you won't be
they won't be
I'm not going to be
you aren't going to be
he/she/it isn't going to be
we aren't going to be
you aren't going to be
they aren't going to be
in order to negate modal verbs, you must usually use their alternative form;
can > be able to
may > be allowed to
must > have to
for more info, see the section about modal verbs
Intensive Grammar Course - Tenses [in German!]
Intensive Grammar Course - key to exercises [in German!]
In this Intensive Grammar Course you will find extensive explanations for all English Tenses. It discusses the use of different tense forms as well as the grammatical forms of all the tenses. Furthermore you can check if you have understood everything in short exercises after each chapter.
short overview of all tenses (except future tenses) [in German!]
short overview of all future tenses [in German!]
These two grammar charts give you a quick overview on all tenses. They are in PDF format, so you can print them out and pin them onto your wall. They can really help you get familiar with the English tenses, so I strongly recommend you download them and have a look!
Please visit the following sites for more on English tenses:
The English Page offers numerous resources for learners of English as a Second Language (ESL).
On this site (www.englishpage.de.vu or englishpage.iris-solutions.org) learners can find all the Grammar Rules and explanations in English, German and Spanish, as well as a great variety of exercises to train and test their Grammar skills: All English tenses (Present Tense Simple, Present Tense Progressive, Past Tense Simple, Past Tense Progressive, Present Perfect Tenses, Past Perfect Tenses, Future Tenses - will & going to future, Mixed tenses); Active or Passive, Indirect Speech (= Reported Speech), Conditionals (if-sentences), Relative Clauses and Contact Clauses, Adjective or Adverb, some - any and other determiners, Gerund or Infinitive, rules for Questions and Negation, Modal Verbs (can, may, must, shall, might...) and of course Irregular Verbs, as well as linking words and other grammar topics are all included in the Grammar section! Start learning English TODAY! Test your knowledge of ESL on downloadable grammar exercise sheets in PDF format and revise the rules!