English Verb Tenses, English Verb Conjugations, Quick and Easy
Written by Teresa Knudsen. First published on Suite 101 September 10, 2010.
Republished January 11, 2012 on Sweet Suite Writings

English Verb Tenses, English Verb Conjugations, Quick and Easy

Learning to use the 12 English verb tenses can be fun, quick, and easy.
In fact, the verb tenses are like ingredients to the recipe for writing, reading, speaking, and listening.
Here are some basic guidelines.

The Twelve English Verb Tenses

1. Simple Present
2. Simple Past
3. Simple Future
4. Present Progressive
5. Past Progressive
6. Future Progressive
7. Present Perfect
8. Past Perfect
9. Future Perfect
10. Present Perfect Progressive
11. Past Perfect Progressive
12. Future Perfect Progressive

Sections of the Twelve English Verb Tenses

Some learners like to divide the 12 verb tenses into four sections. Dividing the tenses helps to understand how to form and use the tenses.
The simple tenses are:

1. Simple Present
2. Simple Past
3. Simple Future

The progressive tenses,also called the continuous tenses are:

1. Present Progressive
2. Past Progressive
3. Future Progressive

The perfect tenses are:

1. Present Perfect
2. Past Perfect
3. Future Perfect

The perfect progressive tenses, also called the perfect continuous tenses are:

1. Present Perfect Progressive
2. Past Perfect Progressive
3. Future Perfect Progressive

Sections of the Twelve English Verb Tenses With the Verb "Work"

Some learners like to divide the 12 verb tenses into four sections, for verb conjugations.
The simple tenses are:

1. Simple Present: I work.
2. Simple Past: I worked.
3. Simple Future: I will work.

The progressive tenses,also called the continuous tenses are:

1. Present Progressive: I am working.
2. Past Progressive: I was working.
3. Future Progressive: I will be working.

The perfect tenses are:

1. Present Perfect: I have worked.
2. Past Perfect: I had worked.
3. Future Perfect: I will have worked.

The perfect progressive tenses, also called the perfect continuous tenses are:

1. Present Perfect Progressive: I have been working.
2. Past Perfect Progressive: I had been working.
3. Future Perfect Progressive: I will have been working.

A Sample of the Verb "Work" Conjugated in the 12 Verb Tenses

Here is a listing of 12 sentences, using the verb "work" in all 12 verb tenses.
Key words are included, which help to indicate the time and the tense that is being used.
1. Everyday, I work on the computer.
2. Yesterday, I worked for five hours.
3. Tomorrow, I will work for 2 hours.
4. Right now, I am working.
5. Yesterday, I was working for five hours.
6. Tomorrow, I will be working for 2 hours.
7. I have worked one day this week.
8. Last week, I had worked five days.
9. By next week, I will have worked 6 days.
10. I have been working one day.
11. Last week, I had been working five days.
12. By next week, I will have been working 6 days.

Learning the 12 Verb Tenses and Conjugations

Grammar books will list and explain these verb tenses in more detail. Some language learners like the structured approach to learning the verb tenses. Other language learners like to assimilate the verb tenses by reading and listening to native English. Still other learners use both approaches. Whatever approach the learner chooses, the most important thing to remember is that the verb tenses can be easy, and to keep trying, and success will come.

References
Azar, Betty and Stacy Hagen. Understanding and Using English Grammar. 4th Edition. New York: Pearson-Longman, 2009.