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English Tenses

All 12 tenses with formulas, rules, examples, and common mistakes.

Definition
Used for habits, general truths and repeated actions.
Formula
Subject + V1 (+ s/es for he/she/it) + object
Helping verbs
do / does
Structure
S + V1 + O
Rules
  • Add s/es with he/she/it
  • Use 'do/does' for negatives and questions
Usage
  • Daily routines
  • General facts
  • Scheduled events
Affirmative
She writes a letter every day.
Negative
She does not write a letter every day.
Interrogative
Does she write a letter every day?
Notes
Common with adverbs: always, often, usually, never.
Common mistakes
Forgetting 's/es' with third-person singular.

Definition
An action happening right now or around now.
Formula
Subject + am/is/are + V1 + ing + object
Helping verbs
am / is / are
Structure
S + be + V-ing + O
Rules
  • Use 'am' with I
  • 'is' with he/she/it
  • 'are' with you/we/they
Usage
  • Actions happening now
  • Temporary situations
  • Future plans
Affirmative
He is writing a letter.
Negative
He is not writing a letter.
Interrogative
Is he writing a letter?
Notes
Stative verbs (know, believe) usually not used in continuous.
Common mistakes
Using continuous with stative verbs.

Definition
An action completed at an unspecified time before now.
Formula
Subject + has/have + V3 + object
Helping verbs
has / have
Structure
S + has/have + V3 + O
Rules
  • 'has' with he/she/it
  • 'have' with I/you/we/they
Usage
  • Life experiences
  • Recent completed actions
  • With since/for
Affirmative
She has written a letter.
Negative
She has not written a letter.
Interrogative
Has she written a letter?
Notes
Signal words: already, yet, just, ever, never, since, for.
Common mistakes
Using with specific past time (yesterday).

Definition
An action that started in the past and continues now.
Formula
Subject + has/have + been + V1 + ing + object
Helping verbs
has been / have been
Structure
S + has/have + been + V-ing + O
Rules
  • Use with 'for' + duration or 'since' + point in time
Usage
  • Ongoing actions
  • Recently stopped actions with visible result
Affirmative
She has been writing a letter for an hour.
Negative
She has not been writing a letter for an hour.
Interrogative
Has she been writing a letter for an hour?
Notes
Emphasizes duration.
Common mistakes
Confusing with Present Perfect.