Base form Past tense Past participle

be was/were been

begin began begun

break broke broken

bring brought brought

buy bought bought

build built built

1
Base form Past tense Past participle

choose chose chosen

come came come

cost cost cost

cut cut cut

do did done

draw drew drawn

2
Base form Past tense Past participle

drive drove driven

eat ate eaten

feel felt felt

find found found

get got got

give gave given

3
Base form Past tense Past participle

go went gone

have had had

hear heard heard

hold held held

keep kept kept

know knew known

4
Base form Past tense Past participle

leave left left

lead led led

let let let

lie lay lain

lose lost lost

make made made

5
Base form Past tense Past participle

mean meant meant

meet met met

pay paid paid

put put put

run ran run

say said said

6
Base form Past tense Past participle

see saw seen

sell sold sold

send sent sent

set set set

sit sat sat

speak spoke spoken

7
Base form Past tense Past participle

spend spent spent

stand stood stood

take took taken

teach taught taught

tell told told

think thought thought

8
Base form Past tense Past participle

understand understood understood

wear wore worn

win won won

write wrote written

9
 Compound Sentence
A compound sentence is a phrase that we use in English when we connect two clauses
together to create a complex sentence.
What is a compound sentence?
To answer 'what is a compound sentence', we can look at how to construct one. A
compound sentence is made up of two independent clauses (clauses that make sense
on their own) and these clauses will be connected by a co-ordinating conjunction.

Most of the time, a compound sentence is used to join two related sentences together
into a single idea. Using a compound sentence can help the writer to bring complex
ideas together and make your writing smoother.

How do you make a compound sentence?

Now that we have established what a compound sentence is, we can look at how to
make one when we are writing. Firstly, we need two independent clauses. For example:

 I baked cookies.

 I baked cupcakes.

These two clauses make perfect sense on their own. Although the ideas presented in
them are also related to each other (they are both about baking). We can connect them
together using a co-ordinating conjunction to make a compound sentence. For example:

 I baked cookies and I baked cupcakes.

10
 You may have noticed that when you read these two examples, the second example
(the compound sentence) flows more smoothly, as you don't pause for the full stop!
That's how compound sentences can help writing at a faster pace.

Examples of Compound Sentences

As we have covered, we require a co-ordinating conjunction to connect two independent
clauses and create the compound sentence. Let's have a look at a few examples of
compound sentences using different co-ordinating conjunctions.

 I'm going to the shop, for I have run out of milk.

 I like swimming and I like running.

 I have never been to France, nor have I been to Australia.

 She doesn't like apples, but she loves bananas.

 Eat up your dinner, or you won't have any pudding.

 He has a dog, yet he wants a cat too.

 It's my friend's birthday soon, so I'll get them a present.

11
Conjunctions in compound sentences
Clearly, conjunctions are one of the most important parts of compound sentences.
They're needed to bring the independent clauses together, and are the glue of
compound sentences. So, a solid understanding of conjunctions in compound
sentences is definitely in order!

What are conjunctions?

Conjunctions are connecting words, which bring together two or more clauses. They
often show the relation between the two clauses of ideas, for example showing one to
be a result of the other, or in spite of the other. They're a really important building brick
in any language. Without them, we would only talk in lots of short sentences, and that
would sound really silly!

Examples of conjunctions in compound sentences

Next time you're building a compound sentence, check out some of the conjunctions
that you could use to insert in them.

and therefore however but yet although

despite for either/or neither/nor in case due to

by the time in as much until since because supposing

provided that when furthermore accordingly meanwhile subsequently

12
 As you can see, the different conjunctions point to different links between the two
clauses. The conjunction in a compound sentence is a simple and vital way to add
meaning to your speech or writing.

Common Compound Sentence Mistakes

The most common mistake that children (and adults!) make when writing compound
sentences is accidentally creating a comma splice.

A comma spice is when two independent clauses are connected with a comma on its
own, rather than a co-ordinating conjunction.

Here's an example of a comma splice:

 I went to the park today, it was loads of fun

The comma between the two clauses should either be changed to a co-ordinating
conjunction or into a full stop to split them into two sentences.

 I went to the park today, and it was loads of fun.

 I went to the park today. It was loads of fun.

To avoid making comma splices, think about whether you could replace the comma with
a full stop and have the two sentences make sense on their own. If so, something
needs to change!

How are children taught about compound sentences?

To help us remember the most common co-ordinating conjunctions that we can use
within our writing, we can use the acronym 'FANBOYS'.

13
 Children may also be taught that the two connecting clauses in a compound clause are
of 'equal importance'. This helps them to remember that the two clauses could
technically be split into two individual sentences.

The phrase 'multi-clause sentence' may be used in teaching as well. Similar to a

sentence with a subordinate clause, a compound sentence contains multiple clauses.

To reinforce learning, children may be given activities where they pull apart and put
together compound sentences. This helps them to remember:

 the structure of the sentence

 the components of the sentence

 how they can build these sentences, using two main clauses and a co-ordinating
conjunction

Compound Sentence Teaching Resources

Are you looking for teaching resources to support your teaching of compound
sentences? Then look no further.

Here are our top resource recommendations for teaching this topic.

Multi-Clause Sentences: What is a Compound Sentence? PowerPoint

14
This fantastic PowerPoint provides your pupils with a step-by-step guide on how to
create a compound sentence. It starts by breaking down sentences into different parts.
This lets children see how to construct them for themselves, just like a jigsaw puzzle!

Compound Sentence Jigsaw Worksheets

Children can apply their knowledge with this fun worksheet. Continuing the jigsaw
puzzle theme, the worksheet asks children to build a compound sentence by looking at
the first clause, and circling an appropriate co-ordinating conjunction. They are
challenged to add their own clause to finish the activity.

15
What is a Compound Sentence? Display Posters

Create a wonderful display in your classroom with these bright and colourful posters.
Each one shows an example of a compound sentence with each part of it labelled. This
will help your pupils to understand the different parts of the sentence and what they
need to include when writing their own compound sentences.

Every single one of these resources has been made, checked, and approved by
experienced teachers. So, you can rest assured that the content is accurate. Plus,
they're all quick and easy to download.

16
 What Is a Complex Sentence?

Matt Ellis
Updated on August 12, 2022GRAMMAR

A complex sentence is a sentence with one independent clause and at least

one dependent clause. It works best when you need to provide more
information to explain or modify your sentence’s main point. Complex
sentences are easy to spot as they often use subordinating
conjunctions like because, since, or until to connect clauses. 

Why are they called “complex?” Complex sentences are different from simple
sentences, but share some similarities with compound sentences. Does that
seem complex? Don’t worry; they’re easy to use once you understand how

17
they work, which we explain fully below. We talk about simple vs. complex
sentences, independent vs. dependent clauses, and give plenty of complex-
sentence examples. 

What is a complex sentence? 

Complex sentences are one of the four types of sentences based on structure

(simple, complex, compound, and compound-complex). Their distinction is
that they contain a dependent clause; only complex sentences and complex-
compound sentences have them. 

Dependent clauses, also known as subordinate clauses, are clauses that

cannot stand alone as a complete sentence. Without an independent clause,
a dependent clause is just a sentence fragment. 

Incorrect: When I grow up 

Correct: When I grow up, I’ll use complete sentences. 

One of the most common types of complex sentences are conditional

sentences, which discuss imaginary situations, often using an if-
then structure. In conditional sentences, one clause is true only if both clauses
are true. 

“If you’re always trying to be normal, you will never know how amazing you
can be.” —Maya Angelou

18
Independent vs. dependent clauses: What’s the
difference?

The key to using complex sentences is understanding the difference between

independent and dependent clauses. Basically, independent clauses are
complete sentences on their own, but dependent clauses are not. However,
both clauses contain a subject and a verb, so why is one a complete sentence
but not the other? 

The short answer is that dependent clauses always start with subordinating
conjunctions. In a way, these subordinating conjunctions turn independent
clauses into dependent ones. 

You’re probably already familiar with some common subordinating

conjunctions, such as because, since, if, until, when, even though, in case,
while, now that, and certain uses of the prepositions before and after. There
are quite a few less common subordinating conjunctions, so we recommend
studying the above list until you can recognize them on your own. 

With a subordinating conjunction, a clause becomes a description of another

clause. In this way, dependent clauses change the meaning of independent
clauses. Consider this example of an independent clause: 

You cannot leave the school. 

That sounds scary! Alone, this independent clause means that you must
remain at school forever. Now, let’s add a dependent clause to make a
complex sentence that clarifies things further: 

19
You cannot leave the school until the bell rings. 

See how the dependent clause changes the meaning of the main point? 

Simple vs. complex sentences

The difference between simple and complex sentences is easier to explain.

Simple sentences are any sentence with only one independent clause. Any
sentence with more than one clause—including complex sentences—cannot
be simple sentences. 

Interestingly, you can sometimes combine two simple sentences to create one
complex sentence, as long as you add a subordinate conjunction. 

Simple sentences:

Troy ate a giant cookie. He got a stomach ache. 

Complex sentence: 

After Troy ate a giant cookie, he got a stomach ache. 

How to make a complex sentence

Although conditional sentences get complicated, complex sentences in

general have fairly easy grammar rules. As long as you’re using the right
subordinate conjunction, you only have to worry about commas in complex
sentences. 

20
 Whether or not to use a comma depends on which clause comes first: 

 If the dependent clause comes first, place a comma right before the

independent clause. 

 If the independent clause comes first, no comma is needed. 

Here’s a couple of complex sentence examples to illustrate: 

When Thanos attacked the Earth, where were the Eternals? 

Where were the Eternals when Thanos attacked the Earth? 

Complex sentence examples

Here are some complex sentence examples from famous writers to help you
understand how they work. We’ve underlined the subordinate conjunction in
each. 

“If the path is beautiful, let us not ask where it leads.” —Anatole France

“It is an ironic habit of human beings to run faster when they have lost their
way.” —Rollo May

“Don’t pray when it rains if you don’t pray when the sun shines.” —Satchel
Paige

“It doesn’t matter how slowly you go as long as you don’t stop.” —Confucius

“Because things are the way they are, things will not stay the way they
are.” —Bertolt Brecht

21
 Verb Tenses Explained, With
Examples

Verb tenses are changes or additions to verbs to show when the action took
place: in the past, present, or future. The phrase verb tense is also used
for grammatical aspects, which add more details about the duration or time an
action takes. When you combine the four grammatical aspects with the past,
present and future, you end up with twelve main verb tenses in English. 

Verb tenses are essential for speaking English correctly, but with all the
different forms and functions, they can get confusing. In this guide, we give a
quick overview of the English tenses, including when to use them and how to
make them, and give plenty of verb tense examples. 

22
 Complex Sentence: Definition,
Explanation, Types And Examples

There are four categories of sentences: simple, compound, complex, and compound-
complex. Each type of sentence has its own essential ingredients.

For the complex sentence, those ingredients are an independent clause and at least
one dependent clause.

As you continue reading, I’ll show you how you can mix those two ingredients (the
independent and dependent clauses) in different ways to whip up complex sentences.

What are Complex Sentences?

A complex sentence is a sentence that contains an independent clause and a
dependent clause. Here’s an example of a complex sentence:

Because my pizza was cold, I put it in the microwave.

23
This sentence has an independent clause (“I put it in the microwave”) and a dependent
clause (“Because my pizza was cold”) so it’s a complex sentence.

Before we get further into examples of complex sentences, let’s do a quick refresher on
clauses.

What are Independent and Dependent Clauses?

A clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb.

The difference between independent and dependent clauses is this: an independent

clause can stand alone as a sentence and a dependent clause cannot.

What Is an Independent Clause?

An independent clause is a simple sentence. Those two terms, independent clause
and simple sentence, mean the same thing.

An independent clause includes a subject and a verb, and expresses a complete

thought—just like a simple sentence does.

24
 An independent clause makes sense on its own. In these examples, the subjects and
verbs are in bold.

 I had a rough start to my birthday today.

 I slept through my alarm.

 My boss was angry about my subsequent late arrival.

 Someone stole my lunch from the office fridge!

 No one even brought a cake to celebrate my birthday.

What Is A Dependent Clause?

A dependent clause also contains a subject and a verb, but does not express a
complete thought.

It depends on connection to an independent clause to make sense. Another name for a

dependent clause is subordinate clause.

25
 A dependent clause often starts with a subordinating conjunction, a word which
establishes a relationship between the information in the subordinating clause and the
independent clause it is connected to.

These relationships include cause/effect, time, place, condition, comparison, and

concession.

In these examples of dependent clauses, the subjects and verbs are in bold, and the
subordinating conjunctions are highlighted.

 Because I left work late

 Since it was dark when I got back to my house

 While I was careful to observe my surroundings

 As soon as I opened the door

Did you notice the difference between these examples and the independent clauses?

With the independent clauses, we know what’s happening by the end of the sentence.
This poor person, let’s call her Joanne, has had a lousy day.

With the dependent clauses, we are “left hanging,” and it seems as if Joanne’s day may
have gotten even worse!

I wish we could find out if she at least got home safely on her forgotten birthday!

26
 Actually, I think I have a solution. We can use those dependent clauses as one of the
ingredients in our about-to-be-created complex sentences. Then we’ll get the complete
story.

How to Create Complex Sentences

Complex sentences include an independent and at least one dependent clause.

Though the dependent clause cannot stand alone as a sentence, it does add to the
meaning of the independent clause.

In a complex sentence, the independent and dependent clauses can be put together in
a variety of ways. For example:

Dependent followed by independent: In this format, put a comma after the dependent
clause.

 Because I left work late, I just wanted to get home and relax.

(The dependent clause tells us why Joanne wanted to get home)

Independent followed by dependent: In this format, no comma is needed.

27
 A grammar guru, style editor, and writing mentor in one package.

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 I was feeling extra stressed and tired since it was dark when I got back to my house.

(The dependent clause tells us why Joanne was extra stressed and tired)

Dependent both before and after independent: In this format, a comma is required after
the first dependent clause.

 While I was careful to observe my surroundings, I almost tripped walking up to my door

since I couldn’t see in the darkness.

(The dependent clause establishes a relationship of contrast with the independent

clause)

Two dependents followed by an independent clause: In this format, put a comma after
each dependent clause.

 As soon as I opened the door, and after I had kicked off my shoes, I had a sense that
someone was in my house.

(The dependent clauses tell us when Joanne experienced that sense)

Do you see how those ingredients work together to create a complete thought?

While the independent clause doesn’t need the dependent clause to survive as a
sentence, the dependent clause adds to the meaning of that dependent clause.

Here are a couple more examples to let you know what ultimately happened at the end
of Joanne’s lousy day.

Take notice of their respective structures—the order of the independent (IC) and
dependent clauses (DC), and where the commas (if needed) appear.

 I continued to walk down the hallway even though I was quite scared. (IC-DC)

 After letting out what I thought was an intimidating yell, I was greeted by five of my close
friends yelling “Surprise!” (DC, IC)

 We all had a good laugh because of my lame attempt to scare away the “bad guys.”
(IC-DC)

28
 Since my friends gifted me with a lovely surprise and chocolate cake, even though my
birthday started out terribly, it ended in the best way possible. (DC, DC, IC)

Happy Birthday Joanne! To celebrate, I’ll show you one more way to structure a
complex sentence.

Using A Dependent Clause to Interrupt an Independent Clause in a

Complex Sentence
All the examples so far have shown complex sentences that include an independent
clause and a dependent clause placed one after the other in one order or another.

But sometimes, a dependent clause can be put right in the middle of an independent
clause. In this format, the dependent clause should be surrounded with commas.

In these examples, the dependent clause is in bold. If you remove it from the sentence,
you’re left with an independent clause.

 The dog, because he was so friendly, was adopted quickly.

 The meal, even though it was exceptional, was expensive.

29
 The students, whatever their skill levels, all showed improvement.

What’s The Difference Between Complex and Compound

Sentences?

While a complex sentence includes an independent and at least one dependent clause,
a compound sentence includes two independent clauses.

In a compound sentence, the independent clauses can either be joined with

a semicolon or with a comma + coordinating conjunction combination.

Examples of Compound Sentences Using Semicolons

A semicolon has the combined power of both a period and a comma. It is strong enough
to create a stop—a distinction—between two independent clauses, but is more gentle
than a period.

The semicolon doesn’t create a full stop; it maintains a connection between the clauses,
which is where you see its comma function.

30
 You would use a semicolon when your independent clauses are closely related and you
don’t want to create a full stop between them.

 I took a walk today; the fresh autumn air was invigorating.

 The leaves created a rainbow of colors; the foliage was enchanting.

 I returned home feeling both calm and energized; the beauty of nature is truly special.

Examples of Compound Sentences Using Coordinating Conjunctions +

Comma
Coordinating conjunctions connect words, phrases, or clauses that are of equal value,
such as two independent clauses.

Each of those clauses can stand on its own as a sentence.

The seven coordinating conjunctions are and, but, or, nor, so, yet, for.

A coordinating conjunction + comma combination has the power to connect—to hold

together—two independent clauses.

A comma alone isn’t enough and produces an error called a comma splice.

In each of the following examples, the coordinating conjunction + comma combination is

in bold.

 I ordered a salad ,but I really wanted a big bowl of spaghetti.

 The spaghetti smelled so good ,and I can’t stop thinking about it.

 I’m going back to that restaurant ,so I can order what I really want.

A compound sentence, unlike a complex sentence, only includes independent clauses.

It does not include any dependent clauses.

What’s The Difference Between Complex and Compound-

Complex Sentences?
The compound-complex sentence includes at least two independent clauses
(remember: the complex sentence only has one) and one or more dependent clauses.

31
 Examples of Compound-Complex Sentences
In these examples, the independent clauses are in bold.

 After I ordered my spaghetti, I felt happy, and I couldn’t wait to sit down and eat!

 I think I could eat pasta every day, even though I probably shouldn’t, and I would
enjoy every bite.

 Because I want to eat healthy and since I’ve satisfied my craving, I’ll get back to salad
tomorrow, but I’ll probably be back for more spaghetti before too long!

How Complex Sentences Help Your Writing

Adding variety to your sentence structure is important to good writing. If you rely too
much on one style of sentence, your work will become monotonous and take on a
droning effect. No one wants that!

By understanding how complex sentences work, you can add them to your work with
confidence.

32
And if you need a boost for your confidence while you’re still practicing, run your work
through ProWritingAid’s Sentence Structure Report.

It will help you see where your sentence structure may be repetitive and offer
suggestions for how to add some variety.

Although the example below provides some really interesting details, the structure is
repetitive, in fact, all the sentences start with a subject.

Including complex and varied sentence structures is essential if you want to keep your
reader's attention.

Try the Sentence Structure report with a free ProWritingAid account.

As a writer, it’s important to understand the tools of your trade. Sentence structure is
one of those tools.

Take the time to notice how other writers use simple, compound, complex, and
compound-complex sentences in their work.

Observe and learn as you read and then be inspired!

What is a verb tense? 

33
Verb tenses show when an action took place, as well as how long it occurred.
The main verb tenses are the past, present, and future. 

There are also additional aspects that give extra details, such as the length of
time the action occurred, which actions happened first, or whether a past
action has an impact on the present. These grammatical aspects are the
simple tense, perfect tense, continuous tense, and perfect continuous tense. 

Verb tenses list: How many tenses are there in

English?

The standard tense in English is the present tense, which is usually just the
root form of the verb. The past and future tenses often require changes or
additions to the root form, such as the suffix –ed for the past tense and
the modal verb will for the future. 

However, for each of the past, present, and future tenses, there are four
different aspects that add additional details. For example, the continuous
tense shows that an action is ongoing. It can be used in the present (she is
sleeping), past (she was sleeping), or future (she will be sleeping). 

Past, present, and future tenses

34
The past, present, and future are the central divisions of time in English. The
present represents actions happening now, while the past represents actions
that happened earlier, and the future describes actions that will happen later. 

Simple tense

The simple tense is a grammatical aspect that refers to the normal forms of
the past, present, and future tenses—nothing fancy! Unlike the other aspects,
it doesn’t add any new information. True to its name, simple tenses are the
easiest to form and have the fewest rules. 

Perfect tense

The definition of the perfect tense is a little more complicated. It’s used for
actions that relate to other points in time, either completed or ongoing. 

For example, in the sentence I have played soccer since I was a child, the
perfect tense indicates that the action occurred continuously in the past and
still happens in the present. By contrast, in the sentence I played soccer when
I was a child, the simple past tense indicates that the action occurred only in
the past, and has no relation to the present. 

The perfect tenses use a conjugation of the auxiliary verb have with the

past participle of the main verb. 

Continuous tense 
35
We use the continuous tenses (also known as the progressive tenses) for
ongoing actions or actions that happen a while before completion. For
example, They are studying all night means the studying lasts many hours
before it’s finished. 

Please note that you usually do not use the continuous tense with stative
verbs like want, love, have, and need. 

The continuous tenses use a conjugation of the auxiliary verb be along with

the main verb’s present participle, or –ing form. 

Perfect continuous tense

When you combine the perfect and continuous tenses, you get the perfect
continuous tense. It’s typically used just like the perfect tense, except it
describes ongoing actions that happen over a period of time. 

The construction of the perfect continuous tense uses a conjugation of the

auxiliary verb have, the auxiliary verb been (the past participle of be), and the
present participle of the main verb. 

English tenses examples: verb tenses chart

36
 Past Present Future
I  helped my neighbor I help my neighbor every I will help my neighbor
Simple
yesterday.  day.  tomorrow. 
I have helped my I will have helped  my neighbor
I had helped my neighbor clean
Perfect neighbor too much this a hundred times by the end of
his attic before I fixed his car. 
week.  the month. 
I am helping my
I was helping  my neighbor I  will be helping my neighbor
Continuous neighbor while he fixes
when he brought me iced tea.  next month when he moves. 
up his house. 
I had been helping my I have been helping my
Perfect I  will have been helping my
neighbor for a year before he neighbor since I moved
continuous neighbor for a year next month. 
finally thanked me.  in. 

Past tenses

Simple past

We use the simple past to show actions completed in the past, with no extra
emphasis. 

For regular verbs, you form the simple past tense by adding the suffix –ed to
the end of the verb (or just –d if the past tense verb already ends in an e). 

Be careful of irregular past tense verbs, however. These don’t follow the

normal rules and use their own unique forms for the past tense. For example,
the past tense of the irregular verb go is went. 

Regular verbs: I picked up the glass, but it dropped from my hand. 

Irregular verbs: This morning I went to the store, but I forgot the milk. 

Past perfect

37
[had] + [past participle]

What if you’re talking about two different actions in the past and want to show
that one happened before the other? The past perfect, also known as the
pluperfect, shows that one past action happened earlier than another one. 

She had arrived at the office before she realized it was Sunday. 

I ran to my car when I noticed my wife had left already. 

Past continuous

[was/were] + [present participle]

Use the past continuous to show an ongoing action in the past, especially if the
action was interrupted by another action. It’s also used for habitual actions
that occurred in the past but not in the present. It’s usually used with adverbs
like always or adverb phrases like all the time. 

My dog was whimpering in his sleep when the TV woke him up. 

As kids, my friends and I were always getting into trouble. 

Past perfect continuous

[had] + [been] + [present participle]

The past perfect continuous tense is used just like the past perfect tense, except
it describes ongoing actions that happened in the past instead of a one-time
occurance. It’s often used with the words when, until, and before to connect it
to another past action. 
38
Before he got his first job as a writer, he had been working as a
proofreader. 

I had been living on my friend’s couch for a year until they kicked me out. 

Present tenses 

Simple present

The simple present is the most basic of the English tenses. It’s used for
individual actions or habitual actions in the present. 

Often the simple present is just the root verb with no changes or additions.
The main exception to this is when the subject is third person and singular. In
this case you add the suffix –s. If the verb ends in o, ch, sh, th, ss, gh, or z,
you add –es. If the verb ends in a consonant and y (and the subject is third-
person singular), drop the y and add –ies. 

Today I feel like a million bucks! 

My brother carries the groceries while my sister stays on the couch. 

Present perfect

[have/has] + [past participle]

Although it’s quite common, the present perfect is one of the most difficult
English verb tenses. It is used to describe a few different types of actions,
including: 

39
 an ongoing action started in the past that is not yet completed

 the same action completed multiple times in the past and likely to be
completed again

 an action completed very recently (usually with just or now)

 an uncompleted action that is expected to be finished (in the negative)

Additionally, the present perfect can be used to emphasize the significance of

a completed action, especially one that happened over time. 

We have tricked him every April Fool’s Day since we were kids. 

My niece has grown so much this year! 

Present continuous

[am/is/are] + [present participle]

Use the present continuous to show an action happening right now or in the

near future. 

I am reading The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy for the fifth time! 

We are eating pizza tonight. 

Present perfect continuous

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[have/has] + [been] + [present participle]

The present perfect continuous shows an ongoing action in the present that was

started in the past. It is often used to emphasize the length of time. 

We have been waiting for over an hour! 

The team has been practicing nonstop for the tournament. 

Future tenses

Simple future

Use the simple future for actions that have not happened yet but will later. To
form the simple future, just place the modal verb will before the root form of
the main verb. (Note that if the action will happen in the near future, you can
use the present continuous instead.) 

She will be president one day. 

I will not go to the wedding without a date! 

Future perfect

[will] + [have] + [past participle]

The future perfect shows an action that will be completed in the future by a

specified time. Because it depends on another time, the future perfect is often
used with words like by, before, at, or when. 

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By the time you read this, I will have already left. 

She will have eaten lunch before her sister even wakes up. 

Future continuous

[will] + [be] + [present participle]

Use the future continuous tense for future actions happening over a period of

time, especially when a specific time is mentioned. The future continuous
tense also shows more certainty and likelihood than the simple future. 

By this time tomorrow, I will be drinking margaritas on the beach. 

We will be attending a meeting from noon until 3 p.m. 

Future perfect continuous

[will] + [have] + [been] + [present participle]

The future perfect continuous depicts future ongoing actions that continue up

until a certain point. Like the future perfect and future continuous, it’s used
with a specified time. 

In ten minutes, my parents will have been waiting in traffic for four hours. 

I will have been eating healthy for a whole year by September.

Verb tense FAQs

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What are verb tenses?

Verb tenses are changes or additions to verbs to show when the action took
place: in the past, present, or future. The phrase verb tense is also used for
grammatical aspects, which show how long an action occurs. 

What are the different types of verb tenses?

The three main verb tenses are the past, present, and future, but there are
also four grammatical aspects: simple, continuous, perfect, and perfect
continuous. When you combine the three time periods with the four aspects,
you get twelve unique verb tenses. 

What are some examples of the different verb tenses? 

The simple tenses show actions happening at different times, while the perfect
tenses show completed actions that relate to different time periods. The
continuous tenses are for ongoing actions that take a while to complete. The
perfect continuous tenses combine the perfect and continuous tenses to
describe ongoing actions that happen over a period of time.

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Your English teacher has asked you to write a story. Your story must begin with this

sentence: ‘I’ve got a brilliant plan!’ said Chen excitedly. Write your story in 110–130

words in an appropriate style below.  

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