English tenses: the 13 you need for speaking, with examples.

English talks about the present, the past and the future, and each has more than one form. This guide covers the 13 forms SpeakWisely practises, from the present simple to the future perfect. A few, such as used to and going to, are strictly structures rather than tenses, but you use them the same way when you speak.

For each one: how it is built, what it is for, and how to say it as a statement, a negative and a question.

Practise tenses out loud

Past tenses

Past simple

Finished actions at a finished time.

Form: worked · went (irregular)

Say it: Yesterday I went to the market and bought some fruit.
Negative: We didn’t go out last night.
Question: Did you enjoy the film?

Words that often go with it: yesterday, last week, two years ago, in 2019, when I was a child

Past continuous

Something in progress at a moment in the past — often interrupted.

Form: was / were + -ing

Say it: I was cooking dinner when the phone rang.
Negative: They weren’t listening.
Question: What were you doing at eight o’clock?

Words that often go with it: while, when, at that moment, all evening

Past perfect

Something that happened before another past event.

Form: had + past participle

Say it: When I arrived, the train had already left.
Negative: I hadn’t seen the sea before that trip.
Question: Had you met her before?

Words that often go with it: already, before, by the time, after, never … before

Used to

Past habits and states that are no longer true.

Form: used to + verb

Say it: I used to play cricket every evening.
Negative: I didn’t use to like coffee.
Question: Did you use to live in a village?

Words that often go with it: when I was younger, as a child, back then, in those days

Present tenses

Present simple

Habits, routines and things that are generally true.

Form: I work · she works

Say it: I usually take the bus to work.
Negative: She doesn’t eat meat.
Question: Do you live near here?

Words that often go with it: usually, every day, often, on Mondays, never

Present continuous

Things happening now or around now.

Form: am / is / are + -ing

Say it: I’m reading a really good book at the moment.
Negative: He isn’t working this week.
Question: What are you doing these days?

Words that often go with it: now, at the moment, these days, this week, currently

Present perfect

Experiences and past actions that still matter now.

Form: have / has + past participle

Say it: I’ve visited Delhi three times.
Negative: She hasn’t finished yet.
Question: Have you ever tried sushi?

Words that often go with it: ever, never, already, yet, just, so far

Present perfect continuous

Something that started in the past and is still going on.

Form: have / has been + -ing

Say it: I’ve been learning the guitar for two years.
Negative: They haven’t been sleeping well.
Question: How long have you been working there?

Words that often go with it: for, since, all day, lately, recently

Future tenses

Future with will

Predictions, promises and decisions made right now.

Form: will + verb

Say it: I think it will rain later.
Negative: I won’t tell anyone.
Question: Will you be there?

Words that often go with it: probably, I think, one day, in the future, soon

Going to

Plans and intentions, and predictions from what you can see now.

Form: am / is / are going to + verb

Say it: I’m going to start a new course next month.
Negative: We aren’t going to move this year.
Question: Are you going to apply for it?

Words that often go with it: next week, next year, this weekend, soon

Present continuous for plans

Fixed arrangements — things already in the diary.

Form: am / is / are + -ing + a future time

Say it: I’m meeting my manager on Friday.
Negative: We aren’t flying until Sunday.
Question: What are you doing this weekend?

Words that often go with it: tomorrow, on Friday, tonight, this weekend

Future continuous

Something in progress at a moment in the future.

Form: will be + -ing

Say it: This time next week I’ll be lying on a beach.
Negative: I won’t be working on Saturday.
Question: Will you be using the car tonight?

Words that often go with it: this time next week, at 8 tomorrow, all day tomorrow

Future perfect

Something that will be finished before a future time.

Form: will have + past participle

Say it: By next June I’ll have finished my degree.
Negative: They won’t have arrived by then.
Question: Will you have saved enough by December?

Words that often go with it: by then, by next year, by the time, before

How do I practise tenses when speaking?

Knowing the rule is not the same as using it mid-sentence. SpeakWisely's tense practice asks you a question that calls for a particular tense, or a mix of them. You answer out loud, it checks the verb forms you actually used, explains any slip and lets you try again. Your mastery of each tense is tracked over time.

For broader fluency work, see English speaking practice; preparing for an exam, see IELTS speaking practice.