English tenses look like a maze, but they follow a tidy grid: three times (present, past, future) × four aspects (simple, continuous, perfect, perfect continuous). Learn the logic and the maze becomes a map.
The present
- Present simple — facts and habits: I work in Delhi.
- Present continuous — happening now: I am working.
- Present perfect — past with present relevance: I have worked here for two years.
The past
- Past simple — finished events: I worked yesterday.
- Past continuous — in progress in the past: I was working when she called.
- Past perfect — the earlier of two past events: I had finished before she arrived.
The future
- will — decisions and predictions: I will call you.
- going to — plans and evidence: I'm going to study tonight.
- present continuous — fixed arrangements: I'm meeting him at six.
The two that matter most
If you master just two things, make them past simple vs present perfect and will vs going to — they cause more confusion than all the rest combined.
Don't learn tenses as a list. Learn what each one does, and choosing the right one becomes natural.
Practise tenses by speaking
Our English course teaches tenses through real conversation with live correction. Start free or see pricing.