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Verb Tenses
| Tense | Definition | How made | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| past | started in the past and ended in the past (when it started or will end is unknown) | -d or -ed | The cat jumped. |
| past progressive | started in the past and ended in the past (continuous, often specific, period of time) | was/were and -ing | The cat was climbing the tree. |
| past perfect | started in the past and ended in the past (one past event ended before another began and ended) | had and -d or -ed | After we located the restaurant, we ate there every day. |
| past perfect progressive | started in the past and ended in the past (continuous past action ended or was interrupted by another past action) | had been and -ing | We had been talking about repainting for several years before we finally bought the paint. |
| present | occuring in the present (when it started or will end is unknown) | -s or -es | Class ends in ten minutes. |
| present progressive | occuring in the present (continuous action) | is/are and -ing | She is looking for a red car. |
| present perfect | started in the past and continuing | has/have and -ed | They have not delivered the documents. |
| present perfect progressive | started in the past and continuing (continuous action) | has/have been and -ing | I had been counting on my bonus to pay my bills. |
| future | will take place in the future (how it started or will end is unknown) | will | They will meet us at 6:00. |
| future progressive | will take place in the future and will be ongoing | will be and -ing | We will be waiting forever. |
| future perfect | will start and end in the future before another action starts | will have and -ed | The doctor will have seen three patients before she attends the meeting. |
| future perfect progressive | will start and end in the future (continuous action) | will have been and -ing | I will have been waiting for thirty minutes by the time he picks me up. |