⚡ TL;DR
Comprehensive guide covering essential IELTS preparation strategies and techniques to help you achieve your target band score.
Originally published March 2023. Last reviewed 3 July 2026.
English grammar can be challenging, especially when it comes to understanding and using the various tenses. Tenses are crucial for expressing time accurately, and mastering them is essential for effective communication. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the 16 tenses in English grammar, providing you with the formula and examples for each tense. By understanding and practicing these tenses, you’ll be better equipped to express yourself confidently and clearly in a variety of situations, whether you’re a student, a professional, or simply looking to improve your English language skills. So, let’s dive in and learn the essential tenses that will elevate your command of the English language!
Present Tenses:
Simple Present Tense
Formula: Subject + base form of the verb
The simple present tense is used to express habits, general facts, and recurring events. It’s also used to describe actions that are happening right now, but only when talking about the future.
Examples:
She plays soccer every weekend.
The sun rises in the east.
Birds fly in the sky.
Present Continuous Tense
Formula: Subject + am/is/are + present participle (base form of the verb + -ing)
The present continuous tense is used to describe actions or events that are happening right now or are in progress at the time of speaking.
Examples:
She is playing soccer right now.
They are watching a movie.
We are studying for the exam.
Present Perfect Tense
Formula: Subject + has/have + past participle (third form of the verb)
The present perfect tense is used to describe actions or events that have been completed at an unspecified time in the past, or actions that started in the past and continue in the present.
Examples:
She has played soccer before.
They have watched that movie.
We have studied this topic in class.
Present Perfect Continuous Tense
Formula: Subject + has/have + been + present participle (base form of the verb + -ing)
The present perfect continuous tense is used to describe actions or events that started in the past and continue up to the present, focusing on the duration or ongoing nature of the action.
Examples:
She has been playing soccer for two hours.
They have been watching the movie since it started.
We have been studying for the exam all day.
Past Tenses:
Simple Past Tense
Formula: Subject + past form of the verb
The simple past tense is used to describe actions or events that happened in the past and have been completed.
Examples:
She played soccer yesterday.
The movie started at 7 pm.
They visited the museum last week.
Past Continuous Tense
Formula: Subject + was/were + present participle (base form of the verb + -ing)
The past continuous tense is used to describe actions or events that were in progress at a specific time in the past.
Examples:
She was playing soccer when it started to rain.
They were watching a movie when the power went out.
We were studying for the exam when the fire alarm rang.
Past Perfect Tense
Formula: Subject + had + past participle (third form of the verb)
The past perfect tense is used to describe actions or events that were completed before another action or event in the past.
Examples:
She had played soccer before she joined the team.
They had watched the movie before we arrived.
We had studied the topic before the test.
Past Perfect Continuous Tense
Formula: Subject + had been + present participle (base form of the verb + -ing)
The past perfect continuous tense is used to describe actions or events that were in progress before another action or event in the past.
Examples:
She had been playing soccer for two hours when it started to rain.
They had been watching the movie when the power went out.
We had been studying for the exam when the fire alarm rang.
Future Tenses:
Simple Future Tense
Formula: Subject + will + base form of the verb
The simple future tense is used to describe actions or events that will happen in the future.
Examples:
She will play soccer tomorrow.
They will travel to Europe next month.
The meeting will start at 9 am.
Future Continuous Tense
Formula: Subject + will be + present participle (base form of the verb + -ing)
The future continuous tense is used to describe actions or events that will be in progress at a specific time in the future.
Examples:
She will be playing soccer at 3 pm tomorrow.
They will be watching a movie when we arrive.
We will be studying for the exam when you call.
Future Perfect Tense
Formula: Subject + will have + past participle (third form of the verb)
The future perfect tense is used to describe actions or events that will be completed before another action or event in the future.
Examples:
She will have played soccer by the time we arrive.
They will have watched the movie before we get there.
We will have studied the topic before the exam.
Future Perfect Continuous Tense
Formula: Subject + will have been + present participle (base form of the verb + -ing)
The future perfect continuous tense is used to describe actions or events that will be in progress before another action or event in the future.
Examples:
She will have been playing soccer for two hours by the time we arrive.
They will have been watching the movie for an hour when we get there.
We will have been studying for the exam all week by the time it starts.
Conditional Tenses (which can also be classified as present, past, or future depending on the context):
Simple Conditional Tense (First Conditional)
Formula: If + Subject + present simple verb, Subject + will + base form of the verb
The simple conditional tense (first conditional) is used to describe possible future actions or events that depend on another condition being met.
Examples:
If she plays soccer, she will become stronger.
If they watch the movie, they will enjoy it.
If we study for the exam, we will pass.
Conditional Continuous Tense (Second Conditional)
Formula: If + Subject + past simple verb, Subject + would/could/might + base form of the verb
The conditional continuous tense (second conditional) is used to describe hypothetical situations or events that are unlikely to happen or are imaginary.
Examples:
If she played soccer professionally, she would be famous.
If they watched the movie, they might like it.
If we studied harder, we could pass the exam.
Conditional Perfect Tense (Third Conditional)
Formula: If + Subject + had + past participle (third form of the verb), Subject + would/could/might have + past participle (third form of the verb)
The conditional perfect tense (third conditional) is used to describe actions or events in the past that did not happen because a condition was not met.
Examples:
If she had played soccer yesterday, she would have been tired.
If they had watched the movie, they would have understood the references.
If we had studied for the exam, we might have passed.
Mixed Conditional Tense
Formula: If + Subject + past perfect verb, Subject + would/could/might + present continuous verb
The mixed conditional tense is used to describe a combination of conditions from the second and third conditional tenses.
Examples:
If she had practiced more, she would be playing soccer professionally now.
If they had seen the movie, they might be discussing it right now.
If we had studied harder, we could be passing the exam today.
⚡ TL;DR
Comprehensive guide covering essential IELTS preparation strategies and techniques to help you achieve your target band score.
Originally published March 2023. Last reviewed 3 July 2026.
Verbs are an essential part of the English language, and they can be broadly categorized into two types: action verbs and linking verbs. While action verbs express actions, linking verbs connect the subject to additional information about its state or condition. In this guide, we will discuss linking verbs in detail, their characteristics, usage, and differences from action verbs. We will also provide practice questions with answers to help you test your understanding of linking verbs.
Characteristics of Linking Verbs:
Linking verbs connect the subject to additional information about its state or condition. They do not express actions like action verbs. Some linking verbs are stative, describing a state of being or condition, such as “be” and “seem”. Others can also be used as non-stative linking verbs in certain contexts, such as “get” and “turn”.
Usage of Linking Verbs:
Linking verbs are commonly used in everyday language to describe the state or condition of the subject. They can also be used as predicate nominatives or predicate adjectives. A predicate nominative renames or identifies the subject, while a predicate adjective describes the subject.
Differences from Action Verbs:
Linking verbs and action verbs differ in their function. While linking verbs connect the subject to additional information, action verbs express actions. For example, “She walked to the store” uses an action verb, while “She seems tired” uses a linking verb.
Practice Questions:
- Identify the linking verb in the following sentence: “The coffee smells amazing.”
- Is “appear” a linking verb in the sentence, “She appeared confident during her presentation”?
- Name three linking verbs that are always used as linking verbs in English.
- What is the difference between a linking verb and an action verb?
- In the sentence, “The sun feels warm on my skin”, is “feels” a linking verb or an action verb?
- Write a sentence using a non-stative linking verb.
- Identify the predicate nominative in the following sentence: “My favorite color is blue.”
- Is “grow” a linking verb in the sentence, “The plants are growing quickly”?
- Write a sentence using a stative linking verb.
- In the sentence, “He seems tired today”, is “seems” a linking verb or an action verb?
Answers:
- The linking verb in the sentence is “smells”.
- Yes, “appear” is a linking verb in the sentence.
- The three linking verbs that are always used as linking verbs in English are “be”, “seem”, and “become”.
- The main difference between a linking verb and an action verb is that a linking verb connects the subject to additional information, while an action verb expresses an action.
- “Feels” is a linking verb in the sentence.
- Example of a sentence using a non-stative linking verb: “The sky turned pink during the sunset.”
- The predicate nominative in the sentence is “blue”.
- Yes, “grow” is a linking verb in the sentence.
- Example of a sentence using a stative linking verb: “The ocean smells salty and refreshing.”
- “Seems” is a linking verb in the sentence.
By understanding the characteristics and usage of linking verbs, you can improve your writing and communication skills. By identifying linking verbs in sentences, you can construct
⚡ TL;DR
Comprehensive guide covering essential IELTS preparation strategies and techniques to help you achieve your target band score.
Originally published November 2022. Last reviewed 3 July 2026.
Shapes are a very important part of our lives. Without shapes, we would not be able to understand the world around us. There are many different types of shapes, and each one has its own unique purpose.
Some common shapes include squares, circles, triangles, and rectangles.
Each of these shapes has unique properties that make them useful for different purposes. Squares are often used for buildings and other structures because they have straight lines that can be easily measured. Circles are often used for things like logos and trademarks because they are simple and easy to recognize. Triangles are often used for signs and warnings because they create a sense of urgency. Rectangles are often used for advertisements because they can be easily divided into separate sections.
Nonagon: A nonagon is a nine-sided polygon. It has nine angles and sides of equal length.
Octagon: An octagon is an eight-sided polygon with eight angles.
Heptagon: A heptagon is a seven-sided polygon with seven angles.
Hexagon: A hexagon is a six-sided polygon with six angles.
Pentagon: A pentagon is a five-sided polygon with five angles.
Square: A square is a four-sided shape with four right angles and all sides of equal length.
Rectangle: A rectangle is a four-sided shape in which two sides are longer than the other two sides, and it has four right angles.
Parallelogram: A parallelogram is a four-sided shape in which both pairs of opposite sides are parallel and it has four angles.
Triangle: A triangle is a three-sided shape with three angles.
Rhombus: A rhombus is a four-sided shape with all sides of equal length and two pairs of parallel sides.
Trapezoid: A trapezoid is a four-sided shape with two parallel sides, two non-parallel sides, and four angles.
Kite: A kite is a four-sided shape in which its opposite sides are both equal in length and each pair of adjacent angles adds up to 180 degrees.
Square: A square is a four-sided shape with four right angles and all sides of equal length.
Oval: An oval is an elongated circle or an ellipse that has two focal points on each side of its flat curvature. Oval shapes can be symmetrical (identical) or asymmetrical (different).
Cylinder: A cylinder is a three-dimensional shape in which a circular base and top are connected by straight lines. It has two parallel bases, one at the bottom and one at the top, joined together by curved surfaces.
Cone: A cone is a three-dimensional shape in which a circle forms the base, and it slopes up to form a point at the top called the apex
Heart: A heart is a valentine-shaped symbol that represents love and affection.
Star: A star is a five- or more-pointed geometrical shape that typically has sharp points on each end. It can be symmetrical or asymmetrical.
Arrow: An arrow is a pointed geometrical shape with two parallel lines extending from the curved head to the point of the tail.
Cross: A cross is a geometrical shape in which four short lines intersect at right angles, typically forming an X or + sign.
Crescent Moon: A crescent moon is an arc or partial circle shape which typically appears during different phases of the moon cycle.
Cube: A cube is a three-dimensional shape with six equal square sides, all of which meet at right angles.
Pyramid: A pyramid is a three-dimensional shape in which four triangular faces come together to form one point at the top.
Sphere: A sphere is a perfect, round three-dimensional object that has no edges or flat surfaces. The curved surface of a sphere can be measured by its radius and diameter.
Tetrahedron: A tetrahedron is a solid figure composed of four triangles connected around one central point. It has four vertices, six edges and four faces.
Octahedron: An octahedron is a polyhedral shape consisting of eight equilateral triangles.
⚡ TL;DR
Comprehensive guide covering essential IELTS preparation strategies and techniques to help you achieve your target band score.
Originally published November 2022. Last reviewed 3 July 2026.
Shapes are a very important part of our lives. Without shapes, we would not be able to understand the world around us. There are many different types of shapes, and each one has its own unique purpose.
Some common shapes include squares, circles, triangles, and rectangles.
Each of these shapes has unique properties that make them useful for different purposes. Squares are often used for buildings and other structures because they have straight lines that can be easily measured. Circles are often used for things like logos and trademarks because they are simple and easy to recognize. Triangles are often used for signs and warnings because they create a sense of urgency. Rectangles are often used for advertisements because they can be easily divided into separate sections.
Nonagon: A nonagon is a nine-sided polygon. It has nine angles and sides of equal length.
Octagon: An octagon is an eight-sided polygon with eight angles.
Heptagon: A heptagon is a seven-sided polygon with seven angles.
Hexagon: A hexagon is a six-sided polygon with six angles.
Pentagon: A pentagon is a five-sided polygon with five angles.
Square: A square is a four-sided shape with four right angles and all sides of equal length.
Rectangle: A rectangle is a four-sided shape in which two sides are longer than the other two sides, and it has four right angles.
Parallelogram: A parallelogram is a four-sided shape in which both pairs of opposite sides are parallel and it has four angles.
Triangle: A triangle is a three-sided shape with three angles.
Rhombus: A rhombus is a four-sided shape with all sides of equal length and two pairs of parallel sides.
Trapezoid: A trapezoid is a four-sided shape with two parallel sides, two non-parallel sides, and four angles.
Kite: A kite is a four-sided shape in which its opposite sides are both equal in length and each pair of adjacent angles adds up to 180 degrees.
Square: A square is a four-sided shape with four right angles and all sides of equal length.
Oval: An oval is an elongated circle or an ellipse that has two focal points on each side of its flat curvature. Oval shapes can be symmetrical (identical) or asymmetrical (different).
Cylinder: A cylinder is a three-dimensional shape in which a circular base and top are connected by straight lines. It has two parallel bases, one at the bottom and one at the top, joined together by curved surfaces.
Cone: A cone is a three-dimensional shape in which a circle forms the base, and it slopes up to form a point at the top called the apex
Heart: A heart is a valentine-shaped symbol that represents love and affection.
Star: A star is a five- or more-pointed geometrical shape that typically has sharp points on each end. It can be symmetrical or asymmetrical.
Arrow: An arrow is a pointed geometrical shape with two parallel lines extending from the curved head to the point of the tail.
Cross: A cross is a geometrical shape in which four short lines intersect at right angles, typically forming an X or + sign.
Crescent Moon: A crescent moon is an arc or partial circle shape which typically appears during different phases of the moon cycle.
Cube: A cube is a three-dimensional shape with six equal square sides, all of which meet at right angles.
Pyramid: A pyramid is a three-dimensional shape in which four triangular faces come together to form one point at the top.
Sphere: A sphere is a perfect, round three-dimensional object that has no edges or flat surfaces. The curved surface of a sphere can be measured by its radius and diameter.
Tetrahedron: A tetrahedron is a solid figure composed of four triangles connected around one central point. It has four vertices, six edges and four faces.
Octahedron: An octahedron is a polyhedral shape consisting of eight equilateral triangles.
