Since English tenses are pretty particular, let's start this series with the 12 standard tenses, which we use to indicate a specific time that an action or state of being occurs:
1. Simple Past (action that happened, or state that existed)
1. Simple Past (action that happened, or state that existed)
I wrote a book.
I was happy.2. Simple Present (action that habitually happens, or state that exists)
I write books.
I am happy.
3. Simple Future (action that has not ye happened, or state that does not yet exist)
I will write a book.
I will be happy.4. Past Perfect (action that happened before another past action, or state that existed before another past action or state that existed)
I had written a book when the publisher contacted me.
I had been happy until I wrote a book.
I had been happy before I became a writer.5. Present Perfect (action that started and is just completed or is continuing, or state that started and still exists)
I have written a book.
I have been happy for years.6. Future Perfect (action that will happen before another action will happen, or state that will exist before another action will happen or state will exist)
I will have written a book before you will write one.
I will have been happy for years when I am old.7. Past Continuous (action that was happening or state that was existing)
I was writing a book.
I was feeling happy.8. Present Continuous (action that is happening or state that is existing)
I am writing a book.
I am feeling happy.9. Future Continuous (action that will be happening or state that will be existing)
I will be writing a book.
I will be feeling happy.10. Past Perfect Continuous (action that was happening before a certain past time)
I was writing a book until I grew tired.11. Present Perfect Continuous (action that started and has been happening from a certain time to the present)
I have been writing a book since last month.12. Future Perfect Continuous (action continuing up to a certain future time)
I will have been writing a book for a year on October 23.
