Intermediate · Tenses made easy · topic 24 of 59 · 18 min
The tense map: all twelve tenses on one page
Explanation
Many learners are scared of "12 tenses". Here is the secret: they are just 3 times (past, present, future) multiplied by 4 "shapes" (simple, continuous, perfect, perfect continuous). Once you see the pattern, it becomes a simple grid.
| Past | Present | Future | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simple | I worked | I work | I will work |
| Continuous | I was working | I am working | I will be working |
| Perfect | I had worked | I have worked | I will have worked |
| Perfect continuous | I had been working | I have been working | I will have been working |
| Shape | Meaning | Hindi feeling |
|---|---|---|
| Simple | a fact, habit or complete action | करता है / किया / करेगा |
| Continuous (be + -ing) | in progress at a time | कर रहा है / था / होगा |
| Perfect (have + 3rd form) | completed before a point | कर चुका है / था / होगा |
| Perfect continuous (have been + -ing) | going on for a length of time up to a point | से कर रहा है / था |
The ones you need most
- Simple present: habits and facts
- Present continuous: now
- Simple past: finished actions
- Present perfect: experience and results
- Future with will / going to
- Past continuous: background in stories
Two useful extras
When we reached the station, the train had left.
Say it: wen wee REECHT the STAY-shun, the TRAYN had LEFT
जब हम स्टेशन पहुँचे, तब तक ट्रेन जा चुकी थी।
Past perfect: the earlier of two past actions.
This time tomorrow, I will be travelling to Chennai.
Say it: this TYM to-MOR-oh, ai wil bee TRAV-el-ing to chen-NAI
कल इस समय मैं चेन्नई जा रहा होऊँगा।
Future continuous: in progress at a future time.
I've been waiting for two hours.
Say it: aiv bin WAYT-ing for TOO OW-erz
मैं दो घंटे से इंतज़ार कर रहा हूँ।
Present perfect continuous: started in the past, still going, focus on duration.
By next March, I will have finished my degree.
Say it: by NEKST MAARCH, ai wil hav FIN-isht my di-GREE
अगले मार्च तक मेरी डिग्री पूरी हो चुकी होगी।
Future perfect: rare in speech, but common in plans and reports.
She had been working there for years before she quit.
Say it: shee had bin WURK-ing thair for YEERZ bi-FOR shee KWIT
नौकरी छोड़ने से पहले वह वहाँ सालों से काम कर रही थी।
Watch the lesson
The tense map: all twelve tenses on one page · 1/7
Hello! Today we look at all twelve tenses on one simple map. Do not worry, it is easier than it sounds.
Prefer a video by a teacher? Find free videos on “all 12 tenses in english with examples in hindi easy chart” on YouTube ↗
In real life: A friend tells a travel story
Aarti: How was your trip to Kolkata? Vivek: A bit crazy! We had booked a morning train, but when we reached the station, it had already left. Aarti: Oh no! What did you do? Vivek: We waited at the station. We had been waiting for three hours when we finally got seats on another train. Aarti: And now? Vivek: Now I'm planning the next trip. This time next month, I will be relaxing in Darjeeling!
Practice (0/4 done)
Say this sentence with the right tense.
I've been working here for two years, and I really enjoy it.
मैं दो साल से यहाँ काम कर रहा हूँ, और मुझे यह बहुत पसंद है।
Listen and type the sentence.
Write six sentences about your life, each in a different tense from the "daily six". Label each one.
Translate: "मैं तीन घंटे से पढ़ रहा हूँ।"
Quick quiz
Pass the quiz (60% or more) or mark this topic as done when you are ready.
Your progress is saved on this device only.