TENSE Tense means time.

The tense of a verb indicates and establishes time and its relationship to events in a sentence. Conceptually the time can be divided into three basic categories: the past, the present, and the future. Accordingly, the basic classification of the tenses in English is based on those three time references: the past tenses, the present tenses, and the future tenses. Each of these tenses are then further divided into a number of subcategories such as simple tenses, continuous tense, and perfect tenses. These tenses take different patterns of verb phrases.

Principal parts/forms of a verb (phrase) It is necessary to know the principal parts of a verb in order to know how to form the various tenses. For regular verbs, the present is the same as the infinitive (talk, to talk), the past is made by adding d or ed to the present (talked), the present participle (the progressive or continuous) is made by adding ing to the present (talking), the past participle has the same form as the past. There are many irregular verbs, however, that form their principal parts in an irregular manner. In many grammar books or dictionaries there is a list of this irregular verbs and their principal parts. Knowing the parts will make it possible for a learner to form different kinds of tenses.

Simple tenses
The simple present tense is used to express: A. present time or continued, habitual action. I hear you. We need food. B. general truth The sun rises in the east. C. historical present Jefferson ranks as one of our great presidents. D. the future We leave for Miami on Tuesday; our plane arrives at 09.00.

Simple past tense

The simple past tense is used to express an activity that ended sometime in the past. I got up this morning and ate breakfast.

Simple future tense

The simple future tense describes actions that have not yet happened. A. One way to express the future is to use will or shall + simple form of the verb. I will come on time. B. Another way to express the future is to use be going to + simple verb. We are going to meet him there next week.

Perfect tenses
These tenses (present perfect, past perfect, future perfect) are called perfect because they all refer to actions that have been completed (perfected) when the statement is made. The present perfect tense (have/has + the past participle) describes an action in one of four ways: A. an action that happened at some indefinite time in the past. Raul has learned many new words. B. an action that started in the past and is continuing into the present. Peggy has worked hard all her life. C. an action that was repeated several times prior to the present. It has rained everyday this week. D. an action completed so recently in the past that it still has an effect in the present. He is not coming with us; he has been sick all week. The choice between the simple past and the present perfect is one of intended meaning. Riza ate here often. (At one time in the past he ate here, but not anymore now). Riza has eaten here often. (He ate here in the past and still eats here).
The past perfect describe an action completed or a condition existing

prior to some other past event. It is used in conjunction with the past tense. It shows the time relationship between at least two events or conditions, that is, one event occured before another in the past. I had already eaten when you called last night.
The future perfect describes a future act that will be completed before

some other future time or event. They will have eaten by the time you arrive.

Progressive tenses
These tense (present, past, future progressives, and present perfect progressive) are used to indicate that the action of the verb is continous, not finished, at the time the statement is made. The present progressive describes an action that is happening at the present moment or describes future action. I am writing a letter right now. Are you leaving for Singapore tomorrow? The past progressive describes an action that was happening when another action interrupted or took place. You were sleeping when you came in. The future progressive describes an action that will be happening when another future action happens. At this time next year, he will be studying at Cornell University.

Present perfect progressive

The present perfect progressive describes an action that began in the past and has continued up to the present. Mike has been doing poor work recently.
The past perfect progressive and the future perfect progressive tenses exist but they

are rarely used. Past perfect progressive Ron had been calling me all day Saturday, but I wasnt home. Future perfect progressive Jane will have been visiting her grandma in california for a week by the time I finish my last exam.
Do not shift tenses. Consistency is important in sentence structure. If a sentence

combines several tenses, their sequence must be logical. I believed you last year, I believe you now, Ill always believe you.