Simple present, simple past and simple future tenses

The verb indicates the time of the action. It shows when something took place, takes place or will take place.

English has three tenses: past, present and future.

Each tense is divided into simple, continuous and perfect tenses. We will learn about simple tenses in this lesson.

Simple tenses

We use the simple present tense to talk about a habitual activity. Study the examples given below.

• I get up at 6 o’clock.
• Muslims fast during the month of Ramadan.
• The sun rises in the east.
• Birds live in nests.
• My mother goes to the temple every day.

The simple present tense is also used to talk about known facts or pre-planned future events.

• The train arrives at 3.30.
• The school reopens on June 1.
• Eid comes a full thirty days after Ramadan.
• The prayers start at 8 am.
• The shop opens at 8.30.

Simple past tense

The simple past tense is used to say that something happened in the past.

• I met your father yesterday.
• There was a commotion at the wedding.
• She wore a white dress to the party.
• The boy answered all the questions.

The simple past tense is also used for the narratives in stories.

• Once upon a time there lived a pretty girl.

Simple future tense

We use the simple future tense to make simple predictions about the future.

• We will go to the movies in the evening.
• Supriya will bring her violin.

The simple future tense is also used to announce decisions that were taken at the moment of speaking.

• ‘I’m starving.’ ‘I will get you something to eat.’
• ‘There is the doorbell.’ ‘I will go’.