The English Grammar Tenses
Collection

Welcome to the English Grammar Tenses – The Ultimate Resource!

One of the easiest ways to teach and learn grammar is

Welcome to the English Grammar Tenses – The Ultimate Resource!One of the easiest ways to teach and learn grammar is through
stories

Click Here for Step-by-Step Rules, Stories and Exercises to Practice All English Tenses

So we at Really Learn English made this huge

collection of stories
and exercises

available for you, completely free of
charge.

You can read the stories online, download the story PDF
files, print and use them by yourself or with your students,
and check the answers using the answer key.

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What does TENSE Mean?

So we at Really Learn English made this hugeavailable for you, completely free of charge.You can read the stories online, download the story PDF files, print and use them by yourself or with your students, and check the answers using the answer key.Thanks for your support!

A tense is a form of the

is a form of the verb which shows the time at which an action happens.

It comes from the Latin word “tempus”, which means
“time”.

Click here for the full
article on what tense is.

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Table of
Contents

Simple
Present

The

Simple Present

is a form of the verb that shows the action or state happens in the
present.

For example:

Lisa

dances

every day.

Click here
for the
full info, rules, examples and exercises on the simple present and how
to use it.

Simple Present Story
1

Who is he? Where is he? What
does he do?

Hank is a cowboy. He lives on a farm. He has a horse named Ginger.
Hank loves Ginger. He rides Ginger every day. Sometimes they walk
slowly, and sometimes they run fast. They always have a good time.

Ginger
is Hank’s horse. She is light brown. Her tail and mane are dark brown.
She is three years old. She lives in the stable by the house.

Ginger
waits for Hank every morning. She enjoys their time together. Often,
Hank gives her apples. After long rides, Hank always washes and brushes
Ginger. He usually brushes her tail. Then he gives her food and fresh
water. Ginger loves Hank.

Click here to download the full worksheet:
Simple Present Story 1.

Simple Present Story
2

Who are they? Where are they?
What do they do?

Stacy is a singer. She loves to sing. She is in a band. She sings
in the band. She is the lead singer. Sometimes she plays the piano.

Chad
is Stacy’s boyfriend. He is also in the band. He stands next to Stacy.
He plays the electric guitar. Sometimes Chad sings with Stacy.

Dean
is Chad and Stacy’s friend. He is also in the band. He stands next to
Chad. He plays bass guitar. Dean does not sing. He does not like to
sing.

The band practices three times a week. They mostly perform
at nightclubs. Sometimes they sing at weddings. They are a very good
band.

Click here to download the full worksheet:
Simple Present Story 2.

Simple Present Story
3

Who is he? Where is he? What
does he do?

Jim Sullivan likes music. He plays many instruments. He plays the
piano, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, guitar, and bagpipes. The bagpipes
are his favorite instrument to play. Not very many people play the
bagpipes.

Jim plays the bagpipes for celebrations. He also
plays the bagpipes in parades. The audience listens to the bagpipes.
They clap for Jim. They enjoy the music of the bagpipes.

Jim
also teaches people how to play the bagpipes. He gives lessons to
children and adults. He teaches them the history of the bagpipes. He
teaches them how to play music with the bagpipes. Jim is a good teacher.

Click here to download the full worksheet:
Simple Present Story 3.

Simple Present
Story 4

Who is he? Where does he
live? What does he do?

Robert Hughes lives in Atlanta, Georgia. He lives with his wife,
Patricia. They live with their two children, Sam and Lana. Robert loves
his family.

Robert works as a police officer in Atlanta. He
likes his job. He is a good police officer. Robert is a police officer
because he likes to help people.
Robert protects the citizens of Atlanta. He solves crimes and catches
criminals. He keeps the citizens safe.

Sometimes he visits the schools. He talks to students. The students
like Robert. Officer Robert Hughes is a hero in Atlanta.

Click here to download the full worksheet:
Simple Present Story 4.

Present
Progressive

The

Present Progressive
(Continuous)

is a form of the verb that shows the action
or state is in progress (continues) in the present.

For example:

Lisa

is dancing

right now.

Click here
for the
full info, rules, examples and exercises on the present progressive and
how to use it.

Present
Progressive Story 1

Who are they? Where are they?
What are they doing?

Now Janet is in her house. She is sitting on a wooden chair. She is
holding a coat. She is fixing it.

James is Janet’s husband. He is sitting in front of her. He is fixing
clothes too.

Elizabeth
is sitting next to James. She is Janet’s sister. Right now she is
helping Janet and James. They are working together. They are fixing
clothes.
 
At this moment a man is coming in. He is wearing dark clothes. He is
carrying a pile of clothes. They are all working very hard.

Click here to download the full worksheet:
Present Progressive Story 1.

Present
Progressive Story 2

Who are they? Where are they?
What are they doing?

Right now, it is Monday morning. Mike and Tina are at home. They are
sitting at a table. They are eating breakfast.

At
this moment, Tina is drinking coffee. She is eating a pastry. She is
sitting across the table from Mike. She is talking to Mike.

Mike is Tina’s husband. He is sitting at the table with Tina. He is
also drinking coffee. Mike is listening to Tina.

After breakfast, Mike and Tina are leaving for work. They work in the
city. They are riding the bus to work.

Click here to download the full worksheet:
Present Progressive Story 2.

Present
Progressive Story 3

Who are they? Where are they?
What are they doing?

Now the children are at school. Amy is sewing. She is practicing. She
is sitting on a bench. She is sitting near Timmy.

Timmy is at school too. Timmy is studying. He is sitting behind his
desk. He wishes he could play with the other children.

John
and Susan are also at school. They are playing outside. They are
picking flowers for their teacher. John is carrying his hat. Susan is
wearing a bonnet.

At this moment, Sarah is walking by the door. She is helping the
teacher. She is carrying textbooks to the shelf.

Click here to download the full worksheet:
Present Progressive Story 3.

Present
Progressive Story 4

Who are they? Where are they?
What are they doing?

Today, Abby is visiting her grandparents. She loves her
grandparents. At this moment, she is sitting on her grandfather’s knee.
She is listening to a story. She is smiling. She loves her
grandfather’s stories.

Jacob is Abby’s grandfather. He loves his
granddaughter. Right now, he is telling her a story. He is holding her
on his knee. He is holding her hands. They are sitting in the living
room.

Sarah is Abby’s grandmother. At this moment, Sarah is
standing in the kitchen. She is baking cookies for Jacob and Abby. She
is also listening to Jacob’s story.

Click here to download the full worksheet:
Present Progressive Story 4.

Present
Perfect

The

Present Perfect

is a form of the verb that shows the action or state was complete
before the present.

For example:

Lisa

has danced

already.

Click here
for the
full info, rules, examples and exercises on the present perfect and
how to use it.

Present
Perfect Story 1

Who are they? What have they
done?
What has happened?

Theis a form of the verb that shows the action or state happens in the present.Lisaevery day.Hank is a cowboy. He lives on a farm. He has a horse named Ginger. Hank loves Ginger. He rides Ginger every day. Sometimes they walk slowly, and sometimes they run fast. They always have a good time.Ginger is Hank’s horse. She is light brown. Her tail and mane are dark brown. She is three years old. She lives in the stable by the house.Ginger waits for Hank every morning. She enjoys their time together. Often, Hank gives her apples. After long rides, Hank always washes and brushes Ginger. He usually brushes her tail. Then he gives her food and fresh water. Ginger loves Hank.Stacy is a singer. She loves to sing. She is in a band. She sings in the band. She is the lead singer. Sometimes she plays the piano.Chad is Stacy’s boyfriend. He is also in the band. He stands next to Stacy. He plays the electric guitar. Sometimes Chad sings with Stacy.Dean is Chad and Stacy’s friend. He is also in the band. He stands next to Chad. He plays bass guitar. Dean does not sing. He does not like to sing.The band practices three times a week. They mostly perform at nightclubs. Sometimes they sing at weddings. They are a very good band.Jim Sullivan likes music. He plays many instruments. He plays the piano, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, guitar, and bagpipes. The bagpipes are his favorite instrument to play. Not very many people play the bagpipes.Jim plays the bagpipes for celebrations. He also plays the bagpipes in parades. The audience listens to the bagpipes. They clap for Jim. They enjoy the music of the bagpipes.Jim also teaches people how to play the bagpipes. He gives lessons to children and adults. He teaches them the history of the bagpipes. He teaches them how to play music with the bagpipes. Jim is a good teacher.Robert Hughes lives in Atlanta, Georgia. He lives with his wife, Patricia. They live with their two children, Sam and Lana. Robert loves his family.Robert works as a police officer in Atlanta. He likes his job. He is a good police officer. Robert is a police officer because he likes to help people.Robert protects the citizens of Atlanta. He solves crimes and catches criminals. He keeps the citizens safe.Sometimes he visits the schools. He talks to students. The students like Robert. Officer Robert Hughes is a hero in Atlanta.Theis a form of the verb that shows the action or state is in progress (continues) in the present.Lisaright now.Now Janet is in her house. She is sitting on a wooden chair. She is holding a coat. She is fixing it.James is Janet’s husband. He is sitting in front of her. He is fixing clothes too.Elizabeth is sitting next to James. She is Janet’s sister. Right now she is helping Janet and James. They are working together. They are fixing clothes.At this moment a man is coming in. He is wearing dark clothes. He is carrying a pile of clothes. They are all working very hard.Right now, it is Monday morning. Mike and Tina are at home. They are sitting at a table. They are eating breakfast.At this moment, Tina is drinking coffee. She is eating a pastry. She is sitting across the table from Mike. She is talking to Mike.Mike is Tina’s husband. He is sitting at the table with Tina. He is also drinking coffee. Mike is listening to Tina.After breakfast, Mike and Tina are leaving for work. They work in the city. They are riding the bus to work.Now the children are at school. Amy is sewing. She is practicing. She is sitting on a bench. She is sitting near Timmy.Timmy is at school too. Timmy is studying. He is sitting behind his desk. He wishes he could play with the other children.John and Susan are also at school. They are playing outside. They are picking flowers for their teacher. John is carrying his hat. Susan is wearing a bonnet.At this moment, Sarah is walking by the door. She is helping the teacher. She is carrying textbooks to the shelf.Today, Abby is visiting her grandparents. She loves her grandparents. At this moment, she is sitting on her grandfather’s knee. She is listening to a story. She is smiling. She loves her grandfather’s stories.Jacob is Abby’s grandfather. He loves his granddaughter. Right now, he is telling her a story. He is holding her on his knee. He is holding her hands. They are sitting in the living room.Sarah is Abby’s grandmother. At this moment, Sarah is standing in the kitchen. She is baking cookies for Jacob and Abby. She is also listening to Jacob’s story.Theis a form of the verb that shows the action or state was complete before the present.Lisaalready.

Linda
has
just walked outside with Grandmother. She wears an apron. So far, she
has
finished cleaning and washing. She has also gathered seeds and crumbs.

Now
Linda
and Grandmother are outside. Linda has just dropped some seeds on the
ground to
feed the birds. The birds have not come yet.

Recently,
Grandmother has moved in with Linda’s family. She now enjoys living
with them.

Grandmother
has already sat down on the bench. She also wears an apron. She has
just
finished cooking.

Click here to download the full worksheet:
Present Perfect Story 1.

Present
Perfect Story 2

Who is she? What has she
done? What has happened?

Recently, it has snowed in Maria’s town. In the last week, it has
snowed three times. Maria has always loved the snow. She has played in
the snow many times before.

Maria’s dog, Sparky, has never played in the snow. This is Sparky’s
first snow. He has not felt the cold yet.

Maria
has just received a new sled for Christmas. She puts on her warm
clothes and snow boots. She pulls the sled up the hill. Sparky has run
outside with Maria. Sparky has followed Maria up the hill. He feels
good!

Maria has finally reached the top. She sits on her sled.
She rides down the hill. Sparky runs beside the sled. They have finally
reached the bottom. Sparky has followed Maria all the way down the
hill. Sparky has decided that he likes the snow too!

Click here to download the full worksheet:
Present Perfect Story 2.

Present
Perfect Story 3

Who are they? What have they
done?
What has happened?

Roger and Melinda have owned their sailboat for 10 years. During
that time, they have sailed together many times. They have sailed to
lots of places.

They have sailed on the Pacific Ocean. They have
also sailed on the Atlantic Ocean. They have even sailed around the
Gulf of Mexico twice. However, they have never sailed on the Arctic
Ocean or Indian Ocean.

In the last year, Roger and Melinda
have sailed around the Hawaiian Islands and across the Hudson Bay.
Roger and Melinda love to travel in their sailboat!

Click here to download the full worksheet:
Present Perfect Story 3.

Present
Perfect Story 4

Who is he? What will he have
done?
What will have happened?

Mable Jones lives in Florida in the United States. Her
grandchildren live in London, England. They have lived in London for 3
years. Mable has not seen her grandchildren in over a year.

She
has talked to her grandchildren on the phone and through e-mails many
times. She has also seen pictures of her grandchildren. They have grown
so much since the last time they visited America.

Mable knits
scarves and blankets to send to her grandchildren in London. So far,
she has knitted two large blankets for her granddaughters. She has also
knitted a scarf for each grandchild.

Click here to download the full worksheet:
Present Perfect Story 4.

Present
Perfect Progressive

The

Present Perfect
Progressive (Continuous)

is a form of the verb that shows
the action or state started in the past and continued until the present.

For example:

Lisa

has been
dancing

for 3 hours without stopping.

Click here
for the
full info, rules, examples and exercises on the present perfect
progressive and
how to use it.

Present
Perfect
Progressive Story 1

Who are they? What have they
been doing?
Where have they been going?

Ruth and Martha are best friends. They have been spending time
together since they were young girls. Every morning, they get dressed
and walk to the post office together. They have been walking together
to the post office every morning for the past 10 years.

Lately,
Martha has not been feeling well. Ruth has been walking to the post
office alone each morning. Then she visits Martha at home. She has been
bringing Martha her mail every morning for 2 weeks. She hopes Martha
feels better soon.

Click here to download the full worksheet:
Present Perfect Progressive Story 1.

Present
Perfect
Progressive Story 2

Who are they? What have they
been doing?

Nick has been playing the game of marbles since he was 5 years old.
He likes to play marbles. He plays with the other kids. He also teaches
other kids how to play the game.

Lately, he has been teaching
Brian how to play marbles. He has been teaching Brian all the rules of
the game. He has been teaching Brian how to win.

Brian is Nick’s
friend. Recently, he has been learning to play marbles. He has been
wishing to play the game for many years. The past few days, his friend,
Nick, has been teaching him how to play marbles. It is a fun game.

Click here to download the full worksheet:
Present Perfect Progressive Story 2.

Present
Perfect
Progressive Story 3

Who is he? What has he been
doing?

Jimmy sings with the boys’ choir at his church. Jimmy has a good
singing voice. He has been singing since he was very young. He has been
singing with the boys’ choir for the past 3 years. He likes to sing
with the choir.

Lately, the choir has been practicing many new
songs. They have been learning songs for their Christmas performance.
They have been practicing 2 hours every day for the last 2 weeks. They
have been working very hard.

Click here to download the full worksheet:
Present Perfect Progressive Story 3.

Present
Perfect
Progressive Story 4

Who are they? What have they
been doing?

Marcus travels to Los Angeles a lot for work. In fact, he has been
traveling to Los Angeles once a month for over a year. Every time he
travels to Los Angeles, he stays at the same hotel. He likes the
service at this hotel. He has been staying at this hotel at least 5
days every month for over a year.

Marcus’s favorite employee
at the hotel is Benjamin. Benjamin has been working at this hotel for 2
years. He usually works as a bellhop, but lately he has been training
for a new job.

For the past 2 weeks, Benjamin has been
training to become the assistant manager of the hotel. Marcus is proud
of Benjamin because he knows Benjamin has been working hard the last 2
years.

Click here to download the full worksheet:
Present Perfect Progressive Story 4.

Simple
Past

The

Simple Past

is a form of the verb that shows the action or state happened in the
past.

For example:

Lisa

danced

yesterday.

Click here
for the
full info, rules, examples and exercises on the simple past and how
to use it.

Simple Past Story 1

Who were they? Where did they
go? What happened?

One autumn evening, Charles and Beth went to the theater. They
attended a play. The play started at 7:00. Charles and Beth enjoyed the
theater.

After the play, Charles and Beth walked together in the
park. They walked beside the lake. The moon was bright. They talked
about their future.

When Charles and Beth went home, their
children were not asleep. They waited for Charles and Beth to return.
They were excited to hear about the theater!

Charles told the
children about the play. Then, Beth put the children to bed. Charles
and Beth were very tired. It was a good night!

Click here to download the full worksheet:
Simple Past Story 1.

Simple Past Story 2

Who is she? Where did she do?
What happened?

Last week, Beth baked a cake for Lilly’s birthday party. Lilly
wanted a strawberry cake with pink frosting. Beth was happy to bake the
cake.

First, Beth mixed the ingredients in a big bowl. Next, she
poured the cake batter into four round baking pans. She put the pans in
the oven. Finally, she baked the cakes for 20 minutes.

Then,
Beth prepared the pink frosting. After the cakes cooled, Beth stacked
them and covered them with frosting. Beth wrote Lilly’s name on top
with white frosting. She put seven candles in the cake.

On
Sunday, Beth surprised Lilly with the strawberry cake. Lilly loved her
cake! Lilly had many gifts for her birthday. But Lilly said her cake
was the best gift of them all!

Click here to download the full worksheet:
Simple Past Story 2.

Simple Past Story 3

Who were they? What did they
do? What happened?

Last night, George was at a restaurant with Clara, Charlie, and
Katherine. After dinner, George announced his engagement to Clara.
George stood next to Clara. He raised his glass. He announced the
engagement to his friends. He looked very happy!

Clara was also
at the restaurant. She sat at the table next to George. She smiled when
he announced the engagement. She showed her friends her ring. It was
very beautiful. Clara also looked very happy!

Charlie and
Katherine also sat at the table. They were excited for their friends.
Charlie congratulated George and Clara. He shook George’s hand.
Katherine looked at Clara’s ring. She hugged Clara. She was happy for
George and Clara!

Click here to download the full worksheet:
Simple Past Story 3.

Simple Past Story 4

Who were they? What did they
do? What happened?

On Saturday, the Jenson family shopped for a Christmas tree. They
got in the car. They drove to the tree farm. Mr. and Mrs. Jenson walked
around the tree farm with their kids.

The Jenson family looked
at all the trees. They looked at tall trees and short trees. They
looked at fat trees and skinny trees. They looked at every tree on the
farm. They wanted the perfect tree.

The Jenson kids finally
found the perfect tree. It wasn’t too tall or too short. It wasn’t too
fat or too skinny. The tree was exactly what they wanted. It was the
perfect Christmas tree!

Click here to download the full worksheet:
Simple Past Story 4.

Past
Progressive

The

Past Progressive
(Continuous)

is a form of the verb that shows the action
or state was in progress (continued) in the past.

For example:

Lisa

was dancing

yesterday at 8 o’clock.

Click here
for the
full info, rules, examples and exercises on the past progressive and
how to use it.

Past
Progressive Story 1

Who was she? Where was she?
What was happening?

Yesterday, it was raining and thundering all day. Ann was playing
inside the house. She wanted to be outside. She wasn’t playing outside
because it was raining. She was feeling tired of being trapped inside
the house.

Ann was trying to keep busy inside the house. She
was reading her book until the electricity went out. Then, she decided
to practice her sewing. She was practicing sewing until lunchtime.
After lunch, she sat by the window and watched the rain.

While
Ann was watching the rain, the phone rang. Her mother was calling to
say she was coming home. She was bringing a new game. Ann and her
mother ate ice cream and played the game.

While they were playing, the rain stopped! But Ann didn’t even notice.
She was having such a good time with her mom!

Click here to download the full worksheet:
Past Progressive Story 1.

Past
Progressive Story 2

Who were they? What were they
doing?
What was happening?

One sunny day, Billy and Timmy were delivering a box to Mr.
Thompson. The crate was full of glasses. They were carrying the box on
a cart. They were taking the glasses to Mr. Thompson’s store at the end
of the street. They were being very careful with the crate full of
glasses.

As they were passing by the school, they saw Jack and
Tom. Jack and Tom were playing soccer. Billy and Timmy asked the other
boys for help. The four boys steered the cart through the streets.
While Billy and Timmy were pulling from the front, Jack and Tom were
pushing from behind.

As they were walking, Billy and Timmy
were guiding the cart over bumps and holes. They were protecting the
glasses. When the four boys arrived at the store, Mr. Thompson was
waiting for them. While Mr. Thompson was unloading the glasses, he
thanked the boys for their hard work. None of the glasses were broken!
The boys were feeling very proud of their hard work.

Click here to download the full worksheet:
Past Progressive Story 2.

Past
Progressive Story 3

What was he doing? What was
happening?

Last night at 7 o’clock, Nate was taking pictures of birds. He was
walking through the city park when he saw a fire. An old, empty
building near the park was on fire. Nate pulled out his camera.

He
was taking pictures of the fire when the fire trucks pulled up. The
firefighters jumped out. They hooked up their hoses. While they were
fighting the fire, Nate was taking more pictures.

The
firefighters were fighting the fire and Nate was taking pictures when
the rain started. The rain helped put the fire out. The firefighters
were clapping and Nate was cheering. The fire was finally out.

Click here to download the full worksheet:
Past Progressive Story 3.

Past
Progressive Story 4

Who were they? What were they
doing?
What was happening?

Mitch was always driving his motorcycle too fast. Yesterday after
work, Mitch was driving his motorcycle home. While everyone else was
driving slowly, he was speeding through the streets. He wasn’t paying
attention and was driving too fast when he saw the police officer.

While
the police officer was directing traffic, he saw Mitch speeding down
the street. He was waving his arms when Mitch stopped. The police
officer wrote him a traffic ticket for speeding. Mitch was not feeling
happy when he arrived home.

Click here to download the full worksheet:
Past Progressive Story 4.

Past
Perfect

The

Past Perfect

is a form of the verb that shows the action or state was
complete before some time in the past.

For example:

Lisa

had danced

before she came.

Click here
for the
full info, rules, examples and exercises on the past perfect and
how to use it.

Past
Perfect Story 1

Where were they? What
happened?
What had they done?

Last night, Dane and Emily danced in a competition. They danced a
salsa dance. They had practiced for 6 months before they danced in the
competition. They were very good.

Dane and Emily’s friends were
in the audience. Before that night, they had never seen Dane and Emily
dance. In fact, Dane and Emily had never danced in front of anyone
before the competition.

After everyone had danced, the judges
announced the winners. Dane and Emily won! They were the best dancers
in the competition. Emily said she had never practiced so hard before!
She was glad they had practiced a lot.

Click here to download the full worksheet:
Past Perfect Story 1.

Past
Perfect Story 2

Where were they? What did
they do?
What had they done?

Last weekend, Mark and Trisha went on a date. Mark took Trisha to
the golf course. Mark loved to golf. He had learned to golf as a child.
He had even played on a team in high school.

Before that day, Trisha had never golfed. She did not know how to hold
the golf club. She did not know the rules.

Mark
taught Trisha how to play. After Trisha had learned the basics, she hit
the ball. It was a good hit! Mark had taught Trisha well.

Click here to download the full worksheet:
Past Perfect Story 2.

Past
Perfect Story 3

Where had I gone? What had I
done?
What had I seen?

I had never seen such beautiful sights before I visited Paris in
2012. I had saved money for 5 years before I booked my trip to Paris. I
was very excited! Before my trip to Paris, I had never been out of the
United States.

When I went to Paris, I spent many days touring
the city. The city was big. Sometimes I got lost and asked for
directions. I asked for directions in French. That was easy because I
had studied French for 2 years before I visited Paris.

By the
time I left Paris, I had toured many beautiful places. The Eiffel
Tower,
Notre Dame Cathedral, and Luxembourg Gardens were just a few of the
places I saw. Before I visited Paris, I had only seen those places on
television.

Click here to download the full worksheet:
Past Perfect Story 3.

Past
Perfect Story 4

Who had owned it? What had
they done?

The Smith family had never owned a car until they bought their
first automobile in 1906. Before they bought it, they had only used
horses and a buggy for transportation. They had never owned anything so
expensive before they bought the car.

The Smith family was very
excited about their automobile. The children had never ridden in an
automobile before their parents purchased the car. They had only seen a
few automobiles when they went to town for supplies. But nobody they
knew had ever owned an automobile before that day. They felt very lucky.

Click here to download the full worksheet:
Past Perfect Story 4.

Past
Perfect Progressive

The

Past Perfect
Progressive
(Continuous)

is a form of the verb that shows the action
or state started in the past and continued until some point in the past.

For example:

Lisa

had been
dancing

for 2 hours before she got tired.

Click here
for the
full info, rules, examples and exercises on the past perfect
progressive and
how to use it.

Past
Perfect Progressive Story 1

Who are they? What had they
been doing?
Where had they been going?

Donald and Elizabeth had been driving to church before they
stopped. They had been driving down a dirt road when they heard a
strange noise. Donald stopped the car. He got out of the car. Then, he
helped Elizabeth out of the car. Elizabeth sat and waited for Donald.

Donald
looked at the car. It had been going for an hour or so. He knew how to
fix cars. He had been working as a mechanic for 5 years before he moved
to the country. Donald got his tools. He looked under the hood. It
seemed that the engine had been heating up. He crawled under the car.

Donald
had been working on the car for a while when Jake parked beside him.
Jake had been driving home when he saw Donald and Elizabeth on the side
of the road. Jake helped Donald fix the car. Donald thanked Jake for
his help. Elizabeth waved to Jake as they drove away. Thanks to Jake’s
help, they arrived at church on time.

Click here to download the full worksheet:
Past Perfect Progressive Story 1.

Past
Perfect Progressive Story 2

Where were they? What had
they been doing? 

Billy and the other scouts had been hiking on the mountain all
morning when they realized they were lost. They looked each direction.
They did not see the camp. They did not see the river.

The
scouts were tired because they had been hiking for four hours. They
were worried because they were lost. They sat down under a tree.

But
Billy was not worried. Billy had been hiking these mountains with his
dad his whole life. Billy’s dad had been teaching him how to use a
compass for three years. Billy climbed a tree and saw the river. He
knew the camp was north of the river. Billy looked at his compass. He
guided the scouts back to the camp.

Click here to download the full worksheet:
Past Perfect Progressive Story 2.

Past
Perfect Progressive Story 3

Where was she? What did she
do?
What had she been doing?

Lisa slept because she had been feeling very sick. In fact, Lisa
had not been feeling well for three days. Her mother knew something was
strange because Lisa had not been acting normal. She had not been
finishing her meals for the past two days. She had not even been
playing with her friends.

The doctor visited Lisa. He had been
visiting many children since the sickness arrived. He examined Lisa. He
gave Lisa medicine. He talked to Lisa’s mother.

Lisa’s mother
had been praying for a week when Lisa woke up. Lisa looked much better.
She did not feel sick anymore. Everyone was happy that Lisa was better!

Click here to download the full worksheet:
Past Perfect Progressive Story 3.

Past
Perfect Progressive Story 4

Where was he? What did he do?

What had he been doing?

Patrick had been playing the banjo for about 15 years. Many years
ago, his grandfather played the banjo in a band. He taught Patrick how
to play the banjo when Patrick was just 10 years old. Patrick had been
practicing the banjo ever since. He had been playing for his friends
and family for many years.

Last night, Patrick played his banjo
on a television show. He had been hoping to be on this show since he
first saw it on television 5 years ago. He played in front of a live
studio audience. The audience cheered and clapped for Patrick.

Patrick
knew he was good because he had been playing the banjo for a long time.
Now everyone knew that Patrick was a good banjo player.

Click here to download the full worksheet:
Past Perfect Progressive Story 4.

Simple
Future

The

Simple Future

is a form of the verb that shows the action or state will happen in the
future.

For example:

Lisa

will dance

tomorrow.

Click here
for the
full info, rules, examples and exercises on the simple future and how
to use it.

Simple Future Story 1

Who is she? What will she do?
What is going to happen?

On Saturday, Katie will be one year old. Katie’s parents are going
to have a birthday party. The party is going to begin at noon on
Saturday. Many people will be at the party. Katie will have so much fun!

Katie’s
dad is going to cook hamburgers. Katie’s grandmother is going to bring
ice cream. Katie’s aunt is going to bake a cake. It will be a chocolate
cake. Katie will love her cake!

All of Katie’s relatives will
bring presents. Katie is going to open her presents after lunch. Then,
everyone will eat cake and ice cream. Katie is going to have a good
first birthday!

Click here to download the full worksheet:
Simple Future Story 1.

Simple Future Story 2

Who is she? What will she do?
What is going to happen?

This weekend, Erica is going to compete in a tennis tournament. She
will practice hard all week because she wants to win the tournament.
The winner will receive $1,000. Erica hopes she will get first place!

Erica’s
husband is going to travel to the tournament with Erica. He will watch
her compete. He will sit in the stands and cheer for Erica. He is going
to be proud of Erica even if she does not win first place.

Erica’s
parents are not going to travel to the tournament. They will watch the
tournament on television. They will cheer for Erica at home. They are
going to be proud of Erica whether she wins or loses.

Click here to download the full worksheet:
Simple Future Story 2.

Simple Future Story 3

Who is he? Where is he going?
What will happen?

Brent is an American astronaut. Today, he will travel into outer
space. At noon, his space shuttle is going to launch into space. Brent
and the other astronauts are going to travel to the International Space
Station. They will stay in space for almost 6 months.

The crew
is going to continue research at the space station. They will do some
experiments. They will record their data. They are also going to make
some repairs on the space station.

Brent will learn a lot in
space. He is going to make videos of his time on the space station. His
family will watch the videos on the internet. They will see what Brent
is doing in space.

Click here to download the full worksheet:
Simple Future Story 3.

Simple Future Story 4

What is it? What is going to
happen?

There is going to be a wedding today. At 4 o’clock this afternoon,
Megan Smith and Mark Jones are going to get married. After today, they
will be Mr. and Mrs. Mark Jones.

It is going to be a huge
celebration. Everyone will be there! They are going to serve dinner and
dessert. The best man will give a speech. Then everyone will dance. The
dance will last until midnight.

The day after the wedding, Megan
and Mark are going to leave for their honeymoon. They are going to
travel to Hawaii. They are going to stay there for 7 days. They will
have a good time in Hawaii!

Click here to download the full worksheet:
Simple Future Story 4.

Future Progressive

The

Future Progressive
(Continuous)

is a form of the verb that shows the action
or state will be in progress at some time in the future.

For example:

Lisa

will be
dancing

tomorrow at 8 o’clock.

Click here
for the
full info, rules, examples and exercises on the future progressive and
how to use it.

Future
Progressive Story 1 

Who are they? What will they
be doing?
What will be happening?

Brad likes to fish. He fishes whenever he can. This weekend, he will be
fishing at the lake. It is his favorite place to fish.

Mark
is Brad’s friend. Mark likes to fish too. He also fishes whenever he
can. This weekend he will be fishing at the lake with Brad. They will
be camping at the lake all weekend.

Mark will be picking Brad
up at 8 o’clock Friday night. Brad will be ready when Mark arrives.
They
will be driving all night before they get to the lake.
They are
excited about the weekend. Brad and Mark both love to fish. They love
to fish together. They will be fishing together for many years!

Click here to download the full worksheet:
Future Progressive Story 1.

Future
Progressive Story 2

Who are they? What are they
going to be doing?
What will be happening?

Today, there is going to be a parade. At the beginning of the
parade, the mayor is going to be driving by in his carriage. The horse
will be pulling the carriage and the mayor will be waving to the crowd.
The crowd will be waving when the mayor passes by.

Timothy and
his grandfather will be standing in front of the store when the mayor
passes them. Timothy and his grandfather are going to be watching and
waving. Everyone is going to be having a good time at the parade.

Click here to download the full worksheet:
Future Progressive Story 2.

Future
Progressive Story 3

Who are they? What are they
going to be doing?
What will be happening?

Sir Thomas is going to be arriving at 3 o’clock today. When Sir
Thomas arrives, the servants will be waiting. Young Charlie will also
be waiting at the door.

When Sir Thomas walks into the house,
most of the servants are going to be bowing. One servant will be
parking the car. Others are going to be preparing dinner. Charlie is
going to be carrying Sir Thomas’s suitcase into the house.

Click here to download the full worksheet:
Future Progressive Story 3.

Future
Progressive Story 4

What is it? Where will it be
going?
What is going to be happening?

Tomorrow afternoon, the ship will be sailing to Antarctica. The
sailors are going to be working very hard when the ship sails. Some
sailors will be pulling ropes on the sails. Others are going to be
watching for icebergs. The captain is going to be navigating the ship
while it is sailing.

When the ship arrives at its destination,
some sailors are going to be resting. Others will be making repairs
to the ship. The captain is going to be exploring the land. His
assistant will be drawing a map of the land.

Click here to download the full worksheet:
Future Progressive Story 4.

Future Perfect

The

Future Perfect

is a form of the verb that shows the action or state will be complete
before some time in the future.

For example:

Lisa

will have
danced

 by 9 o’clock.

Click here
for the
full info, rules, examples and exercises on the future perfect and
how to use it.

Future
Perfect Story 1

Who is he? What will he have
done?
What will have happened?

Mr. Jones is a farmer. He owns a big farm. He plants crops in his
fields in the spring. By the time he finishes planting this spring, he
will have planted 10 acres of crops. He is going to have planted many
crops.

Mr. Jones must finish planting before it starts to rain.
He is working hard. At this rate, he will have finished planting before
it rains. Mr. Jones and his horse will have worked many long hours by
the time they finish tonight.

Click here to download the full worksheet:
Future Perfect Story 1.

Future
Perfect Story 2

Who are they? What will they
have done?
What is going to have happened?

Tyler and William are paddling their canoe down the river. They are
traveling a long distance through trees and canyons. They will have
paddled for many miles by the time they arrive at their destination.
They are going to have been gone for 2 weeks by the time they finish
their trip.

They are going to have seen many sights by the time
their trip is completed. They probably will have seen many wild
animals. They will have eaten many fish. They will not have seen many
other people by the end of their trip.

Click here to download the full worksheet:
Future Perfect Story 2.

Future
Perfect Story 3

Who are they? What will they
have done?
What is going to have happened?

Brett is in the army. Tomorrow, he will leave home to join his
troops overseas for 18 months. He will have trained for 8 months by the
time he leaves. He will have worked very hard by the time he comes home.

By
the time he returns, he is going to have been gone for 18 months. His
wife will have worried about him all that time. They will have written
many letters by the time he comes home. She will be happy when
he returns safely.

Click here to download the full worksheet:
Future Perfect Story 3.

Future
Perfect Story 4

Who are they? What will they
have done?
What is going to have happened?

John works in an automobile factory. He works on the assembly line
assembling cars. He works many hours every day. By the time he finishes
working today, he is going to have worked 10 hours. He will have
assembled over 50 cars.

Chris also works on the assembly line
in the automobile factory. In December, he will have worked there for 5
years. By the time he finishes working today, he is going to have
worked over 8 hours. He will have assembled about 40 cars today.

Click here to download the full worksheet:
Future Perfect Story 4.

Future
Perfect Progressive

The

Future Perfect
Progressive (Continuous)

is a form of the verb that shows
the action or state will continue until some point in the future.

For example:

By tomorrow morning, Lisa

will
have been dancing

for 12 hours.

Click here
for the
full info, rules, examples and exercises on the future perfect
progressive and
how to use it.

Future
Perfect
Progressive Story 1

Who are they? What will they
have been doing?

Paul and Lindsey are going on a sleigh ride to their friend’s house
for the weekend. The snow will be deep, but their horse is very strong.
They are going to travel a long way. They will have been riding in the
sleigh for over an hour by the time they arrive.

Paul’s horse,
Midnight, will pull the sleigh over the snow. When they arrive,
Midnight will be tired because he is going to have been pulling the
sleigh for over an hour. Midnight will need food and rest because he
will have been pulling the sleigh over all that snow.

Click here to download the full worksheet:
Future Perfect Progressive Story 1.

Future
Perfect
Progressive Story 2

Who is he? What will he
have been doing?

Pete is a window washer. Today, he is going to be washing windows
on the 13th floor of a downtown office building. He will have been
washing windows for almost 10 hours when he finishes all of the windows
on the 13th floor. He will be very tired tonight because he will have
been working so hard.

Although the work is difficult, Pete
enjoys his job. In August, he will have been working as a window washer
for 5 years. He will have been washing windows in this city for the
past 5 years.

Click here to download the full worksheet:
Future Perfect Progressive Story 2.

Future
Perfect
Progressive Story 3

Who are they? What will they
have been doing?

Everyone is at church. They are listening to the minister. By the
time the minister finishes his sermon, the people will have been
listening to him preach for over an hour. They will have been sitting
on the hard pews for over an hour.

The minister is giving the
sermon. It is a long sermon. He will have been talking for over an hour
by the time he finishes. He will have been standing behind the pulpit
for over an hour.

Click here to download the full worksheet:
Future Perfect Progressive Story 3.

Future
Perfect
Progressive Story 4

Who is he? What will he have
been doing?

Barry is a magician. Barry has been a magician for many years. This
December, he will have been doing magic professionally for 25 years. He
will have been entertaining  audiences for 25 years.

Currently, Barry is a magician in a show in Las Vegas. In October, he
is going to have been performing in Las Vegas for 3 years. He will have
been entertaining Las Vegas audiences with his card tricks for 3 years.

Click
here to download the full worksheet:
Future Perfect Progressive Story 4.

Recently, it has snowed in Maria’s town. In the last week, it has snowed three times. Maria has always loved the snow. She has played in the snow many times before.Maria’s dog, Sparky, has never played in the snow. This is Sparky’s first snow. He has not felt the cold yet.Maria has just received a new sled for Christmas. She puts on her warm clothes and snow boots. She pulls the sled up the hill. Sparky has run outside with Maria. Sparky has followed Maria up the hill. He feels good!Maria has finally reached the top. She sits on her sled. She rides down the hill. Sparky runs beside the sled. They have finally reached the bottom. Sparky has followed Maria all the way down the hill. Sparky has decided that he likes the snow too!Roger and Melinda have owned their sailboat for 10 years. During that time, they have sailed together many times. They have sailed to lots of places.They have sailed on the Pacific Ocean. They have also sailed on the Atlantic Ocean. They have even sailed around the Gulf of Mexico twice. However, they have never sailed on the Arctic Ocean or Indian Ocean.In the last year, Roger and Melinda have sailed around the Hawaiian Islands and across the Hudson Bay. Roger and Melinda love to travel in their sailboat!Mable Jones lives in Florida in the United States. Her grandchildren live in London, England. They have lived in London for 3 years. Mable has not seen her grandchildren in over a year.She has talked to her grandchildren on the phone and through e-mails many times. She has also seen pictures of her grandchildren. They have grown so much since the last time they visited America.Mable knits scarves and blankets to send to her grandchildren in London. So far, she has knitted two large blankets for her granddaughters. She has also knitted a scarf for each grandchild.Theis a form of the verb that shows the action or state started in the past and continued until the present.Lisafor 3 hours without stopping.Ruth and Martha are best friends. They have been spending time together since they were young girls. Every morning, they get dressed and walk to the post office together. They have been walking together to the post office every morning for the past 10 years.Lately, Martha has not been feeling well. Ruth has been walking to the post office alone each morning. Then she visits Martha at home. She has been bringing Martha her mail every morning for 2 weeks. She hopes Martha feels better soon.Nick has been playing the game of marbles since he was 5 years old. He likes to play marbles. He plays with the other kids. He also teaches other kids how to play the game.Lately, he has been teaching Brian how to play marbles. He has been teaching Brian all the rules of the game. He has been teaching Brian how to win.Brian is Nick’s friend. Recently, he has been learning to play marbles. He has been wishing to play the game for many years. The past few days, his friend, Nick, has been teaching him how to play marbles. It is a fun game.Jimmy sings with the boys’ choir at his church. Jimmy has a good singing voice. He has been singing since he was very young. He has been singing with the boys’ choir for the past 3 years. He likes to sing with the choir.Lately, the choir has been practicing many new songs. They have been learning songs for their Christmas performance. They have been practicing 2 hours every day for the last 2 weeks. They have been working very hard.Marcus travels to Los Angeles a lot for work. In fact, he has been traveling to Los Angeles once a month for over a year. Every time he travels to Los Angeles, he stays at the same hotel. He likes the service at this hotel. He has been staying at this hotel at least 5 days every month for over a year.Marcus’s favorite employee at the hotel is Benjamin. Benjamin has been working at this hotel for 2 years. He usually works as a bellhop, but lately he has been training for a new job.For the past 2 weeks, Benjamin has been training to become the assistant manager of the hotel. Marcus is proud of Benjamin because he knows Benjamin has been working hard the last 2 years.Theis a form of the verb that shows the action or state happened in the past.Lisayesterday.One autumn evening, Charles and Beth went to the theater. They attended a play. The play started at 7:00. Charles and Beth enjoyed the theater.After the play, Charles and Beth walked together in the park. They walked beside the lake. The moon was bright. They talked about their future.When Charles and Beth went home, their children were not asleep. They waited for Charles and Beth to return. They were excited to hear about the theater!Charles told the children about the play. Then, Beth put the children to bed. Charles and Beth were very tired. It was a good night!Last week, Beth baked a cake for Lilly’s birthday party. Lilly wanted a strawberry cake with pink frosting. Beth was happy to bake the cake.First, Beth mixed the ingredients in a big bowl. Next, she poured the cake batter into four round baking pans. She put the pans in the oven. Finally, she baked the cakes for 20 minutes.Then, Beth prepared the pink frosting. After the cakes cooled, Beth stacked them and covered them with frosting. Beth wrote Lilly’s name on top with white frosting. She put seven candles in the cake.On Sunday, Beth surprised Lilly with the strawberry cake. Lilly loved her cake! Lilly had many gifts for her birthday. But Lilly said her cake was the best gift of them all!Last night, George was at a restaurant with Clara, Charlie, and Katherine. After dinner, George announced his engagement to Clara. George stood next to Clara. He raised his glass. He announced the engagement to his friends. He looked very happy!Clara was also at the restaurant. She sat at the table next to George. She smiled when he announced the engagement. She showed her friends her ring. It was very beautiful. Clara also looked very happy!Charlie and Katherine also sat at the table. They were excited for their friends. Charlie congratulated George and Clara. He shook George’s hand. Katherine looked at Clara’s ring. She hugged Clara. She was happy for George and Clara!On Saturday, the Jenson family shopped for a Christmas tree. They got in the car. They drove to the tree farm. Mr. and Mrs. Jenson walked around the tree farm with their kids.The Jenson family looked at all the trees. They looked at tall trees and short trees. They looked at fat trees and skinny trees. They looked at every tree on the farm. They wanted the perfect tree.The Jenson kids finally found the perfect tree. It wasn’t too tall or too short. It wasn’t too fat or too skinny. The tree was exactly what they wanted. It was the perfect Christmas tree!Theis a form of the verb that shows the action or state was in progress (continued) in the past.Lisayesterday at 8 o’clock.Yesterday, it was raining and thundering all day. Ann was playing inside the house. She wanted to be outside. She wasn’t playing outside because it was raining. She was feeling tired of being trapped inside the house.Ann was trying to keep busy inside the house. She was reading her book until the electricity went out. Then, she decided to practice her sewing. She was practicing sewing until lunchtime. After lunch, she sat by the window and watched the rain.While Ann was watching the rain, the phone rang. Her mother was calling to say she was coming home. She was bringing a new game. Ann and her mother ate ice cream and played the game.While they were playing, the rain stopped! But Ann didn’t even notice. She was having such a good time with her mom!One sunny day, Billy and Timmy were delivering a box to Mr. Thompson. The crate was full of glasses. They were carrying the box on a cart. They were taking the glasses to Mr. Thompson’s store at the end of the street. They were being very careful with the crate full of glasses.As they were passing by the school, they saw Jack and Tom. Jack and Tom were playing soccer. Billy and Timmy asked the other boys for help. The four boys steered the cart through the streets. While Billy and Timmy were pulling from the front, Jack and Tom were pushing from behind.As they were walking, Billy and Timmy were guiding the cart over bumps and holes. They were protecting the glasses. When the four boys arrived at the store, Mr. Thompson was waiting for them. While Mr. Thompson was unloading the glasses, he thanked the boys for their hard work. None of the glasses were broken! The boys were feeling very proud of their hard work.Last night at 7 o’clock, Nate was taking pictures of birds. He was walking through the city park when he saw a fire. An old, empty building near the park was on fire. Nate pulled out his camera.He was taking pictures of the fire when the fire trucks pulled up. The firefighters jumped out. They hooked up their hoses. While they were fighting the fire, Nate was taking more pictures.The firefighters were fighting the fire and Nate was taking pictures when the rain started. The rain helped put the fire out. The firefighters were clapping and Nate was cheering. The fire was finally out.Mitch was always driving his motorcycle too fast. Yesterday after work, Mitch was driving his motorcycle home. While everyone else was driving slowly, he was speeding through the streets. He wasn’t paying attention and was driving too fast when he saw the police officer.While the police officer was directing traffic, he saw Mitch speeding down the street. He was waving his arms when Mitch stopped. The police officer wrote him a traffic ticket for speeding. Mitch was not feeling happy when he arrived home.Theis a form of the verb that shows the action or state was complete before some time in the past.Lisabefore she came.Last night, Dane and Emily danced in a competition. They danced a salsa dance. They had practiced for 6 months before they danced in the competition. They were very good.Dane and Emily’s friends were in the audience. Before that night, they had never seen Dane and Emily dance. In fact, Dane and Emily had never danced in front of anyone before the competition.After everyone had danced, the judges announced the winners. Dane and Emily won! They were the best dancers in the competition. Emily said she had never practiced so hard before! She was glad they had practiced a lot.Last weekend, Mark and Trisha went on a date. Mark took Trisha to the golf course. Mark loved to golf. He had learned to golf as a child. He had even played on a team in high school.Before that day, Trisha had never golfed. She did not know how to hold the golf club. She did not know the rules.Mark taught Trisha how to play. After Trisha had learned the basics, she hit the ball. It was a good hit! Mark had taught Trisha well.I had never seen such beautiful sights before I visited Paris in 2012. I had saved money for 5 years before I booked my trip to Paris. I was very excited! Before my trip to Paris, I had never been out of the United States.When I went to Paris, I spent many days touring the city. The city was big. Sometimes I got lost and asked for directions. I asked for directions in French. That was easy because I had studied French for 2 years before I visited Paris.By the time I left Paris, I had toured many beautiful places. The Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral, and Luxembourg Gardens were just a few of the places I saw. Before I visited Paris, I had only seen those places on television.The Smith family had never owned a car until they bought their first automobile in 1906. Before they bought it, they had only used horses and a buggy for transportation. They had never owned anything so expensive before they bought the car.The Smith family was very excited about their automobile. The children had never ridden in an automobile before their parents purchased the car. They had only seen a few automobiles when they went to town for supplies. But nobody they knew had ever owned an automobile before that day. They felt very lucky.Theis a form of the verb that shows the action or state started in the past and continued until some point in the past.Lisafor 2 hours before she got tired.Donald and Elizabeth had been driving to church before they stopped. They had been driving down a dirt road when they heard a strange noise. Donald stopped the car. He got out of the car. Then, he helped Elizabeth out of the car. Elizabeth sat and waited for Donald.Donald looked at the car. It had been going for an hour or so. He knew how to fix cars. He had been working as a mechanic for 5 years before he moved to the country. Donald got his tools. He looked under the hood. It seemed that the engine had been heating up. He crawled under the car.Donald had been working on the car for a while when Jake parked beside him. Jake had been driving home when he saw Donald and Elizabeth on the side of the road. Jake helped Donald fix the car. Donald thanked Jake for his help. Elizabeth waved to Jake as they drove away. Thanks to Jake’s help, they arrived at church on time.Billy and the other scouts had been hiking on the mountain all morning when they realized they were lost. They looked each direction. They did not see the camp. They did not see the river.The scouts were tired because they had been hiking for four hours. They were worried because they were lost. They sat down under a tree.But Billy was not worried. Billy had been hiking these mountains with his dad his whole life. Billy’s dad had been teaching him how to use a compass for three years. Billy climbed a tree and saw the river. He knew the camp was north of the river. Billy looked at his compass. He guided the scouts back to the camp.Lisa slept because she had been feeling very sick. In fact, Lisa had not been feeling well for three days. Her mother knew something was strange because Lisa had not been acting normal. She had not been finishing her meals for the past two days. She had not even been playing with her friends.The doctor visited Lisa. He had been visiting many children since the sickness arrived. He examined Lisa. He gave Lisa medicine. He talked to Lisa’s mother.Lisa’s mother had been praying for a week when Lisa woke up. Lisa looked much better. She did not feel sick anymore. Everyone was happy that Lisa was better!Patrick had been playing the banjo for about 15 years. Many years ago, his grandfather played the banjo in a band. He taught Patrick how to play the banjo when Patrick was just 10 years old. Patrick had been practicing the banjo ever since. He had been playing for his friends and family for many years.Last night, Patrick played his banjo on a television show. He had been hoping to be on this show since he first saw it on television 5 years ago. He played in front of a live studio audience. The audience cheered and clapped for Patrick.Patrick knew he was good because he had been playing the banjo for a long time. Now everyone knew that Patrick was a good banjo player.Theis a form of the verb that shows the action or state will happen in the future.Lisatomorrow.On Saturday, Katie will be one year old. Katie’s parents are going to have a birthday party. The party is going to begin at noon on Saturday. Many people will be at the party. Katie will have so much fun!Katie’s dad is going to cook hamburgers. Katie’s grandmother is going to bring ice cream. Katie’s aunt is going to bake a cake. It will be a chocolate cake. Katie will love her cake!All of Katie’s relatives will bring presents. Katie is going to open her presents after lunch. Then, everyone will eat cake and ice cream. Katie is going to have a good first birthday!This weekend, Erica is going to compete in a tennis tournament. She will practice hard all week because she wants to win the tournament. The winner will receive $1,000. Erica hopes she will get first place!Erica’s husband is going to travel to the tournament with Erica. He will watch her compete. He will sit in the stands and cheer for Erica. He is going to be proud of Erica even if she does not win first place.Erica’s parents are not going to travel to the tournament. They will watch the tournament on television. They will cheer for Erica at home. They are going to be proud of Erica whether she wins or loses.Brent is an American astronaut. Today, he will travel into outer space. At noon, his space shuttle is going to launch into space. Brent and the other astronauts are going to travel to the International Space Station. They will stay in space for almost 6 months.The crew is going to continue research at the space station. They will do some experiments. They will record their data. They are also going to make some repairs on the space station.Brent will learn a lot in space. He is going to make videos of his time on the space station. His family will watch the videos on the internet. They will see what Brent is doing in space.There is going to be a wedding today. At 4 o’clock this afternoon, Megan Smith and Mark Jones are going to get married. After today, they will be Mr. and Mrs. Mark Jones.It is going to be a huge celebration. Everyone will be there! They are going to serve dinner and dessert. The best man will give a speech. Then everyone will dance. The dance will last until midnight.The day after the wedding, Megan and Mark are going to leave for their honeymoon. They are going to travel to Hawaii. They are going to stay there for 7 days. They will have a good time in Hawaii!Theis a form of the verb that shows the action or state will be in progress at some time in the future.Lisatomorrow at 8 o’clock.Brad likes to fish. He fishes whenever he can. This weekend, he will be fishing at the lake. It is his favorite place to fish.Mark is Brad’s friend. Mark likes to fish too. He also fishes whenever he can. This weekend he will be fishing at the lake with Brad. They will be camping at the lake all weekend.Mark will be picking Brad up at 8 o’clock Friday night. Brad will be ready when Mark arrives. They will be driving all night before they get to the lake.They are excited about the weekend. Brad and Mark both love to fish. They love to fish together. They will be fishing together for many years!Today, there is going to be a parade. At the beginning of the parade, the mayor is going to be driving by in his carriage. The horse will be pulling the carriage and the mayor will be waving to the crowd. The crowd will be waving when the mayor passes by.Timothy and his grandfather will be standing in front of the store when the mayor passes them. Timothy and his grandfather are going to be watching and waving. Everyone is going to be having a good time at the parade.Sir Thomas is going to be arriving at 3 o’clock today. When Sir Thomas arrives, the servants will be waiting. Young Charlie will also be waiting at the door.When Sir Thomas walks into the house, most of the servants are going to be bowing. One servant will be parking the car. Others are going to be preparing dinner. Charlie is going to be carrying Sir Thomas’s suitcase into the house.Tomorrow afternoon, the ship will be sailing to Antarctica. The sailors are going to be working very hard when the ship sails. Some sailors will be pulling ropes on the sails. Others are going to be watching for icebergs. The captain is going to be navigating the ship while it is sailing.When the ship arrives at its destination, some sailors are going to be resting. Others will be making repairs to the ship. The captain is going to be exploring the land. His assistant will be drawing a map of the land.Theis a form of the verb that shows the action or state will be complete before some time in the future.Lisaby 9 o’clock.Mr. Jones is a farmer. He owns a big farm. He plants crops in his fields in the spring. By the time he finishes planting this spring, he will have planted 10 acres of crops. He is going to have planted many crops.Mr. Jones must finish planting before it starts to rain. He is working hard. At this rate, he will have finished planting before it rains. Mr. Jones and his horse will have worked many long hours by the time they finish tonight.Tyler and William are paddling their canoe down the river. They are traveling a long distance through trees and canyons. They will have paddled for many miles by the time they arrive at their destination. They are going to have been gone for 2 weeks by the time they finish their trip.They are going to have seen many sights by the time their trip is completed. They probably will have seen many wild animals. They will have eaten many fish. They will not have seen many other people by the end of their trip.Brett is in the army. Tomorrow, he will leave home to join his troops overseas for 18 months. He will have trained for 8 months by the time he leaves. He will have worked very hard by the time he comes home.By the time he returns, he is going to have been gone for 18 months. His wife will have worried about him all that time. They will have written many letters by the time he comes home. She will be happy when he returns safely.John works in an automobile factory. He works on the assembly line assembling cars. He works many hours every day. By the time he finishes working today, he is going to have worked 10 hours. He will have assembled over 50 cars.Chris also works on the assembly line in the automobile factory. In December, he will have worked there for 5 years. By the time he finishes working today, he is going to have worked over 8 hours. He will have assembled about 40 cars today.Theis a form of the verb that shows the action or state will continue until some point in the future.By tomorrow morning, Lisafor 12 hours.Paul and Lindsey are going on a sleigh ride to their friend’s house for the weekend. The snow will be deep, but their horse is very strong. They are going to travel a long way. They will have been riding in the sleigh for over an hour by the time they arrive.Paul’s horse, Midnight, will pull the sleigh over the snow. When they arrive, Midnight will be tired because he is going to have been pulling the sleigh for over an hour. Midnight will need food and rest because he will have been pulling the sleigh over all that snow.Pete is a window washer. Today, he is going to be washing windows on the 13th floor of a downtown office building. He will have been washing windows for almost 10 hours when he finishes all of the windows on the 13th floor. He will be very tired tonight because he will have been working so hard.Although the work is difficult, Pete enjoys his job. In August, he will have been working as a window washer for 5 years. He will have been washing windows in this city for the past 5 years.Everyone is at church. They are listening to the minister. By the time the minister finishes his sermon, the people will have been listening to him preach for over an hour. They will have been sitting on the hard pews for over an hour.The minister is giving the sermon. It is a long sermon. He will have been talking for over an hour by the time he finishes. He will have been standing behind the pulpit for over an hour.Barry is a magician. Barry has been a magician for many years. This December, he will have been doing magic professionally for 25 years. He will have been entertaining audiences for 25 years.Currently, Barry is a magician in a show in Las Vegas. In October, he is going to have been performing in Las Vegas for 3 years. He will have been entertaining Las Vegas audiences with his card tricks for 3 years.

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Examples
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We know that verb tense is essential in understanding the action of the sentence was performed, but did you know that there are more ways to express tense than just past, present, and future? 

While simple verb tense describes when an action or, perfect verb tense expresses when an action or. Although this is a small difference, it is an important one. Simple verb tense expresses the possibility of an action happening while perfect verb tense expresses with absolute certainty that the action will be completed. 

There are some simple verb tenses and progressive verb tenses, as well as some irregular verbs, that do not follow the rules when changing tense. While this blog post focuses on perfect verb tenses, these other verb tenses can be explored in other blog posts on Albert.

When you’re ready, test yourself with a quiz  and practice with our high-quality, standards-aligned questions here.

The Basics of Perfect Verb Tense

What is Perfect Verb Tense?

Perfect verb tense is used to show an action that is complete and finished, or . This tense is expressed by adding one of the auxiliary verbs — or to the past participle form of the main verb. 

For example:

• I

  have seen

  the movie that was nominated for an Academy Award.

This sentence expresses that the speaker watching a particular movie and did not fall asleep halfway through.

How is Past Perfect Verb Tense Used in Writing?

Past perfect verb tense is created by adding or to the past participle form of the verb and is used in four distinct ways: 

1. To show completed actions

For example: 

• I

  had just finished

  brushing my cat when she tore across the yard and jumped into a mud puddle. 

In this example, the writer wants to emphasize the quick sequence of events as her cat went from clean to dirty within a matter of seconds.

2. To express conditional statements 

For example: 

• If she

  had studied

  for her exam, she would have passed. 

In this example, it is clear that the subject of the sentence did not study for her exam, as she did not pass. This sentence proposes a different outcome the subject a better decision.

3. In the form of a question

For example: 

• “

  Have

  you

  seen

  my hairbrush?” Larry asked Bob anxiously. 

In this example, Larry is hopeful that Bob saw his hairbrush recently and can help him find it.

4. As a negative

For example:

He had not missed a single free-throw since the beginning of the season.

In this example, “negative” simply means that the word is added to the past perfect verb phrase. The use of this negative implies that the subject has a perfect free-throw average since he has never missed a shot.

How is Present Perfect Verb Tense Used in Writing?

Present perfect verb tense expresses an action that occurred at an indefinite (or unknown) time in the past or an action that started in the past and is continuing in the present time. 

While past perfect verb tense is created by adding or to the past participle form of the verb, present perfect verb tense is created by adding or to the past participle form of the main verb. 

For example: 

• The close bond between humans and dogs

  has continued

  to be a common theme in both literature and movies.  

In this example, the writer implies that the theme of dogs as “man’s best friend” started at an indefinite or unknown time and is still relevant today.

How is Future Perfect Verb Tense Used in Writing?

Future perfect verb tense is formed by combining the auxiliary verbs will+have with the past participle form of the verb. This tense is used to show actions that either will be completed at some point in the future or will continue into the future. 

It is similar to a situation. Here’s how: essentially when we talk in future perfect tense, we are speaking about the future as if we have already experienced it and we are looking back on it. 

In the antagonist travels to the future and learns the results of every major sporting event. When he returns to the present day, he builds enormous wealth and power because he can bet with absolute certainty on the outcome of each game throughout his life.

Here is a real life example: 

• When I turn 21, I

  will have visited

  all fifty states. 

This is a pretty bold statement, but when we use the future perfect tense, we are speaking with the authority of someone who knows the future to be true. Maybe the speaker has already planned a nationwide road trip or already visited 49 states with only one to go. Or, maybe the speaker is simply overconfident and should have used a simple future verb tense instead!

Either way, the future perfect verb tense should only be used when the speaker or writer has absolute confidence that something will be completed or will continue into the future. 

What is Perfect Progressive Verb Tense?

The main difference between perfect verb tense and perfect progressive verb tense is the form of the main verb that is used. 

While perfect verb tense pairs an auxiliary verb with a , perfect progressive verb tense combines the same auxiliary verb with the word and aending in .

Here are some helpful definitions and examples: 

Past Perfect Progressive: This verb tense describes a past, ongoing action that occurred before another past action in time. 

For example:

• Before her family moved, she

  had been attending

  a private school.

Present Perfect Progressive: This verb tense describes an action that started in the past, is continuing now in the present, and may continue into the future. 

For example:

• He

  has been dating

  her for several months.

Future Perfect Progressive: This verb tense describes a future, ongoing action that will occur before a specified future time. 

For example:

• In the next few years, we

  will have been wearing

  masks

  and

   

  washing

  our hands more often than ever before.

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3 Tips for Understanding Perfect Verb Tense

Here are some important tips to help you understand perfect verb tense:

Tip #1. Perfect verb tense is created when the auxiliary verb , , or is paired with the past participle form of the main verb

For example: 

• Past Perfect: Robin Hood

  had outwitted

  the Sheriff of Nottingham on countless occasions. 

• Present Perfect: Maid Marian

  has loved

  Robin Hood ever since they first met. 

• Future Perfect: Prince John

  will have cried

  for his mommy when things do not go his way.

Tip #2. If the auxiliary verbs or are used without a main verb, they are considered linking verbs and do not express perfect verb tense

For example: 

• Perfect Verb Tense: I

  have watched

  over twenty times. 

• Linking Verb (

  not

  perfect verb tense): I

  have

  a lovely bunch of coconuts.

Tip #3. Perfect progressive verb tense is a combination of the auxiliary verb phrase , , or and the -ing form of the main verb

For example: 

• Past Perfect: Aladdin

  had been lying

  to Jasmine about his true identity. 

• Present Perfect: Jafar

  has been manipulating

  the king for some time. 

• Future Perfect: The Genie

  will have been helping

  his friend, Aladdin, even after being freed.

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Applying the Basics: Perfect Verb Tense Review & Practice

Now that you understand how perfect verb tense functions in sentences, review the anchor chart below and complete the review to fully understand how to use and recognize perfect verb tense as well as how to differentiate it from other verb tenses.  

The Ultimate List of Verb Tenses

Refer to the graphic below to learn the different types of Verb Tenses, including perfect verb tense:

This list, obviously, does not include all possible verbs and their tenses; however, it is meant to be used as a guide while identifying different types of verb tenses.

Perfect Verb Tense Exercises and Review

Now that you understand perfect verb tense, test your ability to recognize which verb tense is needed in the sentences below.

Select the correct verb tense in the sentences below. Remember, past perfect verb tense describes events that have happened in the past, present perfect verb tense describes events that have happened currently, and future perfect verb tense describes events will have happened.

1. Although Charlie dreamed of finding a golden ticket, he has/had/have never expected to actually find one. 

In this sentence, is the correct auxiliary to use to express past perfect tense. You know that past perfect tense is needed because the other verb in this sentence, , is also in past tense, and verbs must always agree with one another in tense.

2. No one was surprised when Augustus Gloop fell into the chocolate river; he has/had/have been drinking greedily from it just moments earlier. 

In this sentence, is the correct verb to use to express past perfect progressive tense. This verb does a perfect job describing how a continual action in the past led to the current action of Augustus falling into the river.

3. When he accompanies Charlie to Wonka’s chocolate factory, Grandpa George will has/had/have walked for the first time in twenty years. 

In this sentence, is the correct verb to use to express future perfect tense. Grandpa George insists on accompanying Charlie to the factory, and he is so confident in his decision that he is miraculously able to walk again.

4. Slugworth has/had/have been searching unsuccessfully for the secret behind Wonka’s Everlasting Gobstopper candy. 

In this sentence, is the correct use of the present perfect progressive verb tense. It would not be past perfect progressive tense because Slugworth has not been successful in his search, meaning, the search must be ongoing. Slugworth has searched for this recipe in the past, he has been searching in the present, and he will continue to search for this elusive recipe in the future.

5. The Oompa Loompas were a mysterious tribe of people who has/had/have left their home to work for Mr. Wonka in his chocolate factory. 

In this sentence, is the correct past perfect verb tense since the Oompa Loompas left their home for good in the past.

Pro Tip: 

• Perfect verb tense

  always expresses an action that has either been completed, is being completed, or will be completed. 

• Perfect progressive verb tense

  expresses an ongoing action that was completed in the past, an ongoing action that started in the past, continues in the present, and will be continued in the future, and an ongoing action that will be completed in the future.

For additional practice, check out Perfect Verb Tense content on Albert.

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Try for Yourself: Perfect Verb Tense Quiz 

Feeling confident in your understanding of Perfect Verb Tense? 

Take this short six-question quiz to see what you’ve learned:

1. Which three auxiliary verbs are used before the main verb to show perfect verb tense? 

• Answer: has, have, and had 

• Correct Explanation: That’s right!

  Perfect verb tense

  is shown through the pairing of the auxiliary verb

  or

  with the main verb. 

• Incorrect Explanation: Sorry, that’s not right! Remember,

  perfect verb tense

  is shown through the pairing of the auxiliary verb

  or

  with the main verb.

2. What ending does the main verb use to show perfect progressive tense? 

• Answer: -ing 

• Correct Explanation: That’s right!

  Perfect progressive tense

  is shown through the combination of the auxiliary verbs have been, has been, or had been and the -ing form of the main verb. 

• Incorrect Explanation: Sorry, that’s not right! Remember,

  perfect progressive tense

  is shown through the combination of the auxiliary verbs have been, has been, or had been and the -ing form of the main verb, while

  perfect verb tense

  is shown through the combination of the auxiliary verb have, has, or had with the past participle form of the main verb.

3. In this sentence, is the future tense verb, “will have been barking” simple, perfect, or perfect progressive tense? 

If he keeps this up, the neighbor’s dog will have been barking all night. 

• Answer: Perfect Progressive Tense

• Correct Explanation: That’s right! The verb

  is

  future perfect progressive tense

  , meaning that the speaker believes that the dog will continue the ongoing action of barking into the next morning.  

• Incorrect Explanation: Sorry, that’s not right! Remember,

  perfect progressive verb tenses

  express a future, ongoing action and consist of the auxiliary verb phrase “

  combined with the -ing form of the main verb, which in this case, is “

  ”.

4. In this sentence, is the present tense verb, , simple, perfect, or perfect progressive tense? 

She has witnessed her start-up company evolve from a few employees in a single room to a multi-million dollar business with employees stationed around the world. 

• Answer: Perfect Verb Tense

• Correct Explanation: That’s right! The verb phrase,

  , implies an action that started in the past and continues in the present day. Therefore, this verb is

  present perfect tense

  . 

• Incorrect Explanation: Sorry, that’s not right! Remember,

  present perfect tense

  implies an action that started in the past and continues in the present day and is shown by the combination of the auxiliary verb,

  or

  , and the past participle form of the main verb.

5. In this sentence, is the past participle verb, simple, perfect, or perfect progressive tense? 

They will be attending the awards ceremony this evening. 

• Answer: Progressive verb tense

• Correct Explanation: That’s right! In this sentence, the phrase

  implies an ongoing activity that will occur in the future; therefore, a

  future progressive verb

  is required. 

• Incorrect Explanation: Sorry, that’s not right! Remember,

  future progressive verb tense

  implies an ongoing activity that will occur in the future, such as,

6. In this sentence, is a past perfect or past perfect progressive tense verb needed? 

Four years ago I had graduated/had been graduating from my alma mater. 

• Answer: bumped: Past Perfect Tense

• Correct Explanation: That’s right! Since graduating is an accomplishment that takes place during the span of only a few hours on a single day, a

  past perfect tense verb

  is needed to show that this action has been completed. A

  past perfect progressive tense verb

  would be incorrect because it implies that the speaker has been graduating from college every day for the past four years. 

• Incorrect Explanation: Sorry, that’s not right! Remember,

  past perfect tense verbs

  are used to show that an action has been completed in the past, like graduating. A

  past perfect progressive tense verb

  would be incorrect because it implies that the speaker has been graduating from college every day for the past four years.

For additional practice with Perfect Verb Tense, check out our completely free practice on Albert: Perfect Verb Tense.

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Teacher’s Corner for Perfect Verb Tenses

Even if students understand that verb tense can be expressed as an action happening in the past, present, or future, it is possible that students may not realize the many other ways to express tense that goes beyond the simplest categories. Perfect verb tense is a great example in showing students how subtle changes in verb tense can affect a writer’s tone. 

For example, a writer stating in simple future tense that “” does not give the reader much of a sense of when, or even if, this will happen in the story! 

However, if the author uses future perfect tense, the tone of the sentence and possibly the entire story changes: “” 

Suddenly, the story has intrigue because the writer has established an unwavering timeline. Instead of getting annoyed at Elizabeth in the first sentence for not thinking to look under the rocks, the second sentence invests the reader in learning what leads Elizabeth to eventually uncover this hidden hoard.  

While the Common Core English Language Progressive Skills Chart provides a broad look at where students should ideally land in their understanding of grammatical concepts, for specific standards on the many different types of verb tense including perfect verb tense, refer to the Common Core State Standards website. 

Albert provides a variety of verb tense practice assignments, including a Perfect Verb Tense Practice. Albert has also created ready-to-use assessments and quizzes on a range of grammatical topics that can be used by educators to track student understanding and progress.

Summary for Perfect Verb Tense

Whenever you want to express with certainty that an action was completed, is being completed, or will be completed, use perfect verb tense. 

Whenever you want to express an ongoing action that was completed, an ongoing, perpetual action that started in the past, continues in the present, and will continue in the future, or an ongoing action that will be completed in the future, use perfect progressive verb tense. 

Be sure to check out our free grammar course for more Perfect Verb Tense practice. 

You can also access over 3,400 free, high-quality questions that address nearly every grammatical concept.

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