Perfect, Progressive, and Perfect Progressive

As you already now, there is past, present, and future tense, but there's more to it than that.

Verbs can be in simple tense, progressive or continuous tense, perfect tense, or perfect progressive tense.

It is complicated, but we will break it down!

Progressive tense is when something is in progress or continuous. It doesn't exist on its own, but with the past, present, or future

Past progressive is the was/were + verb&ing

Ex. I was studying before you came.

Present progressive is the am/is/are + verb&ing

Ex. I am studying .for a test tomorrow

Future progressive is will be + verb&ing

Ex. I will be studying for a majority of the evening

The perfect tense is used when discussing an event from an indefinite time in the past or an event that began in the past and continued to the present time

Past Perfect tense had + verb (past participle form)

Ex. They had experienced a lot of rain

Present Perfect tense has/have + verb (past participle form)

Ex. She has played several instruments in the band.

Future Perfect tense will have + verb (past participle form)

Ex. I will have been a teacher for 4 years at the end of this school year.

Used to say that an event or action is, was, or will be continually occurring (progressive) but that it is, was, or will be completed at a later time, or that it relates to a later time (perfect)

Past Perfect Progressive had been + verb&ing

Ex. They had been playing a game when the dog ran through and destroyed it

Present Perfect Progressive have/has been + verb&ing

Ex. She has been jumping rope since she was 4.

Future Perfect Progressive will have been + verb&ing

Ex. I will have been studying for 3 hours by dinner time.