Verb tenses

We call verb tenses to the confluence of several grammatical categories such as time, aspect and mode in the conjugation or declension of a verb. The time indicates when the action is executed, which in turn is modified by appearance and mode. In this article we will elaborate you the examples of verb tenses.

The grammatical aspect indicates the state of the action, whether it is finished (past perfect: “she ate”), unfinished (past imperfect: “she ate”) or much earlier (past perfect: “she had eaten”).

The verbal mode indicates what intention or modality carries the verbal action. A verb is said to be in the indicative mood when the verb indicates a real or concrete action (“the child plays in the garden”); in the subjunctive mood when it indicates a hypothetical action or a possibility (“if you wanted, we would go on a trip”); and in imperative mode when the action is an order or an instruction (“do your homework”).

The verbs are conjugated by person (first, second and third) and number (singular and plural).

Classification of verb tenses

	indicative mood	Subjunctive mode
simple times	Present Simple Perfect Past Imperfect Simple Future Simple Conditional	Present Past Imperfect Future Imperfect
compound tenses	Past Perfect Compound Past Pluperfect Past Past Past Compound Future Compound Conditional	Past Perfect Past Pluperfect Future Perfect

Indicative Mood Tenses

• Present . It places the action at the moment of the enunciation or in the immediate future. Expresses permanent or stable situations and describes actions that are repeated or routines. For example: Took English classes on Mondays and Thursdays.

Person	first conjugation	second conjugation	third conjugation
Me	love	I fear	Birth
Your voice	you love	you fear	parts/parties
He she	loves	fear	part
us	we love	we fear	we leave
You You	you love love	you fear fear	depart depart
they	love	fear	depart

• Past perfect simple . It expresses actions that began and ended in the past, that occurred in a timely manner or that interrupted other past actions, without connection with the present. For example: Last year I studied contemporary history at school.

Person	first conjugation	second conjugation	third conjugation
Me	I loved	I feared	I left
Your voice	you loved	you feared	you left
He she	love	feared	departed
us	we love	we fear	we leave
You You	you loved loved	feared feared	you left they left
they	they loved	they feared	departed

• imperfect past . Also called copreterite , it expresses actions from the past whose beginning and end are not specified. It also conveys the regularity or continuity of an action in the past. For example: Roman traveled to the interior every month.

Person	first conjugation	second conjugation	third conjugation
Me	loved	feared	departed
Your voice	you loved	you feared	departed
He she	loved	feared	departed
us	we loved	we feared	we left
You You	you loved loved	you were afraid	you were leaving
they	loved	they feared	departed

• Compound past perfect . It refers to actions from the past that are connected to the present or that are still in force. It is formed with the auxiliary verb “to have” conjugated in the present tense followed by the participle of the main verb. For example: Last week I transplanted the pines to other pots.

Person	first conjugation	second conjugation	third conjugation
Me	I have loved	I have feared	I have left
Your voice	You have loved	you have feared	you have left
He she	has loved	has feared	Has left
us	we have loved	we have feared	we have parted
You You	you have loved you have loved	you have feared you have feared	you have left you have left
they	have loved	they have feared	they have departed

• Pluperfect past tense . It conveys a previous past action to another that also occurred in the past. It is formed with the auxiliary verb “to have” conjugated in the imperfect past tense followed by the participle of the main verb. For example: When I went to talk to Tomás, he had already found out what had happened.

Person	first conjugation	second conjugation	third conjugation
Me	had loved	had feared	had left
Your voice	you had loved	you had feared	you had left
He she	had loved	had feared	had left
us	we had loved	we had feared	we had parted
You You	you had loved you had loved	you had feared you had feared	you had left you had left
they	they had loved	they had feared	they had parted

• past tense . It alludes to a situation in which the first action must be completed for the next to happen. It is an infrequently used verb tense. It is formed with the auxiliary verb “to have” in the simple past tense followed by the participle of the main verb. For example: As soon as he received his exam grade, Juan went to celebrate with his classmates.

Person	first conjugation	second conjugation	third conjugation
Me	I have loved	I have feared	I had party
Your voice	you had loved	you had feared	you had party
He she	had loved	had feared	there was a match
us	we had loved	we had feared	we had party
You You	you had loved you had loved	you had feared you had feared	you had party they had party
they	they had loved	they had feared	they had party

• simple future . It expresses an action that takes place at a later time than the enunciation, either as something that is to come, as a probability or an intention. For example: My friend is coming to study this afternoon.

Person	first conjugation	second conjugation	third conjugation
Me	i will love	I will fear	I will leave
Your voice	you will love	you will fear	you will leave
He she	will love	will fear	will depart
us	we will love	we will fear	we will leave
You You	will love will love	will fear	will depart will depart
they	they will love	they will fear	they will depart

• Compound Future . It expresses an action prior to another future action, but subsequent to the present. It can also express doubt in relation to a past action. It is formed with the auxiliary verb “to have” in the future simple followed by the participle of the main verb. For example: When my parents return from Europe, I will have already finished my studies.

Person	first conjugation	second conjugation	third conjugation
Me	I will have loved	I will have feared	I will have left
Your voice	you will have loved	you will have feared	you will have left
He she	will have loved	will have feared	there will be party
us	we will have loved	we will have feared	we will have party
You You	you will have loved they will have loved	you will have feared they will have feared	you will have parted they will have parted
they	they will have loved	they will have feared	they will have parted

• Simple conditional . Also called postpreterite , it expresses suppositions, hypotheses or suggestions. Also, form questions, requests or invitations in a tone of courtesy or desire. For example: Would you have a pencil to lend me?

Person	first conjugation	second conjugation	third conjugation
Me	would love	I would fear	would depart
Your voice	you would love	would you fear	you would leave
He she	would love	I would fear	would depart
us	we would love	we would fear	we would leave
You You	you would love	would fear	you would be leaving
they	would love	they would fear	they would depart

• Compound conditional . Also called antepospreterite , it expresses past hypothetical situations that did not occur or past wishes that were impossible to fulfill. It is formed with the auxiliary verb “have” in the simple conditional followed by the participle of the main verb. For example: If I had known the situation, I would have acted differently.

Person	first conjugation	second conjugation	third conjugation
Me	would have loved	would have feared	would have party
Your voice	you would have loved	you would have feared	you would have left
He she	would have loved	would have feared	would have party
us	we would have loved	we would have feared	we would have parted
You You	you would have loved you would have loved	you would have feared they would have feared	you would have split they would have split
they	they would have loved	they would have feared	they would have parted

Subjunctive mood tenses

• Present . It expresses a present or future probability, and in subordinate clauses it is used to express emotions, feelings, desires, advice, evaluations, possibilities, hypotheses, among others. It also appears in negative imperative sentences. For example: I love that you listen when I talk to you.

Person	first conjugation	second conjugation	third conjugation
Me	love	theme	depart
Your voice	yes	topics	Parthian
He she	love	theme	depart
us	let’s love	let’s fear	let’s go
You You	love amen	fear fear	depart depart
they	amen	fear	depart

• past perfect . It expresses actions that have already finished but that are related to the action of the main sentence. Sometimes it can refer to actions that will end in the future. It is formed with the auxiliary verb “to have” conjugated in the present subjunctive followed by the participle of the main verb. For example: Once you ‘ve finished your homework, I’ll take you out for ice cream.

Person	first conjugation	second conjugation	third conjugation
Me	have loved	have feared	have party
Your voice	have loved	you have feared	you have left
He she	have loved	have feared	have party
us	we have loved	we have feared	we have parted
You You	you have loved you have loved	you have feared you have feared	you have parted you have parted
they	have loved	have feared	have parted

• imperfect past . In subordinate clauses, express that the action occurred at the same time or after another, whether past, present or future. It is also used for imaginary or unlikely conditional or concessive sentences, and to show politeness or caution. For example: I’d really appreciate it if you’d help me carry these bags.

Person	first conjugation	second conjugation	third conjugation
Me	love or knead	fear or fear	leave or leave
Your voice	you will love or knead	feared or feared	leave or leave
He she	love or knead	fear or fear	leave or leave
us	let’s love or love	we feared or feared	let’s leave or let’s leave
You You	you will love or you will love you will love or you will love	feared or feared feared or feared	you would leave or you would leave you would leave or you would leave
they	love or knead	feared or feared	left or left

• Pluperfect past tense . It transmits actions that could have occurred or would have occurred in the past, if the circumstances had been different. It is formed with the auxiliary verb “to have” conjugated in the imperfect past tense of the subjunctive followed by the participle of the main verb. For example: If I had told you the truth, I’m sure you wouldn’t have helped me.

Person	first conjugation	second conjugation	third conjugation
Me	would have or would have loved	would have or would have feared	would have or would have left
Your voice	would have or would have loved	would have or would have feared	you would have or you would have left
He she	would have or would have loved	would have or would have feared	would have or would have left
us	we would have or we would have loved	we would have or we would have feared	we would have or we would have left
You You	you would have or you would have loved you would have or you would have loved	you would have or you would have feared you would have or you would have feared	you would have or you would have left you would have or you would have left
they	would have or would have loved	they would have feared	they would have or they would have left

• imperfect future . It is used to refer to a future and hypothetical action or situation. It is a verb tense that is practically in disuse. For example: Anyone who obeys the rules will have no problems.

Person	first conjugation	second conjugation	third conjugation
Me	I will love	fear	party
Your voice	To love is	fear	pertieres
He she	I will love	fear	pertier
us	we will love	we will fear	let’s part
You You	you will love	you will fear	you will partieren
they	love	fear	depart

• Future perfect . It expresses a future action that will have already finished with respect to a future time, but that would only occur if the previous action were fulfilled. It is a verb tense that has fallen into disuse and is formed with the auxiliary verb “to have” conjugated in the imperfect future of the subjunctive followed by the participle of the main verb. For example: Anyone who has studied expressionism will enjoy the exhibition at the museum.

Person	first conjugation	second conjugation	third conjugation
Me	would have loved	I would have feared	would have party
Your voice	you would have loved	you would have feared	you would have party
He she	would have loved	I would have feared	would have party
us	we would have loved	we would have feared	we would have party
You You	you would have loved you would have loved	you would have feared you would have feared	you would have party you would have party
they	they would have loved	they had feared	they had party

To take into account: The imperative mood does not differentiate verb tenses and is also defective, that is, it does not present forms for all persons, but only for the second, both singular and plural. For example: Come here, please. / Come here, please.

Sentences with tenses of the indicative mood

1. I’m calm for tomorrow’s exam. [Present]
2. The last time I went to the capital I visited all my relatives. [Preterite perfect simple]
3. When I finished my homework, I went to the park. [Past perfect]
4. My students have studied for weeks for this exam. [Preterite perfect compound]
5. I’ve done a lot of exercise during the holidays. [Preterite perfect compound]
6. Rocío made waffles the last time we saw each other . [Preterite perfect simple]
7. He walked to work every day. [Preterite imperfect]
8. If I knew how to play the guitar, I would tell you . [Simple conditional]
9. Esteban had already bought the ticket when we organized the trip. [Preterite pluperfect]
10. Raúl worked in a factory when he was single. [Preterite imperfect]
11. Study French twice a week. [Present]
12. Diana was walking her dog in that square. [Preterite imperfect]
13. We had already arrived at the hotel when my aunt called. [Preterite pluperfect]
14. Tomorrow night I will have finished all my pending tasks. [future compound]
15. Do you want a coffee? [Present]
16. If I’d had time, I would have made dinner. [Conditional compound]
17. In the last year of the course, many exchange students arrived . [Preterite perfect simple]
18. There will be desserts for all tastes. [Simple future]
19. I loved getting out of school and hanging out with my friends from the neighborhood. [Preterite imperfect]
20. His visit was a huge surprise. [Preterite perfect simple]
21. In a few years, you will already have accumulated enough experience to be a supervisor. [future compound]
22. We will provide assistance to all runners during the marathon. [Simple future]
23. My grandmother cooked us a cake every time we went to visit her. [Preterite imperfect]
24. He had to quit his job after that incident. [Preterite perfect simple]
25. As soon as he heard the news, he began to jump for joy. [Past perfect]

Sentences with tenses of the subjunctive mood

1. I love that we go to the movies on Sundays. [Present]
2. When the course is over , we can go fishing. [Perfect tense]
3. If you had been paying attention, you wouldn’t be asking me this. [Preterite pluperfect]
4. Anyone who has studied derivatives will understand that class. [Perfect future]
5. If you had helped me , the result would be different. [Preterite pluperfect]
6. Hopefully the weather is with us so we can go to the park this afternoon. [Present]
7. Once you ‘ve finished the vegetables, I’ll serve you dessert. [Perfect tense]
8. If someone requests our material, we will send it to them. [Imperfect future]
9. My father would like to have everything ready this afternoon. [Preterite imperfect]
10. If you had listened to me, everything would be different. [Preterite pluperfect]
11. I hope you come out first in the race. [Present]
12. If they had known my mother, they would understand what I am talking about. [Preterite pluperfect]
13. When the elections are over, the economy will stabilize. [Perfect tense]
14. I hope you have no problems at the airport. [Present]
15. Once we’re done painting, we’ll shop for furniture. [Perfect tense]
16. You behave as if you were a child. [Preterite imperfect]
17. I thought it was weird that you hadn’t called me all day. [Preterite pluperfect]
18. Anyone who reads the rules will behave appropriately. [Imperfect future]
19. Hopefully on our honeymoon we do that excursion. [Present]
20. If I had money, I would go on vacation to Morocco. [Preterite imperfect]
21. I don’t want you to fear for me, I’ll be fine. [Present]
22. If I didn’t need help, I wouldn’t be asking for it. [Preterite imperfect]
23. Let me know when you’re done ordering. [Perfect tense]
24. Anyone who has requested additional information will receive it by email. [Perfect future]
25. If you collaborated with the preparations, it would be easier for everyone. [Preterite imperfect]