The 6 tenses

A verb is the most important word in any sentence because more constructions depend upon the verb than upon any other parts of speech. Verbs have a number of properties which other parts of speech do not have. One of that properties that belongs exclusively to verbs and verb forms is tense.

3 tenses are called simple tenses and 3 other are called perfect tenses.

The simple tenses are
present tense
past tense
future tense

The perfect tenses are
present perfect tense
past perfect tense
future perfect tense

The only difference between the simple tenses and the perfect tenses is that the perfect tenses include the idea of completion. In grammar, the word perfect refers to an action or state of being that is completed at the time of speaking or writing.

In addition to the forms which have already been given to show tense, a verb has special forms to show that the action is continuing. These forms are called the progressive forms of a verb.