英語共有十六種時態，其表現形式如下(以work為例)

一般時進行時 完成時 完成進行時

現在 work/ be working/ have worked/ have been working

過去 worked/ be working/ had worked/ had been working

將來 will work/ will be working/ will have worked/ will have been working

過去將來would work/ would be working/ would have worked/ would have been working

舉例：

英語中有12個主要時態，都來自於三時（過去、現在、將來）

現在以I listen為例，舉例英語中有12個主要時態如下所示：

一般現在時：I listen

現在進行時：I am listening

過去進行時：I was listening

現在完成時：I have listened

現在完成進行時：I have been listening

一般將來時：I shall listen”或“I will listen.”

將來進行時：I shall be listening

一般過去時：I listened

過去完成時：I had listened

過去完成進行時：I had been listening

將來完成時：I shall have listened

將來完成進行時：I shall have been listening