TENSE Tenses are verb forms that indicate the time frame of an action. They show whether the action is in the past, present or future. There are three main tenses in English: present tense, past tense, and future tense. Each main tense has several sub-tenses that add further detail about the action. Simple Present Tense: indicates a habit or general truth and is formed using the base form of the verb (e.g. "I eat breakfast every day"). Present Continuous Tense: indicates an action happening now and is formed using the present tense of "to be" + present participle (e.g. "I am eating breakfast now"). Present Perfect Tense: indicates an action completed recently or its effects in the present and is formed using the present tense of "to have" + past participle (e.g. "I have eaten breakfast already"). Present Perfect Continuous Tense: indicates a continuous a...