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All 12 English Tenses

Guia completa de tiempos verbales

Los tiempos verbales en ingles son mas faciles cuando los estudias como un sistema de tiempo y aspecto: presente, pasado, futuro, simple, continuo, perfecto y perfecto continuo.

Esta guia de gramatica ESL explica los 12 tiempos verbales con reglas claras, formas del verbo, linea de tiempo, ejemplos, palabras clave y errores comunes.

Los tiempos simples muestran hechos, rutinas, acciones terminadas y futuro basico; los tiempos continuos muestran acciones en progreso.

Los tiempos perfectos conectan dos momentos, y los perfectos continuos se enfocan en la duracion antes de ahora, antes de un punto pasado o antes de un punto futuro.

Usa este mapa para elegir el tiempo verbal correcto al hablar, escribir, resolver quizzes de gramatica y comunicarte en ingles real.

Los 12 tiempos verbales en ingles

Idea general

Los 12 tiempos ingleses no son 12 ideas separadas. Se forman combinando tres tiempos basicos con cuatro aspectos.

El tiempo responde a la pregunta: presente, pasado o futuro. El aspecto responde a otra pregunta: hecho simple, accion en progreso, accion completada o duracion antes de un punto.

Cuando ves una frase como She has been working for two hours., no solo miras el verbo. Tambien preguntas que relacion de tiempo expresa.

Regla clave: elige el tiempo verbal por el significado, no solo por una palabra de tiempo.

Mapa rapido de tiempos

Tiempo verbal Forma principal Significado principal Ejemplos
Presente simple
Present Simple		 Subject + base verb / verb-s habitos, hechos, rutinas, horarios y verdades generales
She studies every evening.
Pasado simple
Past Simple		 Subject + past verb acciones terminadas, eventos pasados completos y orden de historia en un tiempo terminado
She studied yesterday.
Futuro simple
Future Simple		 Subject + will + base verb predicciones, promesas, ofrecimientos, decisiones rapidas y hechos futuros
She will study tomorrow.
Presente continuo
Present Continuous		 Subject + am/is/are + verb-ing acciones que ocurren ahora, situaciones temporales, cambios y planes futuros organizados
She is studying now.
Pasado continuo
Past Continuous		 Subject + was/were + verb-ing acciones en progreso en un momento pasado, acciones de fondo e interrupciones en el pasado
She was studying at seven.
Futuro continuo
Future Continuous		 Subject + will be + verb-ing acciones que estaran en progreso en un momento especifico del futuro
She will be studying at eight.
Presente perfecto
Present Perfect		 Subject + have/has + past participle acciones pasadas conectadas con ahora, experiencia de vida, noticias recientes y tiempo no terminado
She has finished the report.
Pasado perfecto
Past Perfect		 Subject + had + past participle acciones completadas antes de otra accion o punto en el pasado
She had finished before I arrived.
Futuro perfecto
Future Perfect		 Subject + will have + past participle acciones que estaran completadas antes de un momento o accion futura
She will have finished by Friday.
Presente perfecto continuo
Present Perfect Continuous		 Subject + have/has been + verb-ing acciones que empezaron en el pasado y continuan ahora, o acciones recientes con evidencia presente
She has been studying for two hours.
Pasado perfecto continuo
Past Perfect Continuous		 Subject + had been + verb-ing acciones que continuaron hasta otra accion o punto pasado
She had been studying before the test.
Futuro perfecto continuo
Future Perfect Continuous		 Subject + will have been + verb-ing acciones que continuaran hasta un momento futuro, con foco en la duracion
She will have been studying for two hours by noon.

Tiempo y aspecto

Piensa en cada tiempo verbal como un punto o una linea en una linea de tiempo. Simple es directo, continuo esta en progreso, perfecto mira hacia atras desde un punto, y perfecto continuo mide duracion hasta un punto.

Tiempos simples

Los tiempos simples presentan la accion de forma directa. Sirven para hechos, rutinas, eventos terminados e ideas futuras que no necesitan progreso ni duracion.

Tiempos continuos

Los tiempos continuos usan be mas verb-ing. Hacen que la accion se vea abierta, temporal, no terminada o en progreso en un momento especifico.

Tiempos perfectos

Los tiempos perfectos usan have mas participio pasado. Conectan un momento con otro mostrando finalizacion, resultado, experiencia u orden.

Tiempos perfectos continuos

Los tiempos perfectos continuos usan have been mas verb-ing. Conectan dos momentos y dan mucho peso a la duracion antes de un punto.

Tiempos simples

Los tiempos simples presentan la accion de forma directa. Sirven para hechos, rutinas, eventos terminados e ideas futuras que no necesitan progreso ni duracion.

Presente simple (Present Simple)

Significado principal: habitos, hechos, rutinas, horarios y verdades generales

Formula: Subject + base verb / verb-s

Formas afirmativa, negativa y pregunta

Afirmativa
She studies every evening.
Negativa
She does not study on Sundays.
Pregunta
Does she study after work?

Usos principales

  • Usalo para acciones repetidas y habitos diarios.
  • Usalo para hechos y cosas generalmente verdaderas.
  • Usalo para horarios fijos como clases, buses y programas.

Palabras clave

  • every day
  • usually
  • always
  • never
  • on Mondays

Ejemplos

  • I drink coffee every morning.
  • The sun rises in the east.
  • The train leaves at six.
  • My brother works in Dubai.

Errores comunes

IncorrectoCorrectoPor que
She study every day.
She studies every day.
Agrega s o es con he, she, it y nombres singulares.
She does not studies here.
She does not study here.
Despues de does not, usa el verbo base.

Pasado simple (Past Simple)

Significado principal: acciones terminadas, eventos pasados completos y orden de historia en un tiempo terminado

Formula: Subject + past verb

Formas afirmativa, negativa y pregunta

Afirmativa
She studied yesterday.
Negativa
She did not study yesterday.
Pregunta
Did she study yesterday?

Usos principales

  • Usalo cuando el tiempo ya termino.
  • Usalo para contar historias pasadas en orden.
  • Usa did en negativas y preguntas, y despues el verbo base.

Palabras clave

  • yesterday
  • last week
  • in 2020
  • two days ago

Ejemplos

  • We visited Amman last summer.
  • He finished the task at noon.
  • They moved here in 2021.
  • I called you two hours ago.

Errores comunes

IncorrectoCorrectoPor que
Did she studied yesterday?
Did she study yesterday?
Despues de did, usa el verbo base.
I have seen him yesterday.
I saw him yesterday.
Usa pasado simple con una palabra de tiempo pasado terminado como yesterday.

Futuro simple (Future Simple)

Significado principal: predicciones, promesas, ofrecimientos, decisiones rapidas y hechos futuros

Formula: Subject + will + base verb

Formas afirmativa, negativa y pregunta

Afirmativa
She will study tomorrow.
Negativa
She will not study tomorrow.
Pregunta
Will she study tomorrow?

Usos principales

  • Usa will para predicciones y hechos futuros.
  • Usa will para promesas, ofrecimientos y decisiones rapidas.
  • Despues de will usa el verbo base.

Palabras clave

  • tomorrow
  • next week
  • soon
  • one day

Ejemplos

  • I will send the file tonight.
  • It will probably rain later.
  • We will help you after class.
  • The meeting will start soon.

Errores comunes

IncorrectoCorrectoPor que
She will studies tomorrow.
She will study tomorrow.
Despues de will, usa el verbo base.
When she will arrive, we will eat.
When she arrives, we will eat.
Despues de when, before, after y until en clausulas de tiempo futuro, usa presente simple.

Tiempos continuos

Los tiempos continuos usan be mas verb-ing. Hacen que la accion se vea abierta, temporal, no terminada o en progreso en un momento especifico.

Presente continuo (Present Continuous)

Significado principal: acciones que ocurren ahora, situaciones temporales, cambios y planes futuros organizados

Formula: Subject + am/is/are + verb-ing

Formas afirmativa, negativa y pregunta

Afirmativa
She is studying now.
Negativa
She is not studying now.
Pregunta
Is she studying now?

Usos principales

  • Usalo para acciones que ocurren ahora o alrededor de ahora.
  • Usalo para situaciones temporales y cambios.
  • Usalo para planes futuros ya organizados.

Palabras clave

  • now
  • right now
  • at the moment
  • today
  • this week

Ejemplos

  • I am reading a grammar article now.
  • They are staying with us this week.
  • Prices are rising quickly.
  • We are meeting Omar tonight.

Errores comunes

IncorrectoCorrectoPor que
She studying now.
She is studying now.
Los tiempos continuos necesitan be antes de verb-ing.
I am knowing the answer.
I know the answer.
Muchos verbos de estado usan formas simples, no formas continuas.

Pasado continuo (Past Continuous)

Significado principal: acciones en progreso en un momento pasado, acciones de fondo e interrupciones en el pasado

Formula: Subject + was/were + verb-ing

Formas afirmativa, negativa y pregunta

Afirmativa
She was studying at seven.
Negativa
She was not studying at seven.
Pregunta
Was she studying at seven?

Usos principales

  • Usalo para una accion en progreso en un momento pasado.
  • Usalo como fondo en una historia.
  • Usalo con pasado simple cuando una accion interrumpe a otra.

Palabras clave

  • at seven
  • when
  • while
  • all morning

Ejemplos

  • I was cooking when you called.
  • They were waiting outside the office.
  • While Lina was reading, her phone rang.
  • It was raining all morning.

Errores comunes

IncorrectoCorrectoPor que
I was study at seven.
I was studying at seven.
Usa was o were mas verb-ing.
They was working.
They were working.
Usa were con you, we y they.

Futuro continuo (Future Continuous)

Significado principal: acciones que estaran en progreso en un momento especifico del futuro

Formula: Subject + will be + verb-ing

Formas afirmativa, negativa y pregunta

Afirmativa
She will be studying at eight.
Negativa
She will not be studying at eight.
Pregunta
Will she be studying at eight?

Usos principales

  • Usalo para una accion en progreso en un momento futuro.
  • Usalo para imaginar que estara haciendo alguien entonces.
  • Usa will be mas verb-ing.

Palabras clave

  • at this time tomorrow
  • at eight
  • this time next week

Ejemplos

  • At this time tomorrow, I will be flying to Madrid.
  • We will be working when you arrive.
  • They will be waiting near the gate.
  • This time next month, she will be training new staff.

Errores comunes

IncorrectoCorrectoPor que
She will studying at eight.
She will be studying at eight.
El futuro continuo necesita will be mas verb-ing.
I will be finish at noon.
I will be finishing at noon.
Despues de will be, usa verb-ing cuando el significado esta en progreso.

Tiempos perfectos

Los tiempos perfectos usan have mas participio pasado. Conectan un momento con otro mostrando finalizacion, resultado, experiencia u orden.

Presente perfecto (Present Perfect)

Significado principal: acciones pasadas conectadas con ahora, experiencia de vida, noticias recientes y tiempo no terminado

Formula: Subject + have/has + past participle

Formas afirmativa, negativa y pregunta

Afirmativa
She has finished the report.
Negativa
She has not finished the report.
Pregunta
Has she finished the report?

Usos principales

  • Usalo cuando una accion pasada importa ahora.
  • Usalo para experiencia de vida sin tiempo pasado terminado.
  • Usalo con for y since para tiempo no terminado.

Palabras clave

  • already
  • yet
  • ever
  • never
  • just
  • for
  • since

Ejemplos

  • I have visited Paris twice.
  • She has just arrived.
  • We have lived here for three years.
  • They have not called yet.

Errores comunes

IncorrectoCorrectoPor que
I have saw that movie.
I have seen that movie.
Usa el participio pasado despues de have o has.
I have seen him yesterday.
I saw him yesterday.
Usa pasado simple con un tiempo pasado terminado.

Pasado perfecto (Past Perfect)

Significado principal: acciones completadas antes de otra accion o punto en el pasado

Formula: Subject + had + past participle

Formas afirmativa, negativa y pregunta

Afirmativa
She had finished before I arrived.
Negativa
She had not finished before I arrived.
Pregunta
Had she finished before you arrived?

Usos principales

  • Usalo para la accion mas antigua entre dos acciones pasadas.
  • Usalo cuando el orden pasado es importante.
  • Usa had mas participio pasado.

Palabras clave

  • before
  • after
  • already
  • by the time

Ejemplos

  • The film had started before we sat down.
  • I had never met him before the conference.
  • By the time we arrived, they had left.
  • She had prepared everything before the guests came.

Errores comunes

IncorrectoCorrectoPor que
I had went home.
I had gone home.
Usa el participio pasado despues de had.
When I arrived, he left earlier.
When I arrived, he had left.
Usa pasado perfecto para la accion mas antigua cuando el orden importa.

Futuro perfecto (Future Perfect)

Significado principal: acciones que estaran completadas antes de un momento o accion futura

Formula: Subject + will have + past participle

Formas afirmativa, negativa y pregunta

Afirmativa
She will have finished by Friday.
Negativa
She will not have finished by Friday.
Pregunta
Will she have finished by Friday?

Usos principales

  • Usalo para finalizacion antes de una fecha futura.
  • Usalo con by, by then o before.
  • Usa will have mas participio pasado.

Palabras clave

  • by Friday
  • by then
  • before noon
  • by the end of

Ejemplos

  • By noon, I will have sent the email.
  • They will have completed the course by June.
  • We will have eaten before the meeting starts.
  • By next year, he will have saved enough money.

Errores comunes

IncorrectoCorrectoPor que
She will have finish by Friday.
She will have finished by Friday.
Despues de will have, usa el participio pasado.
By noon, I will finish already.
By noon, I will have finished.
Usa futuro perfecto cuando el foco es la finalizacion antes de un punto futuro.

Tiempos perfectos continuos

Los tiempos perfectos continuos usan have been mas verb-ing. Conectan dos momentos y dan mucho peso a la duracion antes de un punto.

Presente perfecto continuo (Present Perfect Continuous)

Significado principal: acciones que empezaron en el pasado y continuan ahora, o acciones recientes con evidencia presente

Formula: Subject + have/has been + verb-ing

Formas afirmativa, negativa y pregunta

Afirmativa
She has been studying for two hours.
Negativa
She has not been studying for long.
Pregunta
Has she been studying for two hours?

Usos principales

  • Usalo para duracion desde el pasado hasta ahora.
  • Usalo para actividad reciente con evidencia presente.
  • Usa have o has been mas verb-ing.

Palabras clave

  • for two hours
  • since morning
  • lately
  • recently
  • all day

Ejemplos

  • I have been learning English since January.
  • She has been working all morning.
  • They have been waiting for forty minutes.
  • It has been raining, so the street is wet.

Errores comunes

IncorrectoCorrectoPor que
I have working for two hours.
I have been working for two hours.
El perfecto continuo necesita have been o has been mas verb-ing.
I have been working since two hours.
I have been working for two hours.
Usa for con una duracion y since con un punto de inicio.

Pasado perfecto continuo (Past Perfect Continuous)

Significado principal: acciones que continuaron hasta otra accion o punto pasado

Formula: Subject + had been + verb-ing

Formas afirmativa, negativa y pregunta

Afirmativa
She had been studying before the test.
Negativa
She had not been studying before the test.
Pregunta
Had she been studying before the test?

Usos principales

  • Usalo para duracion antes de otro punto pasado.
  • Usalo para explicar un resultado pasado.
  • Usa had been mas verb-ing.

Palabras clave

  • for two hours before
  • since morning before
  • until then

Ejemplos

  • I had been driving for hours before we stopped.
  • She had been studying all week before the exam.
  • They had been waiting since noon when the bus arrived.
  • He was tired because he had been working overnight.

Errores comunes

IncorrectoCorrectoPor que
She had working before lunch.
She had been working before lunch.
El pasado perfecto continuo necesita had been mas verb-ing.
She had been work for hours.
She had been working for hours.
Despues de had been, usa verb-ing.

Futuro perfecto continuo (Future Perfect Continuous)

Significado principal: acciones que continuaran hasta un momento futuro, con foco en la duracion

Formula: Subject + will have been + verb-ing

Formas afirmativa, negativa y pregunta

Afirmativa
She will have been studying for two hours by noon.
Negativa
She will not have been studying for long by noon.
Pregunta
Will she have been studying for two hours by noon?

Usos principales

  • Usalo para duracion hasta un punto futuro.
  • Usalo cuando importa la duracion futura de la accion.
  • Usa will have been mas verb-ing.

Palabras clave

  • by noon
  • by next year
  • for three hours by then

Ejemplos

  • By July, I will have been working here for five years.
  • At noon, they will have been traveling for six hours.
  • By the time you arrive, we will have been waiting for an hour.
  • Next month, she will have been teaching for ten years.

Errores comunes

IncorrectoCorrectoPor que
She will have been study for two hours.
She will have been studying for two hours.
Despues de will have been, usa verb-ing.
By noon, I will work here for three hours.
By noon, I will have been working here for three hours.
Usa futuro perfecto continuo cuando la duracion hasta un punto futuro es lo importante.

Como elegir un tiempo verbal

Empieza por el significado. Una palabra de tiempo puede ayudar, pero no elige el tiempo verbal sola. Pregunta que dice la frase sobre progreso, finalizacion, conexion y duracion.

Si el significado esElige
Rutina, hecho, accion terminada o futuro basicoElige un tiempo simple.
Accion en progreso en un momentoElige un tiempo continuo.
Finalizacion, resultado, experiencia o anterioridadElige un tiempo perfecto.
Duracion que continua hasta un puntoElige un tiempo perfecto continuo.

Compara el significado

I worked yesterday. usa pasado simple porque yesterday es un tiempo pasado terminado. I have worked here for three years. usa presente perfecto porque la situacion conecta el pasado con ahora.

I will finish by Friday. habla de un plan futuro. I will have finished by Friday. destaca que la accion estara completa antes de Friday.

Practica

Usa estas tareas despues de leer la guia. Te ayudan a pasar de reconocer nombres de tiempos a elegir el tiempo correcto en frases reales.

  • Escribe una frase para cada uno de los 12 tiempos usando work.
  • Compara pasado simple y presente perfecto con tres pares de frases.
  • Compara futuro perfecto y futuro perfecto continuo con tres pares de frases.
  • Toma un parrafo, subraya cada frase verbal y nombra el tiempo.
  • Crea tu propia linea de tiempo y coloca un ejemplo de cada tiempo en ella.
Etiquetas
English Grammar