ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Uses of English verb forms

Hey there! So, you know how when we talk, we use different words to show when things happened in the past, are happening right now, or will happen in the future? These different words are called verb forms in English.

There are three main verb forms that we use in English: the present form, the past form, and the future form.

The present form is used when we are talking about things that are happening right now or things that happen regularly. For example, I am playing with my toys right now. Or, I always eat cereal for breakfast.

The past form is used when we are talking about things that happened in the past. For example, Yesterday, I played with my friends. Or, I ate pizza for dinner last night.

The future form is used when we are talking about things that will happen in the future. For example, Tomorrow, I will go to the park. Or, I will eat sushi for dinner tonight.

Now, there are also some other verb forms that we use in English. For example, we have the present continuous form, which is used to show that we are doing something right now, but it might not be a regular thing. For example, I am singing in the shower right now.

We also have the past continuous form, which is used to show that something was happening in the past, but it wasn't a one-time thing. For example, I was playing with my toys all afternoon yesterday.

There are many other verb forms too, but these are the basics. Understanding these forms helps us to communicate better and tell stories more clearly. Pretty cool, huh?