How to use the 12 Tenses of the Verb 'To Make' with Examples

The verb "to make" is a common and useful verb that is used in many different tenses. In this article, we will explore the 12 tenses of the verb "to make" and provide examples of each tense in action.

Present Tense

The present tense is used to describe actions that are currently happening or habitual actions.

• I make a sandwich for lunch every day.
• She makes her bed every morning.
• We make time for exercise each week.
• They make decisions together as a team.
• The chef makes delicious meals at the restaurant.

Past Tense

The past tense is used to describe actions that have already happened.

• I made a sandwich for lunch yesterday.
• She made a beautiful painting last week.
• We made a plan to meet up after work.
• They made a big announcement at the meeting.
• The company made a profit last year.

Present Continuous Tense

The present continuous tense is used to describe actions that are currently in progress.

• I am making a sandwich for lunch right now.
• She is making a list of things to do today.
• We are making arrangements for the party.
• They are making changes to the project plan.
• The artist is making a new sculpture in the studio.

Past Continuous Tense

The past continuous tense is used to describe actions that were in progress at a specific point in the past.

• I was making a sandwich for lunch when the phone rang.
• She was making a cake when the guests arrived.
• We were making dinner when the power went out.
• They were making travel arrangements when the news broke.
• The team was making final preparations before the event started.

Present Perfect Tense

The present perfect tense is used to describe actions that have occurred at an unspecified time before now.

• I have made a sandwich for lunch every day this week.
• She has made significant progress on her project.
• We have made plans for the weekend.
• They have made new friends at the conference.
• The company has made several improvements to its products.

Past Perfect Tense

The past perfect tense is used to describe actions that were completed before another action in the past.

• I had made a sandwich for lunch before my friend arrived.
• She had made dinner by the time we got home.
• We had made a decision before the meeting started.
• They had made arrangements before the deadline.
• The team had made a lot of progress before the project was canceled.

Present Perfect Continuous Tense

The present perfect continuous tense is used to describe actions that started in the past and are still continuing.

• I have been making a sandwich for lunch every day this week.
• She has been making phone calls all morning.
• We have been making progress on the project for several weeks.
• They have been making plans for the vacation since January.
• The company has been making efforts to improve customer service.

Past Perfect Continuous Tense

The past perfect continuous tense is used to describe actions that were ongoing before another action in the past.

• I had been making a sandwich for lunch for half an hour when the phone rang.
• She had been making dinner for two hours before the guests arrived.
• We had been making plans for months before the event was canceled.
• They had been making changes to the document before it was finalized.
• The team had been making preparations all week before the big game.

Future Tense (Simple)

The simple future tense is used to describe actions that will happen in the future.

• I will make a sandwich for lunch tomorrow.
• She will make a presentation at the meeting next week.
• We will make a decision by the end of the day.
• They will make an announcement tomorrow.
• The company will make a new product launch next month.

Future Continuous Tense

The future continuous tense is used to describe actions that will be ongoing at a specific time in the future.

• I will be making a sandwich for lunch when you arrive.
• She will be making a speech at the event tonight.
• We will be making dinner when you get here.
• They will be making final preparations for the trip.
• The team will be making adjustments to the plan during the meeting.

Future Perfect Tense

The future perfect tense is used to describe actions that will be completed before a specific time in the future.

• I will have made a sandwich for lunch by the time you arrive.
• She will have made dinner by the time we get home.
• We will have made a decision before the meeting starts.
• They will have made all the arrangements by next week.
• The team will have made significant progress by the end of the month.

Future Perfect Continuous Tense

The future perfect continuous tense is used to describe actions that will be ongoing for a period of time before a specific time in the future.

• I will have been making a sandwich for lunch for an hour by the time you arrive.
• She will have been making phone calls for several hours by the end of the day.
• We will have been making plans for weeks by the time the event arrives.
• They will have been making preparations for the trip for months.
• The team will have been making improvements to the system for a year by the time it is launched.

This article provides a comprehensive overview of the 12 tenses of the verb "to make," including the present, past, present continuous, past continuous, present perfect, past perfect, present perfect continuous, past perfect continuous, future, future continuous, future perfect, and future perfect continuous tenses. Each tense is explained with clear examples to help you understand how the verb "to make" can be used in different contexts. Whether you are a native English speaker or learning English as a second language, this article will provide valuable insights into the different ways you can use the verb "to make" to communicate effectively.