What are the tenses in English and how do I use them?

In English grammar, tenses indicate the time of an action. The three main tenses are past, present, and future. Each tense can be further divided into simple, continuous, perfect, and perfect continuous forms. For example, the present tense can be simple (I play), continuous (I am playing), perfect (I have played), or perfect continuous (I have been playing). Understanding tenses is crucial for forming correct sentences and conveying the timing of actions effectively. In South Africa, Grade 10 students can improve their language skills by mastering the usage of tenses and applying them accurately in their writing.