explain
explains
explaining
explained
Explain means to make something clear or understandable. Regular verb: explain-explained-explained.
Meanings
- To make clear
- To give reasons for
- To describe in detail
Common Collocations
explain clearly
explain why
explain the situation
explain in detail
Tip for Learners
Explain can't take a person as direct object. Say "explain to him" not "explain him."
Present Simple
| I | explain |
| you | explain |
| he/she/it | explains |
| we | explain |
| they | explain |
Examples - Present Simple
- I explain concepts clearly to my students.
- You explain things patiently.
- She explains the rules before each game.
- We explain our decisions to stakeholders.
- They explain policies to new employees.
Present Continuous
| I | am explaining |
| you | are explaining |
| he/she/it | is explaining |
| we | are explaining |
| they | are explaining |
Examples - Present Continuous
- I am explaining the procedure right now.
- You are explaining the situation to them.
- He is explaining his actions.
- We are explaining the changes to staff.
- They are explaining the new system.
Present Perfect
| I | have explained |
| you | have explained |
| he/she/it | has explained |
| we | have explained |
| they | have explained |
Examples - Present Perfect
- I have explained this many times.
- You have explained the situation clearly.
- She has explained her reasoning.
- We have explained the process thoroughly.
- They have explained everything.
Present Perfect Continuous
| I | have been explaining |
| you | have been explaining |
| he/she/it | has been explaining |
| we | have been explaining |
| they | have been explaining |
Examples - Present Perfect Continuous
- I have been explaining this for an hour.
- You have been explaining the concept all morning.
- He has been explaining his theory for months.
- We have been explaining the policy for weeks.
- They have been explaining procedures for years.
Past Simple
| I | explained |
| you | explained |
| he/she/it | explained |
| we | explained |
| they | explained |
Examples - Past Simple
- I explained the instructions clearly.
- You explained the problem to the manager.
- She explained her absence yesterday.
- We explained our position at the meeting.
- They explained the delay to customers.
Past Continuous
| I | was explaining |
| you | were explaining |
| he/she/it | was explaining |
| we | were explaining |
| they | were explaining |
Examples - Past Continuous
- I was explaining when you interrupted.
- You were explaining the rules all game.
- He was explaining his theory when challenged.
- We were explaining the policy when the call came.
- They were explaining procedures all day.
Past Perfect
| I | had explained |
| you | had explained |
| he/she/it | had explained |
| we | had explained |
| they | had explained |
Examples - Past Perfect
- I had explained before you asked.
- You had explained the situation before I arrived.
- She had explained her decision before leaving.
- We had explained our position before the vote.
- They had explained everything before the meeting.
Past Perfect Continuous
| I | had been explaining |
| you | had been explaining |
| he/she/it | had been explaining |
| we | had been explaining |
| they | had been explaining |
Examples - Past Perfect Continuous
- I had been explaining for hours.
- You had been explaining for days.
- He had been explaining his theory for months.
- We had been explaining the policy for years.
- They had been explaining procedures for a long time.
Future Simple
| I | will explain |
| you | will explain |
| he/she/it | will explain |
| we | will explain |
| they | will explain |
Examples - Future Simple
- I will explain everything tomorrow.
- You will explain your actions.
- She will explain the process.
- We will explain our decision.
- They will explain the new rules.
Future Continuous
| I | will be explaining |
| you | will be explaining |
| he/she/it | will be explaining |
| we | will be explaining |
| they | will be explaining |
Examples - Future Continuous
- I will be explaining the concept all morning.
- You will be explaining procedures throughout.
- He will be explaining his research at the conference.
- We will be explaining changes all week.
- They will be explaining the system all day.
Future Perfect
| I | will have explained |
| you | will have explained |
| he/she/it | will have explained |
| we | will have explained |
| they | will have explained |
Examples - Future Perfect
- I will have explained everything by then.
- You will have explained your position.
- She will have explained the situation by tomorrow.
- We will have explained all aspects by the deadline.
- They will have explained procedures to everyone.
Future Perfect Continuous
| I | will have been explaining |
| you | will have been explaining |
| he/she/it | will have been explaining |
| we | will have been explaining |
| they | will have been explaining |
Examples - Future Perfect Continuous
- I will have been explaining for hours by then.
- You will have been explaining for days.
- He will have been explaining his theory for months.
- We will have been explaining for years.
- They will have been explaining for a long time.