Download - Verb tense
VERB TENSETense denotes the time of the action indicated by a verb. The time is not always the same as that indicated by the name of the tense.
6 Types of Verb Tenses
Present Tense
Present tense may express action which is going on at the present time or which occurs always, repeatedly, or habitually.
Examples: He sees the train. He eats cereal for breakfast every day.
Your Turn: Write a present tense sentence about your morning routine.
Past Tense
Past tense expresses action completed at a definite time in the past.
Examples: He wrote the letter yesterday. She lived to be 90 years old.
Your turn: Write a past tense sentence about Superbowl Sunday.
Future Tense
Future tense expresses action which will take place in the future.
It uses the helping verbs will or shall* and the present tense form of the verb).
Examples: He will send the letter tomorrow. I shall wait here until you return.
• Traditionally, shall is used for 1st person and will for 2nd and 3rd persons.
I shall be late. We will be late.
Your Turn
Write two future tense sentences about your plans for Spring Break.
*Try to use shall (personal) and will (plural)
Present Perfect Tense
Present perfect tense expresses action completed at the present time (perfect means complete) or begun in the past and continuing into the present.
This tense uses the helping verbs has and have and the past participle of the verb.
Examples: He has written a letter to his uncle.
(completed action) The Waltons have lived here for seven
years. (started in past, BUT still continuing)
Your turn
Write three (3) present perfect sentences selecting from any of the following irregular verb forms.
Forbidden SetFallen Brought
Swum TakenSprung Meant
Past Perfect Tense
Past perfect tense expresses action completed before certain time in the past. (This is the before-past tense.)
It uses the helping verb had and the past participle of the verb.
Example: Sheryl had sent the email before her manager returned from the meeting.
Your turn
Write a past perfect tense sentence about something you are skilled at doing (i.e. you could do it blind-folded and asleep without messing up).
Future Perfect Tense
Future perfect tense expresses action which will be completed before a certain time in the future. (This is the before-future tense)
It uses the helping verbs will have or shall have and the past participle of the verb.
Example: He will have finished the paper before next Friday.
Your turn: Write a future perfect tense sentence about an upcoming class assignment (any course).
Verb Forms
Regular Verbs
Regular verbs form their past tense and past participle by adding –ed or –d to their present tense form.
More than 95% of all English verbs are regular.
Regular verbs cause few problems in speaking and writing.
Regular verbs and their Principal Parts
Principal Parts:
Verb:
Present Tense
Present Participle
Past Tense
Past Participle
To call call, calls
calling called (have) called
To dust dust, dusts
dusting dusted (have) dusted
Irregular Verbs
Irregular verbs can form their past tense and past participle forms in various way.
These forms cause even native speakers innumerable problems.
The most irregular verb of all is the verb to be.
Another irregular verb that is important for its use with other verbs is the verb to have.
Four Principal/Main Parts
Principal Parts:
Verb:
Present Tense
Present Participle
Past Tense
Past Participle
To Be be, am, are, is
being was, were
(have) been
To Have have, has
having had (have) had
Other Common Irregular Verbs and their Principal Parts
Principal Part
Verb
Present Tense
Present Participle
Past Tense Past Participle
To see see, sees
seeing saw (have) seen
To do do, does doing did (have) done
To fly fly, flies flying flew (have) flown
To run run, runs running ran (have) run
Conjugation
A conjugation of a verb is the correct arrangement of its form through its tenses, persons, and numbers.
Person means the speaker, the person spoken to, and the person or thing spoken of.
Number means singular or plural.
Conjugation of the verb: to be
Tense Singular PluralPresent I am
You areHe, she, it is
We areYou areThey are
Past I wasYou wereHe was
We wereYou wereThey were
Future I shall beYou will beHe will be
We shall beYou will beThey will be
Present Perfect
I have beenYou have beenHe has been
We have beenYou have beenThey have been
Past Perfect I had beenYou had beenHe had been
We had beenYou had beenThey had been
Future Perfect I shall have beenYou will have beenHe will have been
We shall have beenYou will have beenThey will have been
Your Turn: conjugate each verb
Tense Singular Plural
Present1) Saunter2) Facilitate3) Deal*4) Discriminate5) Drink *
Past
Future
Present Perfect
Past Perfect
Future Perfect
Answers
Ve rbs1) Saunter2) Facilitate3) Deal*4) Discriminat
e5) Drink *
Singular Plural
Past
Future
Present Perfect
Past Perfect
Future Perfect