Verb Tense

Tense 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

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.

(continuing)

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: She had written the letter before I saw her.

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.

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