A Review of Verb Tense

Author/Creation: Jennifer Mond, July 2010. Summary: Describes the four categories of verb tense (simple, perfect, progressive, and perfect progressive) and how present, past, and future function within each category. Learning Objectives: To define the four categories of verb tense.

Thetenseofaverbindicatesthetimeoftheactionorstateofbeingthatisexpressedbytheverb.Each ofthesixtenseshasabasicform.Allbasicformsarederivedfromtheprincipalparts:present(base), presentparticiple(beverbplusing),past(ed),andpastparticiple(enplushave,had,has).Usingthe correcttenseofverbswhenyouspeakandwriteisessentialtounderstandinginwhattimeperiod actionstookplace. Therearefourcategoriesofverbtenses:simple,perfect,progressive,andperfectprogressive,witha versionofthepresent,past,andfutureineachcategory.Eachtensehasitsownmeaning.Whenthe actionstakeplace(completed,ongoing,continuingintothefuture,hasyettooccur)determineswhich tensetouse. Simple Forms Letsstartwiththesimpletenses. Present Firstisthepresenttense,whichindicatesactionsorconditionsoccurringnow.Presenttenseisoften usedtostategeneralinformationaswellasthoughtsandopinions. Ex.Waterfreezesat32degreesFahrenheit. Ex.Theyareangryaboutthedecision. Past Nextisthepasttense,whichindicatesactionsorconditionsthathaveoccurredalreadyanddonot extendintothepresent. Ex.Shefeltbetterafterhertest. Ex.GermanyinvadedPolandonSeptember1,1939. Future Thelastoneofthesimpletensesisthefuturethatindicatesactionsthathaveyettobegin.Toformthe futuretense,youwillusewillorshallplusthebaseorthepresentprincipalpartoftheverb. Ex.Iwillgraduatetheyearafternext.

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Ex.TheexhibitionwillcometoHoustoninSeptember. **Thequestionofwhentouseshallhasbeenaskedformanyyears,foritisoftennotusedhereinU.S. Shallshouldbeusedwhendiscussinglegaldocuments,meetings,andobligations.Shallisalsooften usedwhenthespeakerisbeingpoliteorofferinganinvitation.** Exercise1 Letstestyourknowledgeoftheinformationabovebeforemovingon.Ineachblankbelow,writethe tenseoftheverbinparenthesis. 1.She____________aroundthelivingroom.(runpresent) 2.We____________ourplansfortheweekend.(discuss,past) 3.Theboat______________assoonasthecargoofmachineryisloaded.(sail,future) 4.Natasha__________listeningtomusic.(enjoy,past) 5.He____________musicalcomedies.(likepresent) 6.I__________youmynewleatherjacket.(lend,future) 7.Thesearguments_________youthatIamright.(convince,future) 8.Althoughthecarisold,it__________well.(runpresent) 9.Theshopper____________toseethemanager.(ask,past) 10.Themaninthecorner___________leadguitarintheband.(play,present) SelfCheck:Exercise1Answers Usetheanswerkeybelowtocheckyouranswers: 1.Sherunsaroundthelivingroom.(runpresent) 2.Wediscussedourplansfortheweekend.(discuss,past) 3.Theboatwillsailassoonasthecargoofmachineryisloaded.(sail,future) 4.Natashaenjoyslisteningtomusic.(enjoy,past) 5.Helikesmusicalcomedies.(likepresent) 6.Iwilllendyoumynewleatherjacket.(lend,future) 7.TheseargumentswillconvinceyouthatIamright.(convince,future) 8.Althoughthecarisold,itrunswell.(runpresent) 9.Theshopperaskedtoseethemanager.(ask,past) 10.Themaninthecornerplaysleadguitarintheband.(play,present) Exercise2 Identifythetenseoftheunderlinedverbineachsentence. 1.ShewillattendaconferenceinWashington. 2.BarbaraandMarierefusedtosignthepetition. 3.Thedancersrehearseeveryday. 4.Storytellingexistedbeforewrittenhistory. 5.Bluejayshavemanyunusualhabits. 6.Asquirreldropsitsnutswhenitgetsfrightened. 7.Agoodstorywillhaveactionanddrama. 8.Wespottedabirdwithredwingsandtail. 9.Theanimalsunpleasantshriekswarnotheranimalsofdanger. 10.Wewillpracticeourmathskillsthisyear.

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SelfCheck:Exercise2Answers Usetheanswerkeybelowtocheckyouranswers: 1.ShewillattendaconferenceinWashington.Future 2.BarbaraandMarierefusedtosignthepetition.Past 3.Thedancersrehearseeveryday.Present 4.Storytellingexistedbeforewrittenhistory.Past 5.Bluejayshavemanyunusualhabits.Present 6.Asquirreldropsitsnutswhenitgetsfrightened.Present 7.Agoodstorywillhaveactionanddrama.Future 8.Wespottedabirdwithredwingsandtail.Past 9.Theanimalsunpleasantshriekswarnotheranimalsofdanger.Present 10.Wewillpracticeourmathskillsthisyear.Future Perfect Forms Thenexttensestoconsideraretheperfecttenses,whichgiveinformationaboutthetimeframeofan actionscompletion.Theperfecttensesindicatetheactionoftheverbhasbeencompletedbyaspecific pointinthepast,present,orfuture. PresentPerfect Thepresentperfecttensedescribesaneventthathasalreadybeencompletedinthepresent.Itis formedusinghaveorhasplusthepastparticipleformoftheverb(ed,en). Ex.Ihavewalkedtoschoolforfiveyears. Ex.Dadhaswrittenmanystoriesofhischildhood. PastPerfect Thenexttenseisthepastperfect,wheretheactionwascompletedbeforeaspecifiedtimeinthepast. Toformthepastperfecttense,youwillusehadplusthepastparticipleformoftheverb. Ex.Wehadconsideredseveralalternativeplans. Ex.Billhadfinishedpackingbeforethetaxiarrived. FuturePerfect Thelastoneoftheperfecttensesisfutureperfect,whichstatesthattheactionwillhavebeen completedbyaspecifiedtimeinthefuture.Toformthefutureperfecttense,youneedtousewillhave orshallhaveplusthepastparticipleformoftheverb. Ex.Intenyearstheoriginalinvestmentwillhavedoubled. Ex.ThestudentswillhaveusedalltheirpaperbyDecember. Exercise3 Again,letstestyourknowledgebeforewemoveon.Underlinetheverbineachofthefollowing sentences.Thenidentifythetenseofeachverb. 1.Theyhadnotifiedusoftheirarrival. 2.Ourdogshavebittennoone. 3.Thefamilywillhavefinisheddinnerbyseven. 4.Wehaveseenthatmovietwice. 5.TomwillhavedepartedbeforeBrainsarrival.

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6.Janethasrefusedanycreditfortheteamssuccess. 7.Bythisevening,Iwillhavecleanedthewholedownstairs. 8.Wehadavoidedeachotherfor20years. 9.Wehadconsideredseveralalternateplans. 10.IhavememorizedtwopoemsbyWaltWhitman. SelfCheck:Exercise3Answers Usetheanswerkeybelowtocheckyouranswers: 1.Theyhadnotifiedusoftheirarrival.PastPerfect 2.Ourdogshavebittennoone.PresentPerfect 3.Thefamilywillhavefinisheddinnerbyseven.FuturePerfect 4.Wehaveseenthatmovietwice.PresentPerfect 5.TomwillhavedepartedbeforeBrainsarrival.FuturePerfect 6.Janethasrefusedanycreditfortheteamssuccess.PresentPerfect 7.Bythisevening,Iwillhavecleanedthewholedownstairs.FuturePerfect 8.Wehadavoidedeachotherfor20years.PastPerfect 9.Wehadconsideredseveralalternateplans.PastPerfect 10.IhavememorizedtwopoemsbyWaltWhitman.PresentPerfect Exercise4 Writethebasicformoftheverbasdirectedinparenthesis. 1.TheJohnsons________________threetimesinthepastyear.(movepresentperfect) 2.They_______everythingtheywantedtobytheendoftheirvacation.(seepastperfect) 3.Bytheendoftheirtour,thegroup___________inelevencities.(performfutureperfect) 4.Sharon__________tohercounselorearlierintheday.(talkpastperfect) 5.We________veryfondofournewneighbors.(growpresentperfect) 6.Margie____________beforethespringsemester.(graduatefutureperfect) 7.We_______threetimesthisweek.(exercise=presentperfect) 8.Themanager___________tothepitchertwicebythattime.(talkpastperfect) 9.I________thewholekitchenbythetimeMomreturns.(cleanfutureperfect) 10.Therescuers_____________theareaforthepastthreehours.(searchpresentperfect) SelfCheck:Exercise4Answers Usetheanswerkeybelowtocheckyouranswers: 1.TheJohnsonshavemovedthreetimesinthepastyear.(movepresentperfect) 2.Theyhadseeneverythingtheywantedtobytheendoftheirvacation.(seepastperfect) 3.Bytheendoftheirtour,thegroupwillhaveperformedinelevencities.(performfutureperfect) 4.Sharonhadtalkedtohercounselorearlierintheday.(talkpastperfect) 5.Wehavegrownveryfondofournewneighbors.(growpresentperfect) 6.Margiewillhavegraduatedbeforethespringsemester.(graduatefutureperfect) 7.Wehaveexercisedthreetimesthisweek.(exercisepresentperfect) 8.Themanagerhadtalkedtothepitchertwicebythattime.(talkpastperfect) 9.IwillhavecleanedthewholekitchenbythetimeMomreturns.(cleanfutureperfect) 10.Therescuershavesearchedtheareaforthepastthreehours.(searchpresentperfect)

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Progressive Forms Thenextsetoftensesisknownastheprogressiveforms,whichmeanstheactionorconditionsare unfinished(ongoing,continuing). PresentProgressive Presentprogressiveindicatesactionsareongoingevenaswespeak.Itisformedwiththepresent participlewithingplusis,am,orare. Ex.Thekidsareplayingoutside. Ex.Samisattendingchurch. PastProgressive Withthepastprogressive,theactionwasgoingonduringapastperiodbeingdiscussed.Itisformed withing(thepresentparticiple)pluswasandwere. Ex.Bythe1970s,manyAmericanswerebuyingsmallercars. Ex.Iwaswritingtoyouwhenyoutelephonedme. FutureProgressive Thelastoneoftheprogressivetensesisfutureprogressive,whichindicatesthattheactionwillbe ongoingduringsomefuturetimeframe.Toformthefutureprogressive,youwillusewillbeorshallbe plusthepresentparticipleformoftheverb(ing). Ex.Ateamofobserverswillbemonitoringtheelections. Ex.Clarissawillbestudyingmusicataspecialcampthissummer. Exercise5 Supplytheprogressiveformoftheverbasdirectedinparenthesis. 1.Despiteherheight,Kate___________tomakethebasketballteam.(hopepresentprogressive) 2.Therain______________allofourplans.(ruinpresentprogressive) 3.Thelastferry_______________soon.(leavefutureprogressive) 4.Theworkers_______________thebuilding.(repairfutureprogressive) 5.Thearchitect_______________hisplans.(explainpresentprogressive) 6.They_________________importantpoliticalissues.(discusspresentprogressive) SelfCheck:Exercise5Answers Usetheanswerkeybelowtocheckyouranswers. 1.Despiteherheight,Kateishopingtomakethebasketballteam.(hopepresentprogressive) 2.Therainisruiningallofourplans.(ruinpresentprogressive) 3.Thelastferrywillbeleavingsoon.(leavefutureprogressive) 4.Theworkerswillberepairingthebuilding.(repairfutureprogressive) 5.Thearchitectisexplaininghisplans.(explainpresentprogressive) 6.Theyarediscussingimportantpoliticalissues.(discusspresentprogressive)

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Perfect Progressive Forms Therearealsoperfectprogressivetensesthatuseacombinationofperfectandprogressiveforms. Perfectprogressiveemphasizesthedurationorthecontinuousnessoftheaction.Towriteintheperfect progressivetense,youwilluseaformofhave(perfect)followedbyabeverbanding(progressive). PresentPerfectProgressive Thepresentperfectprogressivedescribessomethingthatbeganinthepast,continuesintothepresent, andmaycontinueintothefuture.Itisformedwithhasorhaveplusbeenandingformoftheverb. Ex.Kimhasbeenwritinganovelsinceshelefthighschool. Ex.TheSmithshavebeenbreedingdogssince2000. PastPerfectProgressive Thepastperfectprogressivetensedescribessomethingthatbeganinthepast,continuedinthepast, andconcludedinthepast.Itisformedwithhadandbeenplustheingformoftheverb. Ex.IhadbeenridingthebusuntilIgotmylicense. Ex.Frankhadbeenleavinggetwellnotestohisuncle. FuturePerfectProgressive Thefutureperfectprogressivedescribessomethingthatbeginsinthepresentandcontinuesintothe future.Itisformedwithwillhaveandbeenplustheingformoftheverb. Ex.Bythetimetheclassends,thestudentswillhavebeenworkingfor10minuteswithoutabreak. Ex.HannahwillhavebeenplayingthepianoforfiveyearsthisJune. Exercise6 Writethecorrectformoftheverbasstatedinparenthesis. 1.She_________________allafternoon.(studypastperfectprogressive) 2.Susan______________fortwohoursby9a.m.(workfutureperfectprogressive) 3.Diane________________usafolktale.(tellpresentperfectprogressive) 4.Reggie___________________aheavycourseloadthisyear.(carrypresentperfectprogressive) 5.IwasveryrelievedbecauseI____________amuchlowergrade.(expectpastperfectprogressive) 6.He__________________fortwohoursbynoon.(swimfutureperfectprogressive) 7.Nick________________secondthoughtsabouttheconcert.(havepresentperfectprogressive) 8.We____________thedancercarefullyallevening(watchpastperfectprogressive) SelfCheck:Exercise6 Checkyouranswersusingthesentencesbelow. 1.Shehadbeenstudyingallafternoon.(studypastperfectprogressive) 2.Susanwillhavebeenworkingfortwohoursby9a.m.(workfutureperfectprogressive) 3.Dianehasbeentellingusafolktale.(tellpresentperfectprogressive) 4.Reggiehasbeencarryingaheavycourseloadthisyear.(carrypresentperfectprogressive) 5.IwasveryrelievedbecauseIhadbeenexpectingamuchlowergrade.(expectpastperfect progressive) 6.Hewillhavebeenswimmingfortwohoursbynoon.(swimfutureperfectprogressive) 7.Nickhasbeenhavingsecondthoughtsabouttheconcert.(havepresentperfectprogressive) 8.Wehadbeenwatchingthedancercarefullyallevening(watchpastperfectprogressive)

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 Verb Tense Final Review Review1 Identifythetenseofeachofthefollowingverbs. 1.willbegoing 2.ride 3.wasbringing 4.hadkept 5.hadbeenleaving 6.wrote 7.willhavewritten 8.hasgiven 9.willride 10.willhavebeencrying Review2 Conjugatethefollowingregularandirregularverbusingthegivenpronounsasthesubject. visit(withhe) Ex.Hevisits Present: Past: Future: PresentPerfect: PastPerfect: FuturePerfect: PresentProgressive: PastProgressive: FutureProgressive: PresentPerfectProgressive: PastPerfectProgressive: FuturePerfectProgressive: begin(withthey) Present: Past: Future: PresentPerfect: PastPerfect: FuturePerfect: PresentProgressive: PastProgressive: FutureProgressive: PresentPerfectProgressive: PastPerfectProgressive: FuturePerfectProgressive:

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 Review3 Someoftheverbsinthisparagraphareinthewrongtense.Decidewhichverbsmustbechanged,then rewritethosesentences,correctingthoseverbs. 1)Lastyearformybirthday,myparentstookmetoNewYorkCity.2)WevisittheEmpireStateBuilding andtakeaboattotheStatueofLibertyandEllisIsland.3)Iwilllikebesttheboatridethroughtheharbor totheStatueandEllisIsland.4)Itmademethinkoftheboatridemygreatgrandfathertooktocometo EllisIslandasanimmigrant.5)Myfathersaysheremembershisgrandfathertellinghimthestoryofthe oceanvoyage.6)WhengreatgrandfatherarrivesinNewYork,heseesthestatue.7)IamsurethatIhad alwaysrememberedthatstorytoo. Final Review Answers Review1 1.willbegoing:FutureProgressive 2.ride:Present 3.wasbringing:PastProgressive 4.hadkept:PastPerfect 5.hadbeenleaving:PastPerfectProgressive 6.wrote:Past 7.willhavewritten:FuturePerfect 8.hasgiven:PresentPerfect 9.willride:Future 10.willhavebeencrying:FuturePerfectProgressive Review2 visit(withhe) Present:Hevisits Past:Hevisited Future:Heshall/willvisit PresentPerfect:Hehasvisited PastPerfect:Hehadvisited FuturePerfect:Hewillhavevisited PresentProgressive:Heisvisiting PastProgressive:Hewasvisiting FutureProgressive:Hewill/shallbevisiting PresentPerfectProgressive:Hehasbeenvisiting PastPerfectProgressive:Hehadbeenvisiting FuturePerfectProgressive:Hewillhavebeenvisiting begin(withthey) Present:Theybegin Past:Theybegan Future:Theywill/shallbegin

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PresentPerfect:Theyhavebegun PastPerfect:Theyhadbegun FuturePerfect:Theywill/shallhavebegun PresentProgressive:Theyarebeginning PastProgressive:Theywerebeginning FutureProgressive:Theywill/shallbebeginning PresentPerfectProgressive:Theyhavebeenbeginning PastPerfectProgressive:Theyhadbeenbeginning FuturePerfectProgressive:Theywillhavebeenbeginning Review3 1)Lastyearformybirthday,myparentstookmetoNewYorkCity.2)WevisitedtheEmpireState BuildingandtookaboattotheStatueofLibertyandEllisIsland.3)Ilikedbesttheboatridethroughthe harbortotheStatueandEllisIsland.4)Itmademethinkoftheboatridemygreatgrandfathertookto cometoEllisIslandasanimmigrant.5)Myfathersayshestillremembershisgrandfathertellinghimthe storyoftheoceanvoyage.6)WhengreatgrandfatherarrivedinNewYork,hesawthestatue.7)Iam surethatIwillalwaysrememberthatstorytoo.

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