VERB TENSE

WHAT IS TENSE?

VERB TENSE

The tense of a verb indicates the time of the action or the state of being expressed by the verb.

The verb

THE SIX VERB TENSES

In chronological order, the verb tenses are: Past Perfect Past Present Perfect Present Future Perfect Future

CONJUGATING THE SIX TENSESConjugation of the Verb Study

Past Tense

SingularI studiedyou studiedhe, she, it studied

Pluralwe studiedyou studiedthey studied

Present Tense

SingularI studyYou studyHe, she, it studies

Pluralwe studyyou studythey study

Future Tense

SingularI shall (will) studyyou will (shall) studyHe, she, it will (shall) study

Pluralwe shall (will) studyyou will (shall) studythey will (shall) study

CONJUGATING THE SIX TENSESConjugation of the Verb Study

Past Perfect Tense

SingularI had studiedyou had studiedhe, she, it had studied

Pluralwe had studiedyou had studiedthey had studied

Present Perfect Tense

SingularI have studiedyou have studiedhe, she, it has studied

Pluralwe have studiedyou have studiedthey have studied

Future Tense

SingularI shall (will) have studiedyou will (shall) have studiedHe, she, it will (shall) have studied

Pluralwe shall (will) have studiedyou will (shall) have studiedthey will (shall) have studied

PROGRESSIVE FORM

Each tense has an additional form called the progressive form, which expresses continuing action or state of being.

The progressive form consists of the appropriate tense of be plus the present participle of a verb.

Nota bene: The progressive form is not a separate tense. It is simply another form of each of the six tenses.

CONJUGATING THE PROGRESSIVE FORM

Progressive Form for the Verb Study

Past Progressive

SingularI was studyingyou were studyinghe, she, it was studying

Pluralwe were studyingyou were studyingthey were studying

Present Progressive

SingularI am studyingyou are studyinghe, she, it is studying

Pluralwe are studyingyou are studyingthey are studying

Future Progressive

SingularI shall (will) be studyingyou will (shall) be studyinghe, she, it will (shall) be studying

Pluralwe shall (will) be studyingyou will (shall) be studyingthey will (shall) be studying

CONJUGATING THE PROGRESSIVE FORM

Progressive Form for the Verb Study

Past Perfect Progressive

SingularI had been studyingyou had been studyinghe, she, it had been studying

Pluralwe had been studyingyou had been studyingthey had been studying

Present Perfect Progressive

SingularI have been studyingyou have been studyinghe, she, it has been studying

Pluralwe have been studyingyou have been studyingthey have been studying

Future Perfect Progressive

SingularI shall (will) have been studyingyou will (shall) have been studyinghe, she, it will (shall) have been studying

Pluralwe shall (will) have been studyingyou will (shall) have been studyingthey will (shall) have been studying

THE EMPHATIC FORM

Form used by past and present tense Shows emphasis Can also be used to form questions and negative

statements. This usage does not place special emphasis on the verb.

For present tense: put do or does in front of the base form of the verb. I do not intend to give up on winning counties. Although the garden looks healthy, it does need watering.

For past tense: put did in front of the base form of the verb. The athlete suffered many setbacks, but she did achieve her

goal of playing in the championship game. Did anyone make a study guide over break?

THE VERB BE

THE VERB BE

Conjunction is different from other verbs

Progressive form is generally used only in past and present tenses

No form of the verb takes an emphatic form.

CONJUGATION OF THE VERB BE

Conjugation of the Verb Be

Past Tense

SingularI wasyou werehe, she, it was

Pluralwe wereyou werethey were

Present Tense

SingularI amyou arehe, she, it is

Pluralwe areyou arethey are

Future Tense

SingularI shall (will) beyou will (shall) behe, she, it will (shall) be

Pluralwe shall (will) beyou will (shall) bethey will (shall) be

CONJUGATION OF THE VERB BE

Conjugation of the Verb Be

Past Perfect Tense

SingularI had beenyou had beenhe, she, it had been

Pluralwe had beenyou had beenthey had been

Present Tense

SingularI have beenyou have beenhe, she, it has been

Pluralwe have beenyou have beenthey have been

Future Tense

SingularI shall (will) have beenyou will (shall) have beenhe, she, it will (shall) have been

Pluralwe shall (will) have beenyou will (shall) have beenthey will (shall) have been

CONJUGATION OF THE VERB BE

Conjugation of the Verb Be

Past Progressive Form

SingularI was beingyou were beinghe, she, it was being

Pluralwe were beingyou were beingthey were being

Present Progressive Form

SingularI am beingyou are beinghe, she, it is being

Pluralwe are beingyou are beingthey are being

USING THE TENSES CORRECTLY

USING THE PAST TENSE

Past tense verbs express an action or state of being that existed or happened in the past and did not continue into the present. I stayed at the library until closing time. (past) I was researching the life and times of

Akhenaten, an ancient Egyptian pharaoh who instituted a monotheistic religion. (past progressive)

My research did provide me with enough information for my paper on Akhenaten. (past emphatic)

USING THE PRESENT TENSE

Present tense verbs express an action or state of being that is occurring now, at the present time. Elise, Jill, and Amy wait patiently to be

called on in class. (present) Elise, Jill, and Amy are waiting patiently to

be called on in class. (present progressive) Elise, Jill, and Amy do wait patiently to be

called on in class. (present emphatic)

OTHER USES OF PRESENT TENSE

show a customary or habitual state of being Mrs. Mathews grades essays within one week.

state a general truth – something that is always true It is wrong to murder someone.

to summarize the plot or subject matter of a literary work (literary present) Lady Macbeth manipulates her husband into murder.

to make a historical event seem current (historical present) Japan’s bombing of Pearl Harbor causes America to enter World

War II. to express future time

American Idiot opens next week and runs through the summer.

USING THE FUTURE TENSE

Future tense verbs express an action of state of being that will occur. I shall attend the Writer’s Workshop at

the University of Pennsylvania this summer. (future)

I shall be attending the Writer’s Workshop at the University of Pennsylvania this summer. (future progressive)

OTHER WAYS TO INDICATE A FUTURE ACTION

The present tense of be + going to + base form of a verb My parents are going to visit China next year.

Present tense of be + about to + base form of a verb Ms. Molloy is about to address the student

body. Present tense of a verb with a word of word

group that expresses future time Midterms begin on Tuesday, January 18th.

THE PAST PERFECT TENSE

The past perfect tense expresses an action or state of being that ended before some other past action or state of being.

Past perfect verbs are formed with the helping verb had and the past participle of a verb. I finally remembered where I had seen her

before. (past perfect) I had been digging through my backpack before

I realized that the book I needed was in my locker. (past perfect progressive)

THE PRESENT PERFECT TENSE

The present perfect tense expresses an action or a state of being that occurred at some indefinite time in the past.

The tense is formed with the helping verb have or has and the past participle of a verb. I have written to the governor, but I have

not received a reply. (present perfect) Who has been borrowing my iPod

without asking? (present perfect progressive)

THE PRESENT PERFECT TENSE

Remember, present perfect is ONLY for events that have occurred at some indefinite point in the past.

Do not use present perfect tense to indicate a specific time in the past. Use past tense for that!

BE CAREFUL WITH PRESENT PERFECT!

YES! NO!

Apple published a new app for the iPhone last week.

When I was six I wanted to be an astronaut.

I have applied to a summer program in Washington D.C. but I have not heard any news about my acceptance yet.

Apple has published a new app for the iPhone last week.

When I was six I have wanted to be an astronaut.

I applied to a summer program in Washington D.C., but I did not hear any news about my acceptance yet.

THE PRESENT PERFECT TENSE

Present perfect is also used to express an action or state of being that began in the past and that continues into the present. The United States Marine Corps has

existed since 1775. (present perfect) The Corps has been serving on occupation

duty in Iraq since early 2004. (present perfect progressive)

THE FUTURE PERFECT TENSE

The future perfect tense expresses an action or state of being that will end before some other action of state of being.

The tense is formed with the helping verbs will have or shall have and the past participle of a verb. By the time the year is over, you will have written

more than four essays. (future perfect) By March, the yearbook staff will have been

working on the 2010 yearbook for one whole year! (future perfect progressive)

GUIDED PRACTICE

UNDERSTANDING THE USES OF THE SIX TENSES

Identify the tense of each verb (and any relevant forms) in these sentences. How do the differences in tense affect the meanings of the sentences?

1. a. Margo lived in Brazil for eight years. b. Margo has lived in Brazil for eight years.2. a. How many home runs did Derek Jeter hit this season? b. How many home runs has Derek Jeter hit this season?3. a. Our team is producing the whole film ourselves. b. Our team will be producing the whole film ourselves.

INDIVIDUAL PRACTICE

SPECIAL PROBLEMS IN USE OF TENSES

SEQUENCE OF TENSES

When describing events that occur at the same time, use verbs in the same tense! The bell rings, and the classroom empties. (present) The bell rang, and the classroom emptied. (past)

When describing events that occur at different times, use verbs in different tenses to show the order of events. I run track now, but I played volleyball in middle school. Cara mentioned that she had invited the whole lunch table

to the party, but I know that I did not receive an invitation. Remember, the tense you use expresses its own

meaning, so choose wisely.

SEQUENCE OF TENSES

Do not use would have in an “if” clause that expresses the earlier of two past actions. Use the past perfect tense instead.

YES! NO!

If he had taken more time building his project, he would have won the science fair.

I would not have been late if I had had a watch.

The storm would not have been as bad if it had moved through more quickly than it did.

If he would have taken more time building his project, he would have won the science fair.

I would not have been late if I would have had a watch.

The storm would not have been as bad if it would have moved through more quickly than it did.

FIX ANY MISTAKES IN THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES

1. Pam appreciated the old saying that every cloud had a silver lining.

2. By the time we graduate in June, Sra. Vargas will be teaching Spanish for twenty-four years.

3. Although Denny’s skill was demonstrated during the season, he was not chosen to play in the all-star game.

4. If they would have called sooner, we would have given them a ride.

5. When Jeremy got to the dentist after school, his tooth already stopped hurting.

INDIVIDUAL PRACTICE

PRESENT AND PRESENT PERFECT INFINITIVES

PRESENT INFINITIVE

Reminder: an infinitive is a verb form that can be used as a noun, an adjective, or an adverb. It generally begins with to.

Present infinitive examples: To be To discover To go

PRESENT INFINITIVE

The present infinitive expresses an action or a state of being that follows another action or state of being. Charlotte had expected to go with us to

the Bergen dance. She had planned to ask her mother for

permission. In both cases, the action expressed by the

infinitive follows the action expressed by the earlier verb!

PRESENT PERFECT INFINITIVE

Form the present perfect infinitive with to + have + past tense of verb

Present perfect infinitive examples: To have been To have discovered To have gone

PRESENT PERFECT INFINITIVE

The present perfect infinitive expresses an action or a state of being that precedes another action or state of being. My little brother pretended to have read

my diary. I would like to have gone to the dance,

but I have to study. In both cases, the action of the infinitive

occurs before the action expressed by the earlier verb.

TRY IT!

Write a total of six sentences. Use the present infinitive in three of them and the present perfect infinitive in three of them.

PRESENT, PAST, AND PRESENT PERFECT PARTICIPLES

THE PARTICIPLES

Past Participle Present Participle Present Perfect Participle

beendiscovered

beingdiscovering

having beenhaving discovered

PRESENT AND PAST PARTICIPLES

Reminder: a verbal is a verb form that is used as a noun, an adjective, or an adverb.

When used as a verbal, the present participle or past participle expresses an action or state of being that occurs at the same time as another action or state of being.

PRESENT AND PAST PARTICIPLES

Receiving word of their freedom in June 1865, former slaves in Texas created the Juneteenth holiday. (The two actions occur at the same time.)

Gathered at my grandmother’s house, my family celebrated Juneteenth this year. (The two actions occur at the same time.)

Remember to keep the verb tense of the participle and the other verb the same!

PRESENT PERFECT PARTICIPLE

When used as a verbal, the present perfect participle expresses an action or state of being that precedes another action or state of being. Having missed the midterm exam, I took a

makeup test. Having been accepted by several colleges,

Sam chose one.

TRY IT!

Write a total of six sentences. Use the present or past participle in three of them and the present perfect participle in three of them.

USING TENSES CORRECTLY: SPOTTING MISTAKES

1. Spending three hours on a review of chemistry, we then worked on irregular French verbs.

2. Standing in line for more than two hours, Vicky finally got tickets to the Lady Gaga concert.

3. To have written about the historical Macbeth, I would have to do more research at the library.

4. Flying from California to New Jersey before, we remembered to set our watches back.

INDIVIDUAL PRACTICE