TENSE - THE TIME OF THE ACTION INDICATED BY A VERB

Verb Tenses

6 Types

Verb Tenses

Present Past FutureFuture

PerfectPast

PerfectPresent Perfect

Present Tense

The present tense expresses something that is happening now (in the present). It can also express an action which occurs always, repeatedly, or habitually.

Examples: He sees the train. He eats cereal for breakfast every day.

Past Tense

The past tense expresses that something has already happened. The action was completed at a definite time in the past.

Examples: He wrote the letter yesterday. She lived to be 90 years old.

Future Tense

Future tense expresses that something is going to happen.

It uses the helping verbs will or shall* plus 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.

Principal Parts

All the tenses of a verb come from four basic forms.

These basic forms are the principal parts of the verb.

Verb:Verb: Present Present TenseTense

Present Present ParticipleParticiple

Past TensePast Tense Past Past ParticipleParticiple

(To) call(To) call call, callscall, calls (is) calling(is) calling calledcalled (have) called(have) called

(To) dust(To) dust dust, dustsdust, dusts (is) dusting(is) dusting dusteddusted (have) dusted(have) dusted

Principal Parts

The present participle and the past participle are always used with a helping verb.

Principal parts are not considered tenses. They are simply the building blocks we use to form the different tenses.

Verb:Verb: Present Present TenseTense

Present Present ParticipleParticiple

Past TensePast Tense Past Past ParticipleParticiple

(To) call(To) call call, callscall, calls (is) calling(is) calling calledcalled (have) called(have) called

(To) dust(To) dust dust, dustsdust, dusts (is) dusting(is) dusting dusteddusted (have) dusted(have) dusted

Present Perfect Tense

Present perfect tense expresses action that took place at an undefined time in the past. The action may still be going on.

This tense uses the helping verb has or have plus the past participle of the verb.

Examples: He has written a letter to his uncle. (undefined time in the

past) The Waltons have lived here for seven years. (still going on)

Past Perfect Tense

Past perfect tense expresses an action in the past that was completed before another action took place.

It uses the helping verb had plus 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 another action in the future.

It uses the helping verbs will have or shall have plus the past participle of the verb.

Example: He will have finished the paper before next Friday.