Understanding Verb Tense

What are the verb tenses?
Understanding verb tense

Present and present perfect
Past and past perfect Future and future perfect
Consistency of tense
Modals Review A
Review B
Verbs do a lot of work in sentences. They show actions and states of being. They even take different forms to show time. flies
flew
will fly
The tense of a verb indicates the time of the action or state of being expressed by the verb.
Perfect tenses indicate that something happened or existed before a specific point in time.
Past Present Future
Past
Past Perfect
Present
Present Perfect
Future
Future Perfect
She Gwenhadplaysininlastband jazzthree years. She has willplayedthe concert tomorrow. will have played violin before then. April. She played guitarten a for well.by Gwen played a year as band. Gwen play in in concerts

The tenses of verbs are formed from the four principal parts of verbs.
Base Form
Present Participle Past Past Participle
smile
[is] smil ing smile d [have] smile d
choose
[is] choos ing cho se [have] cho sen

Each tense has a progressive form, which is used to express continuing action or state of being.
Present progressive Past progressive Future progressive Present perfect progressive Past perfect progressive Future perfect progressive am, are, is talking was, were talking will (shall) be talking has, have been talking had been talking
will (shall) have been talking

The present tense expresses an action or a state of being that is occurring now, at the present time.
Today we honor our veterans.
Polly is marching in the parade.
(Progressive form)

The present tense is also used in these ways:
to show a customary or habitual action or state of being to express a general truth to make historical events seem current (historical present) to discuss a literary work (literary present) to express future time We recycle our aluminum cans. The sun rises in the east. In 1927, Charles Lindbergh flies nonstop across the Atlantic. In Grapes of Wrath, Steinbeck shows us the extremes of life during the depression. We travel to Utah next month.

The present perfect tense
expresses an action or a state of being that occurred at an indefinite time in the past is usually formed using the helping verb have or has plus the past participle
Mike has been in several parades.
He has played the drum in all of them.

The present perfect tense is also used to express an action or state of being that began in the past and continues into the present. In this case, perfect means complete.
Mr. Lee has taught music at our school since 2004.
(Progressive form)
Yoko has been taking flute lessons for six years.

The past tense expresses an action or a state of being that occurred in the past but did not continue into the present.
The two friends shared the large swing.
Past and past perfect
They were swinging for a long time.

(Progressive form)

The past perfect tense
Past and past perfect
expresses an action or a state of being that ended before another past action or state of being occurred is usually formed using had plus the past participle
After Maria had gone home, Kim was bored. She asked her dad about the time that he had been a lifeguard at the beach.

The future tense
Future and future perfect
expresses an action or a state of being that will occur is usually formed using will or shall plus the base form
My family will ride the train to Chicago. We will be arriving at five oclock.
(Progressive form)

The future perfect tense
Future and future perfect
expresses an action or a state of being that will end before another future action or state of being is usually formed using will have or shall have plus the past participle
By the time you receive this letter, she will have returned home. After this trip, he will have been to Chicago three times.

On Your Own
Change the tense of the verb in each sentence, as indicated in parentheses.
1. I do not miss the bus. (Change to future.)

2. Were they at the party? (Change to past perfect.) 3. By then, Keith had returned. (Change to future perfect.)
4. The team will practice for an hour with no break. (Change to future perfect progressive.)
5. My sister dances well. (Change to past.)
[End of Section]
Do not change needlessly from one tense to another.
To describe events that occur at the same time, use verbs in the same tense.
past tense past tense
Sara peeked over the fence and saw a cornfield.
present tense
present tense
Sara peeks over the fence and sees a cornfield.
For events that occur at different times, use verbs of different tenses to show the sequence of events.
past tense past perfect tense
The pitcher wished that he had practiced more before the game. The action of wishing happened after the action of practicing was complete.
For events that occur at different times, use verbs of different tenses to show the sequence of events.
past tense present tense
Yesterday, Nina told us that her brother works every week at the senior center.
The action of telling occurred at a specific time in the past. The action of working occurs now.
On Your Own Proofread the paragraph for unnecessary changes of verb tense. Change the verbs to make the tenses consistent. (1) I was in my room Saturday morning, planning to study for two hours. (2) To my surprise, Nancy Chang drops by. (3) She dashed into the house, runs up the stairs, and calls my name. (4) What she wanted was a fishing companion. (5) As I get my fishing gear together, I was so happy. (6) On our way to the lake, we notice some dark clouds. (7) We wished we checked the weather first.
[End of Section]
A modal is a helping verb that is joined with a main verb or an infinitive to express an attitude toward the action or state of being of the main verb.
Helping verbs used as modals can ought could shall may should might will must would
Modals
The modal can or could is used to express ability.

Tammy can play point guard in the second half.
The team could have made better shots.
Modals
The modal may is used to express permission or possibility.

Permission Possibility
Modals
Yes, you may borrow my sweater. My clothes closet may be too full.
The modal might is used to express possibility.

I might give some of my clothing to charity.
The modal must is used most often to express a requirement. Sometimes, must is used to express an explanation.
Requirement
Modals
We must conserve energy in our homes.

Explanation
My brother must have left the lights on.
The modal ought is used to express an obligation or a likelihood.

Obligation
Modals
Reggie ought to study harder for math quizzes. The next quiz ought to be more difficult than the last one.
Likelihood
The modal will or shall is used to express future time.

I shall enter my painting in the contest. After reviewing the entries, the panel will announce the winner.
Modals
The modal should is used to express a recommendation, an obligation, or a possibility.

Recommendation
Modals
Terrell should leave soon to catch the bus. All students should get to school on time.
Obligation
Possibility
Should you arrive late, please go to the office first.
The modal would is used to express the conditional form of a verb. In other words, it is used to express a situation that is contrary to fact.
If the weather had been more pleasant, they would have gone on a picnic.
Modals
Mrs. Chang would be happy to prepare food if you bring the plates and forks.
Modals
Would can also be used to express future time in a subordinate clause when the main verb in the independent clause is in the past tense.
past tense verb modal expresses future time
They promised us that they would bring the music. promised us that they would bring the music.
Main clause
Subordinate clause
Modals
Would is sometimes used to express an action that was repeated in the past
Every day she would wake early and feed the hens.
an invitation or offer
Would you like a nice, fresh salad?
a polite request
Would you please bring me those books?
Modals
On Your Own Supply an appropriate modal for each sentence.
1. Jen _____ have cleaned out the garage yesterday.

2. _____ you please help Merrill with that large box? 3. You _____ probably guess what I am about to say.
4. If the train had been faster, we _____ have arrived sooner.

5. Im not certain, but I think Dad _____ be cooking stew for dinner tonight.
[End of Section]
Review A
Change the tense of each boldface verb to the tense indicated in parentheses.
1. The otter swam to the edge of the pond. (present perfect) 2. Our class will read Shakespeares Macbeth. (future progressive) 3. The three sisters regularly meet for lunch. (past) 4. Each student chooses a lab partner. (past perfect) 5. Wasps were entering the house through the torn screen. (present)
Review B
Supply an appropriate modal, helping verb, or main verb to complete each sentence correctly. The hints in parentheses will help you. 1. Colleen _____ almost reach the light bulb. (shows ability) 2. Jack _____ repair the bicycle tomorrow. (future tense)
3. Most of the girls _____ already left. (present perfect)

4. I _____ attend the concert if only I had more time. (shows a condition) 5. Tamara opens the refrigerator and _____ inside. (consistent tense)
[End of Section]
The End

Understanding Verb Tense

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What are the verb tenses?