CHAPTER 1

OVERVIEW OF VERB TENSES

Eddiyanto, Ph.D

Chemistry Department
Matematics and Natural Sciences Faculty
STATE UNIVERSITY OF MEDAN
2012
 THE SIMPLE TENSES
SIMPLE PRESENTexpress events or situations that
exist always, usually, habitually;
they exist now, have existed in
X XXXXX XXXXXX
the past, and probably will exist in
the future.
SIMPLE PAST At one particular time in the past,
this happened. It began and
ended in the past
X

SIMPLE FUTURE At one particular time in the

future, this will happen.
X
 THE PROGRESSIVE TENSES
Form: be + -ing (present participle)
Meaning: The progressive tenses give the idea that an action is in progress
during a particular time. The tenses say that an action begins before, is in
progress during, and continuous after another time or action.
SIMPLE PROGRESSIVE 10:00 11:00
Example:
Tom is sleeping right now
x x

PAST PROGRESSIVE
Example: 10:00 11:00
Tom was sleeping when I arrived. x x
FUTURE PROGRESSIVE 10:00 11:00
Example: x x
Tom will be sleeping when we arrive.
 THE PERFECT TENSES
Form: have + Past participle
Meaning: The perfect tenses all give the idea that one thing happens before
another time or event.
PRESENT PERFECT
Example: eat now
Tom has already eaten X X

PAST PERFECT
Example: eat arrive
Tom had already eaten when his X X
friend arrived.

FUTURE PERFECT
Example: eat arrive
Tom will already have eaten when X X
his friend arrives.
 THE PERFECT PROGRESSIVE TENSES
Form: have + been + -ing (present participle)
Meaning: The perfect progressive tenses give the idea that one event is in
progress immediately before, up to, until another time or event. The tenses are
used to express the duration of the first event.

PRESENT PERFECT PROGRESSIVE

Ex: Tom has been studying for two hrs. 2 hours
Event in progress: studying. When?
Before now, up to now. How long? For X X
two hours.
PAST PERFECT PROGRESSIVE: 2 hours
Ex:Tom had been studying for two
hours before his friend came. X X

FUTURE PERFECT PROGRESSIVE: 2 hours

Ex: Tom will have been studying for
two hours by the time his friends arrive. X X
 SPELLING OF –ING AND –ED FORMS
VERBS THAT -ING FORMS: If the words ends in –e, drop
END IN A the –e and add –ing.
Hope hoping hoped
CONSONANT -ED FORMS: If the words ends in a
AND -E consonant and –e, just add -d
ONE-SYLLABLE VERBS
beg Begging Begged 1 vowel → 2 consonants
VERBS THAT
END IN A VOWEL rain Raining Rained 2 vowels → 1 consonants
AND A TWO-SYLLABLE VERBS
CONSONANT
Open Opening Opened 1st syllable stressed → 1 consonants
Prefer Preferring Preferred 2nd syllable stressed → 2 consonants
VERBS THAT If the word ends in two consonants, just add
END IN TWO Fold Folding Folded the ending
CONSONANTS
Pray
Praying Prayed If –y is preceded by a vowel, keep the –y
VERBS THAT
END IN -Y If –y is preceded by a consonant:
try trying tried -ING FORM: keep the –y, add –ing.
-ED FORM: change –y to –i, add -ed

VERBS THAT die Dying Died -ING FORM: Change –ie to –y, add –ing.
END IN -ED
Lie lying lied -ED FORM: Add -d
You have to trust in something–your gut, destiny, life,
karma, whatever–because believing that the dots will
connect down the road will give you the confidence to
follow your heart, even when it leads you off the well-
worn path, and that will make all the difference.
Steve Jobs