Verb Tense

Tense denotes the time of the action indicated by a verb. The time is not always the same as that indicated by the name of the tense.

9 Types

Present Tense


Present tense may express action which is going on at the present time or which occurs always, repeatedly, or habitually. Examples: He sees the train. He eats cereal for breakfast every day.

Present Tense


When you are talking about facts, or saying something you know about a person or thing, you use the simple present tense. Example: Tim likes bananas. Mary enjoys singing. Mum hates cockroaches.

Present Tense


You use the simple present tense to talk about things that have been arranged for the future. future. Examples: Mary starts school tomorrow. We join the senior school next year. My big brother leaves school in July this year.

Past Tense


Past tense expresses action 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 action which will take place in the future. It uses the helping verbs will or shall* and 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.

Present Perfect Tense



 

Present perfect tense expresses action completed at the present time (perfect means complete) or begun in the past and continuing into the present. This tense uses the helping verbs has and have and the past participle of the verb. Examples:
  

He has written a letter to his uncle. (completed action) The Waltons have lived here for seven years. (continuing) (continuing) I have made you a cup of tea. (completed action)

Past Perfect Tense



Past perfect tense expresses action completed before certain time in the past. (This is the before-past tense.) beforeIt uses the helping verb had and the past participle of the verb. Example:


She had written the letter before I saw her. We hadnt been at the party long when Jack arrived.

Future Perfect Tense



Future perfect tense expresses action which will be completed before a certain time in the future. (This is the before-future tense) beforeIt uses the helping verbs will have or shall have and the past participle of the verb. Example:


He will have finished the paper before next Friday.

Present Continuous Tense



You use the present continuous tense to talk about actions in the present, present, or things that are going on or happening now. now. Examples:
   

I am learning how to swim. She is reading a story book. The blackbird is feeding its young. You are singing too loudly.

Present Continuous Tense



You also use the present continuous tense to talk about things that you have planned to do in the future. future. Examples:
We are going camping tomorrow.  Im starting piano lessons soon.  Jim's parents are taking him to Australia next week.


Grammar Help


You form the present continuous tense like this:

  

Am + present participle Is + present participle Are + present participle

You form the present participle by adding ing to the verb. For example:
  

Learn + ing = learning Sing + ing = singing Read + ing = reading

Present Participle

Past Continuous Tense



You use past continuous to talk about actions that were going on, or happening at a certain moment in the past. Examples:

 

Ms. Muneeba was cleaning the chalkboard. Ali was making the model of a bridge. Sara was finishing her sums.

Grammar Help


You form the past continuous tense like this:

Was + present participle.  Were + present participle.  Was drawing  Were driving


Future Continuous Tense



You use the future continuous tense to talk about things that have been planned or are likely to happen. happen. Sometimes these are continuous actions and sometimes single actions. actions. Examples: I shall be sending invitations for the concert to all your parents. I will be waiting at the gate when you come out of school.

Grammar Help


You form the future continuous tense like this:

Shall + be+ present participle  Will + be + present participle  Shall be leaving  Will be opening


Verb Forms

Verb Forms

Regular

Irregular

Regular Verbs


 

Regular verbs form their past tense and past participle by adding ed or d to their present tense form. More than 95% of all English verbs are regular. Regular verbs cause few problems in speaking and writing.

Regular verbs and their Principal Parts

Principal Parts:

Present Present Past Participle Tense Tense

Past
Participle

Verb:

To call

call, calls dust, dusts

calling

called

(have) called (have) dusted

To dust

dusting

dusted

Irregular Verbs


 

Irregular verbs can form their past tense and past participle forms in various way. These forms cause even native speakers innumerable problems. The most irregular verb of all is the verb to be. be. Another irregular verb that is important for its use with other verbs is the verb to have. have.

Four Principal/Main Parts

Principal Parts:

Present Tense

Present

Past Participle Tense

Past
Participle

Verb:

To Be

be, am, are, is

being

was, were had

(have) been (have) had

To Have have, has

having

Other Common Irregular Verbs and their Principal Parts

Principal Part Verb Present Tense Present Participle Past Tense Past Participle

To see To do To fly To run

see, seeing sees do, does doing fly, flies flying

saw did flew ran

run, runs running

(have) seen (have) done (have) flown (have) run