VERB TENS

ES
How to distinguish different verb tenses
when tutoring

IMPORTANCE FOR CORRECT VER

B TENSES

Clear and easy to understand

Consistency
To express the event with proper verb tenses

HOW TO FIND THE VERB?

Underline the possible verbs that show or

imply some action.
Change the time of the sentence and find
the word that changes.
*Some verbs may contain two words ex: I
am going to school.

EDITING ADVICE

Do all the verbs belong to the time cluster (prese

nt, past, or future) in one paragraph?
If yes, ask yourself that does each verb convey pr
ecisely the time you had in mind, the relationshi
p to other times or actions, and the idea of an ac
tion completed or in progress?
If no, look carefully at the verbs that do not fit. I
s there a reason for the switch in time? Then, re
write the verb that provides the appropriate indi
cation of time.

OVERVIEW

1. Present
2. Past
3. future

OVERVIEW

A. Simple tenses
B. Progressive tenses
C. Perfect tenses
D.*Perfect progressive tenses
(decided not to cover here)

NOW

PAST

FUTURE

1.ASSIGNMENTS THAT MAY USE

PRESENT TENSES
The assignment that talks about who
I am.
The assignment that compares the ne
w grading system with the old one (w
riting about the new system).
The assignment that introduces ourse
lves.

(1A)SIMPLE PRESENT T
ENSE

MEANING
Activities or events that occurring in
the present.
Summarizing pieces of writing, films,
plays.
Stating ongoing opinions, beliefs, hab
its, and facts.
Ex: I ride a bike to school everyday.

VERBS IN THE SIMPLE

PRESENT TENSE

Singular:
Writes
Studies
walks

Plural:
Write
Study
Walk

(1B)PRESENT PROGRES
SIVE TENSE

MEANING
One thing happened in the past,
and is in progress at the present
time, and probably will continue.
Ex: I am washing the dishes.

EXAMPLES FOR VERBS IN THE PR

ESENT PROGRESSIVE SENTENCES
am
is
are

walking
doing
staying
(verb + ing)

(1C)PRESENT PERFECT
TENSE

MEANING
The

action happened before n

ow.
The exact time is not importa
nt.
Ex: She has already
dropped the class.

PARTICIPLE
wanted, turned, dropped
hurt, come, build
felt, gone, hidden
blown, grown, known
begun, rung, swum

(2)ASSIGNMENTS THAT MAY USE

PAST TENSES

The assignment that compares th

e new grading system with the ol
d one (writing about the old syste
m).
The assignment that talks about c
hildhood.

(2A)SIMPLE PAST TENSE

MEANING
At

one particular time in

the past, it happened. It
began and ended in past
.
Ex: I walked to school th
is morning.

VERBS IN THE SIMPLE

PAST TENSE

Regular:
played, walked, n
oticed

Irregular :
became, began
blew, grew
thought, taught
cut, hurt, let

(2B) PAST PROGRESSIV

E TENSE

MEANING
One

thing happened before

and was in process at a part
icular time in the past, and
it continued.
Ex: I was doing my homewor
k.

EXAMPLES FOR VERBS IN THE

PAST PROGRESSIVE SENTENCE
S

was
+

were

typing
leaving
working
(verb + ing)

(2C) PAST PERFECT TE

NSE

MEANING
The

action was completely

done before another time in
the past.
Ex: He had already finished
his exam before I met him.

VERBS IN THE PAST PERF

ECT TENSE
had +
s)

(participle

PARTICIPLE
wanted, turned, dropped
hurt, come, build
felt, gone, hidden
blown, grown, known
begun, rung, swum

(3)ASSIGNMENTS THAT MAY USE

FUTURE TENESES

The assignment that talks about

what do we want to do in the fut
ure.

(3A)SIMPLE FUTURE TE
NSE

MEANING
At

one particular time in

the future, it will happe
n.
Ex: Jason will go to bed
at 12 oclock.

VERBS IN THE SIMPLE FU

TURE TENSE
will
be going to

(3B)FUTURE PROGRESS
IVE TENSE

MEANING
One

thing will happen in the f

uture, and it will be in process
at a particular time in the fut
ure, and it will probably conti
nue.
Ex: Katie will be sleeping whe
n her father comes home.

VERBS IN THE FUTURE P

ROGRESSIVE SENTENCES
will be +

(verb + ing)

(3B)FUTURE PERFECT
TENSE

MEANING
The action will be completely don
e before another time in the futu
re.
Ex: Albert will already have taken
shower before he goes to bed.

VERBS IN THE FUTURE P

ERFECT TENSE
will + have +
(participle)

PARTICIPLE
wanted, turned, dropped
hurt, come, build
felt, gone, hidden
blown, grown, known
begun, rung, swum

MODALS

EXAMPLES FOR MODALS

to

write about the wishes.

The assignment that talks a
bout one thing that changes
one persons life.

WHAT ARE THEY?

should
could
would

SHOULD
Advisability
Ex: You should do your home
work instead of going to the
movies.

SHOULD
90%

certainty (expectati

on)
Ex: He should attend th
e meeting tomorrow.

COULD
past ability
Ex: I could get up early when
I was young.

COULD
polite request
Ex: Could you teach me with
this math problem?

COULD
suggestion (affirmative only)
Ex: You could do some resear
ch about this topic to see wh
ether you have the right ans
wer.

COULD
less than 50% certainty
Ex: She could be in her office
.

COULD
impossibility (negative only)
Ex: That couldnt be his dog bec
ause his dog was dead yesterday.

WOULD
polite request
Ex: Would you please pass m
e the salt?

WOULD
preference
Ex: I would rather die than g
et married with him.

WOULD
repeated action in the past
Ex: She would take a walk ev
ery morning when she was yo
ung.

WOULD
polite for want (with like)
Ex: I would like to have some
tea, please.

WOULD
unfulfilled wish
Ex: I would have learned mor
e about how to use proper ve
rb tenses before coming to th
e U.S.

THANKS