ENGLISH 0301

Verb Tenses Basic Forms, Perfect Forms, and Progressive Forms

The Basic Tenses The basic three tenses are: Past, Present, and Future. We use them to talk about specific things occurring at one time. We also use them to talk about habits. Such as: I run marathons. I eat vegetables.

The Present Tense I walk I walk You walk You walk He, She, It walks He, She, It walks We walk We walk They Walk They Walk USE THIS TENSE FOR PRESENT ACTION/CONDITION, GENERAL TRUTHS, or HABITIAL ACTION “He, She, It” is the only form that ends in “s” in the present tense.

The Past Tense I walked I walked You walked You walked He, She, It walked He, She, It walked We walked We walked They walked They walked USE THIS FORM FOR COMPLETED ACTIONS/CONDITIONS

Future Tense I will/won’t walk I will/won’t walk You will/won’t walk You will/won’t walk He, She, It will/won’t walk He, She, It will/won’t walk We will/won’t walk We will/won’t walk They will/won’t walk They will/won’t walk (going to) walk USE THIS FORM TO SHOW AN ACTIVITY OR EVENT THAT WILL OR WON’T HAPPEN IN FUTURE

The Progressive Tenses Use with actions happening over a period of time- in the present, past, or future.

PAST PROGRESSIVE I was climbing for twenty days. I was climbing for twenty days. You were climbing. You were climbing. He, She, It was climbing. He, She, It was climbing. They were climbing. They were climbing. We were climbing. We were climbing. USE FOR ACTION THAT TAKES PLACE OVER PERIOD OF TIME/PAST ACTION INTERRUPTED

Present Progressive I am walking now I am walking now You are walking now You are walking now He, She, It is walking now He, She, It is walking now We are walking now We are walking now They are walking now They are walking now USE TO SHOW ACTIVITY/CONDITION IN PROGRESS

Future Progressive You will be working all next week. You will be working all next week. They will be working all next week. They will be working all next week. We will be working all next week. We will be working all next week. I will be working all next week. I will be working all next week. ADD “will be” to the “ing” form of the verb.

The Perfect Tenses These can be the trickiest tenses to use. Use the perfect tenses to talk about – one thing interrupting another, one thing happening right after another, and one thing that will occur before something else in the future.

Past Perfect She had worked as a waitress before she became an actress. DESCRIBES AN ACTION THAT WAS COMPLETED IN THE PAST BEFORE ANOTHER ACTION. (Use had and “ed”)

Present Perfect You have lived here all your life. You have lived here all your life. He has lived here all his life. He has lived here all his life. He, She, It has lived here. He, She, It has lived here. They have lived here all their lives. They have lived here all their lives. We have lived here all our lives. We have lived here all our lives. USE WITH VERBS THAT BEGAN IN THE PAST AND LAST INTO PRESENT.

Future Perfect I will have completed 118 credit hours before graduating college. DESCRIBES AN EVENT THAT WILL BE COMPLETED BEFORE ANOTHER IN FUTURE. (USE “will have”+ “ed”)