Adapted from Real Good Grammar, Too by Mamie Webb Hixon Verb Forms and Tenses Adapted from Real Good Grammar, Too by Mamie Webb Hixon

Verb Forms The Verb Forms Every English verb except “(to) be” has five forms, which vary depending on whether the verb is regular (such as “type” and “text”) or irregular (such as “write”). The Verb Forms infinitive/bare form (to) type (to) text (to) write present (-s) types texts writes present participle (-ing) typing texting writing past (-ed) typed texted wrote past participle (-en) (have) typed (have) texted (have) written

Verb Forms and Tenses Verb tense is the ability of a verb to indicate the time at which an action takes place. Verb forms are the tools you’ll use to create tenses.

Use present tense in universally true statements not limited to a particular time: The Sun is ninety-three million miles from Earth. in definitions: Hardware is the physical system of a computer. in statements about the content of literature and other published works: Hamlet appears extremely indecisive.

Use present tense for events that are currently happening: I am really mad at Anthony. Andrea attends mass every week. now/the present the distant future the near future the distant past the near past am, attends

Use present infinitive for verbs that point to the future: I hope to complete my degree by the time we get married. She planned to earn an MBA by the end of the year. the distant past now/the present the distant future to complete, to earn hope, plan the near past the near future

Use present perfect tense for an action that began in the past but continues into the present or the future: I have lived in Pensacola all my life. She has lived in Pensacola all her life. the distant past now/the present the distant future have lived the near past the near future

Use a present participle for an action that occurs at the same time as the verb: Speeding down the interstate, I saw a police car. the distant past now/the present the distant future speeding + saw the near past the near future

Use past tense for an earlier action: Marvin bought the car. the distant past now/the present the distant future bought the near past the near future

Use past perfect tense for an earlier action that is mentioned after a later action: Marvin bought the car that he had seen advertised online. the distant past now/the present the distant future bought had seen the near past the near future

Use future tense for an action that will be completed: I will graduate from college. the distant past now/the present the distant future will graduate the near past the near future

Use future perfect tense for an action that will have been completed at a specific future time in relation to another specific time: By 2020, I will have graduated from college. the distant past now/the present the distant future will have graduated 2020 the near past the near future

Mood Mood enables verbs to express how the speaker or writer regards the sentence. Mood can express attitudes, intentions, commands, wishes, recommendations, and possibilities.

Use subjunctive mood to express a condition contrary to fact or a wish: If I were President, I’d work with Congress to protect the environment. You are not the President. You’ll have to protect the environment without the help of Congress. The CFO would have been terminated a long time ago were she not the CEO’s niece. The CFO is the CEO’s niece, so she’s still hanging around.

Use subjunctive mood to express insistence, importance, necessity, or urgency after the word “that”: It is important that you be on time. We demand that the company do something about its toxic waste. The syllabus requires that each student write a research paper. Note: Use the base form of a verb (e.g. “be” instead of “are”) because if you use the present form the problem isn’t urgent – the person is already doing what you’ve asked!