Verbs : Expressing Time through Tense Uses of Tense in Present, Past, and Future Time

There are THREE uses of tense in present time Verb Forms and Uses Examples Present Present action, present condition, recurring action, recurring condition, constant action, constant condition Present Progressive Continuing action, Continuing condition Present Emphatic Emphasizing a statement, Denying an assertion There goes the balloon; The band sounds wonderful; I pack my own lunch; The paramedics are prompt to arrive; The earth rotates on its axis; Pluto is the most distant planet. I am studying for a math test; Lenny is being stubborn today. I do hope for sun this weekend; Despite rumors, we do have school tomorrow. There are THREE uses of tense in present time

There are SEVEN uses of tense in past time Verb Forms and Uses Examples Past Indefinite past time, definite past time Present perfect Indefinite past time, continuing to present Past Perfect Completed before another past event Jack mowed the lawn; Tim was sick yesterday. Janet has finished her paper; Grandma has been busy all day. The caller had hung up by the time I got to the phone. There are SEVEN uses of tense in past time

There are SEVEN uses of tense in past time Verb Forms and Uses Examples Past progressive Continuous past event Present perfect progressive Event continuing to present Past perfect progressive Continuous past event before another Past emphatic Emphasizing a statement The sun was shining yesterday. I have been studying all weekend. Before the storm, we had been enjoying our picnic. I did finish in time; Despite Brenda’s account, Ali did complete the event. There are SEVEN uses of tense in past time

There are FOUR uses of tense in future time Verb Forms and Uses Examples Future Future event Future perfect Future event before another Future progressive Continuing future event Future perfect progressive Continuing future event before another Grandma will visit us next week. We will have finished our chores before lunch. The scouts will be selling cookies all of next month. By opening night, the actors will have been rehearsing for six weeks. There are FOUR uses of tense in future time