Verb Tenses

Verb Tense  An action expressed in the verb can take place in three different times: PastPresentFuture  In each time, the action can be of three different types: Simple ProgressivePerfect The three times together with the three types are called TENSES.

Table of Tenses PastPresentFuture SimpleI played the guitar for 3 hours yesterday. I play guitar in a band. I will play next weekend at a music festival. ProgressiveII was playing daily when I was in college. I am playing less frequently these days. I will be playing more frequently in the future. PerfectI had played for five years before I joined a band. I have played in my current band for 15 years. I will have played in over 100 concerts by the end of the year.

Regular verbs have reliable forms. Infinitive Simple Present Simple Past Past Participle Present Participle to laughlaugh(s)laughed laughing to startstart(s)started starting to traveltravel(s)traveled traveling Or to fish, fish(es), fished, fished, fishing ! Or to fish, fish(es), fished, fishing !

Irregular verbs, however, have no consistent patterns. Infinitive Simple Present Simple Past Past Participle Present Participle to drivedrive(s)drovedrivendriving to thinkthink(s)thought thinking to drinkdrink(s)drankdrunkdrinking to swimswim(s)swamswumswimming For example, to catch, catch(es), caught, caught, catching ! For example, to catch, catch(es), caught, catching !

Past Simple The action already happened. Use the past participle.  Ex: My brother and I played chess.  Ex: I gave my dad a tie for his birthday.  Ex: The garden was planted last spring.

Present Simple The action is taking place in the present or takes place regularly. Use the present form of the verb by itself.  I walk to school on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  I usually drink chai tea with my afternoon snack.

Future Simple The action is going to happen. Use will or shall with the present tense of the verb.  Ex: Dana will organize a talent show at her school.  Ex: Dr. Jones shall turn in the book fair money.

Progressive Tenses  The progressive tense describes an action that is continuing or ongoing.  All progressive tenses use a form of the verb TO BE (am, is, are, was, were, will be) with the present participle of the verb (ending in “–ing”)  Examples: I am watching you. You are moving too slowly. They will be riding their bikes to school from now on.

Perfect Tenses  There are three perfect tenses: past perfect, present perfect, and future perfect.  Perfect means COMPLETED. Perfect tenses describe an action that has already taken place or has been completed.  ALL three perfect tenses use the past participle of the verb and the helping verbs have, has, had, or will have.

Perfect Tenses The present perfect is formed with has or have and the past participle. I have watched three seasons of Downton Abbey. The present perfect stresses the duration of an event that has happened and will likely continue to happen. It is different from the simple present. I watch Downton Abbey.

Past Perfect Tense  When two events happened in the past, the past perfect tense describes the event that happened first.  It is formed with the past participle and the helping verb “had.”  I had waited for one hour before my ride finally arrived.  We had eaten five helpings of wedding cake by the time they cleared the table.

Future Perfect Tense  When TWO events will happen in the future, the future perfect tense describes the event that will occur first.  It is formed with the past participle and the verb “will have” or “shall have.”  By the time we finish the book, the movie will have left the theaters.  He will have lost five pounds by the time his fast ends.

Perfect Tenses: Play Present Perfecthave played has played Past Perfecthad played Future Perfectwill have played shall have played