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

2. 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

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

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

14. 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.

15. 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!