Business Writing

Firefly Electric and Lighting Corp. Training and Organizational Development

Human Resources Department

Module 2

WORKING WITH WORDS

Module 2

Lesson 4

Tenses of Verb

Grammar A. Tenses of Verbs

Simple tenses

Continuous/ Progressive tenses

Perfect tenses

B. Subject –Verb Agreement

C. Voices of Verb (Transitive Verb)

Active Voice

Passive Voice

TENSES of VERBS

TENSES of VERBS

Grammar rules details of language syntax. Like spelling issues, grammar violations in a business document can reflect negatively on a professional or a company. Care should be taken that all business documents are grammatically correct.

TENSES of VERBS There are two grammar issues most writers

have trouble with - tenses of verb and subject-verb agreement. This part of Module 2 will deal with discussion of tenses of verb.

Modern English has two sets of tenses- the simple tenses and the perfect tenses. Each set has a corresponding continuous or progressive tenses

Grammar Simple tenses: Present tense, Past tense and Future tense

Progressive tenses: Present progressive, Past Progressive and

Future Progressive

Perfect Tenses: Present Perfect, Past Perfect and Future Perfect

Module 2

Lesson 4

Tenses of Verb: The Simple Tenses

Module 2

Lesson 4C

The Simple Future Tense

The Simple Future Tense

• Definition: The simple future tense is the tense of the verb that indicates an action, event or condition as not having happened yet but is expected to happen in the future

The Simple Future Tense Time expressions used for simple future tense • tonight • this afternoon • tomorrow • soon • next (time/week/month/year, etc.) • the day after (tomorrow/ this day/ Sunday, etc) • in (a few minutes/ a little while/a few moments/ a week/a month/a year • in X (days’/ weeks’/ months’/ years’) time

The Simple Future Tense Format of the Future tense: a. To express futurity

• Will+base form of the verb – for second and third person

• Shall + base form of the verb – for first person

Examples: You will prepare a speech for our class

program. Lisa will bake a cake to celebrate your

birthday next week. I shall attend our class reunion this May.

The Simple Future Tense b. To express obligation or determination

• Shall +base form of the verb – for second and third person

• Will + base form of the verb – for first person

Examples:

You shall lead the people in this fight against corruption.

Pres. Duterte shall punish anyone caught dealing with drugs.

I will finish my work by six o’clock tonight.

The Simple Future Tense: c. To express a plan

to be (am/ is/ are) + going to + base form of the verb.

Examples:

I am going to take my master’s degree at De La Salle University.

Tomorrow, we are going to attend the 6 o’clock mass.

Felisa is going to manage their family business starting this October.

The Simple Future Tense The simple future tense cannot be used in

time expressions such as : when, while, before, after, by the time, as soon as, if, unless. Simple present tense form is used although the sentence expresses futurity.

Examples:

As soon as William arrives, he will call you.

When Freddie comes, he will repair the roof.

The Simple Future Tense

Conditions that use simple future tense: • to predict future event

o It will rain tomorrow oAlice sings so beautifully. She will be a winner.

• to express a voluntary action/ willingness o I will pay for our movie tickets. o I will wash the dishes.

• to express a promise oI will not tell anyone our secret. oI will take good care of you

The Simple Future Tense • using “shall”, to make an offer

o Shall I call for a taxi?

o Shall I do your hair for you?

• using “shall”, to make a suggestion

o Shall we go and see a movie tonight?

o Shall we join that tour to Palawan?

• using “shall”, to ask for advice or instruction

o What shall I do to make him love me?

oWhat shall I do with the leftover food?

The Simple Future Tense Adverb indicators of the Simple Future Tense:

• always Mina will always stay with you.

• only The nurse will only take your temperature.

• never Robert will never have the chance to hurt you

again. * The adverbs are placed between the helping

verb and the main verb.

The Simple Future Tense Adverb indicators of the Simple Future Tense

• ever Will I ever win any argument with you?

• Still I promise I will still be your friend • Just Winnie will just stay for a short while.

She has another appointment scheduled at 10am.

The Simple Future Tense

Note:

In Modern English, “will” and “shall”

are used interchangeably with “will” being the more common.

The Simple Future Tense

.

The Simple Future Tense Complete the sentence by changing the enclosed

verb to a correct format of the simple future tense.

1. Milo (visit) _________his grandfather when the school ends.

2. I (love) ________ you forever.

3. Gina (graduate) __________at the top of her class.

4. I (take) care ___________of your plants while you have your vacation.

The Simple Future Tense

5. I (return)___________. MacArthur promised the Filipino people.

6. Manny (clear)________ this lot to build his dream house.

7. Anita (make) ______ drastic changes in her lifestyle.

8. Greggy (be) _____ here soon.

The Simple Future Tense

If you got a score of 4 or less in the practice exercises, please review the notes on simple future tense before taking the quiz.

Please look over the uploaded “Notes on Simple Future Tense” in Quia and check whether there are other facts you need to include in your Cheat Sheet.

The Simple Future Tense Complete the sentence by changing the enclosed

verb to a correct format of the simple future tense.

1. Milo (visit) is going to visit his grandfather when the school ends.

2. I (love) will love you forever.

3. Gina (graduate) will graduate at the top of her class.

4. I (take) care am going to take care of your plants while you have your vacation.

The Simple Future Tense

5. “I (return)shall return.” MacArthur promised the Filipino people.

6. Manny (clear) is going to clear this lot to build his dream house.

7. Anita (make) is going to make drastic changes in her lifestyle.

8. Greggy (be) will be here soon.

Module 2, Lesson 4C The Simple Future Tense Quiz

1. Please proceed to www. Quia.com/web

2. On the space provided, enter your log in name and your password.

3. Under “Quiz”, please select Lesson 4C, Quiz 1

4. Follow the instructions in the quiz.

5. Follow these same steps when you go to succeeding quizzes after every lesson.