Verb Verb TensesTenses

Past, Present and Past, Present and FutureFuture

By Zhian F AsaadBy Zhian F Asaad

Three Tenses of Verbs

Verb Tense

past present future

TYPES OF TENSES• 3 TYPES:

– Present– Past– Future

• 4 ASPECTS:– Simple– Continuous– Perfect– Perfect Continuous

Present Tense Verbs• Actions that happen now or today• When you are referring to habitual

actions that you always or never do.As: He always comes late to class.• When you are referring to unchanging

truths. As: The sun rises in the east.• When you are making general

statements of fact As: They are friendly.

simple present tense

IndicatorsAlways Whenever Everyday

Usually Often Frequently

Sometimes Rarely Occasionally

never

The Present Perfect is The Present Perfect is Used:Used:

• When an activity happened at an unspecified time in the past (before the present)

• When an activity has been repeated several times before now

• When an activity was very recently completed before now

• When an activity is not completed in the past

Present Perfect Tense

ExamplesExamples• (unspecified time before now) They

have already seen that movie.• (repeated activity before now) We have

visited New York City many times.• (an action has recently been completed

before now) I have just eaten.• (action not completed in the past) I

have studied Spanish for many years.

Present Perfect Tense

IndicatorsIndicatorsBefore Ever Never

So far Already Yet

Just Recently For

since

The Present Progressive Tense is

Used:• When an activity is in progress now at

the moment of speaking• When an activity began before now and

continues into the future without stopping.

• When an activity is temporary.• When an activity is developing and

changing.

Present Progressive Tense

IndicatorsIndicatorsRight now, at thismoment

Still

This year, week,month, etc.

As we speak

Past Tense VerbsThis is used:• when an event has already happened.• For historical or past information:

– Malcolm X said, “If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything

• (Completed action in the past). • (Past habit) She always wrote a letter to

her mother on Sunday night.

Simple Past Tense

IndicatorsIndicatorsLast night, week, year, month, Saturday, semester, etc.

Yesterday

ago

USE PAST PERFECT TENSE

• (the past form of have (had) with a past participle verb form)

• For an earlier action that is mentioned after a later action: – Marvin bought the car that he had seen

advertised in the paper. (First, he saw it; then he bought it.)

15

Past ProgressivePast Progressive• This tense is used to refer to

activities continuously in progress around a time in the past.

• Example: They were eating when the taxi arrived.

• Form: was or were + verbing

Past Perfect Past Perfect ProgressiveProgressive

• This tense is used when an activity was continuously in progress before a specific time in the past.

• Example: I had been thinking about her before she called.

• Form: had + been + verbing

Future TenseThis is when an event has not

taken place yet.

• The future has not yet happened, but we know it will.

Future tense verbs• Many verbs have the helping verb “will” in

front of them to show they will be happening.

• Clue words to look for are: tomorrow, some day, next time, or next week.

Examples:Will play will lead will be happyWill have will eat will like

USE FUTURE PERFECT TENSE

• (the auxiliary will have or shall have with a past participle verb form)

• used to describe an event that is expected or planned to happen before a time of reference in the future: – By 2020, I shall have graduated from

college.

20

Future Progressive Future Progressive TenseTense

• This tense is used to refer to activities that will be continuously in progress around some future time.

• Example: We will be flying over New York at noon tomorrow.

• Form: will + be + verbing

Future Perfect Future Perfect ProgressiveProgressive

• This tense is used to refer to activities that will be continuously in progress before a future time.

• Example: He will have been working for 3 hours before you arrive.

• Form: will + have + been + verbing

Which tense is this sentence written in?

I watched Coronation Street last night on TV.

I watched Coronation Street last night on TV.

The sentence is written in the PAST tense. We know this because the

‘ED’ is added on to ‘WATCH’.

Which tense is this sentence written in? I am going to the cinema

at the weekend with my friends to watch a film.

I am going to the cinema at the weekend with my friends to

watch a film. This sentence is written in the FUTURE tense.

We know this because the verb ‘GOING’ is used – the action of the verb (going) shows the topic of the sentence hasn’t happened yet.

On a Sunday, I get up at 10.30 am and make myself a cup of tea in my favourite cup.

This sentence is written in the PRESENT tense. If we were to change the sentence to PAST, then the verbs would be changed – get becomes got, make becomes made. What would the verbs be if the sentence was written in the future tense?

If we change the sentence to future

tense…On Sunday, I will get up at 10.30 am

and I will make myself a cup of tea in my favourite cup.

• The action of the verb has changed. Instead of ‘I get up’ as in present tense, and ‘I got up’ in past tense, in future – ‘I will get up’.

METHODS OF TEACHINGMIND MAP

THANK YOU FOR YOUR KIND ATTENTION!