Verb tenses

VERB TENSESPrepared by: ELIANA CRESPO

Overview of the tenses

Past

Present

Future

Past Tense[VERB+ed] or irregular verbs

Ex.You called Debbie.

I went to work I rode my bike this weekend

Past

Present

Future

Uses of the Past Tense1.Completed Action in the Past

2.Series of Completed Action

3.Duration in the Past

4.Habits in the Past

5.Past Facts or Generalizations

Present TenseFORM

[VERB] + s/es in third person

Examples:

You speak English.

Every day Mr. Lee gets up at 6:00 a.m. and heads for the station. 

Past

Present

Future

Uses of the Present Tense

1.Repeated Actions

2.Facts or Generalizations

3.Scheduled Events in the Near Future

4.Now (Non-Continuous Verbs)

Future Tense

FORM Will[will + verb]Ex:You will help him.I will go to school.

FORM Be Going To[am/is/are + going to +

verb]Examples:You are going to

meet Jane tonight.She is going to the

party.

Past

Present

Future

Uses of the Future Tense

1.”Will” to Express a Voluntary

Action

2. “Will” to Express a Promise

3.“Be going to” to Express a Plan

4.“Will” or “Be Going to” to

Express a Prediction

Now it’s time for some exercises!

For each sentence, choose the correct tense of the verb.

1. John ________ in San Diego for the past 3 years (and he still lives there). a) lived b) was lived c) has lived 2. My brother ________ in San Diego up until last year. a) was lived b) was living c) has lived 3. I worked as a graphic designer before I ________ to England. a) came b) have come c) did come

1. John has lived in San Diego for the past 3 years (and he still lives there). a) lived b) was lived c) has lived 2. My brother was living in San Diego up until last year. a) was lived b) was living c) has lived 3. I worked as a graphic designer before I came to England. a) came b) have come c) did come

4. ________ reading the paper yet? a) Were you finished b) Have you finished c) Are you finishing 5. I ________ in love three times in my life. a) was being b) was c) have been

6. I ________ in love with Mary, but she left me for another man. a) have been b) was being c) was

4. Have you finished reading the paper yet? a) Were you finished b) Have you finished c) Are you finishing 5. I have been in love three times in my life. a) was being b) was c) have been

6. I was in love with Mary, but she left me for another man. a) have been b) was being c) was

Encircle the action verb and indicate the tense on the

blanks.

1. Daniel will choose a baseball bat. ______________________2. He steps up to the plate. ______________________3. The pitcher tossed the ball. ______________________4. Daniel will swing hard. ______________________

1. Daniel will choose a baseball bat. ____future tense________2. He steps up to the plate. ____present tense_______3. The pitcher tossed the ball. ____past tense_________4. Daniel will swing hard. ____future tense_________

5. The ball struck the bat. ______________________6. The ball flies through the air. ______________________ 7. It landed over the fence. ______________________8. Daniel will run around the bases. _____________________

5. The ball struck the bat. ____past tense_________6. The ball flies through the air. ____present tense______ 7. It landed over the fence. ____past tense_________8. Daniel will run around the bases. ____future tense________