Unit: Verbs and Sentence Structure

The Principal Parts of VerbsVerbs take different forms in order to

indicate time. These forms of verbs are tenses.“She talks about her plans” expresses action in

the present.“She talked about her plans” expresses action

that occurred in the past.To use the tenses correctly, you must know

how to form the principal parts of verbs.

The Principal Parts of VerbsThe Principal Parts of the Verb Talk

Present: talkPresent Participle: (am, is, are, was, were)

talkingPast: talkedPast Participle: (have, has, had) talked

The Principal Parts of VerbsThe Principal Parts of Regular Verbs Present: most basic form of the verb

savePresent Participle: helping verb am, is, are,

was, or were + verb with –ing endingam saving

Past: verb with –ed endingsaved

Past Participle: helping verb have, has, or had + verb with –ed endinghave saved

The Principal Parts of VerbsThe Principal Parts of Irregular Verbs Irregular verbs do not follow the same pattern as

regular verbs when forming the past and past participle.

You will need to memorize these exceptions.When in doubt in your writing, look up the correct

way to form the past and part participle of any verb.

Using Irregular VerbsTo RunPresent: runPresent Participle:

am runningPast: ran (not

runned)Past Participle: have

run (not have runned)

To WritePresent: writePresent Participle:

am writingPast: wrotePast Participle: have

written

Two Troublesome Irregular VerbsTo LayPresent: layPresent Participle: am

layingPast: laidPast Participle: have

laidUse to mean “to put

something down” or “to place (something)”

Almost always followed by a direct object

The sailors laid their uniforms on the bed.

To LiePresent: liePresent Participle: am

lyingPast: layPast Participle: have

lainUse to mean “to rest in

a reclining position” or “to be situated”

Never followed by a direct object

The sailors lay down on the narrow bunk.

Two Troublesome Irregular VerbsTo SitPresent: sitPresent Participle: am

sittingPast: satPast Participle: have

satUse to mean “to be

seated” or “to rest”Usually not followed

by a direct object.We sat on the floor.

To SetPresent: setPresent Participle: am

settingPast: setPast Participle: have

setUse to mean “to put

something in a certain place or position

Usually followed by a direct object.

He set the glasses gingerly in the sink.

Verb TensesIn verbs, the tense shows the time of action or

state of being.Use the principal parts of verbs to form the six

basic tenses.The Basic Verb TensesPresent

I eat pizza often.I always order from Pizza Hut.Indicates action that happens over and over.Principal part: presentUses no helping verbs.

Verb TensesThe Basic Verb TensesPast

I ate pizza last night.I ordered from Pizza Hut.Indicates action that happened in the past.Principal part: pastUses no helping verbs

FutureI will eat pizza tonight.I will order from Pizza Hut.Indicates action that will happen in the future.Principal part: presentUses helping verb will

Verb TensesThe Perfect Verb Tenses: indicate that

an action has been completed.Present Perfect

I have eaten pizza many times.He has ordered from Pizza Hut.Indicates action completed often.Principal part: past participleUses helping verbs have or has

Past PerfectI had eaten pizza before you called.He had ordered from Pizza Hut.Indicates action completed in the past.Principal part: past participleUses helping verb had

Verb TensesThe Perfect Verb Tenses: indicate that an action has been completed.

Future PerfectI will have eaten pizza many times by the end of

the year.Indicates action that will be completed in the

future.Principal part: past participleUses helping verbs will and have

Verb TensesThe Progressive Forms: indicate an action that is in progress.

Present ProgressiveI am eating pizza.He is ordering from Pizza Hut.Indicates action in process of being completed.Principal part: present participleUses helping verbs am, is, are

Past ProgressiveI was eating pizza when you called.You were ordering from Pizza Hut.Indicates action that was in the process of being

completed in the past.Principal part: present participleUses helping verb was or were

Verb TensesFuture Progressive

I will be eating pizza for dinner tonight.Indicates action that will be in process in the

future.Principal part: present participleUses helping verbs will and be

Verb TensesThe Progressive Perfect Forms: indicate

completion of an ongoing action.Present Perfect Progressive

I have been eating pizza since I was little.Indicates action often in the process of being

completed.Principal part: present participleUses helping verbs have and been

Past Perfect ProgressiveI had been eating pizza, but I stoppedIndicates action was in process, but now is

completed.Principal part: present participleUses helping verb had and been

Verb TensesFuture Perfect Progressive

On my net birthday, I will have been eating pizza for eleven years.

Indicates action that has been completed before but will be in progress in the future.

Principal part: present participleUses helping verbs: will, have, and been

Verb TensesNow, why did we just learn all of this? Because in your writing, you need to keep

your tenses consistent.Choose the best tense for the situation

(past, present, or future) and be consistent throughout the entire piece.