Verb Tenses
The Present Cluster of Active Verbs
Simple Present
- Verb form: No ‘-s’ form or ‘-s’ form
- Meaning: a habitual or repeating action; true now and always
- Examples: I study English every day. Smoking causes health problems.
Present Progressive
- Verb form: am/is/are + -ing form
- Meaning: a current or temporary action
- Examples: I am studying English today. The sun is shining.
Present Perfect
- Verb form: has/have + past participle
- Meaning: an action that began in the past but continues to be true or a past action (indefinite time) that could happen again
- Examples: I have studied English since 2003. He has written five novels.
Present Perfect Progressive
- Verb form: has/have been + -ing form
- Meaning: an action that began in the past but is continuing without interruption up to now and likely to continue into the future
- Examples: I have been studying English all morning. The global temperature has been slowly increasing since the 1980s.
Practice
Correct the following.
- The politicians are working on the plan this whole year.
- Most of the children in my country are wearing a uniform to school.
- He is working for Sony since he came to the United States.
- This is the first time that my brother is being in the hospital.
- Most people are doing exercises after work
The Past Cluster of Active Verbs
Simple Past
- Verb form: regular verb + -ed
- Meaning: a single past event
- Examples: I ate dinner at 8 pm. Van Gogh moved to Arles in 1889.
Past Progressive
- Verb form: was/were + -ing form
- Meaning: a past action that was happening (when it was interrupted by another action)
- Examples: I was eating dinner when you called. Van Gogh was living in Arles when Gauguin visited him.
Past Perfect
- Verb form: had + past participle
- Meaning: a past action that was completed before a second past action
- Examples: I had eaten dinner before you called. When he moved to Aries, he had already met many French painters.
Past Perfect Progressive
- Verb form: had been + -ing form
- Meaning: an action that began in the past before a second past action (with emphasis on the duration of the action)
- Examples: I had been eating dinner before you called. He had been paining for ten years before he died.
Practice
Correct the following.
- In 1977, Hong Kong become a part of China again.
- When we met, we do not live in this house.
- I waiting for the bus for almost 45 minutes when you arrived.
- I has work for the company for almost 20 years.
- When I ate dinner last night, my uncle called me.
The Future Cluster of Active Verbs
Simple Future
- Verb form: will + verb (basic form)
- Meaning: an event in the future, especially one that is scheduled or expresses a strong desire to do something
- Examples: If the weather clears up soon, Flight 78 for Paris will depart from this gate about an hour from now. She will write to you next week.
Future Progressive
- Verb form: will be + -ing form
- Meaning: an action that will be taking place at some point in the future
- Examples: If you call at 8 pm, I will be eating dinner, so please call before then. We will be writing our research report next Tuesday.
Future Perfect
- Verb form: will have + past participle
- Meaning: an action that will be finished by a specified time in the future
- Examples: By the time that you are 50 years old, you will have visited 50 countries. He will have written the essay by tomorrow morning.
Future Perfect Progressive
- Verb form: will have been + -ing form
- Meaning: how long an action has been happening at a future point; focus is on the duration
- Examples: By the time I see you again, I will have been working at this company for 30 years. By July 4, they will have been writing the report for five weeks.
Practice
Correct the following.
- Andrea will to study more if she has more free time.
- When you call tomorrow, I will study for my big test on Monday.
- I will walk from my house to the office before you leave your place.
- As of next Friday, I will work here for 20 years.
- When you call me, I will be pick you up.
References
Examples are adapted with modifications from:
Raimes, A. (2008). Grammar troublespots: A guide for student writers. Cambridge [etc.]: Cambridge University Press.
Folse, K. S., & Azar, B. S. (2016). Keys to teaching grammar to English language learners: A practical handbook.