Verb TenseVerb TenseHow Verbs show when action occurs

3 Tenses3 Tenses

Simple Tense◦Past◦Present ◦Future

Perfect Tense Progressive Tense

Simple TenseSimple Tense

Simple Tense refers◦To a specific time when something is

happening

WhenSomething happens

or whenSomething happened

or whenSomething will happen

Simple TenseSimple Tense

Simple Past Tense ◦He sat, She sat, We sat

Simple Present Tense◦He sits, She sits, We sits

Simple Future Tense◦He will sit, She will sit, We will sit

Perfect TensePerfect Tense

Refers to when◦An action is continuing on over an extended

period of timeUses words has, have, or had + a verb

Perfect TensePerfect Tense

Present Perfect◦I have sat

Past Perfect◦I had sat

Future Perfect◦I will have sat

Progressive TenseProgressive Tense

Refers to the progress of an action◦Uses is, are, was or were + a verb

is, are, was or were known as “auxiliary verb”or

“Be verbs” Am, Are, Is, Was, Were, Be, Become, Became

Progressive TenseProgressive Tense

Progressive Present◦I am sitting

Progressive Past◦I was sitting

Progressive Future◦I will be sitting

Using Verb TenseUsing Verb Tense

Make sure the verb tense is the same when actions occur all at onceFor instance

The instructor explains the diagram to students who asked questions during the lecture.◦Should become

The instructor explains the diagram to students who ask questions during the lecture.◦Or

The instructor explained the diagram to students who asked questions during the lecture.

Using Verb TenseUsing Verb Tense

Only change verb tense if when the action happened demands it.◦Example:

The children love their new tree house, which they built themselves.

◦And notThe children love their new tree house,

which they build themselves.◦Explanation:

They currently love their tree house…HOWEVER

They built it earlier!

Let’s try some togetherLet’s try some together

Online Quiz:◦ http://utminers.utep.edu/micontreras/Verb%20Tense%20Qui

z%201.htm

Bibliography:PurdueOwl.com.

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/601/04/. Purdue University Writing Lab. 2013.

Towson.edu. http://www.towson.edu/ows/tenseconsistency.htm. 2013.