Verb TenseVerb Tense

TITLE of BookletTITLE of Booklet

6 Types6 Types

Verb Tenses

Present Past FutureFuture

PerfectPast

PerfectPresent Perfect

Present Tense (Tab 2)Present Tense (Tab 2)

Present tense may express Present tense may express action which is action which is going on at the going on at the present time present time or which occurs or which occurs always, repeatedly, or habitually.always, repeatedly, or habitually.

ExampleExample::

He He eatseats cereal for breakfast cereal for breakfast every day.every day.

Past Tense (Tab 3)Past Tense (Tab 3)

Past tense expresses action Past tense expresses action completed at a completed at a definitedefinite time in time in the past.the past.

Examples:Examples:

1.1. He He wrotewrote the letter yesterday. the letter yesterday.

2.2. She She livedlived to be 90 years old. to be 90 years old.

Future Tense (Tab 4)Future Tense (Tab 4)

Future tense expresses Future tense expresses actionaction which will take place in the which will take place in the future.future.

It uses the helping verbs It uses the helping verbs willwill or or shall*shall* and the present tense and the present tense form of the verb).form of the verb).

Examples: He Examples: He will sendwill send the the letter tomorrow. I letter tomorrow. I shall waitshall wait here here until you return.until you return.

Present Perfect Tense (Tab 5)Present Perfect Tense (Tab 5)

Present perfect tense Present perfect tense expresses action expresses action completed at the present time completed at the present time (perfect (perfect means complete) means complete) oror begun in the past and begun in the past and continuing into the present.continuing into the present.

This tense This tense uses uses the helping verbs the helping verbs hashas and and havehave and the past participle of the verb.and the past participle of the verb.

Examples: Examples: He He has writtenhas written a letter to his uncle. (completed a letter to his uncle. (completed

action)action) The Waltons The Waltons have livedhave lived here for seven years. here for seven years.

(continuing)(continuing)

Past Perfect Tense (Tab 6)Past Perfect Tense (Tab 6)

Past perfect tense Past perfect tense expresses expresses action completed action completed beforebefore certain certain time in the past. time in the past. (This is the (This is the beforebefore-past tense.)-past tense.)

It uses the helping verb It uses the helping verb hadhad and and the past participle of the verbthe past participle of the verb..

ExampleExample: She : She had writtenhad written the the letter before I saw her.letter before I saw her.

Future Perfect Tense (Tab 7)Future Perfect Tense (Tab 7)

Future perfect tense Future perfect tense expresses expresses action which will be completed action which will be completed before a certain time in the futurebefore a certain time in the future. . (This is the (This is the beforebefore-future tense)-future tense)

It uses the helping verbs It uses the helping verbs will havewill have or or shall haveshall have and the past and the past participle of the verb.participle of the verb.

ExampleExample: He : He will have finishedwill have finished the paper before next Friday.the paper before next Friday.