Verb Tenses

EG1471 AY 2010

Forms of Verb Tenses

Simple present Present progressive* Simple past Past progressive* Present perfect Present perfect progressive* Past perfect Past perfect progressive* Future Future progressive* Future perfect Future perfect progressive*

(*The progressive is also called the continuous)

EG1471 AY 2008/09/10 JChan

Simple Present

Use Examples

To express habitual actions or a condition that is true at any time

To express general truths

The campus is quiet during the vacation.

The sun sets in the west.

now

EG1471 AY 2008/09/10 JChan

Simple Present

Use Examples

To report what is in print e.g. academic writing.

In her article, Jones claims that renewable energy is a viable alternative in the long run.

now

Formation

Infinitive / Base form of the verb (with -s or -es for third person singular).

EG1471 AY 2008/09/10 JChan

Present Progressive

Use Examples

To express that an action or activity is happening.

To express that an action happening at present is temporary.

To express that an action is already in progress at a specified point of time in the present.

The student is preparing for her final year project.

The trainees are undergoing training at he moment.

At 8:30am, most of the employees are working at their desks.

now

EG1471 AY 2008/09/10 JChan

Present Progressive

Formationam/ is/ are + present participle (-ing).

I am writing an academic essay for this module.They are doing some research on nanotechnology.He is preparing the lab set up for the next class.

EG1471 AY 2008/09/10 JChan

Simple Past

Use Examples

To indicate a completed action

To indicate that an action took place at a specific time in the past.

He majored in engineering.

The students did this project last semester.

Formation:

Regular verbs: base form + d/-ed

now

2011

Past Progressive

Use Examples

To show

To show

To show

now

Formationwas/ were + present participle (-ing)

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Present Perfect

Use Examples

To express an action or state that began in the past and continues to the present.

To show that an event occurred in the past. The exact time is not specified or important.

I have been an architect for four years.

They have gone to Tokyo on business.

now

EG1471 AY 2008/09/10 JChan

Present Perfect

Use Examples

To express an action or state which happened in the very recent past.

To indicate that an event has occurred more than once in the past (specific times are not given or important).

Teacher. I’ve finished.

The students have approached their tutor several times for assistance.

now

Formation:has/ have + past participle

EG1471 AY 2008/09/10 JChan

Past Perfect

Use Examples

To indicate an event that was completed by a definite time or before another action was completed in the past.

By the time the rescue team arrived at the scene, the waters had reached 1.5 metres.

now

Formation:had + past participle

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Past Perfect Progressive

Use Examples

To stress the duration of an activity that was completed before another action or time in the past.

The students had been struggling with the problem for an hour before they found a solution.

now

Formation:had + been + present participle (-ing)

EG1471 AY 2008/09/10 JChan

Future

Use Examples

To express an action, event or state that will occur in the future.

They will complete their assignment tonight.

now

Formation:will + base form (no -s or -es)

Note: Future time can also be expressed in • am/is/are + going to + base form• simple progressive or present progressive

EG1471 AY 2008/09/10 JChan

Future Progressive

Use Examples

To express an action that will occur over a duration at some specific point in the future.

To emphasize the duration of an action in the future.

The final year students will be doing their internship in December.

The professor will be going on sabbatical during the vacation.

now

Formation:will + be + present participle

EG1471 AY 2008/09/10 JChan

Future Perfect

Use Examples

To indicate that an activity will be completed before another event or time in the future.

The postgraduate students will have finished their thesis by the end of this semester.

now

Formation:will + have + past participle

EG1471 AY 2008/09/10 JChan

Future Perfect Progressive

Use Examples

To indicate that an activity has been in progress for a period of time before another event or time in the future.

By March next year, the engineers will have been working on the project for three years.

now

Formation:will + have + present participle

EG1471 AY 2008/09/10 JChan

Sources

Lane, A. and Lange, E. (1999). Writing Clearly: An Editing Guide (2nd ed.). USA: Heinle and Heinle Publishers.

Oshima, A. and Hogue, A. (2006). Writing Academic English (4th ed.). New York: Pearson Education, 3-25.

Raimes, A. (2006). Grammar Troublespots: A Guide for Student Writers (3rd ed.). New York: Cambridge University Press, 41-45.