PROPERTIES OF VERBS

Prepared by: Aldrin A. Lucas

USES OF TENSE AND ASPECTPresentA. Simple Present (form in 3rd

person singular; base form for all else). It is used:

1. For general statements of fact.Ex. The sun rises in the East and sets in the West.

ANOTHER EXAMPLES London is the capital city of

Germany.

The elephant doesn’t fly.

The earth goes around the sun.

2. To express habitual or everyday activity.Ex. Most offices start operation at 8:00 a.m.

The heart pumps through the body

Some birds sleep by day and hunt by night.

B. Present progressive (am/is/are + present participle). It is used to express an action that is taking place at the time of speaking.

Ex. It is raining very hard.

We are having lunch

Jane is reading the book “War and Peace”

C. Present Perfect (have/has + past participle). It is used.1. To show actions that started at

an unspecified time the past.

Ex. Rodel has dreamed to be a popular singing star.

ANOTHER EXAMPLES I have been to TOKYO.

They have never eaten there before. You have changed so much.

D. Present Perfect Progressive (have/has + been + present participle). It is used to indicate continuous past actions still occurring or happening until recently.

Ex. Rafael has been thinking about his business expansion plan.

ANOTHER EXAMPLESShe has been sneezing since she got here.

He has a stomach ache because he has been eating too much.

The cat has been hiding under the couch for over an hour now.

II. PastA. Simple Past (past form of

verb). It is used:1. To indicate that an action began

and ended at a particular time in the past.

Ex. When we lost Papa, Mama was terribly depressed.

ANOTHER EXAMPLES I sometimes walked home at lunch time.

I often brought my lunch to school.

We saw a good film last week.

B. Past Progressive (was/were + present participle). It is used to express past actions that are in progress.

Ex. Ricky was showing his latest Toyota edition to everyone.

ANOTHER EXAMPLESShe were taking his examination seriously.

Alvin was making a card for his mother.

Lorie was looking at a beautiful landscape.

C. Past Perfect (had + past participle). It is used to show a past action that happened before another past action.

Ex. I had eaten when they brought in my favourite dish.

ANOTHER EXAMPLESShe had fed her dog before she went out.

Sheila had walked home from school.

His teacher had taught him to be a better person.

D. Past Perfect Progressive (had + been + present participle). It is used to indicate a continuing past action when another past action occurred.

Ex. Sheila had been writing her dissertation before her adviser told her to stop.

ANOTHER EXAMPLESHe had been painting the door before the dog scratched it.

The jury had been considering its verdict for several hours when the judge effectively ordered them to find Jones guilty.

III. FUTUREA. Simple future (will/shall +

based form). It is used to indicate future time.

Ex. Will you come here on Monday?

ANOTHER EXAMPLES It will rain tomorrow.

I won’t leave until I’ve seen the manager.

Shall we go to the cinema tonight?

B. Future Progressive (will be/shall be + present participle). It is used to indicate an action that will be happening at a time in the future.

Ex. My sisters will be arriving next month.

ANOTHER EXAMPLESThey will be dancing all day long.

We will be working quiet closely.

Tomorrow at three o’clock Josh will be cooking.

C. Future Perfect (will/shall + have + past participle). It is used to express an action that will be completed before another event or time inn the future.

Ex. Eric will have finished building his new house by next year.

ANOTHER EXAMPLES Jack will have finished his homework by the time his mother gets home.

She will have gotten ready by the time they leave the house.

Laura will have cleaned out the apartment before she gives back the key.

D. Future Perfect Progressive (will/shall + have + been + present participle). It is used to emphasize the duration of an action that will be taking place before another time or event in the future.

Ex. The wife have been sleeping soundly by the time her husband gets home from work.

ANOTHER EXAMPLESAt 10pm I will have been swimming for a six hours.

They will have been talking for two hours by then.

THANK YOU