1. Principle Verb Forms

All verbs have four principle forms (or tenses):

Simple Present is used to state facts and to describe habitual actions.

Example: We watch TV every night.

Simple Past is used to describe an action or event that happened in the past.

Example: We watched the parade yesterday.

Simple Future is used to describe an action or event that is going to happen in the future.

Example: We will watch the championship match next week.

Present Participle is used to describe an action that is currently happening.

Example: We are watching boats go by.

2. Past Tense Forms: Simple Past vs. Past Participle

The grammatical past is expressed both in the simple past tense (explained in the previous section) and in the past participle of the verb. The simple past tense can be used by itself as the main verb in a sentence, while the past participle can be used as an adjective or in combination with the auxiliary verb "have" form as the main verb in a sentence (as in: perfect tense) or ``sein'' (as in the passive).

Past Participle Example 1:

I had seen my best friend the day before.

not: I had saw my best friend the day before.

not: I sawed my best friend the day before.

Past Participle Example 2:

My little sister has eaten her breakfast quickly.

not: My little sister has ate her breakfast quickly.

not: My little sister eated her breakfast quickly.

Remember that the perfect and progressive tenses include so-called helping or auxiliary verbs, as shown in the examples below:

• Present Perfect: They have already passed Calculus II.

• Past Perfect: I had seen my best friend the day before.

• Present Progressive: My little sister is eating her breakfast quickly.

• Past Progressive: The winds were howling loudly as the vinyl siding began flying off the house.

3. Tense and Function

Understanding the function of each verb tense will help you decide when to use it:

• The present tense is used to state facts and to describe habitual actions.

• The past tense is used to describe an action or event that happened in the past

• The future tense is used to describe an action or event that is going to happen in the future.

• The perfect tenses are used to describe an action that started in the past but may continue into the present or future (present), a past action that was completed before another past action happened (past), and a future action that will have been completed before another future action is completed (future).

• The progressive tenses are used to describe actions that are ongoing; the verb ends in “-ing.”

• The perfect progressive tenses are a combination of the perfect and progressive tenses; they convey the same idea as the perfect tenses but with an ongoing action.

4. Using the Perfect Tenses

Any of the three perfect tenses can be used with its corresponding basic tense (for example, present perfect ~ present and past perfect ~ past).

Examples:

present: Hanka has curled up in bed and she begins to read her book.

past: Hanka had curled up in bed and she began to read her book.

Here’s an example question:

1. After the rainstorm, a brilliant rainbow light up the sky as white, fluffy clouds reappeared. NO CHANGE lit up the sky as white, fluffy clouds reappeared. lit up the sky as white, fluffy clouds reappears. lights up the sky as white, fluffy clouds reappeared.

5. Verb Tense Sequences

Some sentences follow a particular order or tense order. The order of clauses is usually interchangeable.

Hypothetical/Conditional: These clauses typically use a clause containing if and a subjunctive verb phrase (e.g. was to walk) in one clause and a conditional verb construction (would) in a second clause.

If I buy a ticket for the game, will you go with me?

Airdrick will be shocked when he learns the truth. If I were you, I would leave town as soon as possible. - (Note the contraction ID for I would.)

Eadric would be shocked if he were to discover the truth.

If I were you, I’d get out of town as fast as you can. - (Notice the contraction I’d from I would.)

Simple Past/Past Progressive

The accident occurred while the traffic light was changing.

Simple Past/Past Perfect:

The children had drunk all their milk before Ms. Phan dismissed them for recess.

Simple Past/Simple Present:

In a recent poll, 7% of teens thought that Vietnam is in North America

Simple Present/Future Progressive:

I will be cleaning the house when you return from work.

Simple Present/Future Perfect:

By the time you awaken, Dr. Smythe will have finished stitching the incision.

Simple Present/Present Progressive (suggests the future):

I am watching a movie when John leaves the living room.

Simple Present/Present Perfect:

Martha knows that she has earned all of her promotions.

Future/Simple Past:

Denisa will cry if you lost her teddy bear.

Future/Simple Present:

I will buy you both lunch if you wash my car.

Future/Present Perfect:

Sammy’s Pizza will close this week if quarterly profits have not improved.

Future Perfect/Present Perfect (equivalent to future perfect/simple present):

Our cows will have moved toward the barn by the time the bobcat has entered the pasture.

6. When Verb Tense Changes

Sometimes, verb tense is allowed to change! You’ll be able to tell when this happens, though, because there will be an obvious clue. One of two things will occur:

• A transition:

Example:

While I’ve enjoyed summer vacation, I’ll be happy to go back to school.

• A phrase indicating a change in time period:

Example:

Years after she left home, Carrie wishes she had spent more time with her mother.

You should be able to detect such clues when they appear. When no clue is present, be consistent with your verb tenses.