A Guide to Past Tense A Guide to Past Tense VerbsVerbs

Presented ByPresented By

Delora, Kathy, and ClarineDelora, Kathy, and Clarine

The word "tense" comes from Latin The word "tense" comes from Latin tempustempus, , meaning time. In grammar, "tense" refers to meaning time. In grammar, "tense" refers to the form of the verb itself:the form of the verb itself:

• Tense indicates completeness or Tense indicates completeness or continuance. If the event is complete, it's continuance. If the event is complete, it's past; if the event isn't complete, it's past; if the event isn't complete, it's present.present.

• We use past tense (preteritum) to tell We use past tense (preteritum) to tell about something that happened at a about something that happened at a specific time in the past, or to tell about specific time in the past, or to tell about something that happened repeatedly in something that happened repeatedly in the past.the past.

The The simple past tensesimple past tense is one of the most common is one of the most common tenses in English. Its form is the same with all subjects. tenses in English. Its form is the same with all subjects. It is usually formed by adding -ED to the verb. This It is usually formed by adding -ED to the verb. This page will explain the rules for forming the tense with page will explain the rules for forming the tense with regular verbs. regular verbs.

**The simple past tense regular verbs, are created just The simple past tense regular verbs, are created just by adding -D or -ED. However, with some verbs, you by adding -D or -ED. However, with some verbs, you need to also change the ending. need to also change the ending.

Here are some examples: Here are some examples:

• Verb ending in e, Add –D Verb ending in e, Add –D live - livedlive - lived

• Consonant + y Change y to i, then add –ED Consonant + y Change y to i, then add –ED try - triedtry - tried

• One vowel + one consonant (but NOT w or y) One vowel + one consonant (but NOT w or y) Double the consonant, then add –ED Double the consonant, then add –ED tap tappedtap tapped

commit – committed commit – committed • [anything else] Add –ED [anything else] Add –ED boil – boiled , fill – filledboil – boiled , fill – filled

When the verb in the independent When the verb in the independent clause is the past tense, the verb in clause is the past tense, the verb in the dependent clause is usually in the dependent clause is usually in a past tense as well. The past a past tense as well. The past tenses are: the tenses are: the simple pastsimple past, the , the past progressivepast progressive, the , the past perfectpast perfect, , and the and the past perfect progressivepast perfect progressive..

When you are writing about a subject, be sure When you are writing about a subject, be sure to keep it in the same tense throughout your to keep it in the same tense throughout your

paper. paper.

Do This:Do This:• I saw a bear climb a tree, and then I wrote I saw a bear climb a tree, and then I wrote

about him.about him.• Jenny mixed the cake, while I whipped the Jenny mixed the cake, while I whipped the

frosting.frosting.Do Not Do This:Do Not Do This:

• I saw a bear climb a tree, and then I write I saw a bear climb a tree, and then I write about him.about him.

• Jenny mixes the cake, while I whipped the Jenny mixes the cake, while I whipped the frosting.frosting.

The The simple pastsimple past tense tense

• Last year, I Last year, I traveledtraveled to Japan. to Japan.

• They never They never went went to school; they always to school; they always skippedskipped..

• I I finishedfinished work, work, walkedwalked to the beach, and to the beach, and foundfound a nice place to swim. a nice place to swim.

In the simple past tense, negative and question In the simple past tense, negative and question forms are made using the auxiliary verb "do" (in its forms are made using the auxiliary verb "do" (in its past form, "did") followed by the simple form of the past form, "did") followed by the simple form of the main verb. main verb. This page explains the rules. This page explains the rules.

• Simple past statement : I had a car. Simple past statement : I had a car.

You ate my toast.You ate my toast.

• Informal negative : I didn't have a car.Informal negative : I didn't have a car.

You didn't eat my toast. You didn't eat my toast.

• Formal negative : I did not have a car.Formal negative : I did not have a car.

You did not eat my toast. You did not eat my toast.

The past perfect refers to a time The past perfect refers to a time earlier thanearlier than before now. It is used to make it clear that one before now. It is used to make it clear that one

event happened before another in the past. It does event happened before another in the past. It does not matter which event is mentioned first - the not matter which event is mentioned first - the tense makes it clear which one happened first. tense makes it clear which one happened first.

• I I had savedhad saved my document before my document before the computer crashed.the computer crashed.

• When they arrived, weWhen they arrived, we had already had already startedstarted cooking.cooking.

• The trainThe train had just lefthad just left when I when I arrived at the station.arrived at the station.

The The past progressive tensepast progressive tense is commonly used in English for is commonly used in English for actions which were going on (had not finished) at a particular actions which were going on (had not finished) at a particular time in the past. This page will explain the rules for forming time in the past. This page will explain the rules for forming the past progressive tense, and how it is used. the past progressive tense, and how it is used.

Subject BE-ING FORM Examples:Subject BE-ING FORM Examples:

• I was I was singing.singing.

• You were singing.You were singing.

• He was singing.He was singing.

• We were singing.We were singing.

• They were singing.They were singing.

Definition: Definition: The Perfect Progressive tense The Perfect Progressive tense is used to express the time that has elapsed is used to express the time that has elapsed between two points in time. The Past Perfect between two points in time. The Past Perfect Progressive expresses the time elapsed Progressive expresses the time elapsed between the beginning of a continuous action between the beginning of a continuous action that began in the past and another point in that began in the past and another point in time in the past.time in the past.

• The police The police had been lookinghad been looking for the robber for for the robber for two months before they finally found him.two months before they finally found him.

• Before the budget cuts, the students had been participating in many extracurricular activities.

Past Tense VerbsPast Tense VerbsRegular versus IrregularRegular versus Irregular

How to Identify ThemHow to Identify Them* * REGULAR VERBS:REGULAR VERBS:

The The regularregular verbs show past tense simply by adding “d” or “ed” such verbs show past tense simply by adding “d” or “ed” such as: as:

• care becomes carecare becomes caredd and talk becomes talk and talk becomes talkeded. This is also true of the . This is also true of the past participles for regular verbs as there is no change in their spellingpast participles for regular verbs as there is no change in their spelling

*Examples of regular verbs, (simple past):*Examples of regular verbs, (simple past):• They They played played football all day.football all day.• He He pitchedpitched a perfect baseball game. a perfect baseball game.• Debbie Debbie caredcared for three babies. for three babies.• The children The children jumpedjumped rope until lunchtime. rope until lunchtime. *Examples of regular verbs, (past participles with their *Examples of regular verbs, (past participles with their

helping verbs):helping verbs):• They They have playedhave played football all day. football all day.• He He has pitchedhas pitched a perfect baseball game. a perfect baseball game.• Debbie Debbie has caredhas cared for three babies. for three babies.• The children The children have jumpedhave jumped rope all day. rope all day.

Irregular VerbsIrregular Verbs

IRREGULAR VERBS:IRREGULAR VERBS:• The The irregular irregular verbs are verbs that change in spelling to verbs are verbs that change in spelling to

show their past tense. Mastering the spelling of these show their past tense. Mastering the spelling of these irregular verbs must be done by repetition and studying. irregular verbs must be done by repetition and studying. Their past participle is usually another spelling of the verb Their past participle is usually another spelling of the verb and needs a helping verb such as: have, having, has or had. and needs a helping verb such as: have, having, has or had. The main verb with the helping verb forms a perfect tense.The main verb with the helping verb forms a perfect tense.

*Examples of irregular verbs, (simple past):*Examples of irregular verbs, (simple past):• More customers More customers ate ate here today than Saturday.here today than Saturday.• Students Students spokespoke at the convention last month. at the convention last month.• The flowers The flowers grew grew beautifully in the garden.beautifully in the garden.• She She drankdrank all of the orange juice. all of the orange juice. *Examples of irregular verbs (past participles) with *Examples of irregular verbs (past participles) with

their their helping verbs, (past perfect tense):helping verbs, (past perfect tense):• More customers More customers have eatenhave eaten here today than Saturday. here today than Saturday.• Students Students have spokenhave spoken at the convention in the past. at the convention in the past.• The flowers The flowers have grownhave grown beautifully in the garden. beautifully in the garden.• She She has drunkhas drunk all of the orange juice. all of the orange juice.

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