VERB TENSE REVIEW: past, present, &

future

You don’t have to get tense about the tenses!

Just learn the rules about using verbs in the past, present, and future

uses – s or no –s

I you } eat we they

he she } eats Panda bears eat bamboo.

it

SIMPLE PRESENT

always “I always smoke a cigar after dinner.” every day usually often sometimes rarely never

“I usually practice karate on the weekends.”

habits & routines

talk about facts• The capital of Russia is Moscow.

• It takes years to learn another language.

• Ten times ten equals one-hundred.

• Airplanes need a lot of fuel to operate.

Used with –ed if it’s regular

hug - huggeddance – danced

kiss - kissed

simple past

write – wrote

stand - stood

think - thought

irregular = do not use -ed

yesterday last week3 months ago in 1983

“The Egyptians built the pyramids thousands of years ago.”

shows that something started and finished in the past

• am / is / are + ing• today, now, right now, at this moment, this week

Present progressive

• hear• love• like • prefer • want• need • hate• seem “I am loving you.”

love

Remember that some verbs NEVER have –ing on them

• have• feel• think• look• taste• smell• see I am smelling the flower. It smells wonderful.

some verbs use –ing, but only sometimes

There are 3 ways you can show the future

In the year 2525 …..

Future

1. use will + infinitive verb

(offer help) “I will show you.”

(guesses) “I think it will rain tomorrow .”

Talk about plans “I’m going to study Law.”

Predictions about the future “I think it’s going to rain tomorrow.”

2. am / is / are + going to

after once as soon as in 3 weeks 10 days from now next year

“Once the exam begins, you cannot

talk.”“The exam ends 2 hours from now.”

3. use the simple present + a future time word

uses has / have + past participle

Careful! The past participle can be the same as the simple past, but in some cases it’s different

walk walked walked wait waited waited ride rode ridden drink drank drunk

Present perfect

• an action that started and finished in the past (exact time is unknown)

• already, just

He has finished the project.

The post office has already closed for the day.

We have just received the good news.

the present perfect can be similar to the simple past

some actions start in the past and continue to the present time:

since, for, recently, lately, yet, up to now, so far, never, ever

Joe has worked at the company for 27 years.

Joe’s first day of work back in 1985 2012 -- Joe is now the company president!

Lately, the days have started getting hotter.

I feel lucky because I have never been seriously ill.

present perfect can show past and present together

Time Words

already yet

always last year in 1763

2 days ago lately everyday

up until now so far right now

Some time words can be used for past, present, and future

Examples:

I always visit my grandmother in the summer.

(present)

Gandhi always tried to solve India’s problems with

peace. (past)

I will always remember you. (future)

They have always lived in California. (present

perfect)

• Most sentences in English are active.• Active means that the subject does the action:

subject verb object

George de Mestral, a Swiss engineer, invented velcro. } George did the action -- he invented

S V O

Manufacturers use it on handbags, shoes, and clothing.

S V O S V O

Astronauts need velcro on spaceships. It holds things down.

active and passive verbs

Passive means that the subject is not doing the action. Instead, something happens to the subject.

Velcro was invented by George de Mestral, a Swiss engineer.

Velcro is a thing. George is a person.

George did the action -- not the velcro!

…. but sometimes sentences are passive

1. The object and the subject switch places

subject verb object

George de Mestral, a Swiss engineer, invented velcro.

Velcro was invented by George de Mestral, a Swiss engineer.

subject verb object

Do you notice the differences between

the active and passive sentences?

2. Another difference is the verb

Snakes eat mice.

Mice are eaten by snakes.

In Florida, an alligator ate a snake!

In Florida, a snake was eaten by an alligator.

Poachers hunt snakes for their skin.

Snakes are hunted for their skin by poachers.

passive = be + past participle

3. passive sentences may use “by”

by is used when it’s important or

known who/what did the action

Romeo and Juliet was written by Shakespeare.

Mona Lisa was painted by Leonardo da Vinci.

This sweater was made by my grandmother.

New Orleans was destroyed by a hurricane in 2005.

sometimes, it isn’t important or known who/what did the action

India was given independence 1947.

Coffee is grown in many countries

The pearl carpet of Baroda was made

with more than 1 million pearls.

In Texas, hundreds of trucks are stolen each month.

Reading is a great way to learn how verbs are used. When you read, you see verbs used in past, present, and future.

What’s the best way to learn verb tenses?

Grammar is like driving or using a computer; the best way to learn it is by doing it yourself.

Paying attention to your teacher’s lessons about verbs is useful, but the best way is to try and use them yourself.

Practicing

When you listen to English (movies, songs, conversations, etc) pay attention to the verbs.

Try to listen to how people use verbs.

Listening