Verb Tenses

➔ Verb Tense: tells the time of the action or being of a verb: ◆ in the past, ◆ in the present, or ◆ in the future.

Present tense shows action happening right now, but also can show action that happens regularly.

★ I like everything about you.

➔ The form of the present tense may change depending on the subject. If the subject is a singular noun or a 3rd person singular pronoun (he, she, or it) add -s to the verb. ◆ Hal likes you too. In fact, he likes everybody.

The past tense shows action that happened in the past. It is formed by adding ed to the end of regular verbs (or just d if the verb already ends in e).

★ I called you on the phone last night.

★ The roof caved in after the storm.

Present Perfect Tense shows action that started in the past and continues into the present.

➔ Rule: For the present perfect tense use the helping verb have or has with the regular past-tense verb.

◆ I have called many times before. Hal has called you too.

The future tense indicates action that has not happened yet but will in the future.

➔ Rule: Use the helping verb will to show the future tense.

◆ I will cook you a great dinner tonight. ◆ Past◆ Present◆ Present Perfect (have/has)◆ Future (will)

Irregular Verbs: forms of be and havePresent Past Present Perfect

I am; we areyou arehe is, she is, it is; they are

I was; we wereyou werehe was, she was, it was; they were

I have been; we have beenyou have beenhe has been, she has been, it has been; they have been

I have; we haveyou have he has, she has,it has; they have

I had; we hadyou hadhe had, she had,it had; they had

I have had, we have hadyou have hadhe has had, she has had, it has had; they have had

Here are other irregular verbs and their forms. There are many others.

Present Past Present Perfect

beginbringcomedo/doesgivego/goessee

beganbroughtcamedidgavewentsaw

has begunhas broughthas comehas donehas givenhas gonehas seen

Subject-Verb Agreement➔ Verbs must agree with the subject in number (singular,

plural) and person (1st person, 2nd person, 3rd person).

◆ Tip: Generally, if the subject is singular (only one), then the verb will end in (-s). Conversely, if the subject is plural (more than one) then the verb will NOT end in (-s)

◆ The baby sleeps. (subject baby is singular)◆ The babies sleep. (subject babies is plural)◆ He wins the game. They win the game.

Other Rules to Subject-Verb Agreement

➔ When there are two or more subjects joined by and, the verb must match a plural subject.

◆ Incorrect: Sally and Doug is planning a trip to Africa.

◆ Correct: Sally and Doug are planning a trip to Africa.

Other Rules to Subject-Verb Agreement

➔ When more than one subject is joined by or or nor, the verb should agree with the subject closer to it.◆ Correct: Either his daughters or Mr. Kim comes to

work on Sunday.

◆ Correct: Neither Mr. Kim nor his daughters come to work on Sunday.

Other Rules to Subject-Verb Agreement

➔ Words or phrases that come between a subject and a verb do not affect the rules of agreement.

◆ Incorrect: The boxes on the shelf was empty.

◆ Correct: The boxes on the shelf were empty.