Tense and Form

The tense of a verb indicates the time of the action or of the state of being expressed
by the verb.

THE SIX TENSES

PRESENT/ PAST / FUTURE / PRESENT PERFECT/ PAST PERFECT /

Sings / sang / will sing / has sung / had sung /

FUTURE PERFECT
will have sung.)

Each tense has an additional form called the progressive form, which expresses
continuing action or state of being.

EXAMPLES: is singing/ was singing/ has been singing/ will be singing

The present and past tenses also have an emphatic form, which consists of do, does, or
did plus the base form of a verb.
EXAMPLE: Although the sky was gray, we did go on our picnic.

EXERCISE: On the line provided before each sentence, write the tense of the
underlined verb. If the verb is in the progressive or emphatic form, also indicate the
form by writing progressive or emphatic.
Example: present perfect, progressive 1. Mr. Diaz has been teaching poetry at the
community college for almost fifteen years.
_________________1. I have read the poem “Dusting” by Julia Alvarez.
_________________2. The poem does reveal something about the speaker’s feelings.
_________________3. The poem’s speaker was feeling neglected and anonymous
within her family.
_________________4. There are times, I think, when all children feel that way.
_________________5. Julia Alvarez had grown up in the Dominican Republic.
_________________6. She was only ten when she moved to the United States with
her family.
_________________7. Ms. Alvarez has studied creative writing at the university level.
_________________8. She did base her poetry and short stories on her childhood
experiences.
_________________9. By the end of the term, we will have discussed several poems
from her book Homecoming.
_________________10. Next term, we will be reading selections from her first book
of fiction, How the García Girls Lost Their Accents.
Correct Use of Verb Tenses A
Each of the six tenses has its own uses.
PRESENT TENSE: Dwayne makes the batter for the shrimp tempura. [The action is
occurring now.]
PAST TENSE: Last weekend he made pork lo mein. [The action occurred in the past
and did not continue into the present.]
FUTURE TENSE: Tomorrow he will make his specialty, chicken teriyaki. [The
action will occur in the future.]
PRESENT PERFECT TENSE : Conchita has sent her application to the University
of Virginia. [The action occurred at some indefinite time in the past.]
PAST PERFECT TENSE: She already had sent applications to two other
universities. [The action occurred in the past and ended before some other past action.]
FUTURE PERFECT TENSE: By next week, Conchita will have sent at least five
applications. [The action will end before some other action takes place.]

EXERCISE: In each sentence below, underline the verb form in parentheses that
correctly completes the sentence.
Example: 1. We (have been working, will have been working) in the yard all morning.
1. Be sure you (have put, will have put) the lid on the trash can before leaving it at the
curb.
2. By next Thursday, Monica (has been finishing, will have finished) all the exams for
her first semester of college.
3. Tired of waiting, the impatient couple (leaves, had left) by the time the clerk called
their number.
4. Without telling their coach, the tennis team (will be training, trained) harder than
usual for the meet they won yesterday.
5. Because the starting guard picked up three fouls in the first ten minutes of the game,
my sister (played, will play) at that position until the second half.
6. Do you know that Jennifer Moddes still (has been, is) the tallest of the four sisters?
7. Because Bryan had outgrown his favorite pair of pants, he (gave, gives) them to his
younger brother.
8. My cousin (collects, has been collecting) photographs of the desert ever since his
trip to the Grand Canyon.
9. What (will have been, was) your favorite chapter in that book?
10. Sometimes I accidentally (do call, will call) the twins by the wrong name.
Correct Use of Verb Tenses B
Each of the six tenses has its own uses.

PRESENT TENSE: Angel buys bread at that bakery. [The action is occurring now
or is customary or habitual.]
PAST TENSE: Angel bought bread at that bakery yesterday. [The action occurred in
the past and did not continue into the present.]
FUTURE TENSE: Tomorrow, Angel will buy bread for the picnic. [The action will
occur in the future.]
PRESENT PERFECT TENSE: Angel has bought bread at that bakery before. [The
action occurred at some indefinite time in the past.]
PAST PERFECT TENSE: Angel had already bought turkey and cheese. [The action
occurred in the past and ended before some other action in the past.]
FUTURE PERFECT TENSE: By tomorrow afternoon, Angel will have bought all
the supplies. [The action will end before some other action takes place.]

EXERCISE: In each of the following sentences, identify the tense of the underlined
verb by writing above it the tense of the verb.
future perfect
Example: 1. By the time we graduate, most of us will have been in school for twelve
or thirteen years.
1. Nicole walked to school every day last year.

2. Next fall, when she goes to college, she will live at home for a semester.

3. By then, she will have saved enough to buy a small car.

4. She thought she had saved enough, but then she remembered the additional cost of

insurance.

5. Textbooks and other supplies are usually very expensive.

6. She has registered for classes and will meet the professors during orientation week.

7. Some of her friends will be going to the same college.

8. Others plan to work in a community volunteer program for a year.

9. Nicole’s sister joined the Navy after she graduated.

10. Nicole had considered military service but decided to go to college first.
Sequence of Tenses
Use tense forms correctly to show relationships between verbs in a sentence.

(1) When describing events that occur at the same time, use verbs in the same tense.
The telephone rang, and I answered it. [past tense]
(2) When describing events that occur at different times, use verbs in different tenses
to show the order of events.
Peter told me that he had studied all evening for the history test. [The studying
occurred before Peter made the statement.]

Do not use would have in an “if” clause that expresses the earlier of two past actions.
Use the past perfect tense.

NONSTANDARD: If she would have practiced, the coach would have let her play.
STANDARD: If she had practiced, the coach would have let her play.

EXERCISE: Most of the following sentences contain errors in the use of tenses.
Cross out each incorrect verb form, and write the correct form above it. If a sentence
is already correct, write C before the item number.
have been
Example 1. On February 12, Mom will be working for the museum for exactly five
years.
1. After blowing her whistle, the official explained that the player’s right foot has
touched the sideline.
2. She delivered the mail when the regular letter carrier is sick.
3. My cousin and I quarreled earlier, but we were friends again by the end of the day.
4. We would have eaten outdoors if the rain would have stopped.
5. I was surprised to learn that modern-day birds may be related to dinosaurs.
6. By next summer, my family will be living in this house for five decades.
7. I wish that you hadn’t been telling her that secret.
8. I had written two pages of the essay before I remembered that we had been asked to
use a blue or black pen.
9. I have just learned that Jimmy Carter will have spoken at our commencement
ceremony.
10. By the time you returned, we will have been waiting for half an hour.
Review A: Principal Parts of Verbs
EXERCISE A: Most of the following sentences contain errors in the use of verbs.
Cross out each incorrect verb, and write the correct form above it. If the sentence is
already correct, write C before the item number.
gave
Example 1. Before I left for California, my friends given me a farewell party.

1. I had did most of my packing the previous evening.

2. My two best friends had drove across town to attend the party.
3. Each of us had already chose a college to attend, and we spent much of the evening
debating the merits of our respective schools.
4. My dog Molly slept peacefully at my feet during most of this discussion.
5. I guess old Molly had hear it all before.
6. When silence at last come, she woke up suddenly.
7. Then the doorbell rung, and Molly started barking furiously.
8. At the door were my friends Fritz and Melanie, whom Molly had meet several times
before.
9. Fritz and Melanie joined in the party, and before long we had putted aside our
debate and had began a game of charades.
10. I have never had a more memorable party.

EXERCISE B: On the line in each sentence below, write the correct present
participle, past, or past participle of the verb provided in parentheses.
Example 1. (past form of run) To prepare for the marathon, Kathryn ran six miles
every day.

11. (past participle of see) The players have_________ the coach’s signal.
12. (present participle of take) As we speak, my cousin Stacy is _________ her
driver’s test.
13. (past form of ring) The bell _________ just as Mr. Ruark finished his lecture.
14. (past participle of speak) Ramona _________ not_________ to me about her
family trip until the day before she left.
15. (present participle of sing) The ensemble_________ at several local hospitals
during the holidays.
Review D: Correct Use of Verb Forms
EXERCISE A: Most of the following sentences contain errors in the use of verbs.
Cross out each incorrect verb form, and write the correct form above it. If the sentence
is already correct, write C before the item number.
did
Example 1. “The plumber has done this job last time,” my father said doubtfully.

1. “Anybody can fix a leaky faucet,” I says to him.

2. Dad brang me the tools from the basement, and I creeped under the sink to turn off
the water.
3. I knowed how to begin, and soon I was hard at work.
4. Tools and faucet parts laid strewn about.
5. I seen right away that a new washer would do the job, and I swang into action with
complete self-assurance.
6. My father come into the room just as I was finishing.
7. With the water back on, I raised in triumph, flinged the wrench aside, and turned on
the faucet.
8. To my amazement, water flew everywhere.
9. I sank back down and turned off the water.
10. “I’ve never swam in the kitchen before,” Dad said softly.

EXERCISE B In the paragraph below, draw a line through any incorrect verb usage
and write a correction above it. (Hint: There is more than one way to correct the
sentences, but your revised paragraph must make sense as a whole.)
had been a personnel director or
Example [1] If you were on a job interview several years ago, skills learned on
manager would have reviewed skills you learned on previous jobs.
previous jobs would have been reviewed by a personnel director or manager.

[11] In the current job market, your abilities have been examined on a questionnaire as
well as during one or more face-to-face interviews. [12] Some interviewers will have
asked you questions about your qualities as a leader. [13] Other interviewers may be
requesting information about your skill as a team player. [14] Knowing your own
strengths and weaknesses would preventyour being taken by surprise. [15] Keep these
hints in mind the next time you set down for an interview.
More Practice:

Fill in the correct form of the verb – All tenses

1. My family have ___________________ (buy) some land in southern France
recently. They ___________________ (build) a summer house there at the moment.
2. Andy and Mary ___________________ (go) to a concert tomorrow night. They
____________________________ (look forward to) it the whole week.
3. Jonathon ___________________ (watch) the news on TV every day and it
___________________ (help) him with his English.
4. My car ___________________ (break) down when I ___________________
(drive) home from work. I ________________________ (fix) it if I
___________________ (know) what was wrong. But I didn’t so
___________________ (have) to take it to the garage.
5. When he ___________________ (found) Microsoft, Bill Gates was only 20 years
old. He ___________________________ (already write) his first computer
programme six years earlier.
6. An accident ___________________ (happen) near my house last night. A car
_______________ (hit) a young man. He ___________________ (ride) his bike when
someone in front of him suddenly ___________________ (open) a car door. Many
people ___________________ (see) the accident. The police ___________________
(interrogate) them last night.
7. Mrs Smith said that one day she ________________________ (retire) from
teaching. She said that she ___________________ (spend) her new free time learning
about computers.
8. I ______________________ (not sleep) at all last night. Someone
___________________ (listen) to music all night.
9. I ___________________ (see) a film a week ago, but I _______________________
(not enjoy) it very much because I _______________________ (already read) the
book. If I ___________________ (not read) the book I
____________________________ (probably enjoy) the film more.
 10. The judge sentenced the man to eight years in prison because he
___________________ (rob) a bank.
11. They ________________________ (stand) in the queue for over an hour when the
manager ___________________ (tell) them that there were no more tickets.
12. Alan ___________________ (be) in the car accident yesterday. The other driver
___________________ (lose) control of his car because he ___________________
(fall) asleep.
13. She ___________________ (not see) her father since he ___________________
(start) to work in Marseille two years ago.
14. I ___________________ (sleep) when the fire broke out.
15. Linda phoned and explained that she _________________________ (not can) to
come to the party the next day because she ___________________ (be) still sick.
16. I ________________________ (just see) the film “The Da Vinci Code”. –
___________________ (you see) it too? – No, I ___________________ (not have) but
I ___________________ (read) the book.
17. My sister ___________________ (fly) home from London today. Her flight
___________________ (arrive) in an hour so I ___________________ (leave) for the
airport right now to get there in time.
18. Unless he ___________________ (sell) more he won’t get much money.
19. While he ___________________ (wait) for the bus there ___________________
(be) a robbery at the bank. After the robbers ___________________ (go) away the
police ___________________ (come) but they ___________________ (not can) to
catch them.
20. I ___________________ (use) to ski when I was at the university but I
___________________ (break) a leg five years ago and since then I
___________________ (not ski) any more.
Fill in the correct form of the verb given.
21. Who ____________________ to? – He ____________________ to his sister
Maria, who __________________ usually in England at this time of the year. (HE
WRITE, WRITE, BE)
22. Marty ____________________ just when his mother __________________ into
his room. (SMOKE, COME) 23. She _______________ an hour ago and
_______________ back yet. (LEAVE, NOT COME)
24. I usually _______________ tea with milk, but I _______________ to have my
coffee black. (DRINK, LIKE)
25. When I was in school, I _______________ a student who _______________ a test
in his whole life. (KNOW, NOT FAIL)
26. You can't go into her room. She _______________ and you shouldn't wake her.
(SLEEP)
27. I ____________________ better in my life. I hope it _______________ that way.
(NEVER FEEL, STAY)
28. We _______________ outside yesterday because it _______________ the whole
day. Maybe we _______________ tomorrow. (NOT GO, RAIN, GO)
29. While Mom _______________ in the garden, she _______________ her back. She
_______________ to the doctor who told her that she _______________ have to rest
for a few days. (WORK, HURT, GO, WILL) 30.My sister ____________________
hard for school recently. She's got a few tests coming up next week. (WORK)
31.The results were better than I ____________________. (EXPECT)
32.Nobody was in the car, even though the engine ___________________. (RUN)
33.I went into the garden to see what the boys _______________. (DO)
34.All your fingers are brown. You _______________ too much. (SMOKE)
35.When I saw him last, he __________________ married for so long. (NOT BE)
36.I ____________________ that his brother _____________________ around in
Australia. (JUST HEAR, TRAVEL)
37. ___________________ the whole morning? – I ___________________ to call you
for over an hour. (YOU SLEEP, TRY)
38.After he _______________ the letter, he _______________ it away. (READ,
THROW)
39. I ___________________ today's newspaper. – ____________________ it
anywhere? (NOT READ, YOU SEE)
40. Jake ____________________ my sister for over a year. She __________________
some very good results lately. (COACH, HAVE)
41. Jeff ____________ our bank manager at the moment. He _________________
here for three years. (BE, BE)
42. I ____________________ when the alarm ____________________ off at 5.30 this
morning. (STILL SLEEP, GO)
43. If everyone donates $5, we ____________________ enough to buy a new
machine. (HAVE)
44. There ______________ a great documentary on TV yesterday evening.
____________________ it? – No, I didn't. I ______________ to take my television set
back to the store to have it repaired. (BE, YOU SEE, HAVE) 45. When I
____________________ to the car park I didn't know where I
____________________ my car. (RETURN, PARK)
46. My uncle ____________________ the same pullover the whole winter. I guess he
____________ it. (WEAR, LOVE)
47. Mum ____________________ dinner when the doctor __________________.
(PREPARE, ARRIVE)
48. He ____________________ around with a limp since he ____________________
his accident a few weeks ago. (WALK, HAVE)
49. You look pretty worried. – What ____________________? (HAPPEN)
50.When we ____________________ at the theatre the play
______________________. (ARRIVE, ALREADY START)
51.When she ________________ home, she ________________ that her husband
____________________ for some time. (COME, SEE, DRINK)
52. ____________________ the good news? – Stan and Margie
____________________ married! – That's not new. – I ____________________ about
it for a few weeks. (YOU HEAR, GET, KNOW)
53.I ____________________ to call you the whole week! – Where
______________________? (TRY, YOU BE) 54.The manager
____________________ to an important customer at the moment, but he
____________________ you in a few minutes. (SPEAK, SEE)
55.Do you realize that you ____________________ on my toes? – It hurts! (STAND)
56.I think I ____________________ a break. I surely deserve one. (TAKE)
57.I wonder if he ____________________ my number. I ______________________
for him to call for the last two hours. (FORGET, EXPECT)
58.The novel is about a man who ____________________ home from the war and
____________________ a new life. (COME, START)
59.When I ____________________ for my passport a few days ago, I
____________________ across this old photo of our family reunion. (LOOK, COME)
60. I am sorry that I ____________________ to leave your party so early last night. I
____________________ myself. (HAVE, REALLY ENJOY)