Past, Present, and Future Verb Tenses
The tense of a verb indicates the time of the action or state of being expressed by the verb.
Perfect tenses:
Past—existing or happening in the past
Hint—change the spelling of the word or add ed
Example—The scouts hiked five miles before they stopped and spoke to each other.
Past Perfect—existing or happening before a specific time in the past or actions that have been completed or happened before another action or event in the past.
Hint—use the helping verb had before the main verb
Example—The scouts had hiked five miles.
Present—existing or happening now
Hint—no ending, or add s or es
Example—Melissa has enough for a guitar.
Present perfect—existing or happening sometime before now
Hint—use the helping verbs has or have before the main verb
Example—Melissa has saved her money.
Future—existing or happening in the future
Hint— use the helping verbs will or shall before the main verb
Example—Next week, I will make a decision about the test!
Future perfect—existing or happening before a specific time in the future; expresses an action that will be completed before another future event begins.
Hint—use the helping verbs will have or shall have before the main verb
Example—The executive will have seen the report by Monday.
By Thursday, I shall have performed six times.
Progressive Tenses:
Present Progressive—This form of the verb expresses an action or a condition that is continuing in the present.
Hint—use the helping verbs am, are, or is before a present participle(ing) verb.
Examples: I am watching. You are watching. He is watching.
Past Progressive—This form of the verb expresses action or a condition that was continuing at some time in the past.
Hint—use the helping verbs was or were before a past participle(ing)
verb.
Examples: I was working. You were working.