Recognizing Verb Tenses

English 9Mr. Warren

Important Definitions• The tense of a verb indicates the

time of the action.• The conjugation of a verb refers

to the way a verb changes based on time, plurality, and person (1st, 2nd, 3rd)

Don’t Get Confused

The four principal parts form the foundation for how a verb can be used in six different tenses:

Past Past PerfectPresent Present PerfectFuture Future Perfect

Know Them!Tense FormationPresent present formPast past formFuture will or shall + presentPresent Perfect have or has + past part.Past Perfect had + past participleFuture Perfect will have or shall have +

past part.

Conjugation StructurePresent Tense Singular PluralFirst(person speaking)

I go We go

Second(Person spoken to)

You go You go

Third(Person spoken about)

He, she, it goes They go

But There’s More!

Using the four principal parts to conjugate six tenses, you might also add two forms:• Progressive form shows continuous (continuing

to progress) action; uses being verbs.• Emphatic form shows emphasis in the present

and past; uses “do” verbs (do, does, did).

Progressive Form(use “being verbs”)

Example Verb TenseI shall be going.

shall – future tensebe – being verb

Future progressive

I have been going.have – present perfectbeen – being verb

Present perfect progressive

I had been going.had – past perfectbeen – being verb

Past perfect progressive

I shall have been going.will/shall have – future perfectbeen – being verb

Future perfect progressive

Emphatic Form(use “do” verbs – do, does, did)

Example Verb TenseI did go.

did – past form of doPast emphatic

I do go.do – present form of do.

Present emphatic

Remember – emphatic only applies with the present and past.

Why?

Present indicates an action occurring now.Past indicates an action that has already occurred.Future indicates an action that will (or shall) occur.

Why Perfect?A perfect tense is typically used to describe an ongoing action completed (e.g. “perfect”):• Present perfect – action begun in the past and is now

completed • Corey has completed his science project.

• Past perfect – action that was completed before another past action• Mrs. Stone had already bought the gifts before the sale

started.• Future perfect – action that will be completed before

another future action• He will have visited all the major cities before he returns.

Recognizing Verb Tenses

English 9Mr. Warren