Grammar and Composition 1

TENSES OF VERBS
TENSE DEFINED
 A form of the verb that shows the time of an action or a condition
 The grammatical marking on verbs that usually indicates time reference relative to the time of
speaking or the time at which some other situation was in force (Jacobs, 1995)

ASPECT DEFINED
 A form of the verb used to signify ways in which an event is viewed or experienced
 Can be (1) completed whole – simple, (2) whether or not it has occurred earlier – perfect, or (3) still
in progress – progressive

WHY IS THE TENSE OF A VERB IMPORTANT?

The tense of a verb tells you if something is happening now, was happening at some
time in the past, or will be happening at some time in the future.

TENSES OF VERBS
1. SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE
WHEN TO USE?
A. Used for a statement that shows present action or condition
EXAMPLE:
Metro Manila is dirty and overpopulated.
B. Used for a statement held to be generally true at the moment of speaking, i.e. present fact
EXAMPLE:
The Philippines is the most industrialized country in Southeast Asia.
He lives in Tuguegarao City, Cagayan.
C. Used for a statement that shows general truth or permanent condition
EXAMPLE:
The Earth and other planets revolve around the sun.
D. Used for a statement of a habit or usual activity, i.e. habitual action or condition
EXAMPLE:
Bicolanos cook many dishes with coconut milk and chili.
E. Used for a statement about what a document states or what a film or video shows
EXAMPLE:
The 1987 Constitution provides for the creation of three constitutional commissions.

VERB FORMS EXAMPLES TIME EXPRESSIONS

base form clean, write every- (everyday) today
-s form cooks, drinks this- (this month) -ly (daily)
always often

2. SIMPLE PAST TENSE

WHEN TO USE?
A. Used for a statement that shows completed action or condition at a definite time in the past.
Definite time means the time I know and you know. It is specific or exact.
EXAMPLE:
Father was terribly depressed yesterday.
B. Used for a statement which was true in the past but no longer true at the moment of speaking
EXAMPLE:
The Philippines was the best English-speaking country in Asia.

VERB FORM EXAMPLES TIME EXPRESSIONS

past form watered, bought during + past event yester- (yesterday)
last- (last year) -ago (two weeks ago)
the other- (the other night) before/after- (before lunch)

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3. SIMPLE FUTURE TENSE

WHEN TO USE?
A. Used for a statement that shows future action or condition, something likely to happen
EXAMPLE:
The room will be warm soon.

VERB FORM EXAMPLES TIME EXPRESSIONS

will/shall + base form will attend tomorrow in/on + future time
shall arrive soon next- (next month)
tonight after + future time
later during + future time
afterwards

LET’S DO IT!
Give the correct form of the verbs in parentheses. Consider the time of the action or condition.
1. Filipinos (enjoy) ___________________ playing basketball.
2. The Philippines (be) ___________________ one of the poorest countries in the world in 2010.
3. I (attend) ___________________ to your concern tomorrow, so please be patient.
4. Mother (go) ___________________ to Saudi Arabia last year.
5. The police officers (undergo) ___________________ health examination annually.
6. The graduates (weep) ___________________ after listening to my speech.
7. Grandma (tell) ___________________ stories every night.
8. The family often (seek) ___________________ adventure in unheard of tourist spots.
9. Kenny (choose) ___________________ to go with Ritchie last month.
10. I (run) ___________________ three kilometers straight the other night, because a dog (come)
___________________ after me.

4. PRESENT PERFECT TENSE

WHEN TO USE?
A. Used to show a recently completed action. This is usually used with the adverbs just and already.
EXAMPLE:
The Philippines has just eased the rising prices of rice.
B. Used for a statement which was true in the past and is still relevant to the present
EXAMPLE:
Members of political dynasties have figured prominently in politics.
C. Used to show an action that happened at an indefinite time
EXAMPLE:
Manuela has already finished her project in Natural Science.
D. Used for a statement about an extraordinary achievement done for the first time
EXAMPLE:
Man has landed on the moon.

VERB FORM EXAMPLES TIME EXPRESSIONS

has/have + past participle has gone just already
have written yet (not yet completed) lately
ever (question) recently
never

5. PAST PERFECT TENSE

WHEN TO USE?
A. Used for an action which was completed before another past action or past time reference. It
expresses the earlier of two past actions.
EXAMPLES:
The class had dismissed before the bell rang.
The train had left when we reached the station.
I had slept by the time they arrived.
The mail arrived after you had gone to work.

NOTE: The past perfect tense is used with the past tense. The earlier of two past actions is in past prefect
tense, while the later action is in past tense.

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VERB FORM EXAMPLES TIME EXPRESSIONS

had + past participle had finished before by the time
had brought when after

6. FUTURE PERFECT TENSE

WHEN TO USE?
A. Used to express an action that will be completed before another future action or future time
reference
EXAMPLES:
Fortunato will have put up a business by 2020.
Before the next term begins, these textbooks will have run out of copies.
I shall have slept by the time father arrives.

NOTE: The future perfect tense is used with the present tense. One of the actions is in future perfect
tense, while the other is in present tense.

VERB FORM EXAMPLES TIME EXPRESSIONS

will/shall + have + past will have completed by before
participle shall have read by the time

LET’S DO IT!
Give the correct form of the verbs in parentheses. Consider the time of the action or condition.
1. Gretel (cook) ___________________ the main dish by the time Hansel arrives.
2. Mother (go) ___________________ to bed when father arrived from Zamboanga.
3. Roy (undergo) ___________________ blood transfusion lately.
4. The doctor (finish) ___________________ the operation already.
5. Lilina, the janitress, (sweep) ___________________ the school grounds before the students arrive.
6. The officers (swear) ___________________ their oath before the President arrived.
7. The students understood the topic after you (give) ___________________ additional examples.
8. My classmates (pass) ___________________ their final requirements yet.
9. The bees (sting) ___________________ me by the time I noticed their hive.
10. Kent (tour) ___________________ Europe and Africa by December.
7. PRESENT PROGRESSIVE TENSE
WHEN TO USE?
A. Used to express an action that is going on at the moment of speaking
EXAMPLE:
We are discussing progressive tenses now.

B. Used to indicate changes, trends, developments, and progress

EXAMPLE:
His performance in class is improving.

VERB FORM EXAMPLES TIME EXPRESSIONS

am/is/are + present am speaking now this time
participle is knitting these days at the moment

8. PAST PROGRESSIVE TENSE

WHEN TO USE?
A. Used to express an action that was going on when another past action occurred
EXAMPLE:
I was sleeping when my phone rang.
B. Used to express a continuing action that started and ended in the past
EXAMPLE:
She was singing all afternoon yesterday.

VERB FORM EXAMPLES TIME EXPRESSIONS

was/were + present was working when
participle were losing

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9. FUTURE PROGRESSIVE TENSE

WHEN TO USE?
A. Used to express an action that will be going on at a time to come. (Action will surely happen
because arrangements have been made.)
EXAMPLE:
The team will be practicing during July and August.

VERB FORM EXAMPLES TIME EXPRESSIONS

will/shall + be + present will be watching tomorrow in/on + future time
participle shall be swimming soon next- (next month)
tonight after + future time
later during + future time

LET’S DO IT!
Applying the progressive tenses, give the correct form of the verbs in parentheses.
1. The superintendent (evaluate) ___________________ teachers after the semestral break.
2. Mother (be) ___________________ very meticulous these days.
3. Uncle Silas (planting) ___________________ all day last Thursday.
4. The clerk (snooze) ___________________ when his boss called for her.
5. They (deal) ___________________ with the problem by the time the boss arrives.
6. I (do) ___________________ my projects now.
7. Marcos and Lucas (stay) ___________________ with the Javiers these days.
8. When my girlfriend arrived, I (read) ___________________ A Christmas Carol.
9. They (visit) ___________________ their relatives in Ballesteros.
10. Grandmother (knit) ___________________ a sweater for me.

10. PRESENT PERFECT PROGRESSIVE TENSE

WHEN TO USE?
A. Used to express an action that started at some time in the past, continued, and is still happening
now
EXAMPLE:
Eirika has been sitting there for three hours.
Ephraim and Emmanuel have been practicing for the contest since July.

VERB FORM EXAMPLES TIME EXPRESSIONS

has/have + been + has been arguing since + past time
present participle have been teasing for + length of time

11. PAST PERFECT PROGRESSIVE TENSE

WHEN TO USE?
A. Used to express an action that had been going on before being interrupted by another action (to
emphasize the duration of a continuous activity in the past)
EXAMPLES:
The class had been discussing the trip to the museum when the principal arrived.
The crop had been thriving until the locusts attacked.

VERB FORM EXAMPLES TIME EXPRESSIONS

had + been + present had been massaging before/until by the time
participle had been scolding when after

12. FUTURE PERFECT PROGRESSIVE TENSE

WHEN TO USE?
A. Used to express a continuing future action completed before another (to emphasize the duration
of an event in the future)
EXAMPLES:
Glenn shall have been writing the company report by March 2019.
By the time of my first game, I will have been practicing for two months.

VERB FORM EXAMPLES TIME EXPRESSIONS

will/shall + have + been will have been driving by before
+ present participle shall have been digging by the time

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LET’S DO IT!
Applying the perfect progressive tenses, give the correct form of the verbs in parentheses.
1. My friend (teach) ___________________ in a university in Metro Manila by 2016.
2. Our neighbor (complain) ___________________ about the water supply for three weeks now.
3. The secretary (prepare) ___________________ the communications before the signatories arrived.
4. By the time everybody noticed, the speaker (talk) ___________________ about their weaknesses.
5. Pedro, together with his sisters, (till) ___________________ the field since their father’s death.
6. I (drive) ___________________ all night when I reach Baguio City.
7. Rob (work) ___________________ on that poem for a month, and it’s still unfinished.
8. Alma (see) ___________________ ghosts and supernatural beings after she got sick.
9. Until I reminded him, he (set) ___________________ aside his tasks.
10. The guest (lecture) ___________________ when someone shouted.

REFERENCES:
Brookes, E. D., et. al. (2012). Voyages in English: Writing and Grammar. Chicago: Loyola Press.
Forlini, G., et. al. (2010). Prentice Hall Grammar and Composition. Singapore: Pearson Education South
Asia Pte Ltd.
Malicsi, J. (2010). The English Linguistic Project: English Manual. Mandaluyong City: Anvil Publishing,
Inc.
Ramos, C.M., & Sanchez, A.C. (2010). Developing Skills in Grammar and Composition 1. Mandaluyong
City: National Book Store.

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