<b> Essentials of English Usage </b>
Unit 3 Lesson 5
<b>Objectives</b>
The learner will:
<bullet>
Identify the four principal parts of verbs.
Identify the six main tenses of a verb.
<Key Concept> <b> Four Principal Parts of Verbs </>
Each verb tense is based on one of the four principal parts of verbs. Following are
explanations of each of those verb parts.
<Number 1> Basic Form
The basic form is the form of in which verbs are listed in the dictionary. It is used for the
present tense for all subjects except third-person singular subjects.
Example: I <b>ask </> questions in class.
<Number 2> Past tense Form
The past tense of most verbs is formed by adding <i>-ed </> or <i>-d </> to the basic
form.
Example: We <b>asked</> the teacher to postpone the test.
<Number 3> Present Participle
The present participle is the <i>-ing </> form of a verb. It is used in the progressive
tenses, which you will learn later in this lesson.
Example: Jack is <b>asking </> the teacher something in the hallway.
<Number 4> Past Participle
The past participle of a verb is usually the same as it past-tense form. The past
participle is the form that is used with the helping verbs <i> have, has </> and <i> had
</> and with <i>am, is, are, was, </> or <i> were. </>
Example: The teachers have <b>asked </> us to study in groups.
Principal parts of three regular verbs:
<chart>
Basic Form
Past Tense Form
Present Participle
Past Participle
work
worked
working
worked
smile
smiled
smiling
smiled
wonder
wondered
wondering
wondered
Copy this chart in your notebook.
<Key Concept> <b>Six Main Tenses</>
<Chart>
Tense
Example
Present
I <b>work. </>
Past
I <b>worked. </>
Future
I <b> will work. </>
Present Perfect
I <b>have worked .</>
Past Perfect
I <b> had worked. </>
Future Perfect
I <b>will have worked. </>
<Essentials_of English_Usage_u3l5_picture_sheltie_dog>
Verbs in the <b>present tense </> express action or habitual action. Write this
definition in your notebook.
Example: Our dog <b>smells </> the neighbor’s barbeque.
<b>Smells </> expresses a present action.
Example: Jay <b>works </> as a waiter on the weekends.
<b>Works </>expresses a habitual action.
Read the top of page 244 to review some more examples.
<Reinforcement>
Complete Practice 1 on page 244 in your notebook. Please note that there are ten
practice exercises in this lesson. They are very valuable tools to review each concept
with you. Please take your time and complete each practice lesson. This will greatly
help in teaching you these verb tenses. Click <essentials_of_english_usageu3l5_answer_key_1> here to check your answers.
<b>Past Tense </>
Verbs in past tense express actions that took place in the past. Write the definition of
past tense in your notebook.
Example: Last year, Jay <b>worked </> as a messenger.
Past tense is usually formed by adding <i> -ed </> or <i> -d </> to the end of the basic
form of the verb. Look at the bottom of page 244 for some more examples.
<Reinforcement>
Complete Practice 2 on page 245 in your notebook. Click
<essentials_of_english_usage-u3l5_answer_key_2> here to check your answers.
<b>Future Tense </>
Verbs in the future tense describe future actions. Write the definition of future tense in
your notebook.
Example: Next summer, Jay <b>will work </> at a camp.
<Reinforcement>
Complete Practice 3 on page 245 in your notebook.
Click<essentials_of_english_usage-u3l5_answer_key_3> here to check your answers.
<b>Present Perfect Tense </>
The present perfect tense describes an action that began in the past and either has
been finished or is continuing at the present time. Write the definition of present perfect
tense in your notebook.
Example: I <b>have written </> five pages of notes on the textbook chapter.
Turn to the top of page 246 and look to the gray box for some more examples of
forming the present perfect tense with the helping verb <i>have </>.
<Reinforcement>
Complete Practice 4 on page 246 in your notebook. Remember to use the linking verb
<i>have</> with your answer. Click <essentials_of_english_usageu3l5_answer_key_4> here to check your answers.
<b>Future Perfect Tense (WILL HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE) </>
The future perfect tense describes an action that will be completed before some time in
the future. Write the definition of future perfect tense in your notebook.
Example: Jay <b>will have worked </> at a half dozen different jobs before college
graduation.
<reinforcement>
Complete Practice 6 on page 247 in your notebook. Remember to use <i>will have</>
in your answer. Click <essentials_of_english_usage-u3l5_answer_key_6>here to
check your answers.
<b>Progressive Tenses </>
As their name suggests, the progressive tenses express action still in progress at a
particular time. They are made by adding a form of the helping verb <i>be </> to the
<i>-ing </> form of the verb, the present participle. Put progressive tense definition in
your notebook.
<b> Present Progressive Tense (AM, ARE,or IS + PRESENT PARTICIPLE) </>
The present progressive tense expresses an action taking place at this moment or that
will occur sometime in the future. Write the definition of present progressive tense in
your notebook.
Example: Jay <b> is working </> at the restaurant today.
Look at the bottom of page 247 for more examples.
<Reinforcement>
Complete Practice 7 on page 248 in your notebook. Click
<essentials_of_english_usage-u3l5_answer_key_7 >here to check your answers.
<b>Past Progressive Tense (WAS or WERE + PRESENT PARTICIPLE) </>
The past progressive tense expresses an action that was at a certain time in the past.
Write the definition for past progressive tense in your notebook.
Example: Jay <b>was working </> yesterday.
The past progressive tense is formed by adding the correct past tense of <i>be </> to
the <i>-ing </> form of the verb. Write this also in your notebook.
Look on page 248 at the gray box for more examples.
<reinforcement>
Complete Practice 8 on page 248 in your notebook. Click
<essentials_of_english_usage-u3l5_answer_key_8> here to check your answers.
<b>Future Progressive Tense (WILL BE +PRESENT PARTICIPLE) </>
The future progressive tense expresses an action that will be in progress at a certain
time in the future. Write the definition of future progressive tense in your notebook.
Example: Jay <b>will be working </> tomorrow.
<Reinforcement>
Complete Practice 9 on page 249 in your notebook. Click
<essentials_of_english_usage-u3l5_answer_key_9 > here to check your answers.
<b> A Note on –ING Verbs </>
<b> -ing </> form of the verb cannot stand by itself as the verb of the sentence—it must
be accompanied by a helping verb.
Example: Jay <b> is working </> tonight.
Turn to page 250 and look into the gray box for a great summary of this lesson.
<reinforcement>
Complete Practice 10 on page 249 in your notebook. Click
<essentials_of_english_usage_u3l5_answer_key_10 > here to check your answers.
<reinforcement>
Before you take this quiz, please review all the definitions that you have learned. You
will be given a sentence and asked what tense the verb is in. Click
<essentials_of_english_usage_u3l5_quiz> here to take your quiz.
<enrichment>
Click http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/verbs6.htm here to take a verb tense quiz
for extra practice. You can click on the “hint” button if you get stuck.
Assignments
<bullet>
Write this definition of present tense in your notebook.
Complete Practice 1 on page 244 in your notebook.
Write the definition of past tense in your notebook.
Complete Practice 2 on page 245 in your notebook.
Write the definition of future tense in your notebook.
Complete Practice 3 on page 245 in your notebook.
Write the definition of present perfect tense in your notebook.
Complete Practice 4 on page 246 in your notebook.
Write the definition of future perfect tense in your notebook.
Complete Practice 6 on page 247 in your notebook.
Put progressive tense definition in your notebook.
Write the definition of present progressive tense in your notebook.
Complete Practice 7 on page 248 in your notebook.
Write the definition for past progressive tense in your notebook.
Complete Practice 8 on page 248 in your notebook.
Write the definition of future progressive tense in your notebook.
Complete Practice 9 on page 249 in your notebook.
Complete Practice 10 on page 249 in your notebook.