To Form the Different Tenses…
To form the different tenses, we need to know what Principal Part of the verb we need
to use. The principal parts of the verb are Present, Past, Past Participle, and
Present Participle.
To form the Present Tense, I use the Present Part of the verb.
John speaks to his mother.
To form the Past Tense, I use the Past Part of the verb.
John spoke to his mother.
To form the Future Tense, I use will + the Present Part of the verb.
John will speak to his mother.
To form the Present Continuous Tense, I use am, is, are + the Present Participle of
the verb.
John is speaking to his mother about the party.
To form the Past Continuous Tense, I use was/were + the Present Participle of the
verb.
John was speaking to his mother when the teacher called him.
To form the Future Continuous Tense, I use will be + the Present Participle of the
verb.
John will be speaking to his mother before he goes to the movies.
To form the Present Perfect Tense, I use have/has + the Past Participle of the verb.
John has spoken to his mother already.
To form the Past Perfect Tense, I use had + the Past Participle of the verb.
John had spoken to the principal before he changed to another class.
To form the Future Perfect Tense, I use will have + the Past Participle of the verb.
John will have spoken to his mother before he plans the party.
In the Present Tense, you need the helping verbs do/does for the negative and
interrogative forms.
John does not speak loud enough in class.
Does John speak loud enough in class?
In the Past Tense, you need the helping verb did for the negative and interrogative
forms.
John did not speak loud enough for the teacher to hear him.
Did John speak loud enough for the teacher to hear him?
Name ___________________________________ _____ _____
Practice Forming Different Tenses
1. wear
________________
The funny old clown _______________ big red shoes.
Past Tense
2. sleep
Please be quiet because the baby ____________________.
Present Continuous Tense
3. sell
My parents ___________________________ our house soon.
Future Continuous Tense
4. show
My big sister, Valeria, _________________ everyone her medal.
Present Perfect Tense
5. fly
The helicopter ____________________________ very low.
Past Continuous Tense
6. see
The twins _____________________ that movie already.
Present Perfect Tense
7. say
My mother __________________ that I can go to the party.
Present Tense
8. sing
The students ______________________ a song for the visitors.
Future Tense
9. jump
__________ Maria _______________ Double Dutch?
Past Tense - Interrogative Form
10. give
Teresa __________________ a speech in the patio before.
Present Perfect Tense - Negative Form
12. eat
The poor little puppy ______________________ very well.
Past Continuous Tense - Negative Form
13. break
Francesca _____________________ her wrist, thank goodness.
Present Perfect Tense – Negative Form
14. drive
_______ your brother _____________ to school every day?
Present Tense - Interrogative Form
15. learn
________ you _________________ about your future career?
Present Continuous Tense - Interrogative Form
16. need
________ the student ____________ his book for homework?
Past Tense - Interrogative Form
Try these just for the fun of it!
17. copy
John told the teacher that he ____________________ the homework.
Past Perfect Tense
18. start
Maria said that she __________________________ the project by then.
Future Perfect Tense