ESL Short Subject
Verb Tenses and
Verb-Tense Sequencing
Intensive Course in Research Writing
Texas A&M University
July 11-15, 2011
Susan E. Aiello, DVM, ELS
susan@words-world.net
WordsWorld Consulting
www.words-world.net
Verb Tense
Refers to the time that a verb expresses
Also relates to aspect, which refers to
some characteristic of an event or action
beyond its time (eg, habitual vs
temporary action, past action that
occurred some time ago vs past action
that occurred close to the present time)
English Verb Tenses
Present
Past
Future
Four tenses in each category
(for a total of 12).
Present Tense
Simple present
Present progressive
Present perfect
Present perfect progressive
base form of verb
am/is/are + present participle
has/have + past participle
has/have + been + present participle
Past Tense
Simple past
Past progressive
Past perfect
Past perfect progressive
base form + -ed
was/were + present participle
had + past participle
had + been + present participle
Future Tense
Future
Future progressive
Future perfect
Future perfect progressive
will + base form
will + be + present participle
will + have + past participle
will + have + been + present participle
Present Tense
Simple present (base form of verb)
Uses
Examples
To express a habitual or repeated action Most cats groom themselves every day.
in the present or to express a condition
that is true at any time
To express general truths that are
timeless (well-known laws or principles)
Water boils at 100°C.
To report what appears in print
(common in academic writing when
referring to texts or quotations)
In his article, Dr. Wilson asserts that
creatinine clearance is the best method
to use for adjusting drug dosages .
To describe past events as if they were
happening now (called the historical
present)
My husband and I arrive on PEI on May
15. We drive inland to Charlottetown.
The amount of snow still on the ground
is a shock.
Present Tense
Present progressive (am/is/are + present participle)
Uses
Examples
To express an action or activity that is
happening right now (at this moment,
today, this year); the action has begun
and is still happening
Karen is working on the first draft
of her research paper.
John is majoring in oceanography.
To express that an action or activity is
happening at the present time and is
temporary
Jim is working for Professor Adams.
(he may not work for him permanently)
To express an action that is already in
progress at a specified point of time in
the present
When I get home after work, my
husband is usually exercising.
At 7:00 am, I am usually walking
the dogs.
Present Tense
Present perfect (has/have + past participle)
Uses
Examples
To express an action or state that began in Linda has lived in Norway for 2 years.
the past and continues in the present
I have known Mary since 1988, when
we met at a writers’ conference.
To indicate that an action or event
Elizabeth has moved back to Spain.
occurred some time in the past, although
I have already filed my income taxes.
the exact time is not specified or important
To indicate that an action or event has
occurred more than one in the past
(specific times are not given or important)
Alfy has seen the vet several times
for atopy.
Note: Many past participle forms are irregular (eg, known, written, met).
Present Tense
Present perfect (has/have + past participle)
Use
Example
This tense can also indicate that an
event has very recently happened. The
adverb just is often used in this case.
I have just completed the slides for
my presentation.
Present Tense
Present perfect progressive (has/have + been + present participle)
Uses
Examples
To emphasize the duration of an activity
that started in the past and has
continued in the present
I have been waiting for you for an hour.
Bill has been living in Texas for 3 years.
To indicate that an activity has been in
progress recently (the activity started in
the past and is still going on)
Julie has been reading the book The
Origin of the Species.
I have been thinking about finishing up
my masters degree.
Past Tense
Simple past (base form + -ed)
Uses
Examples
To indicate that an action or event took
place at a specific time in the past
I visited Japan in 1995 for the World
Veterinary Congress.
Last night, we saw a movie about airline
disasters.
To indicate that an action or event
occurred over a period of time in the
past with the implication that it is no
longer true in the present
I lived in New Jersey for 16 years.
Bob was on the rowing crew in college.
Note: Many English verbs have irregular past-tense forms.
Common irregular past tense-forms include took, ate, and came.
Past Tense
Past progressive (was/were + present participle)
Uses
Examples
To express that an activity was in
progress at a specific point of time in
the past
At 8:00 pm last night, I was packing to
come to Texas.
I was working when the phone rang.
To show that an activity lasted for a
period of time in the past (emphasis
on the duration)
I was working when the phone rang.
I was reading while you were sleeping.
Past Tense
Past perfect (had + past participle)
Uses
Examples
To indicate an action that was
completed by a definite time or
before another action was completed
in the past
In the lecture, I suddenly realized that I
had forgotten to bring my notes.
I had never read anything by Dennis
Lehane until last year.
Note: If the word before or after is in
the sentence, the simple past may
be used instead of the past perfect.
After all the attendees left (or had left),
Louise straightened up the meeting room.
Note: Many past participle forms are irregular (eg, known, written, met).
Past Tense
Past perfect progressive (had + been + present participle)
Use
Example
To emphasize the duration of an
activity that was completed before
another action or time in the past
I had been waiting for him for an hour
when he finally arrived.
Future Tense
Future (will + base form)
Use
Examples
To express an action, event, or state
that will occur in the future
I will drive you to the airport tomorrow.
Ravi will graduate next June.
Future time can also be expressed in the following ways:
Formation
Examples
am/is/are going to + base form
We are going to take the final exam at
the end of the week.
The city is going to have a parade on
Founders’ Day.
simple present or present progressive
(especially with verbs of arriving or
departing)
My plane leaves at 8:00 pm tonight.
My plane is leaving at 8:00 pm tonight.
Future Tense
When the future is expressed in a sentence
that is in past time, will becomes would.
Examples
Present/future time
The instructor says that the exam will cover the first
five chapters of the textbook.
Past time
The instructor said that the exam would cover the
first five chapters of the textbook.
Present/future time
Even though Kevin plans to go to college next year,
he does not know how demanding college classes
will be.
Past time
When Andrea was in high school, she did not know
how demanding college classes would be.
Future Tense
Future progressive (will + be + present participle)
Uses
Examples
To express an action that will be
happening over a period of time at
some specific point in the future.
Even though I will be working when you
call, I don’t mind being interrupted.
To emphasize the duration of an
action in the future.
Roberto will be working on his paper
for the next week.
Future Tense
Future perfect (will + have + past participle)
Use
Examples
To indicate that an activity will be
completed before another event or
time in the future
Helen will have finished her PhD by the
time she leaves for her internship.
The students will have gone by the
time the evaluation process is over.
Future Tense
Future perfect progressive (will + have + been + present participle)
Use
Examples
To indicate that an action has been in Luiz will have been working on his
progress for a period of time before
dissertation for 3 years before he will
another event or time in the future
get receive his PhD degree.
By this time next year, I will have been
living in Ohio for 7 years.
Verb-Tense Sequencing
Refers to the way a writer can move
from one verb tense to another
Key to using verb tenses correctly
Verb-Tense Sequencing
General statements that are true in the
present require the simple present tense.
Writers often have a choice of verb
tenses that are similar but not exactly the
same in meaning.
Note differences in time reference!
Verb-tense shift is often signaled by a
time-reference word or phrase (eg,
yesterday, tomorrow, etc)
Verb-Tense Sequencing
We decided to go to the movies. (simple past)
We have decided to go to the movies. (present
perfect)
It rained yesterday. (simple past)
It was raining yesterday. (past progressive)
Verb-Tense Sequencing
We had eaten when you came over to visit.
(past perfect)
We ate when you came over to visit. (past)
We had eaten before you came over to visit.
(past perfect)
We ate before you came over to visit. (past)
Verb-Tense Sequencing
I am studying in the library. (present
progressive)
I study in the library. (simple present)