Mindanao State University
UNIVERSITY TRAINING CENTER
Marawi City
Grade 9
TENSES OF THE VERB
I. The Present Tenses
The present tenses divide into the simple present, the present perfect, and the present perfect progressive.
Simple Present
Typically the simple present shows repetition, habits, or generalizations.
My friends runs every morning.
The world is round.
In addition, the simple present tense is used when writers summarize/analyze published articles and books.
The author in the reading passages defines a concept called photosynthesis, and the professor in
the lecture gives two examples to further illustrate the idea.
Moreover, the simple present can be used to talk about scheduled actions in the immediate future.
Professor Indiana Jones speaks at a conference in just a few minutes.
Finally, the simple present can explain actions happening at the moment of speaking.
He has his laptop computer with him.
Present Perfect
Present perfect tense can be used to talk about unfinished actions/habits that started in the past and continue into
the present time.
I have lived in Southern California for several years.
Since 2008, I have lived in Southern California.
In addition, the present perfect can be used to talk about finished actions. In this case, adverbs such as “recently”
and “lately” often are used in the same context.
What movies have you seen recently?
Lately, John has exercised a few times.
Present Progressive
Present progressive tense talks about an on-going action at the moment of speaking.
ETS is offering the TOEFL iBT home edition right now due to the Coronavirus epidemic.
Present Perfect Progressive
It expresses how long an activity has been occurring. To put it another way, this tense expresses the entire length
of an activity. The activity began in the past and continues in the present.
It has been snowing all day today.
I have been teaching all my college classes at home using Zoom platform for the last 60 days.
II. The Past Tenses
Past tenses divide into the simple past, the past perfect, and the past perfect progressive.
Simple Past
This tense expresses an action happening at one particular time in the past. As a result, the action began and
ended in the past.
Shelly watched two movies last week.
It rained for 20 minutes yesterday.
Past Perfect
Unlike the simple past, this verb tense expresses an activity that was completed before another activity in the
past. Therefore, the past perfect tense can help you to show the correct order of two past actions.
By the time the professor arrived, the students had already left.
Before the parents woke up, the children had opened their presents.
Past Progressive
This verb tense denotes two actions happening at the same time in the past. However, one action began earlier
and was occurring when the other action began.
While I was running with my Siberian Huskies, it began to rain.
At 7:30 PM yesterday, I was attending my online history class.
In addition, the past progressive tense can be used in both parts of the sentence when the two actions are
happening at the same time.
While I was completing a TOEFL writing practice test, my roommate was completing a
speaking practice test in the other room.
Past Perfect Progressive
Similar to the present perfect progressive, the past perfect progressive focuses on an activity that was in progress
before another activity in the past.
My date finally came at 7:30 PM. I had been waiting for him to show up since 5:30 PM.
III.The Future Tenses
The future tenses consist of the simple future, the future perfect, the future progressive, and the future perfect
progressive.
Simple Future
The simple future can make a prediction.
The weather will get hot next week.
Future Perfect
The exact opposite of the past perfect tense, the future perfect talks about a future activity that will be completed
before another activity in the future.
I will finish my job in May. I will visit you in July. By the time I see you in July, I will have
finished my job.
Future Progressive
The future progressive tense conveys an idea that will be in progress at a future time.
I will begin work on my research paper at 5:30 PM. You will arrive at my house at 6:00 PM.
Therefore, I will be writing my research paper when you visit.
Future Perfect Progressive
Often the same meaning as the future perfect, the future perfect progressive highlights an activity that will be in
progress before another activity in the future.
When the professor begins teaching his courses next month, he will have been teaching for 39
years.
NAME: SECTION: SCORE:
13. We …….. from the institute in five years.
Exercise-1. Find the correct form of the verb. A ) have graduated B ) graduated C ) shall
graduate
1. Who speaks French in your family? 14. Don’t go out. It…….. hard.
— I ……… A ) is raining B ) was raining C ) rains
A ) have B ) do C ) am 15. They …….. the institute five years ago.
2. When …….. you buy the new TV set? A ) have entered B ) entered C ) had
A ) did B ) were C ) are entered
3. We …….. never been to London. 16. Does the professor …….. a lot of experience?
A ) had B ) were C ) have A ) has B ) have C ) had
4. Where …….. you going when I met you last night? 17. Did he …….. the weekend in the country?
A ) did B ) were C ) are A ) spent B ) spend C ) spends
5. …….. your friend like to watch TV in the evening? 18. I shall call you as soon as I …….. home.
A ) do B ) does C ) is A ) came B ) shall come C ) come
6. What are you doing? Tenses
— I …….. reading a book. 19. The report …….. ready by 6 o’clock yesterday.
A ) was B ) am C ) is A ) was B ) has been C ) had been
7. We thought they …….. be late. 20. She usually …….. to bed very early.
A ) would B ) shall C ) will A ) goes B ) has gone C ) going
8. Many new buildings …….. built in our town last 21.The meeting ( ? ) at 5 o’clock.
year. A ) has begun B ) began C ) was beginning
A ) had B ) are C ) were 22.At 5 o’clock yesterday I ( ? ) to the station.
9. The letter …….. sent tomorrow. A ) was going B ) was gone C ) went
A ) will be B ) has C ) will 23. I _______ this text yet.
10. I …….. Dick today. A ) didn’t translate B ) haven’t translated
A ) haven’t seen B ) hadn’t seen C ) didn’t see C ) hadn’t translated
11. Were you tired after skiing yesterday? 24. Rice__________________in most countries since
— Yes, I ……… it is a staple crop.
A ) were B ) did C ) was A. is grown B. is being grown c. grew
12. When we came into the hall they …….. this 25. My friend_______________a letter right now that
problem. he wants to mail to his best friend.
A ) were discussing B ) discussed C ) have A. writes B. is writing c. wrote
discussed
EXERCISE 2. Choose the correct form of the verb that will complete the following sentences.
1. How long …….. you …….. English? B ) has been smoking
A ) do …….. learn C ) has smoked
B ) have …….. been learning
C ) are …….. learning
2. She …….. tennis since she was eight. 6. We …….. with my model railway since early
A ) has been playing morning, — said Jim.
B ) plays A ) are playing
C ) is playing B ) play
3. Bob has a black eye and Bill has a cut lip. Bob and C ) have been playing
Bill ……… 7. Linda is from Australia. Mow she is travelling round
A ) were fighting Europe. She began her tour three months ago. She
B ) fought …….. six countries so far.
C ) have been fighting A ) has visited
4. You have just arrived to meet your friend who is B ) has been visiting
waiting for you. …….. he …….. long? C ) visited
A ) has …….. been waiting 8. There is a strange smell in the kitchen. …….. you
B ) has …….. waited …….. something?
C ) does …….. wait A ) Did …….. cook
5. George smokes. He …….. for five years. B ) Have …….. cooked
A ) is smoking C ) Have …….. been cooking
9. Tom’s hands are very dirty. He …….. his car for the
whole morning.
A ) has repaired
B ) was repairing
C ) has been repairing
10. Jim …….. tennis three times this week.
A ) has been playing
B ) has played
C ) is playing
11. Somebody …….. all my porridge. The plate is
empty.
A ) has eaten
B ) has been eaten
C ) is eating
12. He …….. our family since we came to London.
A ) has been knowing
B ) knew
C ) has known
13. I …….. Ann for a long time.
A ) haven’t seen
B ) didn’t see
C ) has known
Tenses
14. I was very tired when I arrived home. I …….. hard
all day.
A ) was working
B ) had worked
C ) had been working
15.Tom was watching TV. He was feeling very tired.
He …….. all day.
A ) was studying
B ) had been studying
C ) studying
16.I tried to call Jack but I couldn’t. He …….. very
fast.
A ) had been running
B ) ran
C ) was running
17. We …….. along the road for about 20 minutes
when a car stopped and the driver offered us a lift.
A ) were walking
B ) had been walking
C ) walked
18. When I arrived, Ann …….. for me.
A ) was waiting
B ) had been waiting
C ) had waited.
19. Mr. and Mrs. Jenkins …….. in the south of France
for six months when Mr. Jenkins died.
A ) lived
B ) were living
C ) had been living
20. When I arrived, everyone was sitting around the
table with their mouths full. They ………
A ) had been eating
B ) were eating
C ) ate
