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Verb Tenses - Past
TENSE TIMELINE TIMEFRAME EXPLANATION FORM VERB
Past Tense Past – action action is over and has no Use “ed” for regular verbs
is finished connection to present Ex: you talked
I talked to him X he, she talked
yesterday. Past Present Future we talked
they talked
Past Continuous Past action is over, but there was past tense of verb “to be” plus
movement or progress at that “ing” form of verb
I was talking to him xxx time Ex: you were talking
yesterday. Past Present Future he, she was talking
we were talking
they were talking
Past Perfect Past two actions that happened in Use “had” plus the past
the past, one before the other participle of verb
I had talked to him XY Ex: you had talked
before I went to Past Present Future he, she had talked
work. we had talked
they had talked
Past Perfect Past two actions happening in the Use “had been” plus “ing” form
Continuous past, one before the other, but of verb
xxxY there was movement or Ex: you had been talking
I had been talking to Past Present Future progress he, she had been talking
him when the we had been talking
doorbell rang. they had been talking
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Past Tense: Examples
When you write a narrative about an event that occurred in the past, you will use the different forms of the past tense. The different
forms will allow you to show the difference between actions which may be completely finished, continue into the present, or actions
which may have taken place over a period, or duration, of time in the past. Additionally, you may want to show that events or
conditions occurred in a sequence (first, next, and last) in the past.
For example:
I graduated from college in 2005.
Your graduation was a single event. It is completely over; although you continue to be a graduate, the day you wore your cap and
gown and received your degree is over. Use the simple past tense.
I was preparing dinner when the phone rang.
Each of the events is over. You prepared the dinner yesterday, and the phone rang yesterday. Show that a continuing action was
interrupted by using the past continuous tense.
I was living in India at the time. I shopped at the outdoor markets everyday.
Again, each of these events is over. You no longer live in India, and you no longer shop in the markets. Use the past continuous
tense to show that your life in India was a duration, or period, of time. During that time you shopped at the markets.
I had viewed the film before I read the book.
Both of these actions happened in the past. Use the past perfect tense to indicate that one event occurred before the other.
I had been looking for my shoes when I found his lost wallet.
Again, both of these actions are past. Use the past continuous tense to show that one action was in progress when another event
occurred.
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Verb Tenses - Present
TENSE TIMELINE TIMEFRAME EXPLANATION FORM VERB
Present tense Now – present happening at the present time you talk
time he, she talks
I talk every day. X we talk
Past Present Future they talk
third-person singular, + “s”
Present Continuous Now – present happening at the present use verb to be-plus “ing” form of
time time, but there is movement verb
I am talking to you Xxx or progress (continuing Ex: you are talking
now. Past Present Future action) he is talking
we are talking
they are talking
Present Perfect Past, but action happened in the past, use “have or has” and past
continues to but there is some connection participle of verb
I have talked to her have to the present –action may Ex: you have talked
for several years. importance to still be happening in the he, she has talked
Past Present Future the present present we have talked
they have talked
Present Perfect Past, but has action happened in past, but Use “have been or has been”
Continuous connection to continues up to the present, plus “ing” form of verb
Xxx present, and and there is movement or Ex: you have been talking
I have been talking Past Present Future there is progress (continuing action) he, she has been talking
to her for over an movement or we have been talking
hour. progress they have been talking
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Present Tense: Examples
You may use the different forms of the present tense to show the progression and sequence of events that are occurring right now.
The present tense may help you give directions (for instance, for a process analysis essay) or to organize an argumentative essay.
Always use present tense when writing a literary analysis or when describing a work of art.
For example:
I exercise in the morning.
I exercise every morning.
In the above examples, the action occurs in the present.
In addition, use present tense for “general truths” (something that is usually true). Example: Students study before a test.
I am looking for a job.
The action occurs in the present and continues to occur, so use the present continuous.
I have lived in the United States for a few years.
Use the present perfect tense to show that an event or action continues from the past into the present.
My mother has been a big help.
Use the present perfect continuous tense to show that an event or action occurred over a period of time, or progressed, in the past
and continues into the present.
In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Huck travels along the river.
Use present tense to write about the action, plot development, or literary elements in a novel.
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Verb Tenses - Future
TENSE TIMELINE TIMEFRAME EXPLANATION FORM VERB
Future Tense Future action will happen at some Use “will” plus base form of
future time verb
I will talk to you X Ex: you will talk
tomorrow. Past Present Future he, she will talk
we will talk
they will talk
Future Continuous Future action will happen at some Use “will be” plus “ing” form of
future time, but there will be verb
I will be talking to xxx movement or progress Ex: you will be talking
her next week. Past Present Future (The action will continue.) he, she will be talking
we will be talking
they will be talking
Future Perfect Future two actions happening in the Use “will have” plus past
XY future, but one will happen participle form of verb
I will have talked to (Past) before the other Ex: you will have talked
her before the party Past Present Future he, she will have talked
next week. we will have talked
they will have talked
Future Perfect Future two actions happening in the Use “will have been” plus “ing”
Continuous future, but one will happen form of verb
xxxY before the other AND there is Ex: you will have been talking
I will have been (Past) movement or progress he, she will have been talking
talking with her for Past Present Future (The action is continuing.) we will have been talking
an hour before the
party next week.
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Future Tense: Examples
Use the future tense to indicate events that will happen in the future. Even in the future, though, we can imagine that events have
already happened or foresee their duration.
For example:
I will be looking for work after the holidays.
Use the future continuous to show that an action will occur in the future, over a period or duration of time.
Hopefully, I will have found a job before the spring.
Use the future perfect tense to show that something will happen in the future, and after it has happened, something else will happen.
In other words, two things are going to happen: You will find a job. It will be spring. One of these events will happen before the
other.
I will have been looking for four months by May.
Use the future perfect continuous to show that two things will be happening in the future. One will happen before the other, and it
will have covered a duration of time.
