The tenseThe aspect of a verb that gives a sense of time (past, present, or future). of a verb usually gives readers a sense of time. In other words, verb tense explains if the action in the sentence took place previously (past tense), is taking place right now (present tense), or will take place some time in the future (future tense). Tense also can indicate continual or recurring action (progressiveContinual or recurring action.), action that has completely taken place as of a certain time (perfectAction that took place as of a certain time.), and action that began in the past but continues or recurs through the present time (perfect progressiveAction that began in the past but continues or recurs in the present.).
Verbs also have different forms for the different pronouns and numbersWhether a word is singular or plural.. In other words, first personWriting or speaking in which the speakers or writers refer to themselves using words such as “I,” “we,” and “us.” (I, we) might require a different verb form from second personWriting or speaking in which the reader is being spoken to using the word “you.” (singular you, plural you) and third personWriting or speaking that references someone or something that is talked about using words such as “him,” “her,” “they,” “Sara,” and “dog.” (he, she, it, they), and whether the pronoun is singular (I, you, he, she, it) or plural (we, you, they) can also make a difference in the verb form used.
Table 15.1 Verb Tenses for the Regular Verb “Look” and the Irregular Verb “Eat”
Tense | Number and Person | Past | Present | Future |
---|---|---|---|---|
Simple Past: main verb + -ed or irregular variations Present: main verb Future: will or shall + main verb |
First-person singular | I looked. | I look. | I will look. |
I ate. | I eat. | I will eat. | ||
First-person plural | We looked. | We look. | We will look. | |
We ate. | We eat. | We will eat. | ||
Second-person singular | You looked. | You look. | You will look. | |
You ate. | You eat. | You will eat. | ||
Second-person plural | You looked. | You look. | You will look. | |
You ate. | You eat. | You will eat. | ||
Third-person singular | He looked. | He looks. | He will look. | |
She ate. | She eats. | She will eat. | ||
Third-person plural | They looked. | They look. | They will look. | |
They ate. | They eat. | They will eat. | ||
Progressive Verb + -ing and a form of the verb “to be” Past: was, were Present: am, is, are Future: will be |
First-person singular | I was looking. | I am looking. | I will be looking. |
I was eating. | I am eating. | I will be eating. | ||
First-person plural | We were looking. | We are looking. | We will be looking. | |
We were eating. | We are eating. | We will be eating. | ||
Second-person singular | You were looking. | You are looking. | You will be eating. | |
You were eating. | You are eating. | You will be looking. | ||
Second-person plural | You were eating. | You are eating. | You will be eating. | |
You were looking. | You are looking. | You will be looking. | ||
Third-person singular | He was looking. | He is looking. | He will be looking. | |
She was eating. | She is eating. | She will be eating. | ||
Third-person plural | They were looking. | They are looking. | They will be looking. | |
They were eating. | They are eating. | They will be eating. | ||
Perfect Past participle and a form of the verb “to be” Past: had Present: has, have Future: will have |
First-person singular | I had looked. | I have looked. | I will have looked. |
I had eaten. | I have eaten. | I will have eaten. | ||
First-person plural | We had looked. | We have looked. | We will have looked. | |
We had eaten. | We have eaten. | We will have eaten. | ||
Second-person singular | You had looked. | You have looked. | You will have looked. | |
You had eaten. | You have eaten. | You will have eaten. | ||
Second-person plural | You had looked. | You have looked. | You will have looked. | |
You had eaten. | You have eaten. | You will have eaten. | ||
Third-person singular | He had looked. | He has looked. | He will have looked. | |
She had eaten. | She has eaten. | She will have eaten. | ||
Third-person plural | They had looked. | They have looked. | They will have looked. | |
They had eaten. | They have eaten. | They will have eaten. | ||
Perfect progressive Verb + -ing and a form of the verb “to be” Past: had been Present: has been, have been Future: will have been |
First-person singular | I had been looking. | I have been looking. | I will have been looking. |
I had been eating. | I have been eating. | I will have been eating. | ||
First-person plural | We had been looking. | We have been looking. | We will have been looking. | |
We had been eating. | We have been eating. | We will have been eating. | ||
Second-person singular | You had been looking. | You have been looking. | You will have been looking. | |
You had been eating. | You have been eating. | You will have been eating. | ||
Second-person plural | You had been looking. | You have been looking. | You will have been looking. | |
You had been eating. | You have been eating. | You will have been eating. | ||
Third-person singular | He had been looking. | He has been looking. | He will have been looking. | |
She had been eating. | She has been eating. | She will have been eating. | ||
Third-person plural | They had been looking. | They have been looking. | They will have been looking. | |
They had been eating. | They have been eating. | They will have been eating. |
Identify the verb tense used in each of the following sentences: