Verb Tenses : Verb Tenses How to distinguish different verb tenses when tutoring
WHY THE TOPIC? : WHY THE TOPIC? During the tutoring session, I believe that many tutees often write their essays with wrong verb tenses.
I want to learn it myself.
IMPORTANCE FOR CORRECT VERB TENSES : IMPORTANCE FOR CORRECT VERB TENSES Clear and easy to understand
Consistency
To express the event with proper verb tenses
HOW TO FIND THE VERB? : HOW TO FIND THE VERB? Underline the possible verbs that show or imply some action.
Change the time of the sentence and find the word that changes.
*Some verbs may contain two words “ex: I am going to school.”
(from Judy’s grammar package)
EDITING ADVICE : EDITING ADVICE Do all the verbs belong to the time cluster (present, past, or future) in one paragraph?
If yes, ask yourself that does each verb convey precisely the time you had in mind, the relationship to other times or actions, and the idea of an action completed or in progress?
If no, look carefully at the verbs that do not fit. Is there a reason for the switch in time? Then, rewrite the verb that provides the appropriate indication of time.
(from Ann Raime’s grammar toublespots)
OVERVIEW : OVERVIEW 1. Present
2. Past
3. future
OVERVIEW : OVERVIEW A. Simple tenses
B. Progressive tenses
C. Perfect tenses
D.*Perfect progressive tenses (decided not to cover here)
Slide 8 : NOW FUTURE PAST
1.ASSIGNMENTS THAT MAY USE PRESENT TENSES : 1.ASSIGNMENTS THAT MAY USE PRESENT TENSES The assignment that talks about “who I am.”
The assignment that compares the new grading system with the old one (writing about the new system).
The assignment that introduces ourselves.
(1A)SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE : (1A)SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE
MEANING : MEANING Activities or events that occurring in the present.
Summarizing pieces of writing, films, plays.
Stating ongoing opinions, beliefs, habits, and facts.
Ex: I ride a bike to school everyday.
(from Judy’s grammar package)
Slide 12 :
Verbs in the simple present tense : Verbs in the simple present tense Singular:
Writes
Studies
walks Plural:
Write
Study
Walk
(1B)PRESENT PROGRESSIVE TENSE : (1B)PRESENT PROGRESSIVE TENSE
MEANING : MEANING One thing happened in the past, and is in progress at the present time, and probably will continue.
Ex: I am washing the dishes.
Slide 16 :
Examples for verbs in the present progressive sentences : Examples for verbs in the present progressive sentences am walking
is + doing
are staying
(verb + ing)
(1C)PRESENT PERFECT TENSE : (1C)PRESENT PERFECT TENSE
MEANING : MEANING The action happened before now.
The exact time is not important.
Ex: She has already dropped the class.
Slide 20 :
PARTICIPLE : PARTICIPLE wanted, turned, dropped
hurt, come, build
felt, gone, hidden
blown, grown, known
begun, rung, swum
(2)ASSIGNMENTS THAT MAY USE PAST TENSES : (2)ASSIGNMENTS THAT MAY USE PAST TENSES The assignment that compares the new grading system with the old one (writing about the old system).
The assignment that talks about childhood.
(2A)SIMPLE PAST TENSE : (2A)SIMPLE PAST TENSE
MEANING : MEANING At one particular time in the past, it happened. It began and ended in past.
Ex: I walked to school this morning.
Slide 25 :
Verbs in the simple past tense : Verbs in the simple past tense Regular:
played, walked, noticed Irregular :
became, began
blew, grew
thought, taught
cut, hurt, let
(2B) PAST PROGRESSIVE TENSE : (2B) PAST PROGRESSIVE TENSE
MEANING : MEANING One thing happened before and was in process at a particular time in the past, and it continued.
Ex: I was doing my homework.
Slide 29 :
Examples for verbs in the past progressive sentences : Examples for verbs in the past progressive sentences was typing
+ leaving
were working
(verb + ing)
(2C) PAST PERFECT TENSE : (2C) PAST PERFECT TENSE
MEANING : MEANING The action was completely done before another time in the past.
Ex: He had already finished his exam before I met him.
Slide 33 :
Verbs in the past perfect tense : Verbs in the past perfect tense had + (participles)
PARTICIPLE : PARTICIPLE wanted, turned, dropped
hurt, come, build
felt, gone, hidden
blown, grown, known
begun, rung, swum
(3)ASSIGNMENTS THAT MAY USE FUTURE TENESES : (3)ASSIGNMENTS THAT MAY USE FUTURE TENESES The assignment that talks about what do we want to do in the future.
(3A)SIMPLE FUTURE TENSE : (3A)SIMPLE FUTURE TENSE
MEANING : MEANING At one particular time in the future, it will happen.
Ex: Jason will go to bed at 12 o’clock.
Slide 39 :
Verbs in the simple future tense : Verbs in the simple future tense will
be going to
(3B)FUTURE PROGRESSIVE TENSE : (3B)FUTURE PROGRESSIVE TENSE
MEANING : MEANING One thing will happen in the future, and it will be in process at a particular time in the future, and it will probably continue.
Ex: Katie will be sleeping when her father comes home.
Slide 43 :
Verbs in the future progressive sentences : Verbs in the future progressive sentences will be + (verb + ing)
(3B)FUTURE PERFECT TENSE : (3B)FUTURE PERFECT TENSE
MEANING : MEANING The action will be completely done before another time in the future.
Ex: Albert will already have taken shower before he goes to bed.
Slide 47 :
Verbs in the future perfect tense : Verbs in the future perfect tense will + have +
(participle)
PARTICIPLE : PARTICIPLE wanted, turned, dropped
hurt, come, build
felt, gone, hidden
blown, grown, known
begun, rung, swum
MODALS : MODALS
EXAMPLES FOR MODALS : EXAMPLES FOR MODALS to write about the wishes.
The assignment that talks about one thing that changes one person’s life.
What are they? : What are they? should
could
would
SHOULD : SHOULD Advisability
Ex: You should do your homework instead of going to the movies.
SHOULD : SHOULD 90% certainty (expectation)
Ex: He should attend the meeting tomorrow.
COULD : COULD past ability
Ex: I could get up early when I was young.
COULD : COULD polite request
Ex: Could you teach me with this math problem?
COULD : COULD suggestion (affirmative only)
Ex: You could do some research about this topic to see whether you have the right answer.
COULD : COULD less than 50% certainty
Ex: She could be in her office.
COULD : COULD impossibility (negative only)
Ex: That couldn’t be his dog because his dog was dead yesterday.
WOULD : WOULD polite request
Ex: Would you please pass me the salt?
WOULD : WOULD preference
Ex: I would rather die than get married with him.
WOULD : WOULD repeated action in the past
Ex: She would take a walk every morning when she was young.
WOULD : WOULD polite for “want” (with like)
Ex: I would like to have some tea, please.
WOULD : WOULD unfulfilled wish
Ex: I would have learned more about how to use proper verb tenses before coming to the U.S.
CITATION : CITATION The sources are from Betty Schrampfer Azar’s chartbook.
SPECIAL THANKS : SPECIAL THANKS EVERYONE!!