Past and Present tense

Simple Past Tense-Used to show actions completed or done in the past

When transforming verbs into their past tense, there are two types ofverbs

1.)Regular Verbs- when transformed to its past tense, we add –ed/-d to the end of the verb.Ex.

play-played lift-liftedsmile-smiled blink-blinkedsearch-searched dance-danced

Formula:Verb + edLaugh + ed = laughed

My friend and I laughed so hardafter we saw something funny.

Verb + dbake + d = baked

I baked pastries for my favorite teacher.

Change y to i + edMarry – marri + ed = married

My brother married his long-term girlfriend last week.

Special Notes:- If a regular verb ends with a single

consonant and single vowel, double the consonant before adding –ed. (ex. Clap- clapped)

- If a regular verb ends with a vowel and y, there is no need to change y to i (ex. Pray-prayed)

Irregular Verbs- when transformed to its past

tense, it does not follow the add -d/-ed rule.Ex. go-went sing-sang eat-ate build-built sit-sat do-did rise- rose draw-drew-To be has two past tense forms: was

(singular), were (plural)

I sent a letter to a friend yesterday.

I arrived late for class because I slept very late last night.

Time Expressions used to signal that actions were done in the past (time adverbials):

Yesterday a / one minute agolast night an / one hour agolast week The day before yesterdaylast month the night before lastlast yearlast Tuesdaylast summer

Simple Present Tense

-Used to show actions done at present time or regularly (habitual actions)

The present tense of the verb Can either be the Base form or the “S Form”S Form (he/she/it)-when transformed to their present tense is added with –s/-es.

like-likes water-watersbrush-brushes meet-meetsread-reads teach-teaches

Formula:verb + sOrder + s = orders

Every morning, she orders a cup of brewed coffee in Layla’s Coffee Shop.

verb + esGo + es = goes

Lucas goes to the library whenever he feels bored.

Change y to i + esCry– cri + es

Mandy cries whenever she misses her mother.

Special Note:

The common verb have doesn't follow the usual rules:I / you / we / They --havehe / she / it --hasEx.)You have the answer to the question.She has the potential to become a good singer.

Special Note:

Be verb uses am, are, is

Ex.)I am a doctor.They are going to church.He is studying for the exams.

Base Form (I/you/we/they)- when transformed to the past tense, it retains its base form.

I jog for an hour every morning, before I go to work.

Teenagers surf the internet for almost the whole day.

Present tense habitual activities are frequently signaled by time expressions such as the following:

-all the time -sometimes -always -usually -every semester -every class-every week -every day-every year -every holiday-most of the time -every hour-Never -every month-Often -rarely

References

http://www.eslcafe.com/grammar/simple_present_tense02.htmlhttp://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/tenses/simple_present.htmhttp://www.grammar.cl/english/past-tense.htmhttp://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/simplepast.html