The w o n d e r o u s w o r l d of V E R B S Verbs convey ACTION state of being TIME.

The

w o n d e r o u s

w o r l d of

V E R B S

Verbs convey

ACTION

state of being

TIME

BASEPAST

TENSE

PRESENTPARTICIPLE

PASTPARTICIPLE

talk talked talking talked

visit visited visiting visited

see saw seeing seen

To ____ -ed -ing -en, -ed

Dictionary entry

Dictionary entry

BASEis used to make the present tense

Present moment

Past Future

Present moment

Past Future

He talks all the time.

PRESENT TENSE = Habitual action

BASE--is used to make the present tense--is used to make the future tense

Present moment

Past Futurewill call

Socorro will call tomorrow.

FUTURE TENSE

BASE--is used to make the present tense--is used to make the future tense--is used with modal helping words

to create a variety of special meanings

Present sequence Past sequence

can couldwill would

shall should may might

must

MODALS

BASEis used with do, does, and did

--to make the verb emphatic:

I really do agree with you!

--to create a question:

Do you have any fresh coffee?Did he lose his wallet?

--to make a sentence negative:

I don’t like heavy traffic.Jose did not finish his taco.

PASTTENSE

This is the verb form thatsignals past time,usually ends in -ed,and does not combinewith helping words.

Present moment

Past Futuresnapped

Jack snapped a photo.

PAST TENSE

PRESENTPARTICIPLE

This form of a verbends in -ing,indicates continuous activity, andrequires a helping verb.

Present moment

Past Future

I am clapping now.

PRESENT PROGRESSIVE TENSE

am c

lapp

ing

Present moment

Past Future

PAST PROGRESSIVE TENSE

Jane was washing her dog.

was washing

PASTPARTICIPLE

This verb form is easily confused with the past tensebecause it can also end in -ed.However, to function as a verbit must have a helping verb.

Present moment

Past Future

PRESENT PERFECT TENSE

have driven

The students have driven a long way.

Present moment

Past Futureturned off

although Sue had paid her electric bill.

The company turned off the electricity

had paid

PAST PERFECT TENSE

Point to remember

Building verb tenses is as simpleas using building blocks!

am finished