Parts of Speech:VERB TENSES

English 7Mr. Holes

Remember: what is a VERB ?

A VERB is a word that expresses action or helps make a statement, telling something about the subject.

A VERB makes up the Predicate part of the sentence.

A VERB is one of the 8 parts of speech.

Parts of Speech: What are VERB TENSES?

So, what is meantby VERB TENSE ?

Since all VERBS make a statement about their subjects, they indicate when the time of the action takes place.

This is the TENSE: Past, Present, and Future

Parts of Speech: What are VERB TENSES?

Present Verb Tense

PRESENT TENSE refers to action (or statement) that is occurring now, at the present time.

Present Tense Examples: run, jump, sneaktalk, complete, believe, think, swim, shoot

Parts of Speech: What are VERB TENSES?

Present ProgressiveVerb Tense

We use HELPING VERBS to create a special tense called the PRESENT PROGRESSIVE. This shows an action that is constantly occurring now in the present.

Add -is -am -are or -has been -have been to your action verb:

Examples: is snowing, am walking, are finishingExamples: has been raining, have been winning

Parts of Speech: What are VERB TENSES?

Past Verb Tense

Generally, verbs can be changed from the present tense to the PAST tense by adding the suffix -ed.

Present Tense Examples: plan, jump, sneakPast Tense Examples: planned, jumped, sneaked

Parts of Speech: What are VERB TENSES?

Past Verb Tense

But there are some verbs that change from the present tense to the past tense in irregular ways:

Present Tense Examples: sit, drive, fly, do, write, fallPast Tense Examples: sat, drove, flew, did, wrote, fell

Parts of Speech: What are VERB TENSES?

Past ProgressiveVerb Tense

We use HELPING VERBS to create a special tense called the PAST PROGRESSIVE. This shows an action

that continuously occurred in the past.

Add -was or -were to your action verb:

Examples (singular): was snowing, was sleepingExamples (plural): were running, were talking

Parts of Speech: What are VERB TENSES?

FutureVerb Tense

We use HELPING VERBS to create the FUTURE TENSE. This shows an action that is going to happen.

Add -will or -shall to your action verb:

Examples: will snow, shall snowExamples: will run, shall talk

Parts of Speech: What are VERB TENSES?

FutureVerb Tense

Another way to show the Future Tense is by adding the helping verb -is -am or -are to the verb going

along with an infinitive form of an action verb.

Example: is / am / are going + to swim:is going to swim

Example: am going / are going + to pass:are going to pass

Parts of Speech: What are VERB TENSES?

FutureVerb Tense

There are also some clue words you can see/use to specify an action that is going to happen in the future:

Example: tomorrow, later today, next monthtwo years from now

Parts of Speech: What are VERB TENSES?

Future ProgressiveVerb Tense

We use HELPING VERBS to create a special tense called the FUTURE PROGRESSIVE. This shows an

action that will occur continuously in the future.

Add -will be or -will have been or -shall be or -shall have been to your action verb:

Examples: will be writing, shall be attending will be playing, shall be describing

Parts of Speech: What are VERB TENSES?

Can there be problems

with the Verb Tense?YES! Young writers sometimes begin their stories or essays in one tense and then lapse into another tense.

This is usually caused by carelessness.

Careless: Roy raised his telescope and sees a large bear as it raced back to the woods. 

Parts of Speech: What are VERB TENSES?

Can there be problems

with the Verb Tense?Here are two corrections:

Correct: Roy raised his telescope and saw a large bear as it raced back to the woods.

or:

Correct: Roy raises his telescope and sees a large bear as it races back to the woods.

Parts of Speech: What are VERB TENSES?

How can using VERBS help you?

• Communicating your ideas clearly• Demonstrating you have control

over your writing• Making your writing

more exciting &fun to read

What do we think of authors or writers who don’t use

interesting VERBS?

• They do not proofread.• They are lazy

(and probably boring).• They do not take the time

to re-read their work.• They don’t care if the

reader enjoys their writing

Knowing the Parts of Speech IS Important!!!

•For knowledge•For a job•For education•For clarity•For communication