Verb Tenses

Grammar Lesson #1

Verb TenseIn the world of verbs, time is conveyed by tense. Every verb has six tenses:

Past Perfec

tPast

Present

Perfect

Present

Future

Perfect

Future

Action took place in the past and ended in the past (is not currently continuing)

Action that’s happening NOW, at the present time

Action that will take place at some time in the future

Brainpop! When watching Tim and Moby, be on the look

out to define the following terms:

Verb Infinitive Conjugate Present Past Future

Present Tense Describes action that is happening NOW, at the present

time The “no frills” form of the verb

For most subjects, the base form of the verb is used:Nate and Tupper boil water for dinner.I play songs about ping-pongs on the piano.We walk along the beach and collect seagulls.You love croaking toads.

For singular nouns, he, she, and it, an –s is usually added:Moe swallows minnows.Dee dreams about bucktoothed ducks.

Past Tense Describes action that happened in the past and

ended in the past- it is not currently continuing

Usually, the past tense is formed by adding –ed to the verb:

Nate and Tupper boiled water for dinner.I played songs about ping-pongs on the piano.We walked along the beach and collect seagulls.You loved croaking toads.Moe swallowed minnows.Dee dreamed about bucktoothed ducks.

*Notice that for singular subject nouns, he, she, and it, the same rule is followed.

Future Tense Describes action that will take place at some point in

the future

The future tense is formed by using the helping verb will (or sometimes shall) before the verb:

Nate and Tupper will boil water for dinner.I will play songs about ping-pongs on the piano.We will walk along the beach and collect seagulls.You will love croaking toads.Moe will swallow minnows.Dee will dream about bucktoothed ducks.

*Notice that for singular subject nouns, he, she, and it, the same rule is followed.

Let’s practice! Fill in the sentences with the appropriate verb

tense.

Infinitive: to jumpPAST- Jenny __________ over the puddle.PRESENT- Jenny __________ over the puddle.FUTURE- Jenny __________ over the puddle.

Infinitive: to scarePAST- The boys ___________ their little sisters.PRESENT- The boys ___________ their little sisters.FUTURE- The boys ___________ their little sisters.

Book Time- Writer’s Choice Page 377, Exercise 9, #1-20

For each one, write the verb and the tense

Example: 1. introduced- past

Next, write the future tense of the verb next to 10 of your choice. Example: 1. introduced- past will

introduce

Usage- sit, set Sit = “to be in a seated, upright

position” or “to be in a place” Generally a person (or other living thing)

Examples: I sit next to the fireplace. Where should we sit? We sat near the end zone during last

night’s game.

Usage- sit, set Set = “to put [something] in place”

Generally has a direct object

Examples: I set the chair next to the fireplace. Where should we set the groceries? We set the giant papier-mache football

near the end zone during last night’s football game.

Practice! In pairs, decide which word fills in the blank: sit (past tense = sat) or set (past tense =

set)

1. After he had struck out, Pete _______ on the bench.

2. Part of San Francisco’s Chinatown _____ on an incline that overlooks the bay.

3. Where should we _____ the packages?4. We _____ the new cushions on the patio

chairs.5. In Japan people often _____ on tatami instead

of chairs.6. They _____ placemats on the table.

Homework

Due Date- FRIDAY, APRIL 27 (our next Grammar Day)

Be sure to complete BOTH SIDES!