1. TENSE - THE TIME OF THE ACTION INDICATED BY A VERB Verb Tenses

2. 6 Types Verb Tenses PresentPastFuture Present Perfect Past Perfect Future Perfect

3. Present Tense The present tense expresses something that is happening now (in the present). It can also express an action which occurs always, repeatedly, or habitually. Examples: He sees the train. He eats cereal for breakfast every day.

4. Past Tense The past tense expresses that something has already happened. The action was completed at a definite time in the past. Examples: He wrote the letter yesterday. She lived to be 90 years old.

5. Future Tense Future tense expresses that something is going to happen. It uses the helping verbs will or shall* plus the present tense form of the verb. Examples: He will send the letter tomorrow. I shall wait here until you return. * Traditionally, shall is used for 1 st person and will for 2 nd and 3 rd persons.

6. Principal Parts All the tenses of a verb come from four basic forms. These basic forms are the principal parts of the verb. Verb: Present Tense Present Participle Past Tense Past Participle (To) call call, calls (is) calling called (have) called (To) dust dust, dusts (is) dusting dusted (have) dusted

7. Principal Parts The present participle and the past participle are always used with a helping verb. Principal parts are not considered tenses. They are simply the building blocks we use to form the different tenses. Verb: Present Tense Present Participle Past Tense Past Participle (To) call call, calls (is) calling called (have) called (To) dust dust, dusts (is) dusting dusted (have) dusted

8. Present Perfect Tense Present perfect tense expresses action that took place at an undefined time in the past. The action may still be going on. This tense uses the helping verb has or have plus the past participle of the verb. Examples:  He has written a letter to his uncle. (undefined time in the past)  The Waltons have lived here for seven years. (still going on)

9. Past Perfect Tense Past perfect tense expresses an action in the past that was completed before another action took place. It uses the helping verb had plus the past participle of the verb. Example: She had written the letter before I saw her.

10. Future Perfect Tense Future perfect tense expresses action which will be completed before another action in the future. It uses the helping verbs will have or shall have plus the past participle of the verb. Example: He will have finished the paper before next Friday.