Special Problems in Tense Usage (but don’t be tense – it will only make it worse!)

1. Use of the Past Perfect Tense The Past Perfect Tense is formed with the word, had, preceding the past participle of a verb. For example: had worked, had flown, had written, had won, had hoped. Use the Past Perfect Tense to indicate the earlier of two actions occurring in a sentence. All the excuses he told me I heard before. All of a sudden she remembered she left Judy’s gift at home.

2. “Would have” in “if” clauses Avoid the use of “would have” in “if” clause that express the earlier of two past actions. Use the past prefect tense in these clauses. If he would have played better, he’d have made the All-State team. If I would have known that verbs were this easy, I’d have relaxed over the weekend.

3. “Having” + the past participle In participial phrases, use “having” with the past participle to express action completed before another action. (having worked, having flown, having written, having won, having hoped) Making her entrance, the princess danced the night away. Winning the state semi-final, the golf team went on to play in the state final.

4. The present infinitive (to go, to see, to fly, etc.) Use the present infinitive to express action following another action. He intended to have written to all of us. He wanted to have seen all the previous Harry Potter films.

5. The perfect infinitive (to have gone, to have seen, to have flown, etc.) Use the perfect infinitive to express action before another action. I am glad to see that movie last week. I am happy to fly to Hawaii last month. Relax – these last two are easier than they sound. You will just do this naturally.

6. Use the present tense to express general truths. I learned in 8 th grade that Mt. Everest was the tallest mountain in the world. She apparently thought that seeing was believing. I did not know that Trenton was the capital of New Jersey.

Verb Quiz – Tuesday, May 21 Remember 2/3 of the quiz is just on the principle parts of verbs – just the past tense and the past participle. (Just remember the 196 practice sentences your grammar group enjoyed last week at your grammar party.) We will do a verb quiz warm-up prior to tomorrow’s quiz.