1. The foundation for English sentences.
By AJ Brown (Rev. Judy)
English Verb Review
The foundation for English sentences.
Put together by AJ Brown for all to use! 

2. There are three verb tenses you learned about in Level 1.
The simple tenses (2 tenses)
Simple present tense (He walks to school.)
Simple past tense (He walked to school.)
The progressive tenses (2 tenses)
Present progressive (He is walking to school.)
Past progressive (He was walking to school.)
The future tense (1 tense with 2 forms)
Future will (He will walk to school.)
Future going to (He is going to walk to school.)

3. There are two simple tenses:
1. Simple present = the tense of facts
Used to describe what usually happens
Judy works at the IELP.
Used to talk about scientific facts
Water boils at 212°F (100°C).
Used with adverbs of frequency
Judy usually arrives early to PSU.
Used with non-action verbs
Right now, Judy wants tea!

4. 2. Simple past = the tense of finished facts
Used to describe things that are finished
Judy worked in Southern California.
Used with the past progressive to talk about one action interrupted by another (complex sentences)
She was reading when the police arrived.
Used when the focus of the action is on its completion
Judy worked as a property manager.

5. Pay Attention!
A complex sentence with both verbs in the simple past has a different meaning from one with a verb in the simple past and the other in the past progressive.
Both past = the 2 actions were at different times.
When she saw the storm clouds, she drove home.
One past and one progressive = one action was in progress when the other action occurred.
When she saw the storm clouds, she was driving home.
2nd
1st
2nd
1st

6. Remember… The affirmative simple tenses are just one verb
They are eat breakfast every morning.
They did ate breakfast every morning.
The negative simple tenses use the helping DO + not
I not hear the music.
I not heard the music.
Simple tense questions also use the helping DO
He has a dog?
He had a dog?
eat
ate
do not hear
did not hear
Does he have
Did he have

7. Simple tense clues… Simple present Simple past
Adverbs of frequency (Judy always drinks tea.)
Every + noun (Judy teaches every day.)
[scientific fact or truth] (Water boils at 100°)
Simple past
Yesterday (Judy stayed home yesterday.)
Last + noun (Last week, Judy saw her sister.)
Amount + ago (27 years ago, Erin was born.)
In + time (In 1988, Erin was born.)

8. You also learned about the progressive tenses in Level 1
1. Present progressive = the tense of NOW
Used to describe what is happening right now
Judy is talking to us.
Used to describe something happening in the extended present time
You are taking Grammar/Writing 2.
Used to show that the action is temporary
I’m taking IELP classes before I take regular university classes.

9. 2. Past progressive = the tense of duration
Used to describe an action in progress at a time in the past
Judy was living in Texas in 1987.
Used with the simple past to talk about one action interrupted by another (complex sentences)
She was reading when the police arrived.
Used with while to show 2 actions at the same time in the past
I was studying while Erin was making dinner.

10. Remember… The affirmative progressive tenses are two verbs
They are eat breakfast right now.
They did ate breakfast at 7 am yesterday.
The negative progressive tenses just add not after BE
I am listening to the music.
I was listening to the music.
Progressive tense Y/N questions just move helping BE
He is walking his dog?
He was walking his dog?
are eating
were eating
am not listening to
was not listening to
Is he walking
Was he walking

11. Progressive tense clues…
Present progressive
(right) now (Judy is drinking her tea right now.)
While (While Judy is teaching, her daughter is in school, too.)
[extended present time] (Judy’s students are living in Portland.)
Past progressive
Time clause sentences (Before Judy moved here, she was living in CA.)
While (Judy saw her sister while she was visiting.)
In progress in past (Last week, Erin was taking the bus to work.)
(Several years ago, Judy was living in Clackamas)

12. Finally, you learned about the future tenses in Level 1
1. Future will = the tense of the future
Used to talk about the future
We will have a party next week.
Used to talk about future intentions or plans, especially when decided at the moment of speaking
I will bring the cookies and plates.

13. 2. Future be going to = the tense of the future
Used to talk about the future
We are going to have a party next week.
Used to talk about predictions or guesses, especially when something in the present helps you predict the future
Look at those clouds! It is going to rain soon.

14. 3. Future present progressive = the tense of the arranged future
Used to talk about future plans that are already arranged
We are having a party in May.
I’m visiting my sister in San Francisco next month.

15. 4. Future simple present= the tense of the scheduled future
Used to talk about scheduled future events, especially timetables, programs, and schedules
My plane leaves next Friday at noon.
Summer school starts in mid-June.

16. Comma rules for simple sentences
Usually they don’t require a comma -
I live in Oregon City.
The man behind the case of flowers is my father.
There are four Saudis and six Koreans in my class.
Do not write a comma between two words or phrases
I like ice cream and candy.
The ball went behind the sofa and under the desk.
She is the top student and my best friend.

17. Comma rules for compound sentences
Always write a comma before the conjunction
I live in Oregon City, and I work in Portland.
He is sleeping right now, but he’ll call you later.
I lost my purse, so I called the police.
Do not write a comma between two words or phrases
I like ice cream and candy.
The ball went behind the sofa and under the desk.
She is the top student and my best friend.

18. Comma rules for complex sentences
YES! write a comma if the dependent clause is 1st.
Although I live in Oregon City, I work in Portland.
Because he is sleeping right now, he’ll call you later.
Since I lost my purse, I called the police.
NO! do not write a comma if the dependent clause is 2nd.
I work in Portland although I live in Oregon City.
He’ll call you later because he is sleeping right now.
I called the police since I lost my purse.