Choosing the Right Verb
In the following handout, we will look at the different verb tenses in
English in relationship to a timeline.
1.The
Simple Present (base, or base + s or es)
The simple present says that something was true in the past, it is true now, and it will be true in the future. It is used for general statements of fact.
| Air consists primarily of oxygen and hydrogen |
| The goal of education is knowledge |
| Joseph Estrada claims he is innocent. |
| Respiratory diseases kill millions of people each year |
The simple present is used for activities that occur regularly, such as every day or on a regular basis.
| Dodoy goes to school every day |
| Cardinal Sin begins his day with a prayer |
| Successful students study every day |
The simple present can be used with verbs that don’t take the progressive (with ing) to indicate a situation that is happening now at the moment of speaking.
| I remember that story |
| I need a pen. |
| Joseph Estrada needs a good lawyer. |
2.The
Present Progressive (an, is are + base + ing)
The present progressive expresses an activity that is taking place now, as we are speaking. The activity started in the recent past, it is continuing now, and it will end sometime in the future.
| Mary is studying in the library now |
| I need earplugs because Mary is singing. |
| The government and the rebels are meeting in Manila |
The present progressive may express an activity that is in progress, but which may not be taking place at the exact moment of speaking (example 1) or that expresses a general activity that is progressive in nature (example 2).
| My professor is writing a book |
| It is becoming harder for many Filipinos because of the recession |
3.The
Simple Past (base + ed or irregular form)
The simple past indicates that an action or activity took place in the past, and that it began and ended at a known time in the past.
| I talked to the Barangay Captain yesterday. |
| My professor lived in Manila for five years. |
| Mary bought a new cell phone yesterday |
If a sentence contains the word “when”, and the simple past is used in both clauses, the action in the clause containing “when” occurred first.
| When Joseph Estrada heard the police coming, he hid in the closet. |
| Joseph Estrada hid in the closet when he heard the police coming |
| When I dropped my pen, I picked it up. |
4.The
Past Progressive (was, were + base + ing)
The past progressive expresses an action or activity that was in progress when something else happened. One action began and was in the process of happening when another action occurred.
| While I was watching TV, I got a great idea. |
| I was walking down the street when I saw the Monsignor |
| The people were protesting Estrada’s arrest when the police arrived. |
Sometimes, the simple past and the past progressive mean almost the same thing, but there is a difference. Look at the examples for clarification.
| It rained this morning – means at some point this morning, it rained. |
| It was raining this morning – implies that the coming of morning and the coming of the rain are two different events |
When the past progressive is used in two clauses in the same sentence, the actions or activities happened at the same time.
| While you were studying, I was swimming at the beach |
| While the protestors were marching to the Edsa shrine, I was watching the events on TV. |
5.The
Present Perfect (have, has + base + ed, en)
The present perfect expresses an action or activity that took place (or didn’t take place) at an unspecified time in the past, and at the present time, the action has finished or has been completed. The precise time the events took place is not important, but that the events are viewed from the present, as we are speaking.
| I have seen that movie. |
| They have purchased a new house. |
| Have you ever visited the United States? |
The present perfect can express the repetition, but that the events are viewed from the present, as we are speaking.
| We have had four quizzes this semester. |
| I have visited Hong Kong many times. |
| I have written the senator twelve times in the last year. |
When the present perfect is used with “for” or “since”, the verb expresses an action that began in the past and continues to the present. Again, it is important that the events are viewed from the present, as we are speaking.
| I have had this feeling for a long time. |
| I have driven this road many times in the past. |
| I have been waiting for you since early this morning. |
6.The
Present Perfect Progressive (have, has +
The present perfect progressive indicated the duration of an action or activity that began in the past and has continued to the present. It is used with “time relationship words” such as for, since, all day, all morning, all month, all year.
| The president has been waiting for three hours. |
| I have been studying for six hours |
| We have been waiting for your call for a week |
7.The
Past Perfect (had + base + ed,en)
The past perfect expresses an action or activity that took place (or didn’t take place) in the past and was completed before another activity took place, also in the past.
| The senator had already eaten when I arrived at the party. |
| Until last week, I had never seen a live cobra. |
| The test had already started when I arrived. |
8.The
Past Perfect Progressive (had + been +
The past perfect progressive expresses an action or activity that took place (or didn’t take place) in the past and which was completed while another activity took place, also in the past.
| The ombudsman had been investigating Estrada for six months before they charged him with plunder. |
| The couple had been living together for three years before they got married. |
| The talks had been progressing well until the army arrived. |
The past perfect progressive can also express an action or activity that was in progress immediately before another activity or action took place
| Mary had been winning until she tripped in her shoelace. |
| The maid was crying because she had been cutting onions. |
| Mary was very tired because she had been studying for twelve hours straight. |
9.The
Simple Future (will + base OR going
to
The simple future expresses an action or activity that is likely to occur. It may often be a plan or a prediction of an event that will or might take place in the future.
| He will finish his homework. |
| He is going to finish his homework by midnight. |
| I will write a letter. |
| I am going to write a letter tonight. |
The simple future may also expresses an action or activity that is a conditionally linked to a time or period of time. In these sentences, the conditional clause will start with words such as before, after, when until and as soon as.
| As soon as the test is over, we will celebrate |
| When the professor arrives, we will ask him. |
| Before we start the meeting, we will say a prayer |
10.The
Present Progressive and Simple Present
The present progressive can express an action or activity that is likely to occur when verbal modifiers such as tomorrow, next week, on Thursday, in a few weeks, etc.
| She is seeing the doctor tomorrow |
| He is leaving for Manila next week |
| After school, we are going straight home. |
The simple present can express an action or activity that is likely to occur when verbal modifiers such as tomorrow, next week, on Thursday, in a few weeks, etc.
| The plane arrives at 2:30 this afternoon. |
| The mass begins in an hour. |
| Classes begin next week. |
| The office opens at 9:00 am tomorrow morning |
11.The
Future Progressive (will + be + base +ing OR be + going + to + be + base)
The future progressive expresses an action or activity that is expected to take place or progress when something else happens.
|
I will be working when the bus from Davao arrives. |
|
She will be sending the documents after they bare processed. |
|
Cardinal Sin will be leading the march after the prayer meeting. |
12.The
Future Perfect (will + have + base +
The future perfect expresses an action or activity that will be completed or finished in the future before some other event in the future takes place.
| By the time you get to school, the class will have finished. |
| She will have completed all her requirements for graduation by April. |
| By July the dog will have had her puppies. |
13.The
Future Perfect Progressive (will + have + been
+ base + ing)
The present perfect progressive expresses the duration or time in which an action or activity takes place and which will be in progress before another time or event takes place in the future.
| I will have been working for three hours by the time you get out of bed. |
| When my professor retires next month, he will have been teaching for 40 years. |
| At 10:45 tomorrow morning, the police will have been negotiating with the terrorists for three days. |