Tarpapel Verb Tense.docx

VERB TENSE and Consistency  During

the argument, Tungkung Langit stood up and then Alunsina walks away.  When Alunsina walks inside the palace in the skies, Tungkung Langit will stare.

 The

residents who are curious often asks where Alunsina may possibly be.

Verb tense is important to clear writing, because it tells the reader when something happened, and often when something happened in relation to something else.

There are six (6) basic verb tenses. Use them correctly to avoid confusion

• Use the simple present tense for facts and consistent states (Cows eat grass),

happen routinely (I do homework in the evenings), or are scheduled to happen in the future (We take our test tomorrow).

• Use the simple past tense for actions or events that happened at a specific time in the past but have ended (I ate a chocolate pie yesterday).

• Use the simple future tense for actions or events that will happen in the future and for actions or events predicted or planned to happen in the future (I will read our assignment tomorrow).

• Use the present progressive tense (am, is, or are + the present participle—the verb stem+“ing”) for actions that are in progress in the present but will not

continue indefinitely (I am studying for our test). • Use the past progressive tense (was or were + the present participle) for actions

that were in progress sometime in the past but are no longer happening (I was eating when you called). • Use the future progressive tense (will be + the present participle) for actions

that will be in progress in the future (I will be going to London next month).

Practice

Write a sentence using the verbs given in the tense specified. 1. Watch, simple present tense. 2. Cook, simple past tense. 3. Use, simple future tense. 4. Listen, present progressive tense. 5. Wash, past progressive tense. 6. Paint, future progressive tense. GRAMMAR RULE: Do not shift from one verb tense to another.

EXAMPLES:

1. Inconsistent tense: I bought some milk when I go to the store. 2. Consistent tense: I bought some milk when I went to the store. 3. Consistent tense: I go to the store and I buy some milk.

Why is #1 wrong? Bought is _________past___________ tense, and go is _________present_________ tense. They are not the same! Why is #2 correct?

Both verbs are written in ______past____________ tense. Why is #3 correct? Both verbs are written _______present___________ tense. Consistency in Verb Tense DIRECTIONS: All of the sentences below use inconsistent verb tense. Rewrite the sentence

in

QUIZ 1. I went to school to be a psychologist. It takes eight years to get my degree. 2. I was speeding on the expressway. A cop approaches with its flashing lights on. 3. Next Sunday, I have to cook dinner for the whole family. I buy all the food from Sam’s

Club. 4. I always do my homework on Sundays, because I went to basketball practice on Saturdays. 5. At the football game yesterday, the quarterback scored a touchdown and the crowd goes wild.

6. We worked hard, practice daily, and eventually won the championship. 7. Yesterday, I clean our house. 8. My classmate shouted on me and I cry. 9. Tomorrow, I bought ticket. 10. Our teacher checks our assignment and I failed to submit it.