The

Forms of
Verbs
A requirement for
English 1
Study and Thinking Skills
Noel D. Petros
Charlyn Mae T. Pingol
Vergil Paredes
Jaica Paquiring
Jean Pal

Jimboy Ombo

Preface
This book has been published in order to develop
your English grammar. It contains some things that will
help you improve your communication and thinking skills.
Others will give you more knowledge, wisdom, and truth
in learning the dimensions of English Language.
To all who will read this, may you be able to
understand and gain something from it.
Enjoy reading and have fun!

Foreword
To the Reader:
- A Filipino learner of English and human being From the Authors:
- Who put together this text Here is your chance to:
- wander the field of different kinds of verbs, of
helping verbs, of auxiliary and linking verbs, of
regular and irregular verbs, of singular and plural
verbs
- explore the world of verb tenses, the simple past,
present, present and future tense, the past perfect,
the present perfect, the future perfect, the past
progressive, the present progressive, the future
progressive, the past perfect progressive, the
present perfect progressive, the future perfect
progressive
- appreciate the laws of subject and verb agreement
- use and share your knowledge about verbs
through speaking and writing.

VERBS
Examples:
1. We are reading our books.
2. Where do you live?
3. They have finished their homework.
4. The students do their work well.
5. I have a dog and two cats.
6. Her father is lawyer.
7. My cousin can sing.
8. We will go home early.
9. Going back to school in June requires a lot of planning.
10. The blue book on the shelf illustrates many home projects.
Are, do, and have in sentences 1, 2 and 3 are called Primary
Auxiliaries.
They are used to help the main verb.
Do, have and is in sentences 4, 5, and 6 are Main Verbs.
Can, and will in sentences 7, and 8 are Modal Auxiliaries or Modals.
They are use with the main verbs. They usually tell something about the
opinion or feeling of speaker/writer. SOKED
could
may
should
would
might
ought to
must
shall
THE FORMS OF VERBS
Finite Verb Forms
Non-finite Verb Forms
Present
Base form
Past
To
(3rd person
Past
-ing form
& infinitive
Participle
infinitive
singular)
Work
Works
Worked
Worked
Working
To work
Know
Knows
Knew
Known
Knowing
To know
For other forms, use primary auxiliaries:
Do + base
- I do not know her.
Have + past participle
- They have come to
see us
Be + -ing form
- She is singing.
Be + past participle
- She was
satisfied.
Modals + base form infinitive
- She has to see me.
TENSES OF VERB
The section of a verb in the Present Tense, Past Tense, and Future
Tense, can be
1. Simple
2. Progressive (continuous)
3. Perfect
4. Perfect Progressive
Tenses

Present

Past

Future

Simple
Progressive
Perfect Simple

She works.

She worked.

She will work.

She is working.

She was working.

She has worked.

She had worked.

She will be
working.
She will have
worked.

Perfect
She has been
working.
Progressive
FORMS OF THE VERB BE:
1. Affirmative
Subject
Singular

was
was
were

1st person
3rd person

We
They

are
are

were
were

Singular/Plural
Plural
3. Interrogative
Subject Number

Plural

Past

am
is
are

Singular

Singular/Plural

Present
I
He, She, It
You

2. Negative
Subject Number

Singular

She will have been

working.

1st person
3rd person

Singular/Plural
Plural

She had been

working.

Present

Past

I am not . . .
He is not . . .
You are not . . .
We are not . . .
They are not . . .

I was not . . .
He was not . . .
You were not . . .
We were not . . .
They were not . . .

Present
Am I . . . ?
Is he/she . . . ?
Is it . . . ?
Are you . . . ?
Are we . . . ?
Are they . . . ?

Past
Was I . . . ?
Was he/she . . . ?
Was it . . . ?
Were you . . . ?
Were we . . . ?
Were they . . . ?

4. Complements
When used as main verb, BE is followed by other kinds of
complements.
Complements

Example Sentences

a noun phrase

Beethoven was a great composer.

an adjective

You will be happy.

an adverbial

The matches areunder your chair.

Exercise 1
Complete the following with am, is, are, was, were, and not (nt).
1. Paris _______ in Spain; it _______ in France.
2. St. Petersburg _______ the capital of Russia in the 19th century, but now
the capital _______ Moscow.
3. The children _______ ready to go home.

4. Ed and Arlene _______ about to leave for the movies when the baby
began to cry.
5. _______ Socrates a poet? No, he _______. He _______ a philosopher.
6. New York _______ the capital of the United States. Washington _______.
7. Baguio _______ the summer capital of the Philippines.
8. Hello, I _______ from Thailand. Where _______ are you from?
9. Voltaire and Rousseau _______ French philosopher.
10.
Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo _______written by Balagtas.
They _______written by Jose Rizal.
Exercise 2
Convert the following into questions (interrogative).
1. Java and Sumatra are islands in Indonesia.
______________________________________
2. Anna Pavlova is a Russian dancer.
______________________________________
3. Charlotte and Emily Bronte arent American writers.
______________________________________
4. The temperature is 40 F.
______________________________________
5. We were in Hong Kong last summer.
______________________________________

FORMS OF THE VERB DO:

1. Affirmative
Subject Number
Present
I do.
Singular
He/she/It does.
Singular/Plural
You do.
We do.
Plural
They do.
2. Negative
Subject
1st person

3rd person

He, She, It

Singular

Singular/Plural

You
1st person

We

3rd person

They

Plural

Past
I did.
He/she/It did.
You did.
We did.
They did.
Present
I do not drink
coffee.
He/she/It does
not drink
coffee.
You do not
drink coffee.
We do not
drink coffee.
They do not
drink coffee.

3. Interrogative and Short Answers

Affirmative
Present
Question
Short Answer

Past
I did not
drink coffee.
He/she/It did
not drink
coffee.
You did not
drink coffee.
We did not
drink coffee.
They did not
drink coffee.

Negative short
Answer

3rd person
Singular

Does he/she eat?

Does it eat?

Yes, he/she does.

Yes, it does.

Do
Do
Do
Do

Yes,
Yes,
Yes,
Yes,

I eat?
you eat?
we eat?
they eat?

I do.
you do.
we do.
they do.

No, he/she
doesnt.
No, it doesnt.
No, I dont.
No, you dont.
No, we dont.
No, they dont.

Exercise 3
Leilani wants to have male friend. The Find-a-Friend Club wants to help
her. Look at Leilanis answers to the club questionnaire and write sentences
about her.
Examples: Leilani reads books.
She doesnt watch a lot of television.
Put a tick in the box for Yes or No
Yes
No
Do you . . .
read books?
watch a lot of television?
play computer games?
like music?
often visit people?
like sports?
go swimming?
like to talk on the phone?
collect stamps?
go to discos?
FORMS OF THE VERB HAVE:
1. Affirmative
Subject
st

Singular
Singular/Plura
l

1 person

3rd person

He, She

2nd person

You

1st person

We

3rd person

They

Plural
2. Negative
Subject Number
Singular
Singular/Plural
Plural

Present
I have a book.
He/she has a
book.
You have a
book.
We have a
book.
They have a
book.

Present
I do not have a book.
He/she does not have a
book.
You do not have a book.
We do not have a book.
They do not have a book.

Past
I had a book.
He/she had a
book.
You had a
book.
We had a book.
They had a
book.

Past
I had a book.
He/she did not have a
book.
You did not have a book.
We did not have a book.
They did not have a
book.

3. Interrogative and Short Answers

Affirmative
Present
Question
Short Answer
3rd person Does he/she have a
Yes, he/she does.
Singular
book?
Do I have a book?
Yes, I do.
All other
Do you have a book?
Yes, you do.
persons
Do we have a book?
Yes, we do.
Do they have a book?
Yes, they do.
Past
3rd person
Singular
All other
persons

Question

Affirmative
Short Answer

Did he/she have a book? Yes, he/she did.

Did
Did
Did
Did

I have a book?
you have a book?
we have a book?
they have a book?

Yes,
Yes,
Yes,
Yes,

I did.
you did.
we did.
they did.

Negative short
Answer
No, he/she
doesnt.
No, I dont.
No, you dont.
No, we dont.
No, they dont.
Negative short
Answer
No, he/she
didnt.
No, I didnt.
No, you didnt.
No, we didnt.
No, they didnt.

Exercise 4
Mr. and Mrs. Smith want to sell their house in Baguio. Describe the
house by constructing sentences using the given subjects and expansions.
Examples: house 200 years old
The house is 200 years old.
all rooms central heating
All rooms have central heating.
1. garden lovely
2. view to the north and east beautiful
3. house six bedrooms
4. rooms large
5. downstairs rooms carpets
6. sitting room lovely old fireplace
7. kitchen plenty of cupboards
8. garage big enough for three cars
9. attics wide
10.
swimming pool 10 feet deep

THE SIMPLE PRESENT

Examples:
1. Im awfully busy.
2. Her dad works in Saudi Arabia.
3. Mayon Volcano is in Bicol.
4. Holland and Belgium are in Europe.
5. Near the equator, the sun evaporates greater quantities of water.
6. A molecule of water has two atoms of hydrogen and one of oxygen.

7. She wakes up at 5:00 ad prepares breakfast.

8. Do you smoke a lot?
9. Madonna plays the role of Evita Peron, one of Argentinas best loved
women.
10.
Robert Sena, one of the original Filipino male cast of Londons
Miss Saigon, takes on the plum role as engineer.
11.
The Bible says love of money is the root of all evil.
12.
Ravenna throws the ball into Cordinera but he loses it. Pumaren
gives the ball to Patrimonio. Patrimonio goes past two players, he
shoots. Three points!
13.
Ive never been scuba diving myself but they tell me its a
fascinating sport.
14.
This, I admit is my favorite pastime.
15.
The president of the bank rejects your proposal.
Sentences 1 and 2 show present conditions while 3 and 4 show
permanent conditions.
Sentences 5 and 6 are examples of general truth; 7 and 8 show
regular or habitual actions: 9 and 10 are reviews of a book, play, or film.
Sentence 11 uses the verb say to describe something read from a
book.
#12 describes an actual blow-by-blow or step by step action of
a sport / game that is usually in progress. This is usually used with basketball
or boxing.
Sentence 13 has tell (also with hear as reporting verbs).
The last two sentences use admit, reject (also enclose and
promise) as performative verbs.
FORMS OF THE SIMPLE PRESENT:
1. Affirmative
3rd person
He/she speaks.
singular
All other
I/ You/We/They speak.
persons
2. The S Ending
-s
live - lives
speak
stand
bite
draw

swim
run
pay
play etc.

-es
watch - watches
wash
miss
brush
kiss
fix
mix
fuss
etc.

3. Interrogative and Negative

Affirmative
Interrogative
3rd person
singular

He/she / it
lives.

Does he/she/it
live?

-ies
study - studies
marry
cry
try
spy
carry
hurry
bury
fly
etc.
Short
Answer
Yes, he/she /
it live.

Negative
He/she /it
doesnt live.

Time expressions used with the present form of verb:

everyday
every
morning/noon/nighttime
on weekdays/weekends
during summer/spring etc.
in the morning/afternoon etc.

twice a year etc.

at present
currently
nowadays
at present etc.

Exercise 5
Complete the following sentences by choosing the correct verb from
the box.
play
type
eat
fly
cook
make
read
rise
ride
listen
1. Jockeys ________ horses in races.
2. The sun ________ in the East.
3. Cows ________ grass.
4. Peter ________ the piano very well.
5. Only experience pilot ________ jumbo jets.
6. Mary is a secretary; she ________letters.
7. Carpenters ________ tables and chairs.
8. University students ________ a lot of books.
9. Her mother ________ lunch everyday.
10.
I ________ to records and tapes before I go to bed.
Exercise 6
Complete the following interview with a verb from the box, and if
necessary, with do (not), does (not), I, you, etc.
have
want
do
give
work
live
start
pay
finish
read
earn
listen
Q:
A:
Q:
A:
Q:
A:
Q;
A:
Q:
A:
Q:
A:
Q:
A:

Good morning. I would like to ask you a few questions:

Where ________________?
31 Mt. Samat Street.
And ____________ a family?
Yes, I ___________a wife, but we ______________any children.
I see. And what _____________ in your leisure time?
Well, I ________ lot of books, and I ___________to classical music.
Splendid! And why __________ to change your job?
Well, my wife _________; she never has. And the trouble is, nowadays
my salary isnt enough for two.
How much ___________you receive in your present job?
Well, I _________ about P3, 500.00 a month.
What time____________ in the morning?
At eight oclock.
Thats fine. And what time __________ work in the afternoon?
At five, and theres an hour for lunch.

THE PRESENT PROGRESSIVE (CONTINUOUS)

Examples:
1. Shes getting on the bus.

2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Hes doing his homework in the library.

What are you doing these days?
The seniors are going to have picture-taking.
Hes always saying things like that.
Its always raining.
The village is changing but it is still undisturbed.
The world energy demand is increasing at a rate of about 3%per year.
In sentences 1 and 2, the speaker describes things happening at the
time of speaking.
The verb phrases in sentences 3 tell about events/actions in a period of
time centered in the present but which may not be happening at the moment
the speaker describes them.
The 4th sentence show future reference. Sentence 5 and 6 show habits
from an emotional point of view (usually negative).
The last two sentences indicate progressive change.
FORMS OF THE PRESENT PROGRESSIVE:
1. Affirmative
1st person I am waiting.
Singular
3rd person He/She/It is waiting.
2nd
Singular/Plural
You are waiting.
person
1st person We are waiting.
Plural
3rd person They are waiting.
2. The Ing Ending
The Ing Ending sometimes causes the base form to change:
a. If the verb ends in 2 consonants, there is no change:
walk walking
brush brushing
b. If the verb ends in one consonant after a long vowel, there is no
change:
eat eating
blow blowing
c. If the verb ends in one consonant after a short vowel, the consonant
is doubled:
put putting
swim swimming
. . . but k is not doubled:
look looking
cook
cooking
d. If the verb ends in e, the e is dropped:
Live living
ride riding
e. if the verb ends in ie, it changes to y:
die- dying
lie lying
3. Interrogative and Negative
Interrogati
Affirmative
Negative
ve
I am
Am i?
I am
He/she is
He/she is
......
......
. . . . . . not
waiting
waiting?
waiting
We
Is/he/she
We
You are
You are

They

They

SIMPLE PRESENT AND PRESENT PROGRESSIVE

The choice often depends on the point of view of the speaker,
depending on how he sees the events/actions or on how he wishes to see
them.
The present progressive extends out more. The speakers view of how
far the actions extend back into the past or forward into the future
determines his personal choice.
Future
Time Mode Past Time
Present Time
Time
(Now)
I am eating my lunch
(These
Peter is reading a novel by
days)
Tolstoy.
(Habitual)
Mr. corpus works for a big
American company.
(Timeless)
Water boils at 100C at sea
level.
Exercise 7
Use either the present continuous (progressive) or simple present.
Example: On Monday, Jill (visit) is visiting Aunt Susan.
She (visit) visits her once a month.
1. On August 15, Dr. Lopez (drive) _______ to Tagaytay. He (go) ______
there twice a month.
2. Carmine and Bill sometimes (wash) _______ the car at the weekend.
They (wash) _______ it next weekend.
3. On Saturday, Steve (play) _______ card with Gerard and Jericho. They
often (invite) _______ him on Saturdays.
4. The students (do) _______ an English test once a week. Now they (do)
_______ the test.
5. Leon (wait) _______ the School Bus every day.
Exercise 8
Complete the following according to the information given in the table.
Subject
Normal Job
Today
Mr. Lontoc
look after the building
Paint windows
Mrs. Cruz and Mrs.
clean the offices
wash curtains
Castro
Mang Andoy
drive the van
repair the directors car
Miss Evangelista
answer the phone
have a holiday
Miss Concha
make the coffee
answer the telephone
Mr. Lim and Mr. Diaz
do the gardening
buy plants

1. What _______ Mr. Lontoc _______ at present?

He _______the windows.
2. _______ Miss Concha _______ the coffee?
Yes, she _______.

3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Miss Evangelista ______the telephone today.

_______ Mrs. Cruz and Mrs. Castro _______ the office at the moment?
Mrs. Concha _______ the coffee today.
What _______Miss Evangelista _______ today?
Is _______ Mr. Lontoc _______ the windows?
Only once a year. He _______ them today.
8. What _______Mr. Lim and Mr. Diaz _______ usually?
9. What _______Miss Concha _______ today?
10.
Mang Andoy usually _______ the van; he _______not usually the
director car.
Stative Verbs
Stative verbs are used to describe or state relationships or perceptions
without specifying the beginning or the end. When used STATIVELY, these
verbs only occur in the Simple Present or Simple Past (never the Present
Continuous).
Mental States
Relationships
Perceptions
Believed
detest
belong to
bear
know
dislike
contain
see
recognize
hate
cost
smell
think
like
deserve
taste
understan
love
have
feel
d
prefer
owe
forgive
mean
own
remember
want
possess
wish
seem
sound
The following verbs can be used statively and not statively.
think
feel
smell
taste
see
imagine
recall
Exercise 9
Complete this postcard using the correct verbs in the parentheses.
Greetings from Wales! Ben and I (do)__1.__something different this
year. Were at the North Wales Activity Centre. People (come) __2.__here
every summer to learn more about their hobbies and interests.
I (learn) __3.__photography and tennis this week and Ben (get) __4.__
about computers. We (get) __5.__at half past eight every morning and (do)
__6.__ lessons from ten to half past twelve. We (have) __7.__ lunch at one,
and then there are more lessons. So its hard work. But I (like) __8.__ it here.
We (have) __9.__ a super time. Its past seven in the evening now, and we
(sit) __10.__ in front of the Centre. The weather is good. See you soon.
Love,
Kathy

THE SIMPLE PAST

1. Janette works in Canada now, but two years ago, she worked in the
United States.
2. The Jordans live in Indiana now, but they lived in Atlanta until 1990.
3. On the way to Baguio, we usually stop in Balibago, Angeles City but last
night we stopped in Tarlac, Tarlac.

4. They usually carry their baggage upstairs, but today the bell boys carried
their baggage.
1. Affirmative
The first example shows the first way of spelling the past form of
the verb ed is added to the present form of regular verbs.
talk talked
painted
added
listed
cook cooked
kissed
fixed
fastened
In sentence no. 2, the verb ends in mute.
arrive arrived save saved
escape escaped
If the verb ends in a consonant, after a simple accented vowel,
the consonant is doubled as in sentence 3.
stopped
shopped
dropped
fitted
permitted
trapped
robbed
The last example shows that in the verbs that end in consonant
-y, the y is change to i.
carry carried
multiply multiplied
marry married
hurry hurried
2. Interrogative and negative of Regular or Irregular Verbs
Interrogativ
Short
Verb
Affirmative
Negative
e
Answer
watch
He watched.
He did not
Did he
Yes, he did
watch.
watch?
buy
He bought.
He did not
Did he buy?
Yes, he did.
buy
3. The Simple Past Of Irregular Verbs
Group 1 The Simple Past with the final tor ed sound, the vowel
sound before the final consonant does not change.
Base Form Simple
Base Form Simple
Base Form Simple
Past
Past
Past
build built
bend bent
burn burnt or burned
send sent
has/have had
learn learnt or learned
lend lent
make - made
smell smelt or smelled
spend - spent
Group 2 In the Simple Past form with a final t or d sound, the vowel
there is no change in the vowel sound before.
Base Form Simple Past
Base Form Simple Past
feel felt
bring brought
sell sold
keep kept
buy bought
tell told
leave left
catch caught
hear heard
mean meant
teach taught
say said
sleep slept
think thought
lose lost
Group 3 The Simple Past form is the same as the base form of the
verb.
Base Form Simple Past
Base Form Simple Past

cost cost
put put
cut cut
shut shut
hit hit
set set
let let
spread - spread
Group 4 The Simple Past form has the same final consonant sound
as the base form, but the vowel before the consonant changes.
Base
Form

Simple
Past

hold held
meet met
read read
lead led

Base
Form

Simple
Past

dig dug
win won
find found

Base
Form

Simple
Past

sit sat
light lit
get got
shine shone

Base
Form

Simple
Past

fight fought
stand stood
understand
understood

Group 5 Same as Group 4 (the difference between the groups

appears in the past participle).
Base Form
Simple Past
Past Participle
break
broke
broken
choose
chose
chosen
speak
spoke
spoken
steal
stole
stolen
wake
woke
waken
give
gave
given
see
saw
seen
eat
ate
eaten
grow
grew
grown
know
knew
known
throw
threw
thrown
draw
drew
drawn
fly
flew
flown
drive
drove
driven
ride
rode
ridden
rise
rose
risen
write
wrote
written
forget
forgot
forgotten
hide
hid
hidden
bite
bit
bitten
take
took
taken
shake
shook
shaken
fall
fell
fallen
wear
wore
worn
Group 6 Same as Group 4 (the difference between the groups
appear in the pat participle.
Base Form
Simple Past
Past Participle
drink
drank
drunk

shrink
shrank
shrunk
sink
sank
sunk
ring
rang
rung
sing
sing
sung
begin
begin
begun
swim
swam
swum
come
came
come
become
became
become
run
run
run
Group 7 Very irregular
Base Form
Simple Past
Past Participle
do
did
done
go
went
gone
be
was/were
been
EXERCISE 10
Complete the following with the past form of the verb from the box
(affirmative).
drive
chose

throw
break
swim
run
begin
hold
ride
win

1. In 1976, a Hungarian athlete _______ a javelin 94.58 meters.

2.3. In 1980, the International Olympic Games committee _______ a
meeting to decide the site of the 1988 Olympic Games. The
committee _______ Seoul, Korea.
4. The modern Olympic Games _______ in 1996.
5. At the Montreal Olympics, Alberto Guantorena _______ 400 meters in
44 seconds.
6. He _______ both the 400 meters and the 800 meters finals.
7. In 1970, Gary Gabbelich _______ a jet car at 1,046 km/hr. in Utah.
8. Robert Beamon _______ the old world record for the long jump in
1968. He jumped 8.90 meters.
9. In the 1972 Olympics, the American swimmer Mark Spitz ______100
meters in 51 seconds.
10.
Princess Anne _______ a horse in the Montreal Olympic Games.
shut

hear

teach

hit

bring

11.
In the 16th century, the Spanish _______ tons of gold from America
to Europe.
12.
At the Battle of Hastings in 1066, an arrow _______ Harold, the
English King, in the eye.
13.
The volcano in Krakatau erupted on Aug. 27, 1883; people
_______ the noise hundreds of miles away.
14.
Kublai Khan _______ Marco Polo to speak Mongolian.
15.
In medieval towns, the citizens _______ the city gates every night.

mean

tell
feel
sleep

cut

16.
According to the famous story, Rip Van Winkle _______ for 100
years.
17.
When he arrived in Mexico in 1519, Cotes _______ his men to burn
their boats.
18.
Alexander the Great _______ the Gordian knot with his sword.
19.
King Henry II _______ very unhappy after the murder of Thomas
Becket in Canterbury Cathedral.
20.
When the emperor turned his thumb down in the Roman
coliseum, it _______ death to the gladiator!
EXERCISE 11
Find the correct action for each person. Use the simple past form.
People

Actions

Copernicus
going to moon
Shakespeare
inventing the electric light
Picasso
making clothes
Billie-Jean King
painting pictures
Neil Armstrong
playing tennis
Marco Polo
sailing to America
Martin Luther King
studying the planets
Christian Dior
traveling to China
Columbus
working for black people rights
Edison
writing plays.
EXERCISE 12
Search and encircle all irregular verbs which are in base form, in past
form and in past participle form and list them down in the table below.

D O R

D R

A M T

U O

R O

H K N

B M E

O V O R H V

D A

O K

R D K

E W X

A W L

D M A

S D

T W W O R H

O N

U O R W A

C
S

N A

M N V

O U

G O N
T

W H
T

E M C

X G G

Y O W

O R

G O

T O

H O U G H

T O

B O

H V N N O U

E W K

Z M X

H R

R H U V

A N K

O U D

T O

S W

N D

O W D

G V

E M E

W O

H O K

V M P

E W

N O R

N A

W E

D A D D N

O R

Verbs in
Base Form

E M R U D

E M A N N

Y W

Verbs in
Past Form

N D

T
Y

Verbs in
Past Participle Form

PAST PROGRESSIVE (CONTINUOUS)

Form of Past Progressive: be + verb in ing
Affirmative
I
He, she

was

We
You
They

wer
e

thinkin
g.

Interrogative
Was

I
He

Wer
e

We
You
They

waiting?

Negative
I
It
We
You
They

was not
working.

waiting?
thinkin
were not
g.
working.
1) If an action was going on for some time (ex: We were watching the news)
and new, shorter action happened (ex: telephone rang), use the past
progressive (continuous) for the longer action.

2) The Past Progressive is also used to describe a scene, especially when

telling a story.
Example: it was a lovely morning. The sun was shining, and the birds were
singing in the trees.
3) For two longer actions happening at the same time, use the past
progressive.
Example: While everyone was talking and laughing, mother was crying
quietly in the kitchen downstairs.
EXERCISE 13
Underline the more probable alternatives.
1. When George was swimming in the sea, a shark (bit him, was biting
him).
2. Sheila (drove, was driving) along the road when suddenly a tire burst.
3. The telephone rang while we (were eating, ate).
4. Veronica knocked on the door and Frank (opened, was opening) it.
5. People were (watched, watching) the parade when suddenly someone
fired a shot.
EXERCISE 14
To complete the sentences, use once either the simple past or the
past progressive forms of the verbs given.
1. When the Vikings ______ to Eastern England, the people living there
______ to escape. (try, come)
2. William the Conqueror ______ the king of England when he ______the
Battle of Hastings in 1066. (become, win)
3. William Rufus, the next king of England, ______ deer when an arrow
______ him. (kill, hunt)
4. Henry VIII ______ his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, in 1509. At the time
the woman who was to be his fourth wife, Anne of Cleves ______ with
her dolls in Germany. (marry, play)
5. The Pope ______ Henry VIII when he ______ Catherine of Aragon.
(divorce, excommunicate)
6. When the sailors on the English ships first ______ the Spanish Armada,
Sir Francis Drake, the English admiral, ______ bowls. (play, see)
7. When the English people ______ the news of Drakes victory over the
Armada, they ______ big fires in celebration. (light, hear)
8. In the year 1600, Elizabeth I ______ the queen of England and William
Shakespeare ______ great plays for the English theater. (be, write)
9. When the soldiers ______ Guy Fawkes, he ______ to blow up the Houses
of Parliament in London. (prepare, catch)
10.
When Florence Nightingale, the famous nurse, ______ in the
Crimea, many soldiers ______ from war wounds and disease. (die,
arrive)

THE FUTURE TENSE

There are several ways to talk about the future:

1. He will leave tomorrow. this implies that the speaker/writer is sure

about the future event.
2. He may leave tomorrow. the speaker is even less sure about the
future event
3. He might leave tomorrow. the speaker is even less sure that the
event will happen
4. Shes going to leave tomorrow. already decided but open to change
5. Shes leaving tomorrow. already arranged but perhaps open to
change
6. She leaves tomorrow. already arranged and not really open to change
7. Shes to leave tomorrow. already arranged probably not by the
subject
8. Its going to rain. there is evidence already that this will happen
9. The taxi is arriving soon. already arranged but perhaps to unexpected
change
10.
The train leaves at 2:15 already arranged and part of regular
timetable, so not open to change.
Time Expressions (Adjuncts)
With Future Tense

sometimes
sooner or later
in the future
one of these days
someday
sometime

vague time
reference

tomorrow
tomorrow
night/morning/afternoon
the day after tomorrow
this time tomorrow
next day/week/month/year
next summer/winter, etc.
Wednesday next
on Monday next
the week after next, etc.

EXERCISE 15
Complete the following using will or going to as appropriate.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

Perhaps the manager _______ visit the factory if he has time.

Look at those clouds; there _______ be a storm.
I dont feel at all well; I think I _______ faint.
She borrowed the money because she _______ buy a new car next
week.
Those cars _______ crash!
If you wait a moment, I _______ give you a lift.
I cant come to your party on Sunday because I _______ get married.
Congratulations! I hope you _______ be very happy.
The boys say that they _______ not _______ to water the garden because
they dont have a hose.

10.

Where _______ we _______ to hang this new picture.

EXERCISE 16
Most of the students in Fourth Year High School are going to leave
school soon. Read the information below and predict what theyre going to
do. Choose the correct phrase from the box below.
Example: Alex is interested in machines.
Alex is going to study engineering.
1. Neil wants to be out in the fresh air.
2. Michelle and Kevin are interested in computers.
3. Tom has already learned to drive.
4. Simon is good in numbers.
5. Nick and Julie need to take their exams again.
6. Adrians parents have their own company.
7. Vivian would like to work with people.
8. Ryan and Imee want to get away for a while.
become a taxi driver
study engineering
do electronics
take a course in
hitch-hike around the
banking
world
train to be a social
look for an outdoor job
worker
stay at school another year work for the family
business

THE PERFECT (COMPOUND) TENSES

Both warriors had fought many times in the past but have never fought as
furiously as this.
They slashed their way among the rice stalks. Pumbakhayon hurled back the
spear of Aliguyon. Aliguyonhad thrown his spear underhand, straight at
Pumbakhayon, who was alert and caught it. They hurled the spear back and
forth, as they had been fighting ferociously from dawn to noon. Their spear
flashed in the sun and now and then they shouted their war cries. The women
have been watching and cheering, and shouting. Both warriors fought with all
their might until darkness came. Then they ate and rested. They had fought
everyday for a year and a half. In fact, they shall have been fighting for a
year and a half before Alliguyons suit for Guban, sister of Pumbakhayon, is
accepted and a feast is held to celebrate the occasion. By that time, they
shall have forgotten their enmities and shall have laid down their spears to
live in peace with their brothers and sisters.

This is an account of the fight between Aliguyon and Pumbakhayon

with the verbs underlined. Notice the concept of time as expressed in the
verbs
Present Perfect
Past Perfect
Future Perfect
had forgot
shall have forgotten
have (never) fought
had thrown
shall have settled down
Present Perfect
Past Perfect
Future Perfect
Progressive
Progressive
Progressive
have been watching
had been fighting
shalll have been fighting
(have been) cheering

(have been) shouting

You have learned that tense refers to the verb forms or forms used to
express certain time expressions or the distinctive forms of verbs for the
distinction as to time. Tense also indicates the completeness of an action --weather it is or was still continuing (the continuous or progressive tense),
whether it took place within a time that began in the past but extends to and
includes the present (as in perfect tense), and so on. In the perfect tenses
our interest is not in the occurrence of an action, but in the result of an
action. In the sentence: Both warriors had fought many times in the past, but
they have never fought as furiously as this., the attention is not on the time
in the past when they fought, but on the fact that now this is the most
furious fight they had ever had.
It is important to remember the role of adverbial indicators of time,
single words like: just, never, ever, etc. and adverb clauses introduced by
connectives like: when, while, after, before, until, since, as, as soon as, by
the time, by then, etc.
The tense of the verb must indicate the appropriate time of action or
state of being described by the verb.
The Present Perfect Tense is made by using the present tense of the
helping verb to have and the past participle of the main verb.
It is used for the following:
1. For an action already concluded but the resulting state is still the present
as in: I have lost my bag; now I cannot study my lessons.
2. With activities just concluded. Just is often used.
Example: The school bell has just rung.
3. The duration of an action began in the past and continuing to the present.
Example: We have had English for the past eight years.
4. For indefinite past time as in: I have read that book.
The Past Perfect Tense is formed by using the past tense of the helping
verb to have and the past participle of the main verb. It is used to express an
action completed before a certain time in the past or before the occurrence
of another action in the past (action expressed in the simple past). The Past
Perfect Tense is used to express the earlier of two past actions as in: The
Filipinos had developed a culture of their own before the Spaniards came.
The Future Perfect Tense is formed by the future tense of the helping
verb to have and the past participle of the main verb. It is used to express an
action that will be completed before the occurrence of another future action.
It is also used to indicate the duration of an action up to a time in the future
as in: When we get promoted at the end of this year we shall have stayed in
high school for two years.
The Progressive form of the perfect tenses are formed by using the
Present, Past or Future Perfect Tenses of the helping verb to have + the past
participle of be (been) + -ing form of the main verb.
The Progressive tenses are used to express an action which at the
moment of speaking is incomplete and still continuing.

Certain verbs (verbs of the senses, e.g. see, hear, feel, taste, and
smell) are not generally used in the progressive forms. If they are, they have
special meanings.
Example: I see what you mean.
The Present Perfect Tense represents time that begins in the past and
extends to the present, either in actual fact or in the mind of the speaker. It
is used with expressions of time that express past to present time. Study the
chart that follows.
since or for
I have studied here for two years.
I have lived in this place since 1996.
so far, up to now, up to
We have had wholesome relationships with our
the present
friends so far (or up to now, up to the present).
frequency words --always, never, ever,
He has always lived in this place.
often, sometimes,
This is the best book I have ever read.
occasionally, etc.
Our neighbors have just arrived from a world
just, already, (neg. yet),
tour.
finally
I have not watched a movie recently.
recently, lately.
Note: If no past time expressions are used, either the past or the present
perfect tense is possible.
EXERCISE 17
Supply the correct forms of the Present Perfect Tense.
Example:
My friend Ana has just returned from a trip to Hong Kong.
She has already visited Singapore.
1. Our guest of honor (already
6. Some students though (never
speak) in a few programs of our
hear) him.
school.
7. Most of the students (de impress)
2. Our teacher (invite) him several
by his speeches.
times in the past.
8. Lately, however, they (become)
3. Almost all of us (already hear)
uninterested in what he (be say).
him.
9. Young people (always be) difficult
4. In fact he (recently be) here.
to please.
5. You (ever hear) him?
10. This sometimes (discourage)
the school from holding
convocations.
EXERCISE 18
The Present Perfect Progressive Tense is generally used for a single
action that extends from the past to the present. It is not used to express
repetition, and it does not occur with the words: just, already, ever, never,
finally.
Wherever possible, change the present perfect verbs to the
progressive forms.
Example:
a. He has gone to school of f and on (for) the past five years.
b. He has been going to school off and on (for) the past five years.

c. My friends have seen the movie Titanic several times. (no change
possible)
1. My mother has said the same thing for an hour.
2. The workers have worked on the road concreting project, but it is still not
finished.
3. The patient has not stayed in bed as the doctor ordered.
4. All day long, I have waited for the reference book to be available.
5. Father has worked for the same company for twenty years.
6. The soccer team has practiced since seven oclock this morning.
7. The building owners have finally paid the taxes they owed the city.
8. My classmate has not felt well lately.
9. The cost of living has risen steadily.
10. Ever since I heard the news, I have wondered about it.
EXERCISE 19
Use either the Present Perfect or the Present Perfect Progressive tense
of the given verbs.
1. The grade school children are in the gym. They (play) _______ ball for the
last two hours, but they dont seem to be tired.
2. My friend Sally (fly, not) _______ on a plane since last year when she was
on the plane that overshot the runway. Now, shes afraid to even think of
taking a plane.
3. How much longer until we are dismissed? Let me see. Its three oclock.
We (have) _______ English since 2:00 p.m.
4. Are the rescue teams still looking for survivors of the plane crash? Yes,
they (be) _______. They (search) _______ the area for hours, but they (have
not see) _______ Anaya survivors yet.
5. The club members (make finally) _______ their decision. The election is
over. They (choose) _______ their new president.
6. I am very happy. I finally got the thing I (wish) _______ for. Whats that? A
brand new bike!
7. Im surprised that Piolo apologized for what he said. As far as I can
remember, I (never hear) _______ say Im sorry before.
8. My father (make) _______ a trip to Asia. He (make) _______ several such
trips since he started his import-export business.
9. My cousin Ringo is an artist. He (draw) _______ many beautiful pictures at
his age. Since last month, he (draw) _______ lovely mountain scene that he
wants to give to his teacher on her birthday.
10. Overall, Ted (not do) _______ well in school. He needs to study harder.
EXERCISE 20
Use the Simple Past and the Past Perfect tense form of the verbs in the
list to complete the sentences. Include any word in parentheses. Use each
word in the list as many times as possible.
leave
see
sting
finish
be
go
invent
help
find
design
turn on
teach
1. By the time John arrived to help clean the room, we (already) _______
cleaning everything.

2. The apartment was hot when I got home, so I _______ the electric fan.
Mother (it earlier) _______ as she had to leave for work.
3. Bell (already) ________ the telephone when television _______ by Russian
American.
4. Yesterday, a wasp _______ me on my arm. That really hurt! You see, when I
put on my T-shirt after the game, I (not see) _______ that there was a wasp
in it.
5. My parents (not) _______ happy with the plan the architect made for our
house. It _______ obvious he _______ a home like what we wanted.
6. When I _______ that Chris was having trouble with her books, I _______ her.
She (very) _______ appreciative.
7. Lianne and Nina _______ to Disneyland when they went to Los Angeles last
summer. Before that, they (never) _______ to such a big amusement park.
8. I (never) _______ to Disneyland myself. The biggest I (to so far) _______ is
the Enchanted Kingdom.
9. Mr. Verde _______ experience teaching physics, but he (never) _______
mathematics until this semester. He _______ that he enjoys teaching
mathematics as well.
10. I went to Ferrys class to offer her a ride home, but when I got to her
class, she (already) _______.
EXERCISE 21
The future perfect tense is usually accompanied by a time expression
which signals at, by, or before which time a future event will be
completed.
Fill in the blanks with the Future Perfect Tense.
1. The full dress rehearsal started late. By the time its over, the audience
(begin) _______ to enter the theatre.
2. Our memories are short, by next year, we (forgot) _______ everything
we learned in our math class.
3. By the time young people become old, they (lose) _______ a lot of their
youthful ideals.
4. By then (realize) _______ how fast time flies and the past is gone
forever.
5. My grandparents migrated to United States a long time ago. By the
end of this year the (be gone) _______ for twenty years.
6. By the end of school year, our English (improve) _______ a lot.
7. Because of the heavy traffic, were going to be late for our fathers
plane. By the time we get there (land) _______.
8. B the end of the 21st century, scientists (discover) ________ the cure for
AIDS.
9. By the end of this school year, we (study) _______ English for eight
years.

10.
Do you think life will be very different fifty years from now? Of
course. I can imagine it. By then car manufacturers (develop) _______
air cars that can go at tremendous speeds.
EXERCISE 22
Complete the sentences in the passage by using the appropriate tense.
Observe consistency of tense. Write your answer on a numbered sheet of
paper.
More than 2 000 high school students from all over the Philippines
attended the Centennial Youth Leaders Program. Despite their youth, these
young leaders who (move) in a different milieu from those who (fight) in the
1898 revolution for independence, (be) aware of gender sensitivity.
The countrys leaders in the next millenium (think) Dr. Jose Rizals
Maria Clara (be) a role model for a bygone era. In her stead, they (choose)
Salome in El Filibusterismo and Sisa in Noli Me Tangere as better role models
for todays women.
Maria Clara (acquiesce) too much to the men around her and to the
situations before her. The Filipino woman (be) no longer the reserved type.
She (know) what she (want) and (know) how to get it, whether for herself or
for her country.
Salome (be) true to herself and just (go) about doing what she (want)
to do. Sisa, the selfless mother of the brothers Crispin and Basilio, (be)
another option for Filipino women to emulate. When she (learn) that one of
her sons (kill) by the Spaniards, she (become) crazy, however, the strength
she (show) in putting up with an abusive husband and the love she (shower)
her sons with, and the dreams she (dream) for them, are truly inspiring to
todays women.
Every generation (come) up with its own unique way of looking at their
heroes or role models. Maria Clara (be) an inspiration to her generation. Her
silence and acquiescence (protect) some people close to her before finally
(enter) the convent. Some young people would instead (look) up to those
who (prepare) the food for the Katipuneros and those who (take) care of the
wounded.
Role models are important to the young people so that they can
pattern their lives after them.
By the time these young people (become) the countrys leaders, we
(know) that they (know) how to choose their role models. The country
(indeed be) in good hands.
EXERCISE 23
Choose the correct answers. Write the letters only.
1. My family has been in this city for a long time. We ____ ten years ago.
a. have come
b. were coming
c. came
d. had came
2. Do you think Father will want something to eat after he gets here? I
hope not. It will probably be after midnight, and we ____.
a. are in bed
b. shall have gone to bed

c. will go to bed
d. are going to be sleeping
3. Is it true that spaghetti didnt originate in Italy? Yes, the Chinese ____
spaghetti dishes for a long time before Marco Polo brought it back to
Italy.
a. have been making
b. had been making
c. have made
d. made
4. I once saw a snake that had wings. The snake flew into the air to catch
birds. Stop kidding. I ____ you!
a. dont believe
b. didnt believe
c. am not believing
d. was not believing
5. I know you feel bad now, Diane, but try to put it out of your mind. By the
time youre an adult, you ____ all about it.
a. forget
b. will be forgetting
c. forgot
d. will have forgotten
6. Its against the law to kill Philippine tarsier monkey. It ____ extinct.
a. became
b. has become
c. becomes
d. is becoming
7. At present there are satellites that beam down information about the
earths atmosphere. In the last two decades, space exploration ____ great
contributions to weather forecasting.
a. is making
b. made
c. has made
d. makes
8. The LRT is rebuilding its dilapidated terminals, transforming them into
pleasant outdoor malls. Next summer when visitors arrive, they ____ 100
shops and restaurants in the area.
a. will found
b. will have found
c. will be finding
d. will find
9. My little sister started to cry. She ____ her doll and no one was helping find
it for her.
a. had lost
b. has lost
c. was losing
d. lost
10. Francines eyes burned and her back ached. She ____ at the computer
for five straight hours.

a. is sitting
b. was sitting
c. had been sitting
d. has been sitting
11. Our year-level basketball team ____ a championship until last season,
when the new coach led them to take first place in the intramurals.
a. has never won
b. had never been winning
c. is never winning
d. had never won
12. Hello. Nancy? This is Jim. How are you? Jim? What a coincidence!
____ about you when the phone rang.
a. was just thinking
b. have just been thinking
c. just thought
d. was just thought