Verb Tense

While you don’t need to know the names of verb tenses for the SAT, you do need to know
when and how to properly use different verb tenses.

Present

Function

The present tense is the verb tense you use when for discussing things that are currently
happening or for statements of fact. Examples of verbs in the present tense are "runs,"
"plays," and "talk."

Also, the present progressive is considered a form of the present tense. The present
progressive is formed with the present tense of “to be” + the gerund (“ing”) form of the word.
Examples of present progressive verbs are "am talking," "is explaining," and "are jumping."

Typically, words like “currently” and “now” indicate that you should use the present tense of
a verb. Here's an example sentence for you:

Currently, I am writing this amazing article.

Construction

Let's conjugate a verb in the present tense. This is the conjugation of the verb "walk".

Singular Plural
I walk We walk
You walk You walk
He/She/It Walks They walk
Simple Past

Function

Generally, any sentence that describes a completed action should contain a verb in the past
tense.

Construction

Typically the simple past tense of a verb is formed by adding “ed” to the verb. The past tense
of “destroy” is “destroyed”. The past tense of “talk” is “talked” and the past tense of
“explain” is “explained.”

Example

Yesterday, George watched seven hours of Netflix.

Many verbs are irregular and do not follow this construction. For example, "buy" becomes
"bought" in the past tense, "come" becomes "came," and "grow" becomes "grew." However,
the SAT will not specifically test you on irregular verbs.

Present Perfect

Function

Use the present perfect tense for actions that began in the past but are still continuing in
the present.

Construction

The present perfect is formed with has/have + the past participle. For regular verbs, the past
participle is formed by adding "ed" to the verb. Examples of present perfect verbs include
"has talked", "have done", and "has brought".

Example

For the past seven hours, George has watched Netflix.

As in this example, the words “for” and “since” often indicate that the present perfect tense
is needed. Be aware, however, that there are other instances when context determines that you
should use the present perfect tense.

Past Perfect

Function

When a sentence describes two completed actions, the past perfect is used for the action
that came first.

Construction

The past perfect tense is formed with had + the past participle. Examples of past perfect verbs
include "had talked," "had danced," and "had grown."

Look at this sentence that correctly uses the past perfect tense:

By the time his mom came home from work, George had watched seven hours of Netflix.

The seven hours of watching were completed before George's mom came home, so we use
the past perfect for the verb "to watch." The action that comes first should be in the past
perfect tense.

Conditional

Function

The conditional tense is used to describe things that could occur or things that haven't yet
occurred from the perspective of the past.

Construction

The conditional tense is formed with "would" + the verb. Examples of verbs in the
conditional tense are "would talk," "would sing," and "would write."
Future

Function

The future tense is used to describe things that have not yet occurred or could occur in the
future.

Construction

The future tense is formed with "will" + the verb. Examples of verbs in the future tense are
"will talk," "will sing," and "will write."

Gerunds and Infinitives

Gerund and Infinitive Function

Both gerunds and infinitives are verbs that act like nouns. While gerunds and infinitives can
often be used interchangeably, certain idiomatic expressions require you to use one or the
other.

Gerund Construction

Gerunds are formed by adding "ing" to a verb. Examples of gerunds include "running,"
"jumping," and "singing."

Infinitive Construction

Infinitives are formed by adding "to" + the verb. Examples of infinitives include "to play," "to
run," and "to jump."
Consistency

Most of the verb questions in the SAT Writing section have to do with consistency. The basic
consistency rule regarding verbs is that verbs should remain consistent in tense or form
throughout a sentence. Sentences that start in the past should stay in the past and sentences
that start in the present should stay in the present. Check out this incorrect sentence that does
not follow the consistency rule:

Jerome attends study hall and played the violin.

The verb "attends" is in the present tense and "played" is in the past. The verb tenses should
be consistent. Here is a correct version of the sentence:

Jerome attends study hall and plays the violin.

We could have corrected the sentence by changing "attends" to "attended". The important
thing to remember is that the verb tenses should be consistent.

Sometimes, however, you can have a shift in tense and the sentence can still be correct. This
kind of construction is only possible if the verbs are in different clauses. Take a look at these
examples:

Jeremiah bought a Lexus and impresses his peers.

Jeremiah bought a Lexus because he wants to impress his peers.

The first sentence is incorrect since "bought" and "impresses" are in different tenses but the
same clause.

The second sentence, on the other hand, is correct. The tense shift takes place in a different
clause and the two verbs are occurring at different times: Jeremiah bought the car in the past,
but he still wants to impress people in the present.

Strategy

If a verb is underlined in either the sentence improvement or identify the error subsection,
make sure the verb follows consistency rules. If there are multiple verbs in the sentence,
identify the tenses to make sure they're consistent.

If there's a shift from past to present or vice versa, determine if the variation is acceptable
given the context of the sentence.
Questions
1. While __________ at the hotel eating lunch, I will be at the gym for my daily
workout.

A. you were
B. you are
C. you were being
D. you have been

2. It's a bad _________an international airport without having your passport ready!

A. idea to go to
B. idea going to
C. idea will go to
D. idea went to

3. When your grandfather came to America two generations __________small factory in

New York.

A. ago, he runs a
B. ago, running a
C. ago, he will run a
D. ago, he ran a

4. This mountain began as a resort that __________famous international visitors to its

spa and hotel.

A.will attract
B. attracts
C. is attracting
D. once attracted

5. This wolf has not only learned to howl on cue, but also _________over fences.

A. will jump
B. jumping
C. has jumped
D. to jump
 6. __________ through the grass as we hiked up the hills of the wild island.

A. Lizards rustled
B. Lizards rustling
C. Lizards are rustling
D. Lizards will rustle

7. Someday ___________ North Pole to be like our favorite adventurers of olden days.

A. we went to the
B. we will go to the
C. we had gone to the
D. we have gone the

8. Having a computer __________to view more free entertainment than even a king and
queen of a hundred years ago.

A. allowed you
B. allows you
C. allowing you
D. is allowing you

9. Since I've studied hard for medical school for years, I ______________a doctor.

A. believed I would become

B. believed I will become
C. believe I can become
D. would become

10. The oceans ___________ their ancient levels to their present-day levels because of
powerful natural forces.

A. will have rose from

B. will be rising
C. rose from
D. will rise