verb, verb+s (for he,she,it).
Example: He writes a letter today.
Example: I go to school every day.
Example: The bus leaves in an hour.
Narrative Example: He steps through the open portal, and he finds himself in another dimension.
Scientific Writing Example: Many creatures in the natural world, such as frogs, still experience
the stages of evolution.
Literary Analysis Example: I am proud of Harper Lee for using her skilled voice as a writer to
speak out against racial injustice.
verb + ed
Example: I wrote a letter yesterday.
Example: As a girl, she wondered how her college degree would help her career.
Narrative Example: The charred wallpaper peeling mournfully from the walls indicated that a
fire had broken out sometime overnight.
Literary Essay Example: Inspired by her own childhood, Harper Lee crafted Jean Louise “Scout”
Finch in close resemblance to herself.
Research Paper Example: When Disney World first opened in 1971, tickets were only $3.50.
will + verb
Example: I will write a letter tomorrow.
Example: The prices will go up.
Example: Later today I will rinse the dishes.
Narrative Example: He has no idea that his decision will lead to his tragic downfall.
Simple Tense
Present Simple - indicates that an action is taking place at the time you express it, or an action that
occurs regularly. (facts, current actions)
Past Simple - indicates that an action is completed and has already taken place. (historical events)
Future Simple - indicates that an action will or is likely to take place.
Present: I learn
Past: I learned
Future: I will learn
APSU Writing Center
Verb Tenses - Simple Tense
past participle - defined as a word that can be used as an adjective to form perfect verb tenses.
Irregular verbs ending in (-en, -n, -ne, -t). Regular verbs ending in (-ed). examples: excited, left.
have/has + past participle
Example: We have worked here since eleven.
Example: We have worn Austin Peay shirts
Example: Tarrah has already read the handout.
had + past participle
Example: Sasha had written several observation reports by the time they were accepted to
graduate school.
Example: By 1995, Doctor Harvey had built the first artificial brain.
will + have + past participle
Example: Etenia will have written their dissertation before the school year ends.
Example: By Wednesday, the owner will have apologized for their mistakes.
Perfect Tense
Present Perfect - indicates that an action is taking place at the time you express it, or an action that
occurs regularly.
Past Perfect - indicates an action occurring before a certain time in the past.
Future Perfect - indicates that an action will be finished by a certain time
Present Perfect: I have learned
Past Perfect: I had learned
Future Perfect: I will have learned
APSU Writing Center
Verb Tenses - Perfect Tense
am/is/are + verb+ing
Example: They are running around the campus tomorrow.
Example: I am working in the writing center this week.
was/were + verb+ing
Example: I was playing chess when the phone rang.
Example: The fans cheered to Harry Styles while he was running on stage.
Example: We were planning this event for many weeks.
will + be +verb+ing
Example: Jordan will be writing his newsletter over the summer.
Example: The professor will be monitoring the class during the exam.
Progressive Tense - indicates that events are in progress at a particular time.
Present Progressive - indicates that something is happening at the time you express it.
Past Progressive - indicates two kinds of past action
Future Progressive - indicates a continuing in the future.
Present Progressive: I am learning
Past Progressive: I was learning
Future Progressive: I will be learning
APSU Writing Center
Verb Tenses - Progressive or Continuous Tense
have/has + been + verb+ing
Example: I have been waiting for almost two hours.
Example: The teacher has been grading since yesterday afternoon
had + been +verb+ing
Example: Ashley had been writing for a year before her article was published.
Example: Before her promotion, Nico had been working on restoring open space on campus.
will + have + been +verb+ing
Example: On Tuesday I will have been working on this paper for five days.
Example: Josh will have been writing for thirty minutes by the time we have to go to the store.
Perfect Progressive Tense
Present Perfect Progressive - Indicates action continuing from the past into the present and possibly
into the future.
Past Perfect Progressive - Indicates that a past action went on until another occurred.
Future Perfect Progressive - Indicates that an action will continue until a certain future time.
Present Perfect Progressive: I have been learning
Past Perfect Progressive: I had been learning
Future Perfect Progressive: I will have been learning
APSU Writing Center
Verb Tenses - Perfect Progressive Tense
Tense
Meaning
Present Simple
verb
verb + s (for, he, she,it)
a fact that is true now
a recurring event (happening usually)
state or condition
a planner future action (with a future time word), scheduled
events
Past Simple
verb + ed
the past verb form for irregular
verbs
a completed action or state in the past
an activity that took place regularly in the past
Future Simple
will + verb
a prediction about a future event
a decision at the time of speaking (unplanned)
Present Progressive
am/is/are + verb+ing
an action happening now
an action happening this (week, month, etc.)
a future action (with a future time word)
Past Progressive
was/were + verb+ing
an action in the past that was interrupted in the past by another
action
a repeated past action (activity taking place a long tine ago)
Future Progressive
will + be + verb+ing
an action that will be in progress at a particular time in the
future
APSU Writing Center
Verb Tenses
The following table is from the George Mason University Writing Center and shows a quick
guide on verb tenses. It adapted from Folse, K. S. (2009). Keys to teaching grammar to English
language learners: A practical handbook. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press.
Tense
Meaning
Present Perfect Progressive
have/has + been + verb+ing
an action that began in the past, has continued in the present,
and may continue in the future
an action that began in the past and has recently ended
Past Perfect Progressive
had + been + verb+ing
an action that occurred before another action in the past
Future Perfect Progressive
will + have + been + verb+ing
a long action that is taking place in relation to another future
event
Present Perfect
have/has + past participle
an action that occurred "before now," at some unspecified
time in the past
a recent action that is important to the current situation or
conversation
an action that began in the past but continues in the present
activities that were repeated several or many times in the past
Past Perfect
had + past participle
an action that occurred before another time or another action
in the past
Future Perfect
will + have + past participle
a future action that will happen before a particular time or
action in the future
APSU Writing Center
Verb Tenses
The following table is from the George Mason University Writing Center and shows a quick
guide on verb tenses. It adapted from Folse, K. S. (2009). Keys to teaching grammar to English
language learners: A practical handbook. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press.
References
Folse, K. S. (2009). Keys to teaching grammar to English language learners: A practical
handbook. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press.
Ryan, E. (2023, March 14). What is a past participle? | Definitions and examples. Scribbr.
https://www.scribbr.com/verbs/past-participles/
Skyline College Writing Center (n.d.) Verb Tenses. Skyline College Writing Center. Retrieved from
https://skylinecollege.edu/learningcenter/assets/documents/grammarguides/ReaderVerbTenses.pdf
APSU Writing Center
Verb Tenses
