Simple Tenses

Tense means time. Verbs tell us not only what action is occurring but also when it is occurring. The form of a verb, or the verb tense, changes in order to show when the action takes place. The three simple tenses are present, past, and future.

Present Tense

One of the simple tenses, the present tense, refers to action that is happening now. We add an s when the subject is singular, except when the pronoun is I or you.

When a verb ends in s, x, z, ch, or sh, we add es when the subject is singular.

When a verb ends in a consonant and a y, we change the y to i and add es for the singular form.

Past Tense

Another of the simple tenses, the past tense, shows action that has already occurred. To form the past tense of regular verbs, we add ed.

talk—talked
bark—barked

When a one-syllable verb ends in a single consonant, we double the consonant and add ed.

chip—chipped
bat—batted

When a verb ends in e, we drop the e and add ed.

rake—raked
live—lived

When the verb ends in y, we change the y to i and add ed.

try—tried
supply—supplied

Errors to Avoid

Do not use the present tense form for the past tense.

• NO: Yesterday, Ben calls me twice.
• YES: Yesterday, Ben called me twice.

Do not shift from past to present in the same phrase.

• NO: She looked everywhere but discovers nothing. 
• YES: She looked everywhere but discovered nothing.

Examples 1

Show your understanding of simple tenses by choosing the correct form of the verb to complete each sentence.

1. Daniel washed the dishes and (mops, mopped) the floor.
2. A while ago, I (slip, slipped) on the icy walkway.
3. Last night, the puppy (barks, barked) for several hours.

Solutions

1. Daniel washed the dishes and mopped the floor.
2. A while ago, I slipped on the icy walkway.
3. Last night, the puppy barked for several hours.

Future Tense

Another of the simple tenses, the future tense, refers to action that has not yet occurred. The future tense is usually formed with the helping verbs shall or will. With the pronouns I and we, the use of shall is preferable in formal writing.

Examples 2

Complete the future tense verb form by replacing each blank with will or shall, as you would do in formal writing.

1. Anthony ____________ play the tuba in the next parade.
2. Shalene and I ____________ march with the band.
3. It ____________ snow tomorrow.

Solutions

1. Anthony will play the tuba in the next parade.
2. Shalene and I shall march with the band.
3. It will snow tomorrow.

In informal writing, the helping verb shall is sometimes used with pronouns other than I and we in order to show strong emotion or to imply a threat or command.

• You shall visit the doctor today.
• He shall pay back every cent!

Errors to Avoid

Do not use the present for the future tense.

• NO: Tomorrow I rake the leaves. 
• YES: Tomorrow I shall rake the leaves.

Examples 3

Here we review the three simple tenses. Identify the following underlined verbs as present, past or future tense.

1. Utah borders Idaho.
2. Grandma will bake pies for Thanksgiving.
3. Ben laughed.

Solutions

1. present
2. future
3. past

Examples 4

Write the verb phrase in each sentence and label it present, past, or future tense.

1. Each House keeps record of its day-to-day activities in the Congressional Record.
2. Last year, neither House adjourned for more than three days.
3. Will you investigate the privileges of Congress members?

Solutions

1. keeps—present tense
2. adjourned—past tense
3. Will investigate—future tense

Examples 5

Write the correct form of the verb.

1. The orchestra (future of perform) tonight.
2. Babies often (present of fill) their mouths too full.
3. A miner (past of search) for gold.
4. My dog (present of bury) his bones.
5. The captain (past of watch) his crew.

Solutions

1. The orchestra will perform tonight.
2. Babies often fill their mouths too full.
3. A miner searched for gold.
4. My dog buries his bones.
5. The captain watched his crew.