UnderstandingVerb Tense

Grammar, Usage and Mechanics

Present Past FutureI speak I spoke I will speak

Present Perfect Past Perfect Future Perfect a past event with an action in the past that an action that will be finished present consequences finished before another before some point in the future action in the past started or last into the future

I have spoken I had spoken I will have spoken

Progressive Form the continuing action of each tense; consists of a form of the verb be plus the present participle (-ing) of a verb

I am speaking I was speaking I will be speakingI have been speaking I had been speaking I will have been

speaking

Present Perfect Past Perfect Future Perfect a past event with an action in the past that an action that will be finished present consequences finished before another before some point in the future action in the past started or last into the future

“have” “has” or “had” “will have”

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Progressive Form the continuing action of each tense; consists of a form of the verb be plus the present participle (-ing) of a verb (am, is, are, was, were, be, being, been)

Present Progressive Past Progressive Future Progressive“am” or “are” + ing “was” or “were” + ing “will be” + ing

Present Perfect Progressive Past Perfect Progressive Future Perfect Progressive“have been” + ing “had been” + ing “will have been” + ing