UNIVERSIDAD METROPOLITANA VICERRECTORÍA ASOCIADA DE DESARROLLO Y RETENCIÓN
Programa de Tutorías
Verb Tenses
Definitions • The tense is the time of action. It could be in present, past, future, present progressive and past progressive. • The verb “to be” is an irregular verb. It varies according to time, person, and number. – Ex: am, is, are, was, were. Present Tense Am Is Are
Past Tense Was Was Were
Future Tense Will be Will be Will be
Conjugation • All these forms that are illustrated in the table below is called “conjugation of the verb BE”.
Person Pronouns Present Tense Past Tense First I Am Was Second We, They, You Are Were Third He, She, It Is Was
PRESENT TENSE • Action takes place now or in present time. Person
Singular Plural
Person Plural Verb Be
First
I
Am
First
We
are
Second
You
Are
Second
You
are
Third
He/she/It
is
Third
They
are
Singular: The doll is antique.
Plural: The dolls are antique.
Examples of Present Tense: Singular
Plural
1. I am a tutor at UMET.
1. We are part of the group.
2. You are the best boss.
2.You are a good teacher.
3. She is my friend from Chile. 3. They are very sad. 4. He is a great person. 5. It is a perfect day.
PAST TENSE • Actions or activities that began and ended in the past.
Person
Singular
First
I
Second
Third
Person
Plural
was
First
We
were
You
were
Second
You
were
He/She/It
was
Third
They
were
Singular: The car was fast.
Verb BE
Verb BE
Plural: The cars were fast.
Examples of Past Tense: Singular
Plural
1. I was angry with you.
1. We were very happy.
2. You were an excellent athlete .
2.You were a great partner.
3. She was my father’s secretary.
3. They were at the beach.
4. He was a lawyer. 5. It was a rainy day.
FUTURE TENSE • Action will take place in the future. It is formed by using will + a main verb. Person
Singular
Verb BE + main verb
First
I
will walk
First
We
will sing
Second
You
will play
Second
You
will play
Third
He/She/It
will speak
Third
They
will get
Singular: He will help me later.
Person Plural
Verb BE + main verb
Plural: We will talk to you soon.
Examples of Future Tense: Singular
Plural
1. I will play the piano some day.
1. We will go to the store.
2. You will take the test on July .
2. You will agree with this.
3. She will see a movie with me.
3. They will talk at the meeting.
4. He will graduate in May. 5. It will get dirty very soon.
PRESENT PROGRESSIVE TENSE • Actions or situations in progress at the moment of speaking. It is formed by (am, is, are) + (verb ‘being’). Person
Singular
Verb Be + being
First
I
am being
First
We
are being
You
are being
Second
You
are being
is being
Third
They
are being
Second Third
He/She/It
Singular: Leroy is being polite.
Person Plural
Verb Be + being
Plural: They are being respectful.
Examples of Present Progressive: Singular
Plural
1. I am being selfish.
1. We are being friends.
2. You are being a good doctor.
2. You are being too proud.
3. She is being a great daughter. 3. They are being patient. 4. He is being my tutor.
5. It is being really nice.
PAST PROGRESSIVE TENSE •
Describes actions or activities that happened in the past over a period of time or an action in the past that was interrupted. It is formed by the past tense of the verb ‘be’ (was/were) + (being).
Person
Singular
(was, were) + (being)
First
I
was being
First
We
were being
Second
You
were being
Second
You
were being
Third
He/ She/ It
was being
Third
They
were being
Singular: The horse was being aggressive.
Person Plural
(was, were) + (being)
Plural: They were being wild.
Examples of Past Progressive: Singular
Plural
1. I was being attacked.
1. We were being brave.
2. You were being kind.
2. You were being terrible.
3. She was being clumsy.
3. They were being good kids.
4. He was being awkward. 5. It is being difficult.
Reference: • Verb Tenses. (n.d.). Retrieved from Englishpage.com: https://www.englishpage.com/
Prepared by: • Cristabel R. Ocasio Ilarraza • Nirazatte L. González Abella