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English Basics
Volume 2, Number 20, February 2, 1998
www.rhlschool.com
The Tense of a Verb, Part I
The tense of a verb is its time: past, present, or future.
Let's look at some examples of the simple aspect (form) of these tenses.
Past tense: I rode my bike to school.
Present tense: I ride my bike to school.
Future tense: I will ride my bike to school. (Sometimes "shall" is used instead of "will".
Indicate the tense of the highlighted verb in each sentence. Read carefully, because the helping verb won't be highlighted with the main future tense verb.
The first six verb tenses have been identified for you.
1.
xCarrie spilled the soup. ....past
2. xI run faster
than any turtle in the world. ....present
3. xYou will always remember
this lesson. ....future
4. xWe'll
invent a better mouse trap. ....future
5. xI am
the man you wanted to see. ....present
6. xJohn forgot
his password. ....past
7. xSandpaper makes
poor facial tissue.
8. xKevin and Travis
hauled the boat out of the water.
9. xWe love
your chocolate chip cookies!
10. I'll tell you a secret that you won't believe.
11. William knew that
the story was false.
12. Yes, we were here
yesterday.
13. I think you don't
know how to drive this bus.
14. I know who said, “I shall return!”
15. The geese will fly
north in the spring.
16. Why are you angry?
17. Fred found fifty
frogs floating in the fudge.
18. Ashley was the best
speaker at the meeting.
19. Never pour mustard
on my peaches!
20. We left after
Marvin found his glasses.
Copyright 1998 RHL