Appropriate Verb Tenses
When writing, it is important to use appropriate verb tenses.
| Verb tenses convey important information to the reader. |
The simple past, present, and future tenses indicate when actions happened, happen, or will happen.
Examples of Other Verb Tenses
| Perfect tenses — indicate that actions are already completed at a point in time. |
☄Past perfect — indicates that one past action happened before another past action.
☄Present perfect — indicates a past action that has present consequences.
☄Future perfect — indicates a future action will be completed before or by the time of another future occurrence.
| Progressive tenses — indicate that actions are "in progress" at a point in time. |
☄Past progressive — indicates continuing action that was happening in the past.
☄Present progressive — indicates continuing action that is happening now.
☄Future progressive — indicates continuing action that is expected to happen in the future.
| Perfect progressive tenses — indicate continuous actions that were, are, or will be completed at some point in time. |
☄Past perfect progressive — indicates continuing action that started in the past and ended before another past action.
☄Present perfect progressive — indicates continuing action that started in the past and continues in or relates to the present.
☄Future perfect progressive — indicates continuing action in the future that started and may have finished prior to another future action.
Editing for Appropriate Verb Tenses
Read the following sentences. Are any verb tenses inappropriate?
At the animal shelter, Elsa immediately was falling in love with Alfie, a tiny, all-white Chihuahua puppy who gazed at her pleadingly and reached his little paw out to her through his cage. Unfortunately, someone else already decided to adopt him before Elsa met him.
At the animal shelter, Elsa immediately was falling in love with Alfie, a tiny, all-white Chihuahua puppy who gazed at her pleadingly and reached his little paw out to her through his cage. Unfortunately, someone else already decided to adopt him before Elsa met him.
At the animal shelter, Elsa immediately fell in love with Alfie, a tiny, all-white Chihuahua puppy who gazed at her pleadingly and reached his little paw out to her through his cage. Unfortunately, someone else already decided to adopt him before Elsa met him.
At the animal shelter, Elsa immediately fell in love with Alfie, a tiny, all-white Chihuahua puppy who gazed at her pleadingly and reached his little paw out to her through his cage. Unfortunately, someone else had already decided to adopt him before Elsa met him.
❋ ❋ ❋ ❋ ❋ ❋ ❋ ❋ ❋ ❋ ❋ ❋ ❋ ❋ ❋ ❋ ❋ ❋ ❋ ❋ ❋ ❋ ❋ ❋ ❋ ❋ ❋ ❋ ❋ ❋ | Go to the next page to learn about editing sentences for consistent verb tense. |
8th Grade Writing - Verbs Lesson