This page will explain the rules for forming the past progressive tense, This page will explain the rules for forming the past progressive tense, and how it is used.. and how it is use[r]
(1)A Guide to Past Tense Verbs A Guide to Past Tense Verbs
Presented By Presented By
(2)The word "tense" comes from Latin
The word "tense" comes from Latin tempustempus, ,
meaning time In grammar, "tense" refers to the meaning time In grammar, "tense" refers to the
form of the verb itself: form of the verb itself:
• Tense indicates completeness or continuance If Tense indicates completeness or continuance If the event is complete, it's past; if the event isn't the event is complete, it's past; if the event isn't
complete, it's present. complete, it's present.
• We use past tense (preteritum) to tell about We use past tense (preteritum) to tell about something that happened at a specific time in something that happened at a specific time in
the past, or to tell about something that the past, or to tell about something that
(3)The
The simple past tensesimple past tense is one of the most common tenses in is one of the most common tenses in English Its form is the same with all subjects It is usually
English Its form is the same with all subjects It is usually
formed by adding -ED to the verb This page will explain the
formed by adding -ED to the verb This page will explain the
rules for forming the tense with regular verbs
rules for forming the tense with regular verbs
*
*The simple past tense regular verbs, are created just by The simple past tense regular verbs, are created just by adding -D or -ED However, with some verbs, you need to
adding -D or -ED However, with some verbs, you need to
also change the ending
also change the ending
Here are some examples: Here are some examples:
• Verb ending in e, Add –D Verb ending in e, Add –D live - livedlive - lived
• Consonant + y Change y to i, then add –ED Consonant + y Change y to i, then add –ED try - triedtry - tried
• One vowel + one consonant (but NOT w or y) One vowel + one consonant (but NOT w or y)
Double the consonant, then add –ED Double the consonant, then add –ED tap tappedtap tapped commit – committed
commit – committed
(4)When the verb in the independent When the verb in the independent
clause is the past tense, the verb in the clause is the past tense, the verb in the
dependent clause is usually in a past dependent clause is usually in a past
tense as well The past tenses are: the tense as well The past tenses are: the
simple past
simple past, the , the past progressivepast progressive, the , the past perfect
past perfect, and the , and the past perfect past perfect
progressive
(5)When you are writing about a subject, be sure to When you are writing about a subject, be sure to keep it in the same tense throughout your paper keep it in the same tense throughout your paper
Do This:
Do This:
• I saw a bear climb a tree, and then I wrote I saw a bear climb a tree, and then I wrote about him.
about him.
• Jenny mixed the cake, while I whipped the Jenny mixed the cake, while I whipped the frosting.
frosting.
Do Not Do This:
Do Not Do This:
• I saw a bear climb a tree, and then I write about I saw a bear climb a tree, and then I write about him.
him.
• Jenny mixes the cake, while I whipped the Jenny mixes the cake, while I whipped the frosting.
(6)The
The simple pastsimple past tense tense
• Last year, I Last year, I traveledtraveled to Japan. to Japan.
• They never They never went went to school; they always to school; they always skippedskipped..
• I I finishedfinished work, work, walkedwalked to the beach, and to the beach, and foundfound a a nice place to swim.
(7)In the simple past tense, negative and question forms are
In the simple past tense, negative and question forms are
made using the auxiliary verb "do" (in its past form, "did")
made using the auxiliary verb "do" (in its past form, "did")
followed by the simple form of the main verb
followed by the simple form of the main verb
This page explains the rules
This page explains the rules
• Simple past statement : I had a car Simple past statement : I had a car
You ate my toast.You ate my toast.
• Informal negative : I didn't have a car.Informal negative : I didn't have a car.
You didn't eat my toast You didn't eat my toast
• Formal negative : I did not have a car.Formal negative : I did not have a car.
(8)The past perfect refers to a time
The past perfect refers to a time earlier thanearlier than before now before now It is used to make it clear that one event happened before
It is used to make it clear that one event happened before
another in the past It does not matter which event is
another in the past It does not matter which event is
mentioned first - the tense makes it clear which one
mentioned first - the tense makes it clear which one
happened first
happened first
• I I had savedhad saved my document before the my document before the computer crashed.
computer crashed.
• When they arrived, weWhen they arrived, we had already had already
started
started cooking.cooking.
• The trainThe train had just lefthad just left when I arrived at when I arrived at the station.
(9)The
The past progressive tensepast progressive tense is commonly used in English for actions is commonly used in English for actions which were going on (had not finished) at a particular time in the past which were going on (had not finished) at a particular time in the past This page will explain the rules for forming the past progressive tense, This page will explain the rules for forming the past progressive tense, and how it is used
and how it is used
Subject BE-ING FORM Examples:Subject BE-ING FORM Examples:
• I was I was singing.singing.
(10)Definition:
Definition: The Perfect Progressive tense is used to The Perfect Progressive tense is used to express the time that has elapsed between two
express the time that has elapsed between two points in time The Past Perfect Progressive
points in time The Past Perfect Progressive
expresses the time elapsed between the beginning expresses the time elapsed between the beginning of a continuous action that began in the past and of a continuous action that began in the past and another point in time in the past.
another point in time in the past.
• The police The police had been lookinghad been looking for the robber for two for the robber for two months before they finally found him.
months before they finally found him.
(11)Past Tense Verbs
Past Tense Verbs
Regular versus Irregular
Regular versus Irregular
How to Identify Them
How to Identify Them
*
* REGULAR VERBS:REGULAR VERBS:
The The regularregular verbs show past tense simply by adding “d” or “ed” such as: verbs show past tense simply by adding “d” or “ed” such as:
• care becomes carecare becomes caredd and talk becomes talk and talk becomes talkeded This is also true of the past This is also true of the past participles for regular verbs as there is no change in their spelling
participles for regular verbs as there is no change in their spelling
*Examples of regular verbs, (simple past):*Examples of regular verbs, (simple past):
• They They played played football all day.football all day
• He He pitchedpitched a perfect baseball game a perfect baseball game
• Debbie Debbie caredcared for three babies for three babies
• The children The children jumpedjumped rope until lunchtime rope until lunchtime
*Examples of regular verbs, (past participles with their *Examples of regular verbs, (past participles with their helping verbs):
helping verbs):
• They They have playedhave played football all day football all day
• He He has pitchedhas pitched a perfect baseball game a perfect baseball game
• Debbie Debbie has caredhas cared for three babies for three babies
(12)Irregular Verbs Irregular Verbs
IRREGULAR VERBS:IRREGULAR VERBS:
• The The irregular irregular verbs are verbs that change in spelling to show their verbs are verbs that change in spelling to show their past tense Mastering the spelling of these irregular verbs must be past tense Mastering the spelling of these irregular verbs must be
done by repetition and studying Their past participle is usually done by repetition and studying Their past participle is usually another spelling of the verb and needs a helping verb such as: another spelling of the verb and needs a helping verb such as: have, having, has or had The main verb with the helping verb have, having, has or had The main verb with the helping verb
forms a perfect tense forms a perfect tense
*Examples of irregular verbs, (simple past):*Examples of irregular verbs, (simple past):
• More customers More customers ate ate here today than Saturday.here today than Saturday
• Students Students spokespoke at the convention last month at the convention last month
• The flowers The flowers grew grew beautifully in the garden.beautifully in the garden
• She She drankdrank all of the orange juice all of the orange juice
*Examples of irregular verbs (past participles) with their *Examples of irregular verbs (past participles) with their
helping verbs, (past perfect tense):helping verbs, (past perfect tense):
• More customers More customers have eatenhave eaten here today than Saturday here today than Saturday
(13)Works Cited Works Cited
• Rodrigues, Dawn, and Myron C Tuman Rodrigues, Dawn, and Myron C Tuman Writing Writing Essentials
Essentials 2nd ed New York: W W.2nd ed New York: W W.
Norton and Co Inc., 1999.Norton and Co Inc., 1999.
• Aaron, Jane E Aaron, Jane E The Little, Brown EssentialThe Little, Brown Essential Handbook for Writers
Handbook for Writers 2nd ed New York: 2nd ed New York:
Addison-Wesley Educational Publishers, Inc., Addison-Wesley Educational Publishers, Inc., 1997.
1997.
(14)Works Cited Works Cited
“
“Past Perfect Progressive.” Past Perfect Progressive.” My English TeacherMy English Teacher 2002 15 Dec 2005 2002 15 Dec 2005 <www.myenglishteacher.net/past_perfect_progressive.html> <www.myenglishteacher.net/past_perfect_progressive.html> “
“Summary of Verb Tenses.” Summary of Verb Tenses.” Leo Literacy Education Online Leo Literacy Education Online 22 Sept 22 Sept 2000 15 Dec 2005
2000 15 Dec 2005 <http://<http://leo.stcloudstate.edu/grammar/tenseleo.stcloudstate.edu/grammar/tense s.html>
s.html>
"Forming the Simple Present Tense."
"Forming the Simple Present Tense." English Language Center Study English Language Center Study Zone
Zone 1998-1999 15 Dec 2005 1998-1999 15 Dec 2005 <
<http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/330/grammar/pres.htmhttp://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/330/grammar/pres.htm>.> Fulwiler ,Toby, Hayakawa, Alan R
Fulwiler ,Toby, Hayakawa, Alan R The College Writer’s ReferenceThe College Writer’s Reference 33rdrd Ed 2001
(15)Works Cited Works Cited
• Basic Rules Basic Rules Verbs: Past Tense Verbs: Past Tense 2000 15 Dec 2005 <2000 15 Dec 2005 <
www.stolaf.edu/depts/norwegian/grammar/past-tense.htm
www.stolaf.edu/depts/norwegian/grammar/past-tense.htm>.>
• "Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling." "Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling." Online Writing Lab.Online Writing Lab 2004 15 Dec 2005 2004 15 Dec 2005
<<http://http://owl.english.purdue.eduowl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/grammar//handouts/grammar/>.>
• ““Online English Grammar.” Online English Grammar.” edufind.com edufind.com 2005 15 Dec 2000.2005 15 Dec 2000
<
// < www.stolaf.edu/depts/norwegian/grammar/past-tense.htmwww.stolaf.edu/depts/norwegian/grammar/past-tense.htm <