07 VERBS TENSE (PAGE 119)

VERBS: TENSE


The various verb tenses are formed
from the four principal parts of each
verb:
PRESENT PAST

walk walked
do
did
speak spoke
come came

PAST
PRESENT
PARTICIPLE PARTICIPLE

walked
done
spoken
come

walking
doing
speaking
coming


To choose the appropriate tense,
it is important to look for certain

clues in the sentence. These clues
can be adverbs (time markers),
other verbs in the sentence, or
the verbs themselves, which may,
by their very nature, be limited
to certain tenses.


PATTERNS TO REMEMBER
Certain time markers (now,
tomorrow, since, etc.) indicate the
tense of a verb.
INCORRECT [I deal with his
firm since 1988.1
CORRECT I have dealt with
his firm since 1988.


The verb in the main clause of a
sentence determines the appropriate
tense in the dependent clause.
INCORRECT [He signed the release
before he will read it.]
CORRECT
He signed the release
before he read it.


Stative verbs (seem, become, know,
understand, be, etc.) cannot be used

in the continuous.
INCORRECT [If I’m understanding
what you mean, I have to agree.]
CORRECT
If I understand what
you mean, I have to agree.


1. The express train often …..
on time.
(A) is arriving
(B) arrives
(C) has been arriving
(D) arrive


2. When the shipment ….. , he
will dispatch it to the proper
department.
(A) will come in
(B) is coming in
(C) comes in
(D) is going to come in


3. Go ahead with the proposal,
as long as everyone ….. its
goal.
(A) is understanding
(B) understand

(C) will understand
(D) understands


4. Before the researcher
analyzed the results, the
company ….. to take on the
client.
(A) has agreed
(B) agreed
(C) agrees
(D) was agreed


5. She ….. five years ago
today.
(A) is being promoted
(B) promoted
(C) was promoted
(D) has been promoted


6. The latest franchise ….. in
one week.
(A) would open
(B) had opened
(C) will open
(D) has opened

7. The board reported that it
…..a good decision to find a
new director.
(A) was
(B) be
(C) is
(D) were


8. The survey indicates profits
are up; business ….. .
(A) is being good
(B) were good
(C) good
(D) has been good


9. At this moment, I ….. my
ears!
(A) cannot believe
(B) could not believe
(C) am not believing
(D) cannot be believing


10. By this time next year,
merchandising ….. greatly
improved.
(A) has been
(B) is going to be

(C) is
(D) is being


THANK YOU