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Simple Verb Tenses

29 April, 2016 - 11:35

Verb tenses tell the reader when the action takes place. The action could be in the past, present, or future.

Table 5.7

Past

Present

Future

Yesterday I jumped.

Today I jump.

Tomorrow I will jump.

 

Simple present verbs are used in the following situations:

  1. When the action takes place now
I drink the water greedily.
  1. When the action is something that happens regularly
I always cross my fingers for good luck.
  1. When describing things that are generally true
College tuition is very costly.
Table 5.8 Regular Simple Present Tense Verbs

Verb

I

He/She/It

You

We

They

ask

ask

asks

ask

ask

ask

bake

bake

bakes

bake

bake

bake

cook

cook

cooks

cook

cook

cook

cough

cough

coughs

cough

cough

cough

clap

clap

claps

clap

clap

clap

dance

dance

dances

dance

dance

dance

erase

erase

erases

erase

erase

erase

kiss

kiss

kisses

kiss

kiss

kiss

push

push

pushes

push

push

push

wash

wash

washes

wash

wash

wash

 

When it is he, she, or it doing the present tense action, remember to add -s, or -es to the end of the verb or to change the y to -ies.

Simple past verbs are used when the action has already taken place and is now finished:

  • I washed my uniform last night.
  • I asked for more pie.
  • I coughed loudly last night.
Table 5.9 Regular Simple Past Tense Verbs
Verb I He/She/It You We They
ask asked asked asked asked asked
bake baked baked baked baked baked
cook cooked cooked cooked cooked cooked
cough coughed coughed coughed coughed coughed
clap clapped clapped clapped clapped clapped
dance danced danced danced danced danced
erase erased erased erased erased erased
kiss kissed kissed kissed kissed kissed
push pushed pushed pushed pushed pushed
wash washed washed washed washed washed
 

When he, she, or it is doing the action in the past tense, remember to add -d or -ed to the end of regular verbs.

Simple future verbs are used when the action has not yet taken place:

  • I will work late tomorrow.
  • I will kiss my boyfriend when I see him.
  • I will erase the board after class.
Table 5.10 Regular Simple Future Tense Verbs

Verb

I

He/She/It

You

We

They

ask

will ask

will ask

will ask

will ask

will ask

bake

will bake

will bake

will bake

will bake

will bake

cook

will cook

will cook

will cook

will cook

will cook

cough

will cough

will cough

will cough

will cough

will cough

clap

will clap

will clap

will clap

will clap

will clap

dance

will dance

will dance

will dance

will dance

will dance

erase

will erase

will erase

will erase

will erase

will erase

kiss

will kiss

will kiss

will kiss

will kiss

will kiss

push

will push

will push

will push

will push

will push

wash

will wash

will wash

will wash

will wash

will wash

 

Going to can also be added to the main verb to make it future tense:

  • I am going to go to work tomorrow.