This document provides an overview of verb tenses and how to distinguish them when tutoring. It discusses the importance of using correct verb tenses for clarity and consistency. It then covers the simple, progressive, and perfect forms of verbs in the present, past, and future tenses. It also discusses modal verbs such as should, could, and would. Examples are provided to illustrate the meaning and usage of each verb tense. The sources cited include grammar references from Judy and Ann Raime.

1. Verb TensesVerb Tenses
How to distinguish different verbHow to distinguish different verb
tenses when tutoringtenses when tutoring

2. WHY THE TOPIC?
• During the tutoring session, I believe
that many tutees often write their
essays with wrong verb tenses.
• I want to learn it myself.

3. IMPORTANCE FOR
CORRECT VERB TENSES
• Clear and easy to understand
• Consistency
• To express the event with proper
verb tenses

4. HOW TO FIND THE VERB?
• Underline the possible verbs that show or
imply some action.
• Change the time of the sentence and find
the word that changes.
• *Some verbs may contain two words “ex: I
am going to school.”
(from Judy’s grammar
package)

5. EDITING ADVICE
• Do all the verbs belong to the time cluster
(present, past, or future) in one paragraph?
• If yes, ask yourself that does each verb convey
precisely the time you had in mind, the
relationship to other times or actions, and the
idea of an action completed or in progress?
• If no, look carefully at the verbs that do not fit.
Is there a reason for the switch in time? Then,
rewrite the verb that provides the appropriate
indication of time.
(from Ann Raime’s grammar toublespots)

6. OVERVIEW
1. Present
2. Past
3. future

7. OVERVIEW
A. Simple tenses
B. Progressive tenses
C. Perfect tenses
D.*Perfect progressive tenses
(decided not to cover here)

8. NOW
FUTUREPAST

9. 1.ASSIGNMENTS THAT
MAY USE PRESENT TENSES
• The assignment that talks about
“who I am.”
• The assignment that compares the
new grading system with the old
one (writing about the new system).
• The assignment that introduces
ourselves.

10. (1A)SIMPLE PRESENT(1A)SIMPLE PRESENT
TENSETENSE

11. MEANING
• Activities or events that occurring
in the present.
• Summarizing pieces of writing,
films, plays.
• Stating ongoing opinions, beliefs,
habits, and facts.
• Ex: I ride a bike to school
everyday.
• (from Judy’s grammar package)

13. Verbs in the simple
present tense
• Singular:
• Writes
• Studies
• walks
• Plural:
• Write
• Study
• Walk

14. (1B)PRESENT(1B)PRESENT
PROGRESSIVE TENSEPROGRESSIVE TENSE

15. MEANING
• One thing happened in the past,
and is in progress at the
present time, and probably will
continue.
• Ex: I am washing the dishes.

17. Examples for verbs in the
present progressive sentences
am walking
is + doing
are staying
(verb + ing)

18. (1C)PRESENT(1C)PRESENT
PERFECT TENSEPERFECT TENSE

19. MEANING
• The action happened before
now.
• The exact time is not
important.
• Ex: She has already
dropped the class.

21. PARTICIPLE
• wanted, turned, dropped
• hurt, come, build
• felt, gone, hidden
• blown, grown, known
• begun, rung, swum

22. (2)ASSIGNMENTS THAT
MAY USE PAST TENSES
• The assignment that compares
the new grading system with
the old one (writing about the
old system).
• The assignment that talks about
childhood.

23. (2A)SIMPLE PAST TENSE(2A)SIMPLE PAST TENSE

24. MEANING
• At one particular time in
the past, it happened. It
began and ended in past.
• Ex: I walked to school
this morning.

26. Verbs in the simple
past tense
• Regular:
played, walked,
noticed
• Irregular :
• became, began
• blew, grew
• thought, taught
• cut, hurt, let

27. (2B) PAST(2B) PAST
PROGRESSIVE TENSEPROGRESSIVE TENSE

28. MEANING
• One thing happened
before and was in process
at a particular time in the
past, and it continued.
• Ex: I was doing my
homework.

30. Examples for verbs in the
past progressive sentences
• was typing
+ leaving
• were working
(verb + ing)

31. (2C) PAST PERFECT(2C) PAST PERFECT
TENSETENSE

32. MEANING
• The action was completely
done before another time
in the past.
• Ex: He had already
finished his exam before I
met him.

34. Verbs in the past
perfect tense
had + (participles)

35. PARTICIPLE
• wanted, turned, dropped
• hurt, come, build
• felt, gone, hidden
• blown, grown, known
• begun, rung, swum

36. (3)ASSIGNMENTS THAT
MAY USE FUTURE TENESES
• The assignment that talks about
what do we want to do in the
future.

37. (3A)SIMPLE FUTURE(3A)SIMPLE FUTURE
TENSETENSE

38. MEANING
• At one particular time in
the future, it will
happen.
• Ex: Jason will go to bed
at 12 o’clock.

40. Verbs in the simple
future tense
will
be going to

41. (3B)FUTURE(3B)FUTURE
PROGRESSIVE TENSEPROGRESSIVE TENSE

42. MEANING
• One thing will happen in the
future, and it will be in
process at a particular time
in the future, and it will
probably continue.
• Ex: Katie will be sleeping
when her father comes home.

44. Verbs in the future
progressive sentences
will be + (verb + ing)

45. (3B)FUTURE PERFECT(3B)FUTURE PERFECT
TENSETENSE

46. MEANING
• The action will be completely
done before another time in the
future.
• Ex: Albert will already have
taken shower before he goes to
bed.

48. Verbs in the future
perfect tense
will + have +
(participle)

49. PARTICIPLE
• wanted, turned, dropped
• hurt, come, build
• felt, gone, hidden
• blown, grown, known
• begun, rung, swum

50. MODALSMODALS

51. EXAMPLES FOR MODALS
• to write about the wishes.
• The assignment that talks
about one thing that
changes one person’s life.

52. What are they?
• should
• could
• would

53. SHOULD
• Advisability
• Ex: You should do your
homework instead of going to
the movies.

54. SHOULD
• 90% certainty
(expectation)
• Ex: He should attend the
meeting tomorrow.

55. COULD
• past ability
• Ex: I could get up early when
I was young.

56. COULD
• polite request
• Ex: Could you teach me with
this math problem?

57. COULD
• suggestion (affirmative only)
• Ex: You could do some
research about this topic to
see whether you have the
right answer.

58. COULD
• less than 50% certainty
• Ex: She could be in her
office.

59. COULD
• impossibility (negative only)
• Ex: That couldn’t be his dog
because his dog was dead
yesterday.

60. WOULD
• polite request
• Ex: Would you please pass me
the salt?

61. WOULD
• preference
• Ex: I would rather die than
get married with him.

62. WOULD
• repeated action in the past
• Ex: She would take a walk
every morning when she was
young.

63. WOULD
• polite for “want” (with like)
• Ex: I would like to have some
tea, please.

64. WOULD
• unfulfilled wish
• Ex: I would have learned more
about how to use proper verb
tenses before coming to the
U.S.

65. CITATION
• The sources are from Betty
Schrampfer Azar’s
chartbook.

66. SPECIAL THANKS
EVERYONE!!