Verb Tenses

In English, there are three basic tenses: present, past, and future. Each has a perfect form, indicating completed action; each has a progressive form, indicating ongoing action; and each has a perfect progressive form, indicating ongoing action that will be completed at some definite time. Here is a list of examples of these tenses and their definitions: Simple Forms Present Tense Present tense expresses an unchanging, repeated, or reoccurring action or situation that exists only now. Past Tense Past tense expresses an action or situation that was started and finished in the past. Future Tense Future tense expresses an action or situation that will occur in the future. The speaker of the House will finish her term in May of 1998. The future tense can also be expressed by using am, is, or are with going to. The surgeon is going to perform the first bypass in Minnesota. We can also use the present tense form with an adverb or adverbial phrase to show future time. The president speaks tomorrow.

how to connect sentences The YUNiversity English Glossary of Grammar Terms A fully cross-referenced English glossary of linguistic and grammatical terms. Each grammar definition contains an explanation and cross-references to other relevant grammar terms. Usable for both native speakers interested in language and linguistics, and students of English as a second language (ESL, EFL, ESOL, and EAP)English grammar terms of all levels from beginner to advanced. Search the Glossary of English Grammar Terms Browse by Category: Adjectives and Adverbs Articles Collocation Colligation Complement & Object Conditionals Conjunctions Determiners Direct & Indirect Speech Discourse Figure of Speech Functions & Text General Gerunds and Infinitives Learning and Teaching Literature Modals Nouns Parts of Speech Phonetics Phrasal Verbs Phrasal Verbs Prefixes & Suffixes Prepositions Pronouns Pronunciation Questions Readability Tests Relative Pronouns Spelling and Punctuation Varieties and Dialects Verbs and Tenses Vocabulary This English grammar glossary is under continual development.