Verb Tenses:
In writing and speaking, you use the tenses of verbs to indicate when events happen. Changing tenses indicates a change in time. If you do not need to indicate a change in time between two actions, keep the tenses the same.
Perfect verbs indicate a completed, or "perfected," action or condition. Verbs in the perfect form use a form of "have" or "had" + the past participle (often an -ed verb).
Progressive verbs show an action still in progress. The verbs in the progressive form use a form of "to be" + the present participle (an -ing verb). (Forms of the verb "to be": am, is, are, was, were, being, been, be)
Perfect verbs indicate a completed, or "perfected," action or condition. Verbs in the perfect form use a form of "have" or "had" + the past participle (often an -ed verb).
Progressive verbs show an action still in progress. The verbs in the progressive form use a form of "to be" + the present participle (an -ing verb). (Forms of the verb "to be": am, is, are, was, were, being, been, be)
THE PAST TENSES: These tenses show events occurring in a past time.
past - action began and ended in the past (watched)
past perfect - action began and ended before another event in the past (had watched)
past progressive - action in the past was ongoing (was watching)
past - action began and ended in the past (watched)
past perfect - action began and ended before another event in the past (had watched)
past progressive - action in the past was ongoing (was watching)
THE PRESENT TENSES: These tenses show events occurring in the present time.
present - action occurs in the present (watch, watches)
present perfect - action placed in a period of time leading up to the present (has watched, have watched)
present progressive - action is in progress now (is watching, are watching)
present - action occurs in the present (watch, watches)
present perfect - action placed in a period of time leading up to the present (has watched, have watched)
present progressive - action is in progress now (is watching, are watching)
THE FUTURE TENSES: These tenses show events occurring in a future time.
future - action will occur in the future (will watch)
future perfect - action will occur in the future, before another action in the future (will have watched)
future progressive - action in the future will be ongoing (will be watching)
future - action will occur in the future (will watch)
future perfect - action will occur in the future, before another action in the future (will have watched)
future progressive - action in the future will be ongoing (will be watching)