Verb Tenses and Subject Agreement
The Writing Center
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 405-945-3278
1
A verb is a word used to describe an action. A verb tense changes the verb to denote the time in
which it took place. There are three main categories of verb tenses: past, present, and future.
There are also four subcategories of these tenses: simple, perfect, continuous, and perfect
continuous.
- Past tense expresses an action that has already occurred.
- Present tense expresses an action that is occurring right now.
- Future tense expresses an action that will occur in the future.
In each subcategory of these main tenses, you may need to use the past participle form of a
verb, which is a modification of the base form. For regular verbs, add the suffix “-d” or “-ed” to
the end of the base form of the verb. For irregular verbs, a vowel or vowels will change in the
middle of the word (ex: run – ran), A suffix will be added (ex: drive – driven), or both (freeze –
frozen).
Simple
- In simple past, you use the past participle form of the verb.
- In simple present you use the base form of the verb.
- In simple future you add will before the base form of the verb.
Past
Present
Future
Simple
I loved that book when
I was young.
I love to read all
kinds of books.
I will love my new job
at the library.
Verb Tenses and Subject Agreement
The Writing Center
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 405-945-3278
2
Perfect
- In past perfect, you add had before the past participle form of a verb.
- In present perfect, you add have before the past participle form of a verb.
- In future perfect, you add will have before the past participle form of a verb.
Past
Present
Perfect
I had accepted a
new job before
quitting my old one.
I have accepted the
Director of
Operations position.
I will have accepted
many jobs like this by
the end of my career.
Continuous
- In past continuous, you add a “to be” verb in agreement with your subject before the
present participle (“-ing”) form of a verb. Both regular and irregular verbs will end with
“-ing.”
- In present continuous you add a “to be” verb in agreement with your subject before the
present participle form of a verb.
- In future continuous you add will be before the present participle form of a verb.
Past
Present
Future
Continuous
I was taking my dog for
a walk when it
happened.
I am taking out
the trash for my
wife.
I will be taking that
class next semester.
Perfect Continuous
- In past perfect continuous you add had been before the present participle form of a
verb.
- In present perfect continuous you add a “have” verb in agreement with your subject +
been, + the present participle form of a verb.
- In future perfect continuous you add will have been before the present participle form
of a verb.
Verb Tenses and Subject Agreement
The Writing Center
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 405-945-3278
3
Past
Present
Future
Perfect
Continuous
I had been
working on that
project all day.
I have been
thinking about
what to write for
this essay.
I will have been using
the same toothbrush for
over a year now.
A subject-verb agreement is formed by making the subject and its verb both singular or plural.
Subjects like “I, He, She, and It” are singular while subjects like “We” are plural. “You and
They” are both singular and plural depending on the use. When using “They” to refer to a single
person, follow the grammatical rules as if “They” were plural.
“Do” Verbs
Subject
Present
Past
Past Participle
Present Participle
I
do
did
have done
am doing
You
are doing
He/She/It
does
has done
is doing
We/They
do
have done
are doing
Verb Tenses and Subject Agreement
The Writing Center
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 405-945-3278
4
“Go” Verbs
Subject
Present
Past
Past Participle
Present Participle
I
go
went
have gone
am going
You
are going
He/She/It
goes
has gone
is going
We/They
go
have gone
are going
“Be” Verbs
Subject
Present
Past
Past Participle
Present Participle
I
am
was
have been
am being
You
are
were
are being
We/They
He/She/It
is
was
has been
is being