Understanding verb tense and mood What are verb

Understanding verb tense and mood What are verb tense and mood? Verb tense Special problems in the uses of tenses Mood Modals Review A Review B

What are verb tense and mood? Verbs take different forms to do different jobs. One job is to show when an action or state of being takes place. The form a verb takes to show time is called tense. Early phones had round dials. Cell phones will get even smaller. Our phone is red.

What are verb tense and mood? Verbs also take different forms to show the attitude of the person using the verb. These forms are called mood. I polished this apple for you. Polish those shoes, soldier! I suggest that you polish your nails.

Verb tense The tense of a verb indicates the time of the action or state of being expressed by the verb. Perfect tenses indicate that something happened or existed before a specific point in time. Past perfect Present Now Present perfect Future perfect He Hewill also. Mark have Tomorrow He had Mark has studied studies studied Mark for enough a little will for two hard his study hours right by for classes. the every after last math. end night. test. school. of the night.

Verb tense The tenses of verbs are formed from the four principal parts of verbs. Base form Present participle Past participle print see [is] print ing [is] see ing print ed s aw [have] print ed [have] see n

Verb tense Each tense has a progressive form, which is used to express continuing action or state of being. Present progressive am, are, is walking Past progressive was, were walking Future progressive will (shall) be walking Present perfect progressive has, have been walking Past perfect progressive had been walking Future perfect progressive will (shall) have been walking

Verb tense The present and past tenses have another form, the emphatic form, which shows emphasis. In the present tense, the emphatic form of a verb consists of do or does plus the base form. Present emphatic do walk, does walk In the past tense the emphatic form consists of did plus the base form. Past emphatic did walk

Verb tense Present and present perfect The present tense expresses an action or a state of being that is occurring now, at the present time. Martina and Jen race down the field. The fans are cheering wildly. (Progressive form) The players do look confident. (Emphatic form)

Verb tense Present and present perfect The present tense is also used in these ways: to show a customary or habitual action or state of being We go to the mall every Saturday. to express a general truth The sun sets in the west. to discuss a literary work (literary present) The Dark Child relates the experiences of a boy growing up in an African village. to make historical events seem current (historical present) In a surprise move the Greeks construct a huge wooden horse and leave it outside Troy. to express future time We drive to Maine tomorrow.

Verb tense Present and present perfect The present perfect tense • expresses an action or a state of being that occurred at an indefinite time in the past • is formed with the helping verb have or has Tim and Mia have entered the data into the computer. Who has been using this computer? (Progressive form)

Verb tense Present and present perfect The present perfect tense is also used to express an action or state of being that began in the past and continues into the present. Mr. Reyes has taught science for ten years. (Progressive form) Mr. Reed has been coaching soccer since 2003.

Verb tense Past and past perfect The past tense expresses an action or a state of being that occurred in the past and did not continue into the present. In the last lap the runner fell. The fall did cause a bad injury. (Emphatic form)

Verb tense Past and past perfect The past perfect tense • expresses an action or a state of being that ended before another past action or state of being occurred • is formed with the helping verb had Paul had traveled several miles before he realized his mistake. He discovered that he had misread the road map.

Verb tense Future and future perfect The future tense • expresses an action or a state of being that will occur • is formed with the helping verb shall or will Leah will attend a writers’ workshop this summer. She will be writing poetry and fiction. (Progressive form)

Verb tense Future and future perfect The future perfect tense • expresses an action or a state of being that will end before some other future occurrence • is formed with the helping verbs will have or shall have You will have saved enough money for the car by the time you start back to school. By then, you will have been working here a year. (Progressive form)

Verb tense On Your Own Change the tense of the verb in each sentence, as indicated in parentheses. 1. Max has studied piano for one year. (Change to future. ) 2. Ivy roots made their way into the bricks. (Change to present progressive. ) 3. The smell of gas filled the air. (Change to past perfect. ) 4. Ray runs every day. (Change to past perfect progressive. ) 5. The picture has been needing a new frame. (Change to present emphatic. ) [End of Section]

Special problems in the use of tenses Sequence of tenses Use tense forms correctly to show relationships between verbs in a sentence. To describe events that occur at the same time, use verbs in the same tense. Present tense The bell rings, and the classroom empties. Past tense The bell rang, and the classroom emptied.

Special problems in the use of tenses Sequence of tenses For events that occur at different times, use verbs of different tenses to show the order of events. Past tense Present tense She plays soccer now, but last year she swam on the swim team. Her soccer playing is occurring now. Her swimming on the swim team occurred in the past and preceded her soccer playing.

Special problems in the use of tenses Sequence of tenses For events that occur at different times, use verbs of different tenses to show the order of events. Past tense Past perfect tense Serena told us that she had invited Josh to the party. The action of inviting was completed before the action of telling.

Special problems in the use of tenses If clauses In an if clause that expresses the earlier of two events, do not use would have. Instead, use the past perfect tense. Nonstandard Standard would have more takentime, morehe time, If he had taken he would have won.

Special problems in the use of tenses On Your Own Correct each error in the use of verb tenses. If a sentence is already correct, label it C. 1. After she graduated, Corrine joins the navy. 2. We would have walked there if the weather would have been nice. 3. She delivers the mail when the regular mail carrier is sick. 4. After Sam had answered, Mr. Cain says, “That is correct. ” 5. If you had asked politely, I might have helped you. [End of Section]

Mood is the form a verb takes to indicate the attitude of the person using the verb. The indicative mood expresses a fact, an opinion, or a question. Fact Opinion Question Jimmy Carter won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. Isabel Allende is a gifted writer. Can you explain the difference between a meteor and a meteorite?

Mood The imperative mood expresses a direct command or a request. Direct command Request Explain the difference between a meteor and a meteorite. Please pass me that astronomy book.

Mood The present and past tenses have distinctive forms in the subjunctive mood. • The present subjunctive expresses a suggestion or a necessity. Suggestion Necessity We recommend that Mary Collins be invited to speak at the assembly. It is required that you attend the special training session.

Mood • The past subjunctive expresses a condition contrary to fact or expresses a wish. Condition contrary to fact Wish If I were you, I’d check the oil level in the car. Margaret wishes she were an auto mechanic.

Mood On Your Own For each sentence, identify the mood of the boldfaced verb as indicative, imperative, or subjunctive. ____ 1. Was your brother excited about the game? _____ 2. Be a good dog and stay right there, Molly. _____ 3. Ms. Harper suggested that we volunteer. _____ 4. Mr. Darwin said that he will lead a field trip to the animal sanctuary. _____ 5. If I were as talented a singer as you, I would try out for the chorus. [End of Section]

Modals A modal is a helping verb that is joined with a main verb or an infinitive to express an attitude toward the action or state of being of the main verb. Helping Verbs Used as Modals can could may might must ought shall should will would

Modals The modals can and could are used to express ability. Can you swim the freestyle? I could have taken swimming lessons this spring.

Modals The modal may is used to express permission or possibility. Permission May I use your pencil? Possibility You may want to add more garlic to the pasta sauce. The modal might is also used to express possibility. Janelle might get a new bicycle.

Modals The modal must is used most often to express a requirement. Sometimes must is used to express an explanation. Requirement You must take care of houseplants if you want them to live. Explanation I must have watered this plant too much; some of its leaves have turned yellow.

Modals The modal ought is used to express an obligation or a likelihood. Obligation Gary ought to send a thank -you note. Likelihood The post office ought to be open by now.

Modals The modals shall and will are used to express future time. I shall graduate from high school this June. Where will the ceremony be held?

Modals The modal should is used to express a recommendation, an obligation, or a possibility. Recommendation Doug should visit each campus before deciding on a college. Obligation You should have asked before borrowing the book. Possibility Should you decide to accept the other job offer, please let me know.

Modals The modal would is used to express the conditional form of a verb. If it had rained, we would have cancelled the hike. I would have let you know about any changes.

Modals Would can also be used to express future time in a subordinate clause when the main verb in the independent clause is in the past tense verb modal expresses future time Calista told us us that she wouldmeet the park. usus at at the park. Main clause Subordinate clause

Modals Would is sometimes used to express • an action that was repeated in the past Every summer my family would travel to Colorado. • a polite request Would you please help him set the table? • an invitation Would you go to the folk festival with me?

Modals On Your Own Supply an appropriate modal for each sentence. 1. “I definitely _____ call you tomorrow, ” Ellen promised. 2. Take your umbrella because it _____ rain. 3. Explain this math problem to me; I _____ not figure it out. 4. The committee _____ not have chosen anyone better than Esteban. 5. Now that I have read that book, I _____ highly recommend it to all my friends. [End of Section]

Review A Identify the tense or mood of each boldfaced verb, as indicated in parentheses. If the verb is in the progressive or emphatic form, also identify the form. _____ 1. The band had finished the concert, but the audience called for another set. (tense) _____ 2. The class will be reading a play. (tense) _____ 3. If you were more patient, you would succeed. (mood) _____ 4. I have been stung by a bee. (tense) _____ 5. Remember to remove your shoes in a Japanese restaurant. (mood)

Review B Supply an appropriate modal, helping verb, or main verb to complete each sentence correctly. The hints in parentheses will help you. 1. If Maya _____ listened more carefully, she would have known what to do. (correct if clause) 2. You _____ register by 8: 00. (shows a requirement) 3. I suggest that you _____ on time. (subjunctive mood) 4. I _____ help you paint if I had time. (shows a condition) 5. As a witness to the accident, Pam told the police what _____ happened. (correct sequence of tenses) [End of Section]

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