TIL English Grammar

05. Using Verb Tenses

In the United States, periods and commas go inside quotation marks regardless of logic.
In the United Kingdom, Canada, and islands under the influence of British education, punctuation around quotation marks is more apt to follow logic. In American style, then, you
would write: My favorite poem is Robert Frost's "Design." But in England you would write: My favorite poem is Robert Frost's "Design".

Using Verb tenses

05.08. Using Verb Tenses 05.09.10. Future Progressive Tense
05.08.01. Verb Tense: Time 05.09.11. Future Perfect Tense
05.08.02. Verb Tense: Aspect 05.09.12. Future Perfect Progressive Tense
05.09. Function of Verb Tenses 05.10. Using Verb Tenses in Sequence
05.09.01. Simple Present Tense 05.10.01. Present Tenses in Sequence
05.09.02. Present Progressive Tense 05.10.02. Past Tenses in Sequence
05.09.03. Present Perfect Tense 05.11. Using Verb Moods
05.09.04. Present Perfect Progressive Tense 05.11.01. Indicative Mood
05.09.05. Simple Past Tense 05.11.02. Imperative Mood
05.09.06. Past Progressive Tense 05.11.03. Subjunctive Mood
05.09.07. Past Perfect Tense 05.rev.04. Review: Verb Tense
05.09.08. Past Perfect Progressive Tense 05.rev.05. Review: Verb Mood
05.09.09. Simple Future Tense

05.08.01. Verb Tense: Time

UKT: See Tense and Time in my notes.

The four past tenses:

1. The simple past ("I went")

2. The past progressive ("I was going")
3. The past perfect ("I had gone")
4. The past perfect progressive ("I had been going")

The four present tenses:

1. The simple present ("I go")

2. The present progressive ("I am going")
3. The present perfect ("I have gone")
4. The present perfect progressive ("I have been going")

Note that the present perfect and present perfect progressive are a present not past tenses -- that idea is that the speaker is currently in the state of having gone or having been
going.

The four future tenses:

1. The simple future ("I will go")

2. The future progressive ("I will be going")
3. The future perfect ("I will have gone")
4. The future perfect progressive ("I will have been going")

05.08.02. Verb Tense: Aspect

The three indefinite tenses, or simple tenses, describe an action but do not state whether the action is finished:

1. The simple past ("I went")

2. The simple present ("I go")
3. The simple future ("I will go")

A verb in the indefinite aspect is used when the beginning or ending of an action, an event, or condition is unknown or unimportant to the meaning of the sentence. The indefinite
aspect is also used to used to indicate an habitual or repeated action, event, or condition.

The three complete tenses, or perfect tenses, describe a finished action:

1. The past perfect ("I had gone")

2. The present perfect ("I have gone")
3. The future perfect ("I will have gone")

A verb in the complete aspect indicates that the end of the action, event, or condition is known and the is used to emphasise the fact that the action is complete. The action may,
however, be completed in the present, in the past or in the future.

The three incomplete tenses, or progressive tenses, describe an unfinished action:

1. The past progressive ("I was going")

2. The present progressive ("I am going")
3. The future progressive ("I will be going")

A verb in the continuing aspect indicates that the action, event, or condition is ongoing in the present, the past or the future.
It is also possible to combine the complete tenses and the incomplete tenses, to describe an action which was in progress and then finished:

1. The past perfect progressive ("I had been going")

2. The present perfect progressive ("I have been going")
 3. The future perfect progressive ("I will have been going")

05.09. Function of Verb Tenses

05.09.01. Simple Present Tense
The simple present is used to describe an action, an event, or condition that is occurring in the present, at the moment of speaking or writing. The simple present is used when the
precise beginning or ending of a present action, event, or condition is unknown or is unimportant to the meaning of the sentence.

Each of the highlighted verbs in the following sentences is in the simple present tense and each sentence describes an action taking place in the present:

Deborah waits patiently while Bridget books the tickets.

The shelf holds three books and a vase of flowers.
The crowd moves across the field in an attempt to see the rock star get into her helicopter.
The Stephens sisters are both very talented; Virginia writes and Vanessa paints.
Ross annoys Walter by turning pages too quickly.

The simple present is used to express general truths such as scientific fact, as in the following sentences:

Rectangles have four sides.

Canada Day takes place on July 1, the anniversary of the signing of the British North America Act.
The moon circles the earth once every 28 days.
Calcium is important to the formation of strong bones.
Menarche and menopause mark the beginning and the ending of a woman's reproductive history.

The simple present is used to indicate a habitual action, event, or condition, as in the following sentences:

Leonard goes to The Jumping Horse Tavern every Thursday evening.

My grandmother sends me new mittens each spring.
In fairy tales, things happen in threes.
We never finish jigsaw puzzles because the cat always eats some of the pieces.
Jesse polishes the menorah on Wednesdays.

The simple present is also used when writing about works of art, as in the following sentences.

Lolly Willowes is the protagonist of the novel Townsend published in 1926.

One of Artemisia Gentleschi's best known paintings represents Judith's beheading of Holofernes.
The Lady of Shallot weaves a tapestry while watching the passers-by in her mirror.
Lear rages against the silence of Cordelia and only belatedly realizes that she, not her more vocal sisters, loves him.
The play ends with an epilogue spoken by the fool.

The simple present can also be used to refer to a future event when used in conjunction with an adverb or adverbial phrase, as in the following sentences.

The doors open in 10 minutes.

The premier arrives on Tuesday.
Classes end next week.
The publisher distributes the galley proofs next Wednesday.
The lunar eclipses begins in exactly 43 minutes.

05.09.02. Present Progressive Tense

While the simple present and the present progressive are sometimes used interchangeably, the present progressive emphasizes the continuing nature of an act, event, or
condition.

Each of the highlighted verbs in the following sentences is in the present progressive tense. In each sentence the on-going nature of the action is emphasized by the use of the
present progressive rather than the simple present.

Nora is looking for the first paperback editions of all of Raymond Chandler's books.
Deirdre is dusting all the shelves on the second floor of the shop.
The union members are pacing up and down in front of the factory.
KPLA is broadcasting the hits of the 70s this evening.
The presses are printing the first edition of tomorrow's paper.

The present progressive is occasionally used to refer to a future event when used in conjunction with an adverb or adverbial phrase, as in the following sentences.

The doors are opening in 10 minutes.

The premier is arriving on Tuesday.
Classes are ending next week.
The publisher is distributing the galley proofs next Wednesday.

05.09.03. Present Perfect Tense

The present perfect tense is used to describe action that began in the past and continues into the present or has just been completed at the moment of utterance. The present
perfect is often used to suggest that a past action still has an effect upon something happening in the present.

Each of the highlighted compound verbs in the following sentences is in the present perfect tense.
They have not delivered the documents we need.
This sentence suggests that the documents were not delivered in the past and that they are still undelivered.
 The health department has decided that all high school students should be immunised against meningitis.
The writer of this sentence uses the present perfect in order to suggest that the decision made in the past is still of importance in the present.

The government has cut university budgets; consequently, the dean has increased the size of most classes.
Here both actions took place sometime in the past and continue to influence the present.

The heat wave has lasted three weeks.

In this sentence, the writer uses the present perfect to indicate that a condition (the heat wave) began in past and continues to affect the present.

Donna has dreamt about frogs sitting in trees every night this week.
Here the action of dreaming has begun in the past and continues into the present.

05.09.04. Present Perfect Progressive Tense

Like the present perfect, the present perfect progressive is used to describe an action, event, or condition that has begun in the past and continues into the present. The present
perfect progressive, however, is used to stress the on-going nature of that action, condition, or event.

Each of the highlighted verbs in the following sentences is in the present perfect progressive tense and each sentence suggests that the action began in the past and is continuing
into the present.

That dog has been barking for three hours; I wonder if someone will call the owner.
I have been relying on my Christmas bonus to pay for the gifts I buy for my large family.
They have been publishing this comic book for ten years.
We have been seeing geese flying south all afternoon.
Even though the coroner has been carefully examining the corpse discovered in Sutherland's Gully since early this morning, we still do not know the cause of death.

05.09.05. Simple Past Tense

The simple past is used to describe an action, an event, or condition that occurred in the past, sometime before the moment of speaking or writing.
Each of the highlighted verbs in the following sentences is in the simple past tense and each sentence describes an action taking place at some point in past.

A flea jumped from the dog to the cat.

Phoebe gripped the hammer tightly and nailed the boards together.
The gem-stones sparkled in a velvet lined display case.
Artemisia Gentilsechi probably died in 1652.
The storyteller began every story by saying ``A long time ago when the earth was green.''

05.09.06. Past Progressive Tense

The past progressive tense is used to described actions ongoing in the past. These actions often take place within a specific time frame. While actions referred to in the present
progressive have some connection to the present, actions referred in the past progressive have no immediate or obvious connection to the present. The on-going actions took
place and were completed at some point well before the time of speaking or writing.

Each of the highlighted verbs in the following sentences is in the past progressive tense.

The cat was walking along the tree branch.

This sentence describes an action that took place over a period of continuous time in the past. The cat's actions have no immediate relationship to anything occurring now in
the present.

Lena was telling a story about the exploits of a red cow when a tree branch broke the parlour window.
Here the action "was telling" took place in the past and continued for some time in the past.

When the recess bell rang, Jesse was writing a long division problem on the blackboard.
This sentence describes actions ("rang" and "was writing") that took place sometime in the past, and emphasises the continuing nature of one of the actions ("was writing").

The archivists were eagerly waiting for the delivery of the former prime minister's private papers.
Here the ongoing action of "waiting" occurred at some time unconnected to the present.

Between 1942 and 1944 the Frank and Van Damm families were hiding in a Amsterdam office building.
In this sentence, the action of hiding took place over an extended period of time and the continuing nature of the hiding is emphasised.

05.09.07. Past Perfect Tense

The past perfect tense is used to refer to actions that took place and were completed in the past. The past perfect is often used to emphasis that one action, event or condition
ended before another past action, event, or condition began.
Each of the highlighted verbs in the following sentences is in the past perfect.

Miriam arrived at 5:00 p.m. but Mr. Whitaker had closed the store.
All the events in this sentence took place in the past, but the act of closing the store takes place before Miriam arrives at the store.

After we located the restaurant that Christian had raved about, we ate supper there every Friday.
Here the praise ("had raved") precedes the finding ("located") of the restaurant. Both actions took place sometime before the moment of speaking or writing.

The elephant had eaten all the hay so we fed it oats for a week.
In this sentence, both actions take place in the past, but the eating of the hay ("had eaten") preceded the eating of the oats ("fed").

The heat wave had lasted three weeks.

While the sentence "The heat wave has lasted three weeks" suggests that a condition began in the past and continues into the present, this sentence describes an action that
began and ended sometime in the past ("had lasted"). By using the past perfect the writer indicates that the heat wave has no connection to any events occurring in the
present.
 After she had learned to drive, Alice felt more independent.
Here the learning took place and was completed at a specific time in the past. By using the past perfect rather than the simple past ("learned"), the writer emphasises that
the learning preceded the feeling of independence.

05.09.08. Past Perfect Progressive Tense

The past perfect progressive is used to indicate that a continuing action in the past began before another past action began or interrupted the first action.
Each of the highlighted compound verbs in the following sentences is in the past perfect progressive tense.

The toddlers had been running around the school yard for ten minutes before the teachers shooed them back inside.
Here the action of the toddlers ("had been running") is ongoing in the past and precedes the actions of the teachers ("shooed") which also takes place in the past.

We had been talking about repainting the front room for three years and last night we finally bought the paint.
In this example, the ongoing action of "talking" precedes another past action ("bought").

A construction crew had been digging one pit after another in the middle of my street for three days before they found the water main.
Here, the action of digging ("had been digging") took place in the past and occurred over a period of time. The digging was followed by the action of finding ("found").

Madeleine had been reading mystery novels for several years before she discovered the works of Agatha Christie.
In this sentence the act of discovery ("discovered") occurred in the past but after the ongoing and repeated action of reading ("had been reading").

The chef's assistant had been chopping vegetables for several minutes before he realized that he had minced his apron strings.
This sentence is a bit more complex in that it contains three different past verb tenses. The sequence of tenses conveys a complex set of information. The past perfect
progressive ("had been chopping") is used to emphasise the ongoing nature of the past act of chopping. While a second past perfect progressive ("had been mincing") could
be used, the past perfect ("had minced") is used to suggest that act of mincing was completed. The simple past ("realized") is used to describe the action closest to the
present, an action that followed both the chopping and the mincing.

05.09.09. Simple Future Tense

The simple future is used to refer to actions that will take place after the act of speaking or writing.
Each of the highlighted verbs in the following sentences is in the simple future tense.

They will meet us at the newest caf in the market.

Will you walk the dog tonight?
At the feast, we will eat heartily.
Bobbie will call you tomorrow with details about the agenda.
The Smiths say that they will not move their chicken coop.

05.09.10. Future Progressive Tense

The future progressive tense is used to describe actions ongoing in the future. The future progressive is used to refer to continuing action that will occur in the future.
Each of the highlighted compound verbs in the following sentences is in the future progressive tense.

The glee club will be performing at the celebration of the town's centenary.
Ian will be working on the computer system for the next two weeks.
The selection committee will be meeting every Wednesday morning.
We will be writing an exam every afternoon next week.
They will be ringing the bells for Hypatia next month.

05.09.11. Future Perfect Tense

The future perfect is used to refer to an action that will be completed sometime in the future before another action takes place.
Each of the highlighted verbs in the following sentences is in the future perfect tense.

The surgeon will have operated on 6 patients before she attends a luncheon meeting.
In this sentence, the act of operating ("will have operated") takes place in the future sometime before the act of attending ("attends").

The plumber and his assistant will have soldered all the new joins in pipes before they leave for the next job.
Here, the plumbers' act of soldering ("will have soldered") will precede the act of leaving ("leave").

By the time you get back from the corner store, we will have finished writing the thank you letters.
In this sentence, the act of returning from the store ("get back") takes place after the act of writing ("will have written").

If this year is like last year, I will have finished my holiday shopping long before my brother starts his.
In this example, the act of finishing ("will have finished") occurs well before the act of starting ("starts").

They will have written their first exam by the time we get out of bed.
Here, the act of getting out of bed occurs sometime after the writing of the exam.

05.09.12. Future Perfect Progressive Tense

The future perfect progressive tense is used to indicate a continuing action that will be completed at some specified time in the future. This tense is rarely used.
Each of the highlighted verbs in the following sentences is in the future perfect progressive tense.

I will have been studying Greek for three years by the end of this term.

In this sentence, the future perfect progressive is used to indicate the ongoing nature of the future act of the studying. The act of studying (``will have been studying'') will occur
before the upcoming end of term.

By the time the meeting is over, the committee will have been arguing about which candidate to interview for three hours.
Similarly in this sentence, the ongoing nature of a future act (``will have been arguing'') is emphasised by the use of the future perfect progressive. The act of sustained arguing will
take place before the meeting is over.

When he returns, the wine will have been fermenting for three months.

Here the ongoing action of fermentation will precede ("will have been fermenting") the act of returning.

05.10. Using Verb Tenses in Sequence

Using verbs in correct sequence is often difficult, especially for those people whose cradle tongue is not English or whose cradle tongue does not uses a similar tense system. The
situation is further complicated by the fact that context, idiom, and style play as large a role in determining tense sequence as grammatical rules.

In order to determine correct verb sequence, you must be able to identify independent and dependent clauses. The sequence of tenses in complex sentences is usually
determined by the tense of the verb in the independent clause. (In compound sentences, use the tenses that fit the logic of the sentence.)

05.10.01. Present Tenses in Sequence

In general, present tenses may be followed by a wide variety of tenses as long as the sequence fits the logic of the sentence.
The four present tenses are the simple present, the present progressive, the present perfect, and the present perfect progressive. When these tenses are used in an independent
clause, the verb in the dependent clause can be a present tense verb, a past tense verb or a future tense verb, as in the following sentences.
Deborah waits patiently while Bridget books the tickets.

The simple present tense is used in both the independent clause and the dependent clause.
They have not delivered the documents we need.
The verb of the independent clause "They have not delivered the documents" is in the present perfect tense. The verb in the dependent clause "we need" is in the simple present
tense. The simple future could also be used in the dependent clause ("we will need").

I have been relying on my Christmas bonus to pay for the gifts I buy for my large family.
In this sentence the compound verb of the independent clause ("I have been relying on my Christmas bonus to pay for the gift") is in the present perfect progressive. The simple
predicate of the dependent clause ("I buy for my large family") is in the simple present ("buy"). The simple future could also be used ("will buy").

Even though the coroner has been carefully examining the corpse discovered in Sutherland's Gully since early this morning, we still do not know the cause of death.
In this sentence the compound verb of the independent clause ("we still do not know the cause of death") is in the simple present tense. The simple predicate of the dependent
clause ("Even though the coroner has been carefully examining the corpse discovered in Sutherland's Gully since early this morning") in the present perfect progressive tense ("has
been . . . examining").

The government has cut university budgets; consequently, the dean has increased the size of most classes.
In this compound sentence, both predicates are in the present perfect. The simple future could also be used in the second independent clause ("consequently, the dean will
increase the size of most classes") if the writer wants to suggest that the dean's action will take place in the future.

05.10.02. Past Tenses in Sequence

When the verb in the independent clause is the past tense, the verb in the dependent clause is usually in a past tense as well. The past tenses are the simple past, the past
progressive, thepast perfect, and the past perfect progressive.

The verb in dependent clause should accurately reflect the temporal relationship of the two clauses.

If the action in the dependent clause occurred before action in the independent clause, the past perfect is usually the most appropriate tense for the dependent clause, as in the
following sentences.

Miriam arrived at 5:00 p.m. but Mr. Whitaker had closed the store.
The action of dependent clause ("but Mr. Whitaker had closed the store") is described with a past perfect tense ("had closed") because the act of closing takes place before the act
of arriving. The simple predicate of the independent clause ("by the time Miriam arrived") is in the simple past.

After we located the restaurant that Christian had raved about, we ate supper there every Friday.
Since actions of the second dependent clause ("that Christian had raved about") precedes the other actions in the sentence, the past perfect is most appropriate verb tense.

We fed the elephant oats for a week because it had eaten all the hay.
In this sentence, both actions take place in the past, but the action of the independent clause (the feeding oats) follows the action of dependent clause (the eating of the hay) and
as a result, the predicate of the dependent clause is in the past perfect ("had eaten").

After she had learned to drive, Alice felt more independent.

In this example the predicate of the dependent clause is in the past perfect ("had learned") because the act of learning preceded the independent clause's the act of feeling
independent.

If the action in the dependent clause, occurs at the same time as the action in the independent clause, the tense usually match. So if the simple past is used in the independent
clause, the simple past may also used in the dependent clause.

When the verb of the independent clause is one of the progressive tenses, the simple past is usually the most appropriate tense for the dependent clause, as in the following
sentences:

Lena was telling a story about the exploits of a red cow when a tree branch broke the parlour window.
Here the action "was telling" took place in the past and continued for some time in the past. The breaking of the window is described in the simple past.

When the recess bell rang, Jesse was writing a long division problem on the blackboard.
This sentence describes actions ("ran" and "was writing") that took place sometime in the past, and emphasis the continuing nature of the action that takes place in the
independent clause ("was writing").

One of the most common source of verb sequence error arises from a confusion of the present perfect ("has walked") and the past perfect ("had walked"). Both tense convey a
sense of pastness, but the present perfect is categorised as a present tense verb.
One of the easiest ways of determining whether you've used the perfect tenses correctly is to examine the auxiliary verb. Remember "has" is a present tense auxiliary and "had"
and "have" are past tense auxiliaries. The future tense auxiliary is "will".

05.11. Using Verb Moods

A verb may be in one of three moods:
1. the indicative mood,
2. the imperative mood, and
3. the subjunctive mood.

05.11.01. Indicative Mood

The indicative mood is the most common and is used to express facts and opinions or to make inquiries. Most of the statements you make or you read will be in the indicative
mood.
The highlighted verbs in the following sentences are all in the indicative mood:

Joe picks up the boxes.

The german shepherd fetches the stick.
Charles closes the window.

05.11.02. Imperative Mood

The imperative mood is also common and is used to give orders or to make requests. The imperative is identical in form to the second person indicative.
The highlighted verbs in the following sentences are all in the imperative mood:

Pick up those boxes.

Fetch.
Close the window.

05.11.03. Subjunctive Mood

The subjunctive mood has almost disappeared from the language and is thus more difficult to use correctly than either the indicative mood or the imperative mood. The
subjunctive mood rarely appears in everyday conversation or writing and is used in a set of specific circumstances.

You form the present tense subjunctive by dropping the "s" from the end of the third person singular, except for the verb "be".

paints - present subjunctive: "paint"

walks - present subjunctive: "walk"
thinks - present subjunctive: "think"
is - present subjunctive: "be"

Except for the verb "be", the past tense subjunctive is indistinguishable in form from the past tense indicative. The past tense subjunctive of "be" is "were".

painted - past subjunctive: "painted"

walked - past subjunctive: "walked"
thought - past subjunctive: "thought"
was - past subjunctive: "were"

The subjunctive is found in a handful of traditional circumstances. For example, in the sentence "God save the Queen", the verb "save" is in the subjunctive mood. Similarly, in the
sentence "Heaven forbid", the verb forbid is in the subjunctive mood.

The subjunctive is usually found in complex sentences. The subjunctive mood is used in dependent clauses to express unreal conditions and in dependent clauses following verbs
of wishing or requesting.

The subjunctive mood is used in a dependent clause attached to an independent clause that uses a verb such as "ask", "command", "demand", "insist", "order", "recommend",
"require", "suggest", or "wish".

The subjunctive mood is also used in a dependent clause attached to an independent clause that uses an adjective that expresses urgency (such as "crucial", "essential",
"important", "imperative", "necessary", or "urgent").

Each of the highlighted verbs in the following sentences is in the subjunctive mood.

It is urgent that Harraway attend Monday's meeting.

The Member of Parliament demanded that the Minister explain the effects of the bill on the environment.
The sergeant ordered that Calvin scrub the walls of the mess hall.
We suggest that Mr. Beatty move the car out of the no parking zone.
The committee recommended that the bill be passed immediately.
If Canada were a tropical country, we would be able to grow pineapples in our backyards.
If he were more generous, he would not have chased the canvassers away from his door.
I wish that this book were still in print.
If the council members were interested in stopping street prostitution, they would urge the police to pursue customers more vigorously than they pursue the
prostitutes.

05.51. Review: Transitive and Intransitive Verbs

Editor's note: I've reformatted the Review sections the form of questions, answers, and explanations.
Question: Identify whether the underlined verb or compound verb is used transitively or intransitively:
Q01. The old woman struggled up the hill, pulling a grocery cart that had lost one wheel behind her.
Ans: intransitive verb
Exp: The verb "struggled" does not have a direct object; the prepositional phrase "up the hill" acts as an adverb describing where she struggled.
Q02. Hermione is editing her uncle's memoirs of his lifetime as a green grocer.
Ans: transitive verb
Exp: The compound verb "is editing" takes a direct object -- the noun phrase "her uncle's memoirs".
Q03. Much to the amusement of the onlookers, Paul danced a minuet to the polka music that drifted out of the beer tent.
Ans: transitive verb
Exp: Here the verb "danced" is accompanied by a noun phrase ("a minuet") that acts as a direct object.
Q04. At the beginning of the play, the entire cast dances manically across the stage.
Ans: intransitive verb
Exp: In this sentence, the verb "dances" is not accompanied by a direct object. The phrase "manically across the stage" acts as an adverb describing where the dancing takes place.
Q05. Stella is reading quietly in the upstairs bedroom instead of doing her chores.
Ans: intransitive verb
Exp: The compound verb "is reading" is accompanied by the adverb "quietly" but does not take a direct object.
Q06. This term I am reading all of the works of Sylvia Townsend Warner.
Ans: transitive verb
Exp: In this sentence, the compound verb "am reading" takes the noun phrase "all of the works of Sylvia Townsend Warner" as a direct object.
Q07. At the feast, we will eat heartily.
Ans: intransitive verb
Exp: Here the compound verb is not associated with a direct object; "heartily" is an adverb modifying the compound verb.
Q08. Charles opened up his lunch, examined the contents carefully, and ate his dessert first.
Ans: transitive verb
Exp: In this sentence, the verb "ate" takes a direct object, the noun phrase "his dessert".
Q09. The Stephens sisters are both very talented; Virginia writes and Vanessa paints.
Ans: intransitive verb
Exp: The verb "paints" describes Vanessa's actions but takes no direct object; what Vanessa paints is not stated.
Q10. When I was three years old, my father left a can of paint open in my bedroom, and early one morning, I painted my baby brother's face green.
Ans: transitive verb
Exp: In the sentence, the verb "painted" takes the noun phrase "my baby brother's face" as a direct object.

0552. Review: Linking Verbs

Editor's note: I've reformatted the Review sections the form of questions, answers, and explanations.
Question: Identify whether the underlined verb is used as a linking verb:
Q01. Frankenstein is the name of the scientist not the monster.
Ans: Yes, this is a linking verb.
Exp: The verb "be" is usually used as a linking verb. The noun phrase "the name of the scientist not the monster" is a subject complement that identifies the proper noun
"Frankenstein".
Q02. The oenophile tasted several types of Beaujolais.
Ans: No, this is not a linking verb.
Exp: The verb "tasted" is accompanied by a noun phrase ("several types of Beaujolais") that acts as a direct object.
Q03. Francine's uncle grows prize winning dahlias.
Ans: No, this is not a linking verb.
Exp: Here the verb "grows" is used as a transitive verb and takes the noun phrase "prize winning dahlias" as a direct object.
Q04. The cheesecake tastes delicious.
Ans: Yes, this is a linking verb.
Exp: In this sentence, the verb "tastes" is used as a linking verb. The adjective "delicious" is a subject complement that identifies the subject of the sentence, "the cheesecake".
Q05. After smoking three cigars, Flannery turned green.
Ans: Yes, this is a linking verb.
Exp: Here the verb "turned" is used as a linking verb and the adjective "green" is a subject complement that defines the subject "Flannery".
Q06. The cat fastidiously smelled the dish of food placed before it.
Ans: No, this is not a linking verb.
Exp: In this sentence, the verb "smelled" is used as a transitive verb and takes the noun phrase "the dish of food" as a direct object.
Q07. The flowers always grow quickly during a sunny summer.
Ans: No, this is not a linking verb is correct.
Exp: Here the verb "grow" is used as an intransitive verb and is accompanied by the phrase "quickly during a sunny summer", which acts as an adverb
Q08. The stew that Gordon made smells too spicy to me.
Ans: Yes, this is a linking verb.
Exp: In this sentence, the verb "smells" is used as a linking verb and the phrase "too spicy" is a subject complement that identifies the nature of the stew. The dependent
clause "that Gordon made" functions as an adjective defining the nature of the stew.
Q09. Walter was annoyed because Ross turned pages too quickly.
Ans: No, this is not a linking verb.
Exp: Here the verb "turned" is used as a transitive verb and takes the direct object "pages".
Q10. David Garrick was a very prominent eighteenth-century actor.
Ans: Yes, this is a linking verb.
Exp: The verb "be" is usually used as a linking verb. The noun phrase "a very prominent eighteenth-century actor" is a subject complement that identifies the proper noun "David
Garrick".

05.rev.04. Review: Verb Tense

UKT: Review sections reformatted: questions, answers, and explanations.
Question: In the following sentences, identify whether the highlighted verb or compound verb is formed correctly:
Q01. Beryl had wringed all of water out of the clothes before she hung them on the line.
Ans: This compound verb is not correctly formed.
Exp: The correct form is "had wrung".
Q02. Last night the wind shooked the house so much that I could not sleep.
Ans: This verb is not correctly formed.
Exp: The correct form is "shook".
Q03. Once he had written a letter or two, he went upstairs and listened to his short-wave radio.
Ans: This compound verb is correctly formed.
Q04. The planes have flew over this neighbour for twenty years.
Ans: This compound verb is not correctly formed.
Exp: The correct form is "have flown".
Q05. The child who had been caught stealing bread was hanged at noon.
Ans: This compound verb is correctly formed.
Exp: The correct form is "was hanged". The verb ``hang'' has different forms depending on the subject of the verb. If an inanimate object is the subject of the verb, the past
participle is "hung". If a person is the subject of the verb, the past participle is "hanged".
Q06. I betted my entire salary on a nag named Mephibosheth.
Ans: This compound verb is not correctly formed.
Q07. After Lilith defied Adam, God cast her out of Paradise.
Ans: This compound verb is correctly formed.
Q08. The bells of the tower have rang for three hours in honour of the passing a generous soul.
Ans: This compound verb is not correctly formed.
Exp: The correct form is "have rung". Remember to distinguish between the past part ("rang") and the past participle ("rung").
Q09. The walls of the trenches that had been digged yesterday collapsed in the torrential downpour.
Ans: This compound verb is not correctly formed.
Exp: The correct form is "had been dug".
Q10. Marilla has forbade us to play in the hayloft while she is away.
Ans: This compound verb is not correctly formed.
Exp: The correct form is "has forbidden". Remember to distinguish between the past part ("forbade") and the past participle ("forbidden").

05.rev.05. Review: Verb Mood

Question: Identify whether the highlighted verbs in the following sentences are in the correct mood.
Q01. If an elephant was to fly in this window, I'd eat your toque.
Ans: The verb is not in the correct mood.
Exp: Since the sentence deals with an unreal condition (flying elephants) the subjunctive "were" should be used.
Q02. The chef insists that the wholesaler deliver fresh salad greens every morning.
Ans: The verb is in the correct mood.
Explanation: The subjunctive is appropriate here since it follows a verb of demanding ("insists").
Q03. It is crucial that Wendell arrives on time.
Ans: The verb is not in the correct mood.
Exp: The subjunctive form "arrive" should be used here since it follows an expression of necessity ("it is crucial").
Q04. If this apartment was any smaller, we would suffocate.
Ans: The verb is not in the correct mood.
Exp: Since the clause expresses an unreal condition, the subjunctive mood ("were") should be used
Q05. The committee recommends that all three buildings are condemned.
Ans: The compound verb is not in the correct mood.
Exp: The compound verb should be in the subjunctive ("be condemned") since it follows a verb of demanding
Q06. If Mae West was alive, she might enjoy Madonna's performances.
Ans: The verb is not in the correct mood.
Exp: Since the sentence expresses an unreal condition (Mae West is dead), the subjunctive ("were") should be used
Q07. Ms Watson requires that her baby sitter provides receipts.
Ans: The verb is not in the correct mood..
Exp: The subjunctive ("provide") should be used following the verb of demanding ("requires").
Q08. If instanteously reducing a room was an Olympic sport, Lynn would win the gold medal.
Ans: The verb is not in the correct mood.
Exp: The subjunctive ("were") should be used here instead of "was",because the clause describes an unreal condition. Messiness is not an Olympic sport
Q09. Bunbury wished that Oscar Wilde were still alive to write a sequel to The Importance of Being Earnest.
Ans: The verb is in the correct mood.
Exp: The subjunctive ("were") is the correct mood, for the clause expresses a wish that cannot come true since Wilde is dead

UKT notes
What is Tense?
tense (noun): a form of a verb used to indicate the time, and sometimes the continuation or completeness, of an action in relation to the time of speaking. (From Latin tempus =
time). -- englishclub.com

Tense is a method that we use in English to refer to time - past, present and future. Many languages use tenses to talk about time. Other languages have no tenses, but of course
they can still talk about time, using different methods.

So, we talk about time in English with tenses. But, and this is a very big but:

we can also talk about time without using tenses (for example, going to is a special construction to talk about the future, it is not a tense)
one tense does not always talk about one time (see Tense & Time for more about this)

Here are some of the terms used in discussing verbs and tenses:
Mood Voice Aspect
Mood
[UKT: There are four moods in English.]
indicative mood expresses a simple statement of fact, which can be positive (affirmative) or negative
I like coffee.
I do not like coffee.

interrogative mood expresses a question

Why do you like coffee?

imperative mood expresses a command

Sit down!

subjunctive mood expresses what is imagined or wished or possible

The President ordered that he attend the meeting.
[UKT: the example given is not illustrative. My favorite example is: "God save the Queen." Note that it is NOT "God saves the Queen" with agreement in number between "God"
and "saves". "God save the Queen" is a wish or a prayer which can be written as: "May God protect the Queen." I have seen arguments that there is no subjunctives in English.]

Voice
Voice shows the relationship of the subject to the action. In the active voice, the subject does the action (cats eat mice). In the passive voice, the subject receives the action (mice
are eaten by cats). Among other things, we can use voice to help us change the focus of attention.

Aspect
Aspect expresses a feature of the action related to time, such as completion or duration. Present simple and past simple tenses have no aspect, but if we wish we can stress with
other tenses that:

The action or state referred to by the verb is completed (and often still relevant), for example:
I have emailed the report to Jane. (so now she has the report)
-- (This is called perfective aspect, using perfect tenses.)

The action or state referred to by the verb is in progress or continuing (that is, uncompleted), for example:
We are eating.
-- (This is called progressive aspect, using progressive [continuous] tenses.)

Tense and Time

It is important not to confuse the name of a verb tense with the way we use it to talk about time. For example, a present tense does not always refer to present time:
I hope it rains tomorrow.
-- "rains" is present simple, but it refers here to future time (tomorrow)

Or a past tense does not always refer to past time:

If I had some money now, I could buy it.
-- "had" is past simple but it refers here to present time (now)
The examples [in the table showing Tense and Time ] show how different tenses can be used to talk about different times.

Basic Tenses
For past and present, there are 2 simple tenses + 6 complex tenses (using auxiliary verbs). To these, we can add 4 "modal tenses" for the future (using modal auxiliary verbs
will/shall). This makes a total of 12 tenses in the active voice. Another 12 tenses are available in the passive voice. So now we have 24 tenses.

The use of tenses in English may be quite complicated, but the structure of English tenses is actually very simple. The basic structure for a positive sentence is:
subject + auxiliary verb + main verb

An auxiliary verb is used in all tenses. (In the simple present and simple past tenses, the auxiliary verb is usually suppressed for the affirmative, but it does exist for intensification.)
The following table shows the 12 tenses for the verb to work in the active voice.

Basic tenses with regular and irregular verbs

This page [UKT: which is a combination of the original pages on "basic tenses with regular verbs" and "basic tenses with irregular verbs] shows the basic tenses with the regular
verb work [and irregular sing]. It includes the affirmative or positive form (+), the negative form (-) and the interrogative or question form (?).

The basic structure is:

Positive +: subject + aux verb + main verb
Negative - : subject + aux verb + not + main verb
Question?: aux verb + subject + main verb

These are the forms of the main verb that we use to construct the tenses: e.g.,

base verb: work , sing

past: worked , sang
past participle: worked , sung
present participle -ing : working , singing

Basic tenses with verb "Be" [is, am, was, were, be, been, being]
This page shows the basic tenses with the verb be. It includes the affirmative or positive form (+), the negative form (-) and the interrogative or question form (?).
The basic structure is:
Positive + : subject + aux verb + main verb
Negative - : subject + aux verb + not + main verb
Question? : aux verb + subject + main verb

BUT for simple past and simple present tenses, the structure is NOT the same. In fact, it's even easier. There is NO auxiliary verb :
Positive + : subject + main verb
Negative - : subject + main verb + not
Question ? : main verb + subject

These are the forms of the main verb be that we use to construct the tenses:
base: be
present simple: am, are, is
past simple: was, were
present participle: being
past participle: been
UKT: I am not comfortable with the construction CONTINUOUS PERFECT: have been + being: I feel I need to look into this further. The following examples are

You have been waiting here for two hours.
You have not been waiting here for two hours.
Have you been waiting here for two hours?

In the following table, we see be conjugated for 12 basic tenses.