Verb Tense Structure

PRESENT SIMPLE SUBJECT VERB FORMS

Has / does not have General time (non specific) the patient is

EXAMPLES
Has chronic asthma has no relatives does not have any relatives is a 63 year old man

PRESENT CONTINUOUS
Currently At the moment Now +

SUBJECT

VERB FORMS
ACTIVE

EXAMPLES

the patient

is (not) .... ing

is making good progress is eating / sleeping well is taking her medication is suffering from PASSIVE is being treated by ... / with.... / for .....

PASSIVE is being V3

PAST SIMPLE
On admission On presentation During her stay A few days ago In 2008
These are all specific times in the past.

SUBJECT

VERB FORMS
V2 (Past form) was + adjective was + ___ ing PASSIVE

arrived.../ had... / presented at... / reported that... / did not take alert / drowsy / anxious / depressed / calm was suffering from was treated by... / with... / for... was diagnosed with was given antibiotics was prescribed medication

EXAMPLES

the patient

PRESENT PERFECT
Since admission For 3 months Since 2007 already ...not... yet

SUBJECT

VERB FORMS
ACTIVE has (not) been V3 has been V3

EXAMPLES
has been unwell has made poor progress has had ongoing health issues has improved has been on a liquid diet has had the sutures removed has not had physiotherapy has been having problems with ..

the patient

has been _... ing

These are not specific times, but indicate events between a nonspecific time in the past and now.

PASSIVE

has been seen by ... has been treated by ... / with... / for ....

PAST PERFECT
On presentation Before seeking treatment Prior to admission Recently
This is used when we refer to an event BEFORE the first event mentioned in the same sentence.

SUBJECT

VERB FORMS
had had V3

had had a headache for two days had been in pain since Saturday had experienced lightheadedness

EXAMPLES

the patient

had (not) been ing V3 PASSIVE

had not been taking her medication had not been sleeping well had been cared for by his wife had been treated by ... / with.... / for

FUTURE

SUBJECT

VERB FORMS will V1

EXAMPLES
will have a procedure will need to be encouraged to

Tomorrow In three weeks

the patient

will be + ing

will be having a procedure

will be + adjective will be drowsy for a while afterwards PASSIVE

will be discharged (by... )

Past Tense The patient saw the doctor. (active) The Patient was seen by the doctor. (passive) The doctor treated the patient. (active) The patient was treated (by the doctor / staff) (passive) The Doctor gave medication to the patient. (active) Medication was given to the patient. (passive)

Active v Passive voice

Present Perfect Tense The Doctor has seen the patient. (active)

Future Tense The doctor will discharge the patient. (active) The patient will be discharged tomorrow. (passive)

The patient has been seen (by the doctor) (passive) The Doctor has treated the patient. (active) The patient has been treated (by...) (passive)