8.

Verb tense meanings

Each different tense for in English has a different meaning. The chart below
summarizes these verb tense meanings.
Tense form
Simple present

Simple past

Simple future

Tense meaning
Expresses an event or situation that exist now or that
usually, always, or often exists.
He always eats supper at 7:30
Water boils at 100 degrees centigrade.
Expresses an event or situation that began and ended in
the past.
He ate supper last night at 7:30
Expresses an event or situation that will happen at one
particular time in the future

He will eat dinner tomorrow night at 7:30

The
continuous Give the idea that an event or situation is in progress
tenses
during a particular time.

The
tenses

While he was eating, the doorbell rang.

perfect Give the idea that one event happens or happened before
another time or event.
He had eaten before she arrived.

The meaning of a tense used in an English sentence must agree with the time
meaning of the rest of the sentence. The time meaning of a sentence is often
determined by words or expressions that act as time markers.
Some common time
Since
Often used with the perfect tenses-to indicate a particular time
For
Often used with the perfect tenses or the simple tenses-to
indicate a duration of time
Yet
Often used with the perfect tenses-in negative meanings and in
questions
Already
Often used with the perfect tenses-in affirmative meanings
Yesterday
Often used with past tenses
Today
Often used with present tenses
Tomorrow
Often used with the future tenses or with the present continuous
tense when it refers to the future
During
Often used with the simple and continuous tenses to show a
duration of time. Not usually used with the perfect tenses
Over the past Often used with the present perfect tense to indicate time
few
starting in the past and continuing to the present
Usually
Often used with the simple tenses to indicate habitual actions
Now
Often used with the present continuous tense

Exercise 8B: Choose the incorrect verb in each sentence. Correct each error.
1. My brother, who was a biology student, was now studying to be a
A
B
doctor.
Correction:

2. Americans found themselves with less free time over the past few
A
decades even though they are earning more money.
B
Correction:

3. Since it was first invented in 1879, the light bulb became indispensable
A
B
in American households.
Correction:

4. At this time, more and more women who work felt it is difficult to manage
A
B
their careers and their private lives.
Correction:

5. James had started his career as a pianist before he is thirteen years old.
A
B
Correction:

6. We always are going for a walk after we eat dinner.

A
B
Correction: