Verb Tenses

To Think About Verb Tenses, Use a

Timeline

By Lily, Raja and Kwan 1

We are stuck in the present.
But, we can remember the past and
think about the future.

We do this with our inner eye.

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 How Does It Work?

Think of this as your inner-eye.

This is what we use to remember
and to imagine with.

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If we really think about time,
we are always stuck in the
present.

The Present
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 Lets use the inner-eye.

Thinking about the past. Thinking about the future.

The Past The Present The Future

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 By using the inner-eye,
lets now build a time line.

Past Present Future

am jogging

I am jogging in the park.

What makes this action in the present tense?

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 Lets think about yesterday.
Thinking about the past.

Past Present Future

was jogging

Yesterday, I was jogging in the park.

What makes this action in the past tense?

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Lets think about tomorrow.
Thinking about the future.

Past Present Future

will be jogging

Tomorrow, I will be jogging in the park.

What makes this action in the future tense?

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 What Marks the Past, Present, and
Future?

Past Present Future

was jogging am jogging will be jogging

Notice that jogging is in the past, present and future.

It really has no tense. It is just a continuation of an
action which is marked by the ing.

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 Lets think about the near past.

Past Present Future

have
been
jogging

Today, I have been jogging in the park.

What marks this action in the present tense?

What marks this action in the past tense?

Notice that jogging is now in the past and in the 1

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 Lets think about the past.

Past Present Future

was jogging

Yesterday, I was jogging in the park.

What marks this action in the past?

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 Lets think further into the past.
day before yesterday

Past/Past Past Present Future

had
been
jogging

The day before yesterday, I had been jogging in the park.

What marks the action as past?

What marks the action further into the past?

Notice jogging is in the past and further in the past. 1

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 Compare Patterns.

Past Present Future

have
been
jogging

Past/Past Past Present Future

had
been
jogging 1
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Think about the future as if it is the past.

Past Present tomorrow by 2 Future

will
have
been
jogging

By 2 oclock tomorrow, I will have been jogging for two hours.

What marks the future? What marks the past?

What marks the present? 1

Notice jogging is in the future, present and past.
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 Think about the past as if it is the
future.

Past yesterday Present Future

have
been should
jogging

Yesterday, I should have been jogging in the park.

What marks the past? What marks the future?

What marks the present? 1

Notice that jogging is in the past, present and future.
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The End

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The End

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