When writing English sentences the writer may have a simple subject or a combination of subject and an object. To describe any actions or states of being the writer must use a verb or verbs to show who or what initiated, experienced or received the action or state of being.
The selection of verb and verb tense provides the writer with a wide variety of choices when expressing the relationships between the subjects, objects and external factors such as time.
The following is a simple set of examples of verb tenses and sentences.
SIMPLE PRESENT
1. [verb]
I study English everyday.
SIMPLE PAST
1. [verb + ed]
Two years ago, I studied English in Canada.
SIMPLE FUTURE
1. [am/is/are] + [going to] + [verb]
I am going to study English next year in Canada.
2. [will] + [verb]
I will study English tomorrow.
PRESENT CONTINUOUS
1. [am / is / are] + [verb + ing]
I am studying English now.
PAST CONTINUOUS
1. [was /were] + [verb + ing]
I was studying English when you called this morning.
FUTURE CONTINUOUS
1. [will be] + [verb + ing] 2. [am /is /are] + [going to be] + [verb + ing]
I will be studying English when you arrive today.
We are going to be studying English next year in Canada.
PRESENT PERFECT
1. [has /have] + [past participle]
I have studied English in several Canadian cities.
PAST PERFECT
1. [had] + [past participle]
I had studied English before I moved to Canada.
FUTURE PERFECT
1. [will have] + [past participle]
I will have studied all the verb tenses by the end of today.
2. [am/is/are] + [going to have] + [past participle]
We are going to have studied all the chapters by five o'clock.
PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS
1. [has/have] + [been] + [verb + ing]
I have been studying English for two years.
PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS
1. [had been] + [verb + ing]
I had been studying English for two years before I moved to Canada.
FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS
1. [will have been] + [verb + ing]
I will have been studying English for one hour by the time you arrive.
2. [am/is/are] + [going to have been] + [verb + ing]
We are going to have been studying for three hours.
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