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English Basics
Volume 2, Number 22, February 23, 1998
www.rhlschool.com
The Tense of a Verb, Part III
The tense of a verb is its time: past, present, or future.
Let's look at some examples of the perfect aspect (form) of these tenses.
Past perfect tense: I had ridden my bike to school.
Present perfect tense: I have ridden my bike to school.
Future perfect tense: I will have ridden my bike to school. (Sometimes "shall" is used instead of "will".
Indicate the tense of the highlighted verb in each sentence. The helping verb(s) will be highlighted with the main verb.
The first six verb tenses have been identified for you.
1._
We've looked everywhere for your ring.__ present
perfect (We've
is the contraction of We have.)
2._
I had always trusted him until
that moment.__ past perfect
3._
They will have run twenty miles by the end of the
day.__ future perfect
4._
Carol had always wanted to fly.__
past
perfect
5._ Has
anyone seen my purple wig?__ present perfect
6._
The stock's price will have doubled by the time you
buy it!__ future perfect
7._
The campfire's light has faded.
8._
She had suspected it all along.
9._
Trogmire has caught his foot in the cookie jar.
10. We'll have learned
many lessons by the end of the week.
11. This is the first time that Jeffrey has
beaten Laura at chess!
12. Monopoly had been
the old man's hobby for years.
13. Danielle will have finished
before you even start.
14. I've never heard
a voice so sweet.
15. Shadow had hidden
his mouse in Molly's shoe.
16. I'd yearned to know,
but had never asked.
17. A thousand fleas had lived
happily in his sweater.
18. We will have spent
a fortune before the house is rebuilt.
19. Samantha has
already read this book.
20. The squirrels have devoured
all the seeds.
Copyright 1998 RHL