Verb Tenses

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Universidad MetropolitanaTítulo V Campus

Definitions

The verb “to be” is an irregular verb. It varies according to time, person, and number.

Ex: am, is, are, was, were.

Present Tense Past Tense Future Tense

Am Was Will

Is Was Will

Are Were Will

The tense is the time of action. It could be in present, past, future, present progressive and past progressive.

Conjugation

All these forms can be illustrated in a table called “conjugation”.

Person Pronouns Present Tense Past Tense

First I Am Was

Second We, They, You Are Were

Third He, She, It Is Was

1. Present Tense

2. Past Tense

3. Future Tense

4. Present Progressive

5. Past Progressive

Click on the subject you would like to explore.

PRESENT TENSE:Action takes place now or in the present time.

Person Singular Verb BE Person Plural Verb BE

First I am First We are

Second You are Second You are

Third He/She/It is Third They are

Singular: Plural:The doll is pretty. The dolls are pretty.

Examples of Present Tense

Singular Plural

1. I am a tutor at UMET.

2. You are the best boss.

3. She is my friend from Chile.

4. He is a great person.

5. It is a perfect day.

1. We are part of the group.

2.You are a good teacher.

3. They are very sad.

Exercises: Verb Be in Present Tense

1. I (am, is, are) from Venice, Italy.

2. We (am, is, are) friends.

3. Jasmine (am, is, are) her cousin’s name.

4. She (am, is, are) a dancer.

5. They (am, is, are) very glad.

6. It (am, is, are) a big puppy.

7. Those kids (am, is, are) very intelligent .

8. You (am, is, are) Annie’s uncle.

9. He (am, is, are) my boyfriend.

Choose the correct answer by clicking the word inside the parenthesis.

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PAST TENSE:Actions or activities that began and ended in the past.

Person Singular Verb BE Person Plural Verb BE

First I was First We were

Second You were Second You were

Third He/She/It was Third They were

Singular: Plural:The car was fast. The cars were fast.

Examples of Past Tense

Singular Plural

1. I was angry with you.

2. You were an excellent athlete .

3. She was my father’s secretary.

4. He was a lawyer.

5. It was a rainy day.

1. We were very happy.

2.You were a great partner.

3. They were at the beach.

Exercises: Verb Be in Past Tense

1. I (was, were) at Plaza del Sol.2. We (was, were) in that meeting.3. The flowers (was, were) really beautiful.4. She (was, were) happy for you.5. They (was, were) late.6. It (was, were) open until 9:00 p.m.7. The boy (was, were) always alone.8. You (was, were) ugly at the party.9. He (was, were) at the airport.

Choose the correct answer by clicking the word inside the parenthesis.

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FUTURE TENSE:

Person Singular Verb BE + main verb

Person Plural Verb BE +main verb

First I will walk First We will sing

Second You will play Second You will play

Third He/She/It will speak Third They will get

Action will take place in the future.

It is formed by using will + a main verb.

Singular: Plural:He will help me later. He will talk to you soon.

Examples of Future Tense

Singular Plural

1. I will play the piano some day.

2. You will take the test on July .

3. She will see a movie with me.

4. He will graduate on August.

5. It will get dirty very soon.

1. We will go to the store.

2. You will agree with this.

3. They will talk at the meeting.

Exercises: Verb Be in Future Tense

1. I (will) visit (will) my aunt today.2. We (will) be (will) at the concert.3. The plane (will) arrive (will) at 7:25 p.m.4. Zully (will) stay (will) here for the night .5. They (will) do (will) the assignment .6. It (will) fly (will) away .7. We (will) wake (will) up early for the tour. 8. You (will) say (will) the report in front of the class .9. Billy (will) take (will) classes with me the next semester .

Choose the correct position of (will) by clicking it.

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PRESENT PROGRESSIVE TENSE:

Person Singular (am, is, are) + (verb ‘be’+ -ing)

Person Plural (am, is, are) + (verb ‘be’+ -ing)

First I am being First We are being

Second You are being Second You are being

Third He/She/It is being Third They are being

Actions or situations in progress at the moment of speaking.

It is formed by (am, is, are) + (verb ‘be’ + -ing).

Singular: Plural:Leroy is being polite. They are being respectful.

Examples of Present Progressive

Singular Plural

1. I am being selfish.

2. You are being a good doctor.

3. She is being a great daughter.

4. He is being my tutor.

5. It is being really nice.

1. We are being friends.

2. You are being too proud.

3. They are being patient.

Exercises: Verb Be in Present Progressive Tense

1. I (am being, is being, are being) an awful friend.

2. We (am being, is being, are being) volunteers at the foundation.

3. My boss (am being, is being, are being) very professional.

4. She (am being, is being, are being) very fashion.

5. Carlos and Sophie (am being, is being, are being) responsible.

6. It (am being, is being, are being) a short day.

7. The nurse (am being, is being, are being) very careful.

8. You (am being, is being, are being) a great employee.

9. Mathew (am being, is being, are being) too noisy.Back

Choose the correct answer by clicking the word inside the parenthesis.

PAST PROGRESSIVE TENSE:

Person Singular (am, is, are) + (verb ‘be’+ -ing)

Person Plural (am, is, are) + (verb ‘be’+ -ing)

First I was being First We were being

Second You were being Second You were being

Third He/ She/ It was being Third They were being

Describes actions or activities that happened in the past over a period of time or an action in the past that was interrupted.

It is formed by:

the past tense of the verb ‘be’ (was/were) + (verb ‘be’ + -ing).

Singular: Plural: They were being wild. The horse was being aggressive.

Examples of Past Progressive

Singular Plural

1. I was being attack.

2. You were being kind.

3. She was being clumsy.

4. He was being awkward.

5. It is being shy.

1. We were being brave.

2. You were being terrible.

3. They were being good kids.

Exercises: Verb Be in Past Progressive Tense:

1. I (was being, were being) mean.

2. Lucy and Sissy (was being, were being) compassionate.

3. John (was being, were being) funny.

4. She (was being, were being) nice.

5. They (was being, were being) friendly .

6. It (was being, were being) tricky.

7. The boys (was being, were being) grumpy.

8. You (was being, were being) annoying.

9. He (was being, were being) grateful.

Choose the correct answer from the words inside the parenthesis. (was being, were being)

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Bibliography

http://www.englishpage.com http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu

/grammar/ http://www.gpc.edu

http://www.wordreference.com

Prepared by:

Cristabel R. Ocasio Ilarraza Nirazatte L. González Abella

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