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Special Problems in Tense Usage. (but don’t be tense – it will only make it worse!). 1. Use of the Past P erfect T ense. The Past P erfect Tense is formed with the word, had, preceding the past participle of a verb. For example: had worked, had flown, had written, had won, had hoped.
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Special Problems in Tense Usage (but don’t be tense – it will only make it worse!)
1. Use of the Past Perfect Tense • The Past Perfect Tense is formed with the word, had, preceding the past participle of a verb. For example: had worked, had flown, had written, had won, had hoped. • Use the Past Perfect Tense to indicate the earlier of two actions occurring in a sentence. • All the excuses he told me I heard before. • All of a sudden she remembered she left Judy’s gift at home.
2. “Would have” in “if” clauses • Avoid the use of “would have” in “if” clause that express the earlier of two past actions. Use the past prefect tense in these clauses. • If he would have played better, he’d have made the All-State team. • If I would have known that verbs were this easy, I’d have relaxed over the weekend.
3. “Having” + the past participle • In participial phrases, use “having” with the past participle to express action completed before another action. (having worked, having flown, having written, having won, having hoped) • Making her entrance, the princess danced the night away. • Winning the state semi-final, the golf team went on to play in the state final.
4. The present infinitive (to go, to see, to fly, etc.) • Use the present infinitive to express action following another action. • He intended to have written to all of us. • He wanted to have seen all the previous Harry Potter films.
5. The perfect infinitive (to have gone, to have seen, to have flown, etc.) • Use the perfect infinitive to express action before another action. • I am glad to see that movie last week. • I am happy to fly to Hawaii last month. Relax – these last two are easier than they sound. You will just do this naturally.
6. Use the present tense to express general truths. • I learned in 8th grade that Mt. Everest was the tallest mountain in the world. • She apparently thought that seeing was believing. • I did not know that Trenton was the capital of New Jersey.
Verb Quiz – Tuesday, May 21 • Remember 2/3 of the quiz is just on the principle parts of verbs – just the past tense and the past participle. (Just remember the 196 practice sentences your grammar group enjoyed last week at your grammar party.) • We will do a verb quiz warm-up prior to tomorrow’s quiz.
