This applies the four principal parts of verbs to six verb tenses including progressive and emphatic forms.

1. Recognizing
Verb Tenses
English 9
Mr. Warren

2. Important Definitions
• The tense of a verb indicates the time
of the action.
• The conjugation of a verb refers to
the way a verb changes based on
time, plurality, and person (1st, 2nd, 3rd)

3. Don’t Get Confused
The four principal parts form the foundation for
how a verb can be used in six different tenses:
Past Past Perfect
Present Present Perfect
Future Future Perfect

4. Know Them!
Tense Formation
Present present form
Past past form
Future will or shall + present
Present Perfect have or has + past part.
Past Perfect had + past participle
Future Perfect will have or shall have +
past part.

5. Conjugation Structure
Present Tense Singular Plural
First
(person speaking)
I go We go
Second
(Person spoken to)
You go You go
Third
(Person spoken about)
He, she, it goes They go

6. But There’s
More!
Using the four principal parts to conjugate six
tenses, you might also add two forms:
• Progressive form shows continuous
(continuing to progress) action; uses being
verbs.
• Emphatic form shows emphasis in the present
and past; uses “do” verbs (do, does, did).

7. Progressive Form
(use “being verbs”)
Example Verb Tense
I shall be going.
shall – future tense
be – being verb
Future progressive
I have been going.
have – present perfect
been – being verb
Present perfect progressive
I had been going.
had – past perfect
been – being verb
Past perfect progressive
I shall have been going.
will/shall have – future perfect
been – being verb
Future perfect progressive

8. Emphatic Form
(use “do” verbs – do, does, did)
Example Verb Tense
I did go.
did – past form of do
Past emphatic
I do go.
do – present form of do.
Present emphatic
Remember – emphatic only
applies with the present and
past.

9. Why?
Present indicates an action occurring now.
Past indicates an action that has already
occurred.
Future indicates an action that will (or shall)
occur.

10. Why Perfect?
A perfect tense is typically used to describe an ongoing action
completed (e.g. “perfect”):
• Present perfect – action begun in the past and is now
completed
• Corey has completed his science project.
• Past perfect – action that was completed before another
past action
• Mrs. Stone had already bought the gifts before the sale
started.
• Future perfect – action that will be completed before
another future action
• He will have visited all the major cities before he returns.

11. Recognizing
Verb Tenses
English 9
Mr. Warren