Verbs: Past and Present Tense

Each verb has two simple indicative forms: present and past.

Present verbs include: I am, you walk, they buy.

Past tense verbs include: I was, you walked, they bought.

Verbs are easy to use in the present and past tense forms. There are not many conjugations and, unless the verb is irregular, you just ad –ed to the end to make it past tense.

To Walk is a regular verb. Here are the present and past tense conjugations of To Walk.

Present Tense
	Singular		Plural
First Person	I	walk	We	walk
Second Person	You	walk	Informal: You guys	walk
Third Person	He, She, It	walks	They	walk

Past Tense
	Singular		Plural
First Person	I	walked	We	walked
Second Person	You	walked	Informal: You guys	walked
Third Person	He, She, It	walked	They	walked

To Be is an irregular verb. Here are the present and tense conjugations of To Be.

Present Tense
	Singular		Plural
First Person	I	am	We	are
Second Person	You	are	Informal: You guys	are
Third Person	He, She, It	is	They	are

Past Tense
	Singular		Plural
First Person	I	was	We	were
Second Person	You	were	Informal: You guys	were
Third Person	He, She, It	was	They	were

To Buy is an irregular verb. Here are the present and past tense conjugations of To Buy.

Present Tense
	Singular		Plural
First Person	I	buy	We	buy
Second Person	You	buy	Informal: You guys	buy
Third Person	He, She, It	buys	They	buy

Past Tense
	Singular		Plural
First Person	I	bought	We	bought
Second Person	You	bought	Informal: You guys	bought
Third Person	He, She, It	bought	They	bought

As you can see, regular verbs are easy to turn into past tense. Irregular verbs are a bit harder. Here's a more complete list of irregular verbs and some of their conjunctions (including past tense).

Infinitive	Present Tense	Past Tense
to be	is, am, are,	was, were
to beat	beat, beats	beat
to become	become, becomes	became
to begin	begin, begins	began
to blow	blow, blows	blew
to break	break, breaks	broke
to bring	bring, brings	brought
to burst	burst, bursts	burst
to buy	buy, buys	bought
to choose	choose, chooses	chose
to come	come, comes	came
to cost	cost, costs	cost
to creep	creep, creeps	crept
to cut	cut, cuts	cut
to do	do, does	did
to draw	draw, draws	drew
to drink	drink, drinks	drank
to eat	eat, eats	ate
to fall	fall, falls	fell
to feel	feel, feels	felt
to fight	fight, fights	fought
to find	find, finds	found
to fly	fly, flies	flew
to freeze	freeze, freezes	froze
to get	get, gets	got
to give	give, gives	gave
to go	go, goes	went
to grow	grow, grows	grew
to have	have, has	had
to hang	hang, hangs	hung
to hold	hold, holds	held
to know	know, knows	knew
to lay	lay, lays	laid
to leap	leap, leaps	leapt
to leave	leave, leaves	left
to lie	lie, lies	lay
to light	light, lights	lit
to lose	lose, loses	lost
to make	make, makes	made
to mean	mean, means	meant
to meet	meet, meets	met
to put	put, puts	put
to read	read, reads	read
to ride	ride, rides	rode
to ring	ring, rings	rang
to rise	rise, rises	rose
to run	run, runs	ran
to see	see, sees	saw
to sell	sell, sells	sold
to send	send, sends	sent
to set	set, sets	set
to shake	shake, shakes	shook
to shoot	shoot, shoots	shot
to shrink	shrink, shrinks	shrunk
to shut	shut, shuts	shut
to sing	sing, sings	sang
to sink	sink, sinks	sank
to sit	sit, sits	sat
to sleep	sleep, sleeps	slept
to speak	speak,speaks	spoke
to spring	spring, springs	sprang
to steal	steal, steals	stole
to strike	strike, strikes	struck
to swim	swim, swims	swam
to swear	swear, swears	swore
to take	take, takes	took
to teach	teach, teaches	taught
to tell	tell, tells	told
to think	think, thinks	thought
to throw	throw, throws	threw
to wear	wear, wears	wore
to wind	wind, winds	wound
to write	write, writes	wrote

Practice Problems:

Verb Tense: Past/Present Practice
Correct the verb tense in the following sentences, if necessary:
Note: the first set of questions are about something that happened yesterday: they should be in past tense.
Yesterday, I buy a Valentine's Day present for my friend.
I goed to the store and look at all of the red items.
My friend always likes cute stuffed animals.
So, I search for Beanie Boos.
I know that my friend loves marine animals.
They didn't had any seals or walruses.
But then I seed a dolphin.
I knowed that a dolphin would be perfect for my friend.
I wished it is purple and not pink, but I knewed she will love it anyway.
Now, "Today" is signally that these actions are happening now. Unless there is something going on in the sentence that tells you that that part is in past tense, these verbs should be present tense.
Today, when I went to school, I will brought it to my friend.
Before I go to school, I wrap it with tissue paper.
I also maked a cute card, and drew all kinds of marine animals with purple hearts on it.
As soon as I get in the door of the school, I sees her.
I give her the gift and she tooked it and unwraps it right away.
She loves it, just the way I know that she will.
I am so glad that I buyed her a gift that she loves.
I was so surprised when she gaves me a gift too!
I did not expect it!
But I is very happy to receive it.
I unwrap it right away.
I smiled so big.
I love the stuffed elephant that she gave me!
Verbs: Present and Past Tense Practice

In the following sentences, fill in the blank with the correct form (either present or past tense) of the verbs.
1) Today, Jack _________________ (to want) to find a way to help his mom.

2) He _______________(to know) that she ________________ (to need) some extra money to buy food for the family.

3) He ____________________ (to feel) really said and disappointed.

4) Early that day, Jack __________________ (to want) to sell the family cow.

5) He went to the Smith’s house and said, “You guys ______________ (to see) how great this cow is? I know that you _______________ (to want) to buy it from me!”

6) The Smiths said, “We _________________ (to understand) how much your family _________________ (to crave) a good meal. But we already _____________________ (to possess) a wonderful cow of our own!”

7) Then Mrs. Smith ________________ (to ask), “Did you ___________________ (to ask) the Jamisons? Last week, I heard that they _______________ (to need) a new cow because their cow ___________________ (to escape) from their barn.”

8) When Ms. Smith said that, Jack __________________________ (to decided) to visit the Jamison’s as soon as possible. But, Ms. Smith ___________________________ (to explain) that they live to far away to go today.

9) Now, as he _________________________ (to walk) into his front yard, Jack ______________________ (to know) that his mom will ask him about the cow.

10) When she _____________________ (to see) him, Jack’s mom ___________________ (to inquire) if he has had any luck selling the cow.

11) Jack ________________________(to shake) his head sadly.

12) He ___________________________(to say), “Sorry, Mom. When I went to the Smiths, they __________________________ (to explain) that they did not need a new cow. But now, I __________________________ (to plan) to go see the Jamisons tomorrow. Don’t worry! I will find someone to buy the cow. I _______________________ (to promise) that I will not let you down.”

Test Prep Practice

Verb Tense Agreement Test Prep
Last year, $\underset{\text{A}}{\operatorname{\underline{\text{graphic designer}}}}$ Nickolay Lamm $\underset{\text{B}}{\operatorname{\underline{\text{has created}}}}$ some concept images of "Normal Barbie," a doll with average human proportions, $\underset{\text{C}}{\operatorname{\underline{\text{that became}}}}$ very popular around $\underset{\text{D}}{\operatorname{\underline{\text{the Internet.}}}}$ $\underset{\text{E}}{\operatorname{\underline{\text{No error.}}}}$

Because my parents were Korean War refugees, $\underset{\text{A}}{\operatorname{\underline{\text{plunked}}}}$ in the middle of the midwestern United States, in my childhood I $\underset{\text{B}}{\operatorname{\underline{\text{have}}}}$ zero relatives: $\underset{\text{C}}{\operatorname{\underline{\text{no cousins, }}}}$ no aunts or uncles, no grandparents, and thus I was not regularly exposed to the $\underset{\text{D}}{\operatorname{\underline{\text{cycle of life.}}}}$ $\underset{\text{E}}{\operatorname{\underline{\text{No error.}}}}$

I realize now that I have fulfilled $\underset{\text{A}}{\operatorname{\underline{\text{my childhood}}}}$ dream of $\underset{\text{B}}{\operatorname{\underline{\text{becoming a writer,}}}}$ despite everyone $\underset{\text{C}}{\operatorname{\underline{\text{telling}}}}$ me it could not $\underset{\text{D}}{\operatorname{\underline{\text{be done.}}}}$ $\underset{\text{E}}{\operatorname{\underline{\text{No error.}}}}$

Imagine you are deep $\underset{\text{A}}{\operatorname{\underline{\text{under}}}}$ water, watching brightly colored schools of fish $\underset{\text{B}}{\operatorname{\underline{\text{swimming}}}}$ by, when suddenly you see a dark, ominous figure $\underset{\text{C}}{\operatorname{\underline{\text{emerge}}}}$ in the distance, and you $\underset{\text{D}}{\operatorname{\underline{\text{could not}}}}$call for help. $\underset{\text{E}}{\operatorname{\underline{\text{No error.}}}}$

It $\underset{\text{A}}{\operatorname{\underline{\text{was}}}}$ amazing that Ms. Zuiki will give extra credit points to $\underset{\text{B}}{\operatorname{\underline{\text{students}}}}$ who demonstrate, through $\underset{\text{C}}{\operatorname{\underline{\text{an additional project,}}}}$ that they have $\underset{\text{D}}{\operatorname{\underline{\text{mastered}}}}$ the material. $\underset{\text{E}}{\operatorname{\underline{\text{No error.}}}}$

The period right before the American Revolution was a time of great controversy; although the young colonists were worried about their young nation and feared fighting the British, it $\underline{\text{is a heady era for the young nation.}}$
is a heady era for the young nation.
was a heady era for the young nation.
were a heady era for the young nation.
are a heady era for the young nation.
will be a heady era for the young nation.

Don't rush to judge your relationship; $\underline{\text{you will know that you have found the person that you are meant to spend your entire life with}}$ only after you have lived through great trials and great joys and your love has survived.
You will know that you have found the person that you are meant to spend your entire life with <
You knew that you have found the person that you are meant to spend your entire life with
You did know that you have found the person that you are meant to spend your entire life with
You couldn't know that you have found the person that you are meant to spend your entire life with
You know that you have found the person that you are meant to spent your entire life with
Although there is a great deal of physical evidence that supports the theory of natural selection, $\underline{\text{in the more than a century since Darwin proposed it, countless scientists and philosophers will oppose it.}}$
in the more than a century since Darwin proposed it, countless scientists and philosophers will oppose it.
in the more than a century since Darwin proposed it, countless scientists and philosophers oppose it.
in the more than a century since Darwin proposed it, countless scientists and philosophers opposed it.
in the more than a century since Darwin proposed it, countless scientists and philosophers have opposed it.
in the more than a century since Darwin proposed it, countless scientists and philosophers will always oppose it.
I want to become the type of person who, once she determines the path she wants to take and the goals she wants to reach, $\underline{\text{never wavered from that course of action.}}$
never wavered from that course of action.
never have wavered from that course of action.
never will wavered from that course of action.
never wavers from that course of action.
never wavered off of that course of action.
$\underline{\text{When the Ukrainian president is on the verge of entering a trade pact with Western Europe,}}$ Putin, the Russian President, bullied him into pulling out and, instead, entering an extended agreement with Russia.
When the Ukrainian president is on the verge of entering a trade pact with Western Europe,
When the Ukrainian president is on the verge of entering a trade pact with Western Europe;
When the Ukrainian president was on the verge of entering a trade pact with Western Europe,
When the Ukrainian president was on the verge of entering a trade pact with Western Europe;
When the Ukrainian president will beon the verge of entering a trade pact with Western Europe,
Answer Key:
- Tense Agreement Test Prep AK

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Advanced Parts of Speech

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Verbs: Past and Present Tense

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Verb Tense: Past/Present Practice

Verbs: Present and Past Tense Practice

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Verb Tense Agreement Test Prep

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