Tense & Verbs

How to use tenses

When writing, it’s important to use the correct form of a verb.

The verb is the part of a sentence that shows thechart of tense

• it shows when something is happening.

Verbs come in three main tenses - past tense, present tense and future tense.

Find out how to use tenses.

Past tense

Most novels are written in the past tense. Readers are more familiar with this tense because they are used to being told a story that has already taken place.

For most verbs you add an ‘ed’ at the end of the word to change it to the past tense - for example, ‘she talks’ becomes ‘she talked’. However, there are some irregular verbs where the whole word changes in the past tense. For example:

I choose - I chose

They build - they built

She swims - she swam

It’s also important to make sure you use the right word for the past tense of the verb ‘to be’.

Use ‘was’ when you’re writing about a single person - ‘I was, he was, she was’.

Use ‘were’ for more than one person and for direct address - ‘We were, they were, you were’.

Present tense

The present tense is used when writing about something that is happening at that moment. Sometimes a fiction writer may use the present tense to make their writing more immediate, as in this example from The Time Traveller’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger:

• It’s hard being left behind. I wait for Henry, not knowing where he is, wondering if he’s okay. It’s hard to be the one who stays.’

It is also common for essays to be written in the present tense. For example:

• Stevenson suggests that man is inherently evil by showing the changes in Jekyll’s character as he develops from a friendly, kind and well-mannered gentleman into a violent criminal.’

However, if you are writing about the writer of the text when they are no longer alive, you can use the past tense. For example:

'Dickens was interested in those characters on the edges of society.'

Future tense

The future tense is often used in speech, for example when planning a future event:

• We will meet at 5 pm at the museum.’

In writing, it could also be used to talk about something that hasn’t happened yet. You might use the future tense when writing an introduction to a scientific report or essay, to let readers know what you will be discussing. For example:

• In this report, I will be covering the details of the experiment and my findings.’

The future tense might also be used to create an impact in a piece of non-fiction writing. For example, in a persuasive speech:

• Should we let them control our lives? No! We shall find ways to fight back.’

Remember

When writing be aware of your verb tense. Carelessly switching from one tense to another can confuse the reader. For example:

• He could hear a pin drop. He picks up the pen. He began to write.’

However, changing the tense deliberately can have a positive impact on your reader. For example, if you were writing a persuasive speech you may swap from the past tense to the present tense to force your listeners to think about taking action:

• We have slowly been destroying our world. Take action today to stop this destruction.’

Finally, always proofread your work to make sure your tense and meaning is clear.

Be aware of the impact that changing tenses may have on a reader Quiz

Find out how much you know about tenses in this short quiz!

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02Verbs and tenses

To revise verbs and use the past, present and future tenses in your own writing.

This lesson includes:

a video to help you revise verbs

a video to help you understand past tense verbs

four activities

It's important to understand what verbs are before you start writing in different tenses. Watch this short clip to revise verbs.

A verb is a word used to describe an action, state or occurrence.

Verbs can be used to describe an action (doing something).

For example, like the word ‘jumping’ in this sentence:

The rabbit was jumping in the field.

Verbs can be used to describe a state (being or feeling something).

For example, the word ‘likes’ here:

The monster likes rollercoasters.

Verbs can also be used to describe an occurrence (something happening).

For example, the word ‘became’ in this sentence:

The caterpillar became a butterfly.

When writing, make sure every sentence includes a verb.

Now, watch the following clip to learn how past tense verbs are different to present and future verbs.

When you are writing, the verbs you use show if the events have already happened, are happening now or will happen in the future.

The past tense is used for things that have already happened. Past tense verbs often end in –ed but not always.

For example: I walked to the shop.

The present tense is used when something is happening now or when something happens regularly.

For example: I am walking to the shop.

The future tense is used to talk about things that haven't happened yet.

For example: I will walk to the shop.

You may need paper and a pen or pencil for some of these activities.

Activity 1: verbs

Highlight all the verbs in the sentences.

Remember: Verbs can be a word used to describe an action, state or occurrence.

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Activity 2: present tense

The picture below called 'At the park' is a little strange. Some of the people in it are doing some silly things!

Write five sentences in the present tense about what the people in the picture are doing.

Try to make your sentences interesting by adding in some impressive vocabulary such as adjectives and adverbs.

Top tip!

To use present tense you should write as if it is happening now.

For example: The woman is calmly walking a massive tiger along the path.

Activity 3: past tense

When verbs are written in the past tense they often end in –ed.

If the word already ends in an e then you just need to add a –d.

For example: free = freed, agree = agreed

However, this is not always the rule. Sometimes the word completely changes.

For example: run = ran

Complete the Party Time activity sheet.

Top tip!

Think carefully about how to change the verbs to the past tense. Do you need to add –ed or change the word?

Activity 4: future tense

Imagine something you are going to do in the future. It could be going to see a friend, going on a bike ride or going out to play.

Write five sentences in the future tense about what you will do.

For example: I will ride my bike down the hill.

Top tip!

If something is in the future it means you haven't done it yet, but you will someday.

In this lesson you have revised verbs and used past, present and future tenses.

There are other useful articles on Bitesize.

03How to Use Tenses within Scientific Writing

Written by: Chloe Collier

One’s tense will vary depending on what one is trying to convey within their paper or section of their paper. For example, the tense may change between the methods section and the discussion section.

Abstract --> Past tense

The abstract is usually in the past tense due to it showing what has already been studied.

Example: "This study was conducted at the Iyarina Field School, and within the indigenous Waorani community within Yasuni National Park region."

Introduction --> Present tense

The introduction is usually in present tense due to the fact that you are presenting facts and background information on your research topic. By having this information in present tense, you are showing that you believe that this research is correct. Present tense should still be used even if the research you are speaking of aged.

Example: " Clidemia heterophylla and Piperaceae musteum are both plants with ant domata, meaning that there is an ant mutualism which protects them from a higher level of herbivory."

Methods --> Past tense

In the methods section one would use past tense due to what they have done was in the past.

It has been debated whether one should use active or passive voice. The scientific journal Nature states that one should use active voice as to convey the concepts more directly.

It can be beneficial to use passive when one wants to keep a similar subject in a series of sentences within a paragraph. Passive voice also allows one to help move words to emphasize them. Passive voice can also be useful when emphasizing the action but not the one doing the action.

Example: "In the geographic areas selected for the study, ten random focal plants were selected as points for the study."

Results --> Past tense

Past tense would typically be used due to these results being found in the past

Example: "We observed that there was no significant statistical difference in herbivory on Piperaceae between the two locations, Yasuni National Park, Ecuador (01° 10’ 11, 13"S and 77° 10’ 01. 47 NW) and Iyarina Field School, Ecuador (01° 02’ 35.2" S and 77° 43’ 02. 45" W), with the one exception being that there was found to be a statistical significance in the number count within a one-meter radius of Piperaceae musteum (Piperaceae)."

Discussion --> Present tense and past tense

One would use present tense if they are explaining why one cares about their results and why they are important

Example: "Symbiotic ant mutualistic relationships within species will defend their host plant since the plant provides them with food. In the case of Melastomataceae, they have swellings at the base of their petioles that house the ants and aid to protect them from herbivores."

One would use past tense to summarize one’s results

Example: "In the future to further this experiment, we would expand this project and expand our sample size in order to have a more solid base for our findings."

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