Page 43 - Yellow Feather Book 1

Keeping Tense Consistency
verb Tense ConsisTenCY
There are three main verb forms for showing time or tense:
Simple Tense
A simple tense verb does not use auxiliary verbs. It tells you about an action that happens
right now, an action that happened in the past or an action that will happen in the future.
Simple present (action goes on now): Mother Wolf lies Simple past (action happened and is over): Mother Wolf lay Simple future (action will happen): Mother Wolf will lie
Perfect Tense
A perfect tense verb uses the auxiliary verbs have, has, or had. It tells you about an action that has not finished and that continues over time.
Present perfect (action happened and may still be going on): Mother Wolf has lain
Past perfect (action happened before something happened in the past): Mother Wolf had lain
Future perfect (action will be considered in the future, by which time it will have already happened): Mother Wolf will have lain
Progressive Tense
A progressive tense verb uses the auxiliary verbs is, are, was, or were with –ing ending on
the main verb. This tense focuses on “progress” of action.
Present progressive (action is in progress right now): Mother Wolf is lying
Past progressive (action was in progress in the past): Mother Wolf was lying
Future progressive (action will be in progress in the future): Mother Wolf will be lying
42 The Yellow Feather Literature Third Course