Exercise 2. Write two sentences containing a verb in Write two sentences containing a verb the past tense. in the present tense. verb in the future tense. Write two sentences containing a Exercise 3.-Change the verbs in these sentences to other tenses: 1. The farmer plows the ground. 2. The boy sailed his boat. 3. The rain fell and the wind blew. 4. The flowers will bloom in the spring. 5. I live in New Orleans. 6. The circus came to town yesterday. 7. The cold weather will return. 8. We shall have snow. LESSON 80. — MORE ABOUT TENSES In addition to the three simple tenses, there are also tenses which refer to the action as completed or perfect in past, present, or future time. The sentence I have finished my lessons means that the action is completed or perfect in present time. I had finished my lessons means that the action was completed in some past time. I will have finished my lessons means that the action will have been completed in some future time. This gives rise to three perfect tenses: the present perfect, the past perfect, and the future perfect. The perfect tenses use have or had to indicate the completed action. Thus we have six tenses: three simple tenses, and three perfect tenses. When the action is completed in present time, the verb is in the present perfect tense. I have done all that I intend to do. When the action was completed in a certain past time, the verb is in the past perfect tense. I had finished my dinner when he called. The king had passed before we arrived. When the action will have been completed by a certain future time, the verb is in the future perfect tense. The house will have burned by that time. He will have gone unless you call before dark. It is well to bear in mind these rules: 1. Have is used to form the present perfect tense. 2. Had is used to form the past perfect tense. 3. Will have or shall have is used to form the future perfect tense. Exercise. In these sentences name the verbs and their tenses: 1. I have done all that becomes a man. 2. We had slept an hour before dinner. 3. You will have heard of me by this time next year. 4. I have fought a good fight. I have kept the faith. 5. The battle will have occurred before we arrive. 6. I had often heard of his singing. 7. I have received an answer to my letter. 8. We had spent all our money before we left. 9. The custom had fallen into disuse. 10. We have engaged rooms at the hotel. 11. The pitcher had gone too often to the well. LESSON 81.-PROGRESSIVE FORM OF TENSES There are other ways of expressing the time of the action besides those we have studied. In the sentence I am writing a letter the action is expressed by am writing, and refers to present time. In the sentence I was writing a letter the action is expressed by was writing, and refers to past time. In the sentence I will be writing a letter the action is expressed by will be writing, and refers to future time. This manner of expressing the time is called the progressive form of the past, present, and future tense. The progressive form of the tenses indicates the action as going on at the time referred to. When we say Birds fly, we may mean that they are in the habit of flying, not that they are flying now; the time is indefinite. When, however, we say Birds are flying, we mean that they are flying now. Hence the progressive forms denote definite time. Exercise 1.. In these sentences name the verbs and their tenses: 1. As I was going to St. Ives, I met a man with seven wives. 2. I am working hard all day. 3. The horse was running away. 4. I am not feeling well. 5. I shall be feeling better to-morrow. 6. The boys were skating when the ice broke. 7. The soldiers will be marching by daybreak. 8. At noon yesterday we were crossing the mountain. 9. I am going a milking, sir, she said. 10. The stars were shining as we were going home. 11. The day is breaking; the sun will soon be rising. 12. I had not been listening, hence I had not heard. 16. The flowers were blooming profusely. Exercise 2. Change these sentences into the progressive form of the verb: 1. As I went to town I met a man. 2. The girls played games at recess. 6. I study hard these days. 7. The boys hunted and fished all this week. 8. When will you go to New York? LESSON 82. — EMPHATIC FORM OF TENSES In the sentence I do love my mother, the action is expressed by do love, and refers to present time. In the sentence I did tell him to come, the action is expressed by did tell, and refers to past time. This manner of expressing action is called the emphatic form of the present and past tenses. The emphatic form of the present and past tenses is used to express a strong emphasis of the action. The progressive and emphatic forms of the verb are used also to ask questions in the present and past tenses. Do you like to go to the opera ? Are you going to New York? Do and did are often used in negative sentences and in poetry without any emphatic force. I do not believe it. Conscience does make cowards of us all. Exercise 1.- In these sentences name the verbs and their tenses: 1. They did not come yesterday, because they did not want to. 3. I do not promise you anything. I do not think it wise. 5. Are the crops growing well in your State? 6. Do you know where the station is? 7. Did you hear what I was saying? 8. To me the meanest flower that blows can give Exercise 2.-Change these sentences into emphatic or progressive forms of the verb: 1. Where go you, my friend? 2. Why carry you so great a burden? 3. Whence came you, and why look you so weary? 4. I like not so grave a countenance. 5. You travel a heavy road and go a long way. LESSON 83. — CORRECT USE OF TENSES It is very necessary for us to have in mind the present, past, and perfect tense forms of certain verbs that are often misused. The following is a list of the most important, and should be learned: |