2. Lesson 6: Simple Tenses
A tense is a verb form that shows the time of an action or condition.
Verbs have three simple tenses: the present, the past, and the future
One biker (pedal) faster than Present tense shows an action
anyone else. or condition that occurs now.
She (speed) past the pack The past tense shows an
50 feet ago. action or condition that was
completed in the past.
Soon she (cross) the
The future tense shows an
finish line alone.
action or condition that will
occur in the past.
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3. A progressive form of a tense expresses an action or condition in
progress.
The crowd ____________. Present Progressive
The winner's parents Past Progressive
______________ their breath.
They _________________ later. Future Progressive
Forming Simple Tenses
To form the
Present I skate. we skate progressive, add the
(Present Principal Part) You skate. you skate form of be to the
He/she/it skates. they skate present participle.
Past I skated. we skated
I am skating.
(Present Part + d/ed) You skated. you skated
He/she/it skated. he/she/it skated
I was skating.
Future I will skate. we will skate
(will + present part) You will skate. you will skate
He/she/ it will skate. they will skate I will be skating.
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4. 1. Long ago, people walked everywhere.
2. They covered three or four miles in an hour on foot.
3. Later, people rode horses.
4. They traveled up to 30 miles in an hour.
5. Now most adults drive everywhere.
6. Many other adults as well as most kids bike around town.
7. In the future, will people travel on high-speed monorails?
8. An early monorail carried people in France in 1872.
9. Maybe we will fly through the airways in vehicles like cars in the future.
10. In any case, we will find other ways for faster, more efficient travel.
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