Verb Tense, Mood, and Voice

Verbs: Tenses and Voice

Active

Expresses action performed by the subject of the sentence (Subject comes first)

Passive

Indicates that the subject was acted upon by something else; Look for who or what does the action. In other words, the predicate comes first and gets emphasis. ​

Voice

Active

The cat spilled the drink.

Passive

The drink was spilled by the cat.

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Voice Examples

Active

The president dropped the bomb.

Passive

The bomb was dropped by the president.

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Voice Examples

Multiple Choice

What voice does this sentence use?

The office staff does not always enjoy the jokes made by Michael Scott.

• Active

• Passive

Multiple Choice

What voice does this sentence use?

The television show The Office was enjoyed by many viewers.

• Active

• Passive

Multiple Choice

Which sentence is an example of passive voice?

• Michael skated the best at the ice skating rink.

• Pam required Jim's help to balance on her ice skates.

• A fun time was not had by Kevin at the ice skating rink.

• Michael sees Carol at the ice skating rink.

Multiple Choice

Which is the best way to rewrite the sentence in active voice?

"MANY HOURS OF TIME ARE WASTED BY THE STAFF OF DUNDER MIFFLIN."

• Many hours of time have been wasted by the staff of Dunder Mifflin.

• Many hours of time were wasted by the staff of Dunder Mifflin.

• Many hours of time could have been wasted by the staff of Dunder Mifflin.

• The staff of Dunder Mifflin has wasted many hours of time.

Verb Tenses

Verbs have more tenses than "past," "present," and "Future." - These are called simple Tenses.

Is, was, will be

The Formula

Verbs will look like this:

"Simple Tense" "Advanced Tense"

Past Perfect
Present Progressive
Present Perfect Progressive

Progressive Tenses

Happening in the present and will continue on. The action is not done.

"To be" + "present conjugation"

I am kayaking = Present Progressive.
I was Kayaking = Past Progressive

Perfect Tenses

Happening in the past and will not continue on to present. The action is finished.

"To have" + "present conjugation"

I have kayaked = Present perfect
He had Kayaked = Past Progressive

Perfect Progressive Tenses

Happening in the future but referring to a past that has not happened yet.

Will + To have + present conjugation

I will have been kayaking = Future Perfect Progressive

Progressive Tense Examples

I was going to the store when it started raining.

I have been riding my bike.

Next Friday, I will be meeting during my lunch hour.

Progressive Tense Examples

I was going to the store when it started raining. (Past progressive)

I had been riding my bike. (past perfect)

Next Friday, I will be meeting during my lunch hour. (future progressive)

Multiple Choice

Pick the verb tense in this sentence.

Carol has packed the suitcase.

• Future progressive

• Present progressive

• Past Perfect

• Present Perfect

Multiple Choice

Pick the verb tense in this sentence.

Carol is packing her bags.

• Future perfect

• Present progressive

• Past Perfect

• Present Perfect

Multiple Choice

Pick the verb tense in this sentence.

I will be running.

• Future perfect

• Present progressive

• Past Perfect

• Future progressive

Multiple Choice

Pick the verb tense in this sentence.

I was rushing.

• Future perfect

• Present progressive

• Past progressive

• Present Perfect

Multiple Choice

Pick the verb tense in this sentence.

Carol will have packed her bags.

• Future perfect

• Present progressive

• Past Perfect

• Present Perfect

Multiple Choice

Pick the verb tense in this sentence.

He has been running

• Present perfect progressive

• Future progressive

• Past Perfect

• Present Perfect

Tense Practice

​On notebook paper or in your journal..

Write 7 sentences with varying verb forms, and label them in a parenthetical.
Example:
1) Mr. Straight will have been yapping (Future perfect progressive).