ENGLISH GRAMMAR TEST 3

TENSE OF THE ENGLISH VERBS
In grammar, tense is a distinctive form of verb, which indicates the time of its action or assertion. The traditional labels of the tenses of the verbs are principally words denoting time such as past, present, future. Thus, it is assumed that the function of tense is to show time.
There are six tenses: three simple tenses, and three compound as perfect tenses. The three simple tenses are: present, past, and future. In addition to the six tenses, there are progressive forms of the verb. All of these tense forms suggest time constraints or boundaries.
In English, most sentences require a verb which necessarily occurs in a tense form to indicate time. This indication of time may also be supplied by an adverb. In addition, an adverb may modify the time suggested by the tense of the verb.
THE SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE
As suggested by its label, the present tense denotes present time. In sentences, it has four functions: to refer to a habitual action, to express general truth, to indicate a permanent condition, and to state a present fact, simple futurity or habitual presents.
Examples:
1. My father reads newspapers every morning. (habitual action)
2. To err is human. (general truth)
Oil floats on water. (In this particular example the present tense is used to make a statement that is generally true without reference to time.)
3. The sun rises from the east. ( permanent condition)
4. The Philippines has a lot of foreign debts. ( present fact)

THE SIMPLE PAST TENSE
The simple past tense is used to denote an action which is definitely completed in the past.
Example: The courier delivered the letter yesterday.

THE SIMPLE FUTURE TENSE
The simple future tense denotes an action which will happen or will occur at some future time.
Example: The country will recover from the present economic crisis.

THE PROGRESSIVE FORM OF THE VERB
The progressive form of the verb expresses action that at a given time or event is in progress or continuing. Usually, in a progressive construction of the actual activity is emphasized by the progressive form of the verb.
Examples:
The members of the committee are studying all the research proposals.
It was raining when the games started.
At the time we will be there, they will still be preparing the hall for the conference.

SOME REMINDERS IN THE USE OF THE VERBS
*AGREEMENT OF VERB AND ITS SUBJECT
1. The verb with the compound subject joined by “and” is plural.
2. When the two words of a compound subject refer to the same person or thing or otherwise form a unit, the verb is usually singular.
3. When the singular subject is joined to a related noun by a preposition or expression such as with, together with, as well as, in addition to, the verb is singular.
4. The Collective nouns are singular in form but refer to a group of objects, persons or acts, such as army, jury, committee, public, team, etc. When the group is meant as a unit, the verb is singular, when the individuals are meant, the verb is plural.
5. A number of terms of amount and measure have collective agreement, with the singular the more common.
6. In a sentence, a singular subject always requires a singular verb despite long intervening phrases or clauses containing plural nouns.
7. Relative clauses introduced by who or that or which have verbs agreeing with the pronoun’s antecedent.

QUIZ
The following quiz involves the application of the use of simple tenses and the pointers on agreement.
Choose the correct form of the verb in the parentheses in each of the following sentences. Copy and paste this online quiz in Word Processor and e-mail to this address martha_aux@yahoo.com.ph. This will serve as your quiz and attendance for the week’s session.

NAME: _____________________ DATE:_________________
COURSE/YEAR: ______________ ASTI BRANCH:__________

1. The children ________ (watch, watches, watched, are watching) the fishing boats scattered all over the lake on moonlight nights.
2. After spending two weeks in the islands, the tourists _______ (go, went, going ) home carrying in their minds a beautiful picture which _____ (be, are, is ) both inspiring and ennobling.
3. During our visit to Tagaytay we ____ (go, went, goes ) to a point where we ____ (have, had, has) a good view of Taal Volcano which ____ (be, is, are) several feet below sea level.
4. During sunsets the lake _____ (appear, appears, will appear, appeared) peaceful.
5. As I _____ (lie, lay, lying, lied) awake in the dark last night, I ______ (realize, realizing, will realize, realized) how necessary light (be, is, are) _____.
6. Many visitors ______ (go, goes, went) up to Baguio in summer.
7. The city government _______ (collect, collects, will collect, collected) higher taxes stating next month.
8. Laguna Bay _______ (abound, abounds, abounded) in fish.
9. We _____ (meet, met, will meet) again and when that time ______ (come, comes, will come) I _____ (hope, hopes, will hope) to see you more charming, less impetuous, and more of a lady than you _______ (be, is, are) now.
10. Before you ______ ( leave, will leave, left) tell us what you ______ (do, did, done) with yourself in the United States.
11. Silas Marner is the story of a weaver who ______ (lose, lost, loss) his faith in man and God.
12. James Watt _______ (discover, discovers, discovered) that steam ______ (have, has, had) power.
13. When my great grandmother _______ (is, are, was) in elementary school her teacher in English ____ (be, is, was, were) an American, but now there ¬¬______ (were, are, is, was) few American teachers in the school system.
14. We ______ (are, is, was, were) told that London fog _____ (last, lasts, lasted) hours and hours.
15. In our Biology class yesterday, our teacher______ (show, shows, showed) us how much nitrogen there _____ (is, are, were, was) in air.
16. Our experiment yesterday ______ (proved, prove, proves) that oxygen ______ (support, supports, supported) combustion.
17. Last week a marketing agent _____ (come, comes, came) to persuade my sister to buy a portable sewing machine.
18. The lecturer in our science class last week _______ (gives, gave, give) two proofs that air ______ (occupy, occupies, occupied) space.
19. The other day we _____ ( conduct, conducted, conducts) and experiment to prove that air (exert, exerts, exerted) pressure.
20. Each one of us (need, needs) more application and concentration.
21. The Indonesian softball team (was, were) beaten by the Philippine team by a score of seven to four.
22. One of his tonsils ( was, were) removed.
23. Not one of the party (was, were) injured in the explosion.
24. The audience (is, are) leaving one at a time now.
25. The audience in today’s conference (is, are) big.

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