I need some help with verb tense. I get a little confused on which tense to use if I write in present and past. Help please!

Thanks much!

It is easier with a verb. Let's take the verb "to write."

PResent Tense: I write, I DO write, I AM writING.
you write, you DO write, you ARE writING
he, she, it writes, DOES write, IS writING
we write, DO write, ARE writING
they write, DO write, ARE writING

Past Tense: I wrote, I DID write
you wrote, you DID write
he, she it wrote, DID write
we wrote, we DID write
they wrote, they DID write

Does that help? If you give me examples of when and where you are having trouble, it will be far easier to help you.

Sra

P.S. Here's an activity with Present/Past. Try it, see how you do, and ask questions.

(Broken Link Removed)

Sra

Of course! I'd be happy to help you with verb tenses. Verb tenses are used to indicate when an action takes place - whether it is happening in the present, has already happened in the past, or will happen in the future.

To determine which tense to use, you need to consider the context and the time frame of the action you are describing. Here are the basic tenses and their uses:

1. Present tense: This is used to describe actions that are currently happening, habitual actions, general truths, or actions in future time clauses. For example: "I walk to work every day" (habitual action), "She is playing the piano right now" (current action), "The sun rises in the east" (general truth), "I will visit my friend when I have time" (future clause).

2. Past tense: This is used to describe actions that occurred in the past, finished actions, or to indicate past habits. For example: "I studied for my exam yesterday" (completed action), "He lived in that city for five years" (past habit), "She wrote a letter to her grandmother" (completed action).

3. Future tense: This is used to describe actions that will happen in the future. For example: "I will travel to Europe next month" (future action), "They are going to have a meeting tomorrow" (future action).

It's essential to maintain consistency in verb tense within a sentence or a paragraph, unless there is a clear reason to change it. Using the wrong tense can confuse your readers.

If you still have specific examples or questions about certain tense usage, feel free to ask, and I'll be happy to assist you further!