State the time of the action in each of the following sentences, and
point out the different forms of the verb:—
1. He writes a letter.
2. He wrote a letter.
3. He will write a letter.
The change which takes place in the _verb_ to mark this change of time,
is called _tense_.
There are three natural divisions of time—present, past, and future, so
that there are three corresponding tenses—=present=, =past=, and
=future=.
A verb that denotes an action in the present time is in the =present
tense=; as, I _speak_.
A verb that denotes an action in the past time is in the past tense; as,
I _spoke_.
A verb that denotes an action in the future time is in the future tense;
as, I _shall speak_.
Besides these three simple tenses, there are three perfect tenses, which
denote action as completed.
Point out a verb in the following sentences that denotes an action
completed in present time, one that denotes an action completed in past
time, and one that denotes an action completed in future time:—
1. He has written a letter.
2. He had written a letter.
3. He will have written a letter.
A verb that denotes an action as completed at the present time is in the
=present perfect tense=; as, I _have spoken_.
A verb that denotes an action as having been completed before a certain
past time is in the =past perfect= or =pluperfect tense=; as, I _had
spoken_ before you came.
A verb that denotes an action to be completed before a certain future
time is in the =future perfect tense=; as, I _shall have spoken_ before
he will arrive.
The present and the past tenses are indicated by the form of the verb
itself. The other tenses are formed by the aid of other verbs, called
_auxiliary_ verbs.