Chapter 5

Verb Tense and Voice

PRACTICE

Principal parts of Verbs

Write the correct form of the principal part of the verb in parentheses.

1. The Egyptians have (past participle of cultivate) dates for centuries.

The Egyptians have cultivated dates for centuries.

2. Today, more Egyptians than ever are (present participle of grow) cotton.

Today, more Egyptians than ever are growing cotton

3. The eagle (past form of swoop) down to capture its prey.

The eagle swooped down to capture its prey

4. Shawnee, is that your poster (present participle of hang) at the visitors' entrance?

Shawnee, is that your poster hanging at the visitors' entrance?

5. Who (past form of paint) American Gothic?

Who painted American Gothic?

6. That famous painter must surely (base form of be) Grant Wood.

That famous painter must surely be Grant Wood.

7. In about an hour we will be (present participle of taste) freshly (past participle of

bake) bread.

In about an hour we will be tasting freshly baked bread.

8. Mr. Hathaway (past form of suggest) that Shirley try out for the drama club comedy.

Mr. Hathaway suggested that Shirley try out for the drama club comedy.

9. Poet Robert Frost is well (past participle of regard) for his poem "Birches."

Poet Robert Frost is well regarded for his poem "Birches."

10. What has Mrs. Shigeta (past participle of report) to the school board?

What has Mrs. Shigeta reported to the school board?

Practices

copy and complete the chart. make sure that you have spelled each form correctly
BASE FORM PAST FORM PAST PARTICIPLE
See Saw Seen
fly Flew Flown
gather gathered gathered
bear bore borne
choose chose chosen
grow grew grown
keep kept kept
remember remembered remembered
lie lied lied
ring rang rung
put put put
climb climbed climbed
write wrote written
become became become
tell told told
let let let
seek sought sought
carry carried carried
sit sat sat
throw threw thrown
rise rose risen
believe believed believed
hurry hurried hurried
wear wore worn
begin began begun

PRACTICE
Verb Forms
Write the correct form of the verb in parentheses.
1. Juan has (draw) a striking likeness of his mother.
drawn
2. Yesterday the ocean (be) a beautiful, clear blue green.
was
3. Lim Sing has (hang) paper lanterns from the trees for our summer picnic.
Hung
4. In India, Gandhi's assassin was (hang) for his crime.
Hanged
5. Last night the midwinter full moon (shine) brilliantly on the snow.
Shined
6. How many altos will be (choose) for the chorus?
 Chosen
7. Melanie had (shine) the flashlight right in my face!
Shined
8. A few weeks ago, Latrice (break) a tooth on a piece of peanut brittle.
Broke
9. By this evening, everyone will have (write) a personal
Written
10. Last night Guadalupe (see) the constellation Orion for the first time
Saw
PRACTICE
Present Tense
Write a sentence using each of the following verb forms. The content of your sentence
should express the kind of present tense indicated in parentheses.
1. does (a repeated action)
I am doing my work
2. brings (a repeated action)
We are bringing the dishes.
3. rings (a constant action)
The bell is always ringing.
4. are (a general truth)
There are people who believe in God.
5. carries (a repeated action)
We carry our bags to school
6. hears (at this moment)
Do you hear that noise?
7. decides (a habitual action)
I decide what to do with my time.
8. rises (a constant action)
The ocean rises every day.
9. is a general truth)
There is a light of hope for us.
10. studies (a repeated action)
We are studying for the class.

PRACTICE
Future Tense Rewrite each sentence so that the verb expresses the future tense in the
four ways taught in this lesson. For each sentence given here, be sure you have four
different responses.
1. Seamus ran for the office of class president.
Seamus is about to run for the office of class president
1. Alison congratulated Nancy Anderson on her award.
Alison is going to congratulate Nancy Anderson on her award.
2. Mrs. Patterson spoke to Kenesha's teacher.
Mrs. Patterson will speak to Kenesha's teacher.
3. The sophomores found out who won the election.
The sophomores is about to find out who will win the election.
4. Emilio and Vicente showed the film to the class.
Emilio and Vicente will show the film to the class.

PRACTICE
Present, Past, and Future Tenses
Identify the italicized verb tense by writing one of these labels: present, past, future.
1. At the ceremony, Nate will present a tribute to Mrs. Westin

Future

2. Marcia struggled up the snowy hill with her sled.

past

3. How long shall I wait for you, Amanda?

Future

4. The pastry chef makes ten different desserts each morning

Present

5. The news story aired on five major channels.

Past

6. Our local weather station predicts sunny weather for today.

Present

7. Who will take my place on Friday?

Future

8. We gave our old comic books to the after-school program.

Past

9. To distinguish a frog from a toad, biologists examine these characteristics.

Present

10. Willem measured the angle with his protractor.

past

PRACTICE
Perfect Tenses Read the verb in parentheses. Then write it in the tense indicated in
brackets.
1. Ty (varnish) the steps before I left. (Past perfect)
Ty had varnished the steps before I left.
2. For years they (enjoy) this view. (Present perfect)
For years they have enjoyed this view
 3. Ric (work) there for a year. (Present perfect)
Ric has worked for a year
4. By the end of this month, Nancy (work) for the parks division for nine years. (Future
perfect)
By the end of this month, Nancy will have worked for the parks division for nine
years.
5. Before today's victory, Ms. Kostas already (win) three international tennis tournaments. (Past
perfect)
Before today's victory, Ms. Kostas already had won three international tennis tournaments.

6. The board (explore) the intriguing possibilities. (Present perfect)

The board has explored the intriguing possibilities
7. He (agree) not to press charges. (Present perfect)
He hasn’t agreed to press charges
8. By ten o'clock, one of these three artists (claim) the esteemed Statler award. (Future
perfect)
By ten o'clock, one of these three artists will have claimed the esteemed Statler award.
9. Luke and Austin Bailey not (expect) to come face to face with a grizzly bear. (Past
perfect)
Luke and Austin Bailey hadn’t expected to come face to face with a grizzly bear.
10. Sara already (mention) her plans. (Present perfect)
Sara has already mentioned her plans

PRACTICE
All Six Tenses
Identify the italicized verb tense by writing one of these labels: present, past, future,
present perfect, past perfect, future perfect.
1. Has Mrs. Kim seen the decorations in the dining room yet?
Present perfect
2. Will you have arranged for the transportation by tomorrow morning?
future perfect
3. Earlier this morning I felt a little feverish.
Past
4. Who eats all the caramels every time we have a box of chocolates?
Present
5. Had Alan ever ridden a horse before today?
Past perfect
6. The "Star-Spangled Banner" had just begun, and the fans had risen to their feet, when
the thunderstorm started.
Past perfect
7. Derek tears his shirt during almost every football game.
present
8. Esperanza ran out of toothpaste this morning.
past
 9. Has anyone here ever flown over an ocean?
Present perfect
10. Will you put everything away by five o'clock?
Future

PRACTICE
Progressive and Emphatic Forms
Identify the italicized verb form by writing one of these labels: present progressive, past
progressive, future progressive, present perfect progressive, past perfect progressive,
future perfect progressive, present emphatic, past emphatic.
1. Will you be participating in this year's run for freedom?
Future progressive
2. By midnight, how long will we have been waiting?
Future perfect progressive
3. Yes, Odessa does like summer squash.
Present emphatic
4. The Johnson twins have been volunteering at the hospital for three years.
Present perfect progressive
5. On Friday I will still be working part time at the post office.
Future progressive
6. By eight o'clock, Leo had already been swimming too long.
Past perfect progressive
7. Yes, I think we do have another shirt in your size.
Present emphatic
8. Marisa is waiting in front of your house now, Ms. Delaney.
Present progressive
9. You're right, ma'am, we did forget to mail your water bill this month.
Past emphatic
10. We were traveling in Canada when we heard the news.
Past progressive

PRACTICE
Consistency of Tenses
Find the first verb that appears in each sentence. Then write the consistent tense of the
verb in parentheses.
1. Bobbi saved twenty dollars, but now she cannot find the money.
Bobbi saved twenty dollars, but now she couldn’t find the money.
2. In times past, chickens were kept in cages; today, though, many farmers allow them
to roam in enclosed areas.
In times past, chickens were kept in cages; today, though, many farmers allowed them
to roam in enclosed areas.
3. Alexandra watched the clouds as they floated in the sky
Alexandra watched the clouds as they floated in the sky
4. Many Algonquian tribes befriended the Pilgrims and taught them to grow corn and
pumpkins.
Many Algonquian tribes befriended the Pilgrims and had taught them to grow corn and
pumpkins.
5. The Lorensons, now in their sixties, have saved fifty dollars a month since they were
married in 1960.
The Lorensons, now in their sixties, have saved fifty dollars a month since they are
married in 1960.
6. Franklin learned in the fourth grade that Earth revolves around the sun.
Franklin learned in the fourth grade that Earth revolved around the sun.
7. I will be home by six o'clock, and we shall have dinner at seven.
I will be home by six o'clock, and we are going to have dinner at seven.
8. Because of compound interest, Amelia has $255.00 in her account instead of the
$240.00 that she deposited.
Because of compound interest, Amelia has $255.00 in her account instead of the
$240.00 that she deposits.
9. When Aunt Marcia gave me this dress, I was only three years old.
When Aunt Marcia gave me this dress, I had only been three years old.
10. Grandpa showed us that watering a transplanted sapling every day results in a
healthy tree.
Grandpa showed us that watering a transplanted sapling every day resulted in a healthy
tree.

PRACTICE
Active and Passive Voice
Rewrite each sentence, changing active verbs to passive and passive verbs to active.
1. Up to 130 pounds of vegetable matter are eaten daily by each hippopotamus in
the preserve.
Each hippopotamus eats up to 130 pounds of vegetable matter daily.
2. Ginger ate the last piece of cornbread.
The last piece of cornbread was eaten by Ginger.
3. The last piece of the puzzle was added by Leroy.
Leroy added the last piece of the puzzle.
4. The mail carrier heard the child's frantic cries.
The child’s frantic cries was heard by the mail carrier.
5. The river had been crossed by the hippopotamus in about five minutes.
The hippopotamus crossed the river in about five minutes.
6. Mr. Harris's entire stock of seed corn was eaten by the birds.
The birds ate Mr. Harris’s entire stock of seed corn.
7. Among other things, corn, soybeans, and cotton are raised by North Carolina
farmers.
North Carolina farmers raised corn, soybeans, and cotton.
8. Sir Caraway and his servants guarded the gate.
The gate is guarded by Sir Caraway and his servants
9. The luggage had already been packed by the Petrillo family.
The Petrillo family already had the luggage packed
10. The semifinal match had been won by the Charleston Chargers.
The Charleston Charges won the semifinal match.