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You are here: Home / Homeschooling / Subject / Language Arts / Making Sense of Grammar: Verb forms vs. verb tenses…What's the difference?

Filed Under: Language Arts · Strategies & Tips · Language Arts

Making Sense of Grammar: Verb forms vs. verb tenses…What's the difference?

I'm a grammar junkie. I enjoy leafing through English handbooks and diagramming sentences. Yes, I know. Pathetic.

But even as a total English language geek, there are some grammar concepts that I have had a tough time keeping straight in my head. And the difference between verb forms and verb tenses is one of those tricky concepts. So I'm thinking that if I have a tough time with it, it's pretty likely my kids will have a tough time too.

When we come across the concept of verb forms — also known as the principal parts of verbs — and verb tenses in their Rod & Staff English curriculum (which is a fabulous curriculum by the way), I explain that verb forms can be thought of as the tools in a toolbox.

Illustrations always help solidify the concept, so when I explain the concept to my kids, I draw something similar to the graphic below.

I then explain that the verb forms in the toolbox (the ones highlighted in yellow above) are the tools we use to make the various verb tenses. The verb forms aren't really the exact words we use in sentences, but we use those tools — those verb forms — to create the verb tenses that we do use in sentences, such as past tense, present tense, and future tense.

For example, if I wanted to use the verb to know in the present tense, it's simple. I'd just take the present form of the verb out of the toolbox and use it as is. Nothing else would be needed. I'd end up with something like: I know how to play the piano.

To make a past tense verb, I'd take the past verb form directly from the toolbox and use it like this: I knew we were in trouble when I heard the sirens.

To make a future tense verb, I would also take the present form of the verb, but I'd need to put the word will in front of it. That would make something like: You will know it when you see it.

To make the past perfect tense, I'd need to take the past participle verb form and put a had in front of it. I'd end up with something like: She had known about the surprise party for at least a week.

So you see, it's the 'recipe' for the particular verb tense I'm trying to make which determines what verb form I take from the toolbox; and most all the tenses can be made from those three forms in the toolbox. As real-life application then, it's helpful to learn the three 'toolbox' verb forms for irregular words, like the infamous lie and lay.

So there you have it. My simple way of explaining the differences for verb forms and verb tenses.  Probably not the most exciting blog post in the word, but for the those of you who struggle with teaching grammar — or even understanding it yourself — I hope this simple illustration helps.

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Comments

  1. Holly says

    October 22, 2009 at 1:58 am

    I'm an ESOL teacher, and I often find myself trying to explain this concept to kids. Thanks for this blog post, it was interesting to me, lol! 🙂
    .-= Holly´s last blog ..For any Wicked fans reading this… =-.

    Reply
  2. Annie Kate says

    October 22, 2009 at 6:48 am

    We love Rod and Staff Grammar, too, but we find it's a few years more advanced than our children need. Therefore we start the program with level 4 in grade 6. Before that we just learn the parts of speech and do some very simple diagramming.

    Did you know that learning languages helps with grammar, too? And vice versa.

    Blessings,

    Annie Kate
    .-= Annie Kate´s last blog ..Our Guidelines for Going Out =-.

    Reply
  3. Adena says

    October 23, 2009 at 1:20 am

    I absolutely love grammar and diagramming too!! I can't understand why my kids don't love to diagram? And I agree that the trickest part of grammar is learning lie/lay, obtain/attain, etc.
    .-= Adena´s last blog ..These are some AMAZING girls!! =-.

    Reply
  4. Pam Gianni says

    October 2, 2011 at 7:21 pm

    This has been really really helpful! I'm trying to learn it myself so I can teach grammar to a bunch of middle school boys at Co-op. Thanks

    Reply
  5. Maggie Cohen says

    April 15, 2013 at 8:12 am

    I am 60 years old and have been a qualified social worker for 20 years. As I am due to retire I am doing the Tesol course to teach English as a volunteer. I am struggling with grammar but found your blog really helpful. Many thanks

    Reply
  6. Kori says

    June 14, 2013 at 12:28 pm

    This is a great analogy! I will be using it to help ESL students understand the craziness that is English verb form and tense. Thank you!

    Reply

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