English indicates time through verbs. Learn the different forms of verb tenses and the main verb and helping verb combinations.

Incorrect: She watching the movie. [a verblike word ending in -ing cannot be a verb all by itself.]

Correct: She is watching the movie. [note that a helping verb such as is, has, has been, will, or will be always occurs before a main verb ending in -ing.]

TIP: Take special care in maintaining consistency of tense.

Incorrect: I went to the theatre. I watch a movie there. [verb tenses inconsistent]

Correct: I went to the theatre. I watched a movie there.

For more information on working with verb forms, see Book I, Ch. 2; Book II, Ch. 16; Book III, Ch. 14.