Every verb in the English language ought to be used in either the past, present, or future tense. Let us look at how the term “identify” is employed in all different tenses.
“Identify” as a verb denotes the action of relating to, or recognizing someone or something and further determining the said object or person’s characteristics . The past tense of this verb is “identified” and future tense version is “will identify”.
For us to better understand the term’s definition and the many tenses in which it can be used, let us now go through the conjugation of the verb “identify” in greater detail.
Identify in present tense
The verb “identify” has a form in each of the English grammar’s tenses. Let us take a deep dive into this topic within the present tense form.
“Identify” is used in present tense almost always in its mentioned base form. It is used in this context when the act of relating to, or recognizing someone or something and further determining the said object or person’s characteristics is taking place in the present time.
Other conjugated forms of it include “identifying,” amongst others, which are typically preceded by auxiliary verbs like “am,” “is,” “are,” etc. that give it the quality of the present tense.
When can “identify” be used in present tense?
Different Forms of Present Tense | When can “identify” be used in respective present tense forms? |
1. Simple Present Tense | “Identify” is often made use of in simple present tense when the act of relating to, or recognizing someone or something and further determining the said object or person’s characteristics has taken place in the present. |
2. Present Continuous Tense | “Identify” is often made use of in present continuous tense when the act of relating to, or recognizing someone or something and further determining the said object or person’s characteristics is in the process of being taken place in the present. |
3. Present Perfect Tense | “Identify” is often made use of in present perfect tense when the act of relating to, or recognizing someone or something and further determining the said object or person’s characteristics has completely taken place in the present. |
4. Present Perfect Continuous Tense | “Identify” is many times applied in present perfect continuous tense when the act of relating to, or recognizing someone or something and further determining the said object or person’s characteristics has started taking place in the past and continues to take place in the present. |
Examples of “identify” being used in different present tense forms.
Types of Present Tense | Example Sentences | Explanations |
1. Simple Present Tense | I usually identify all the errors in the computer systems at this time so that rest of the work week is smooth sailing for everyone else here. | The word “identify” has been employed in this example in its simple present tense, which is evident from its conjugational form. Its placement between the subject and object further establishes its status as a verb. |
2. Present Continuous Tense | I usually am identifying all the errors in the computer systems at this time so that rest of the work week is smooth sailing for everyone else here. | As can be seen from the auxiliary verb “am” before it, the conjugated form of “am identifying” which has a “-ing” at the end, and the placement of the phrase between the subject and the object, “is identifying” is used in this sentence in the present continuous tense. |
3. Present Perfect Tense | I usually have identified all the errors in the computer systems at this time so that rest of the work week is smooth sailing for everyone else here. | In the written statement, the present perfect tense form is indicated by placing the past participle “identified” which denotes the end of the action, after the auxiliary verb “have” which is placed after the subject and before the sentence’s object. |
4. Present Perfect Continuous Tense | I usually have been identifying all the errors in the computer systems at this time so that rest of the work week is smooth sailing for everyone else here. | The phrase “have been identifying” as a whole contains the qualities of completeness and continuance, which makes it a present perfect continuous tense. It also happens to be lending the object the quality of action being done by the subject. |
Identify in past tense
Even though the verb “identify” is frequently employed in the past tense, its conjugational characteristics might change. Let us investigate this.
“Identify” has a form in the past tense which is ‘identified’ and it is used so when the act of relating to, or recognizing someone or something and further determining the said object or person’s characteristics is taking place specifically during a time that has passed.
Auxiliary verbs like ‘was’, ‘were’, ‘had’, etc, are used to demonstrate the action taking place in the past.
When can “identify” be used in past tense?
Different Forms of Past Tense | When can “identify” be used in respective past tense forms? |
1. Simple Past Tense | “Identify” is often made use of in simple past tense when the act of relating to, or recognizing someone or something and further determining the said object or person’s characteristics has taken place in the past. |
2. Past Continuous Tense | “Identify” is often made use of in past continuous tense when the act of relating to, or recognizing someone or something and further determining the said object or person’s characteristics was in the process of being taken place in the past. |
3. Past Perfect Tense | “Identify” is often made use of in past perfect tense when the act of relating to, or recognizing someone or something and further determining the said object or person’s characteristics has completely taken place in the past. |
4. Past Perfect Continuous Tense | “Identify” is many times applied in past perfect continuous tense the action of relating to, or recognizing someone or something and further determining the said object or person’s characteristics has started taking place in the past and continued to happen in the past. |
Examples of “identify” being used in different past tense forms.
Types of Past Tense | Example Sentences | Explanations |
1. Simple Past Tense | The witnesses identified the perpetrators of the unfortunate events that took place last week at the mall and made no progress for a while until they came across one particular man that seemed familiar to all of them. | The word “identified” has been employed in this example in its simple past tense, which is evident from its conjugational form. Its placement between the subject and object further establishes its status as a verb. |
2. Past Continuous Tense | The witnesses were identifying the perpetrators of the unfortunate events that took place last week at the mall and made no progress for a while until they came across one particular man that seemed familiar to all of them. | As can be seen from the auxiliary verb “were” before it, the conjugated form of “is identifying” which has a “-ing” at the end, and the placement of the phrase between the subject and the object, “is identifying” is used in this sentence in the past continuous tense. |
3. Past Perfect Tense | The witnesses had identified the perpetrators of the unfortunate events that took place last week at the mall and made no progress for a while until they came across one particular man that seemed familiar to all of them. | In the written statement, the past perfect tense form is indicated by placing the past participle “identified” which denotes the end of the action, after the auxiliary verb “had” which is placed after the subject and before the sentence’s object. |
4. Past Perfect Continuous Tense | The witnesses had been identifying the perpetrators of the unfortunate events that took place last week at the mall and made no progress for a while until they came across one particular man that seemed familiar to all of them. | The phrase “had been identifying” as a whole contains the qualities of completeness and continuance, which makes it a past perfect continuous tense. It also happens to be lending the object the quality of action being done by the subject. |
Identify in future tense
Naturally, there are many different ways to say “identify,” even in the future tense. Let us look at this in more detail now.
“Identify” is used in future tense when recognition or feeling of relatability to someone or something to determine the said object or person’s characteristics is going to take place particularly in the future tense.
Even in this form, the verb relies on past and present participles to function, and only modal verbs like ‘will’ and ‘shall’ highlight its characteristics as the future tense.
When can “identify” be used in future tense?
Different Forms of Future Tense | When can “identify” be used in respective future tense forms? |
1. Simple Future Tense | “Identify” is often made use of in simple future tense when the act of relating to, or recognizing someone or something and further determining the said object or person’s characteristics will take place in the future. |
2. Future Continuous Tense | “Identify” is often made use of in future continuous tense the action of relating to, or recognizing someone or something and further determining the said object or person’s characteristics will be in the process of taking place in the future. |
3. Future Perfect Tense | “Identify” is often made use of in future perfect tense when the act of relating to, or recognizing someone or something and further determining the said object or person’s characteristics will completely take place in the future. |
4. Future Perfect Continuous Tense | “Identify” is many times applied in future perfect continuous tense the action of relating to, or recognizing someone or something and further determining the said object or person’s characteristics will have started taking place in the future and continue to happen in the future itself. |
Examples of “identify” being used in different future tense forms.
Types of Future Tense | Example Sentences | Explanations |
1. Simple Future Tense | The managers will identify the people that leaked confidential information to the public and take strict action against those employees, so anyone that confesses on their own will be granted immunity. | The term “will identify” has been employed in this example in its simple present tense, which is evident from its conjugational form. Its placement between the subject and object further establishes its status as a verb. |
2. Future Continuous Tense | The managers will be identifying the people that leaked confidential information to the public and take strict action against those employees, so anyone that confesses on their own will be granted immunity. | As can be seen from the auxiliary verb “will be” before it, the conjugated form of “is identifying” which has a “-ing” at the end, and the placement of the phrase between the subject and the object, “is identifying” is used in this sentence in the present continuous tense. |
3. Future Perfect Tense | The managers will have identify the people that leaked confidential information to the public and take strict action against those employees, so anyone that confesses on their own will be granted immunity. | In the written statement, the present perfect tense form is indicated by placing the past participle “identified” which denotes the end of the action, after the auxiliary verb “will have” which is placed after the subject and before the sentence’s object. |
4. Future Perfect Continuous Tense | The managers will have been identifying the people that leaked confidential information to the public and take strict action against those employees, so anyone that confesses on their own will be granted immunity. | The phrase “will have been identifying” as a whole contains the qualities of completeness and continuance, which makes it a perfect continuous tense. It also happens to be lending the object the quality of action being done by the subject. |
Conclusion
Thus, if the underlying core concepts are recognized accurately, as can be seen from the data, the term “Identify” can be effectively conjugated as a verb in the English Language.
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