Mastering the Use of “Approach” in English Tenses: A Comprehensive Guide

The use of the verb “approach” in different tenses is crucial for effective communication in English. This comprehensive guide will provide you with a deep understanding of how to properly use “approach” in various tense forms, along with detailed examples to help you navigate the nuances of this versatile verb.

Present Tense

Infinitive

• To approach

Present Participle

• Approaching

Present Tense

• Singular: I approach, you approach, he/she/it approaches
• Plural: we approach, you approach, they approach

Present Progressive Tense

Singular

• I am approaching, you are approaching, he/she/it is approaching

Plural

• We are approaching, you are approaching, they are approaching

Past Tense

Infinitive

• To approach

Past Participle

• Approached

Past Tense

• Singular: I approached, you approached, he/she/it approached
• Plural: we approached, you approached, they approached

Past Progressive Tense

Singular

• I was approaching, you were approaching, he/she/it was approaching

Plural

• We were approaching, you were approaching, they were approaching

Past Perfect Tense

Singular

• I had approached, you had approached, he/she/it had approached

Plural

• We had approached, you had approached, they had approached

Past Perfect Progressive Tense

Singular

• I had been approaching, you had been approaching, he/she/it had been approaching

Plural

• We had been approaching, you had been approaching, they had been approaching

Future Tense

Infinitive

• To approach

Future Participle

• Will approach

Future Tense

• Singular: I will approach, you will approach, he/she/it will approach
• Plural: We will approach, you will approach, they will approach

Future Progressive Tense

Singular

• I will be approaching, you will be approaching, he/she/it will be approaching

Plural

• We will be approaching, you will be approaching, they will be approaching

Future Perfect Tense

Singular

• I will have approached, you will have approached, he/she/it will have approached

Plural

• We will have approached, you will have approached, they will have approached

Future Perfect Progressive Tense

Singular

• I will have been approaching, you will have been approaching, he/she/it will have been approaching

Plural

• We will have been approaching, you will have approached, they will have been approaching

Examples

1. “We are approaching the end of the fiscal year.” (Present Progressive Tense)
2. “The cat approached the baby cautiously.” (Past Tense)
3. “The supervisor is quite easy to approach, so don’t hesitate to bring up any problems you have.” (Present Tense)
4. “The success rates approach 90 percent.” (Present Tense)
5. “This weekend we’re expecting temperatures approaching 100 degrees.” (Present Tense)

Key Points

1. The verb “approach” can be used in various tenses to convey different time contexts.
2. The verb forms change based on the tense and subject.
3. Understanding the context and subject is crucial for correct usage of “approach” in English.

References

1. Writing English: Approach
2. Merriam-Webster: Approach
3. GrammarBrain: Past Tenses of Approach
4. English Language Learners Stack Exchange: Approaches or Is Approaching
5. Reddit: Is This a Good Way to Use Approach?