“Compare’’ is a regular verb that is used to make a parallelism between two or more persons or things. Now, we are going to describe its usage in various forms of three tenses.
The term “compare’’ is used in the present tense to indicate the balance among the things in the present moment. We can use it in order to make something whether it is similar or dissimilar to another person or thing. It can also be used in the past and future tense. We can use it in all the forms of different tenses.
Let us explore more interesting matters related to the usage of “compare” in the present tense, past tense, and future tense.
“Compare’’ in the present tense.
Present tense is a tense form that acts to locate a situation or action in the present time. Let us find out how the verb “compare’’ works in the present tense.
The action word “compare’’ is used in the present tense to present our action of making balance one thing or person with another person or thing in the present moment.
When can we use “compare’’ in the present tense?
| Type of present tense | When to use “compare” in the present tense |
| 1. Present indefinite tense | We can use the verb “compare” in the simple present tense to indicate an action of making balance among something at the present moment in a general sense. |
| 2. Present continuous tense | We use the verb “comparing” in the present continuous tense with the helping verb am/is/are to show that an action is happening or befalling in the present moment. The work of occurrence is in progress now. |
| 3. Present perfect tense | We can use the verb “compare” in the present perfect tense with the helping verb has or have to show that the act of finding similarity or dissimilarity among the things or people has been done in the recent past but the result still remains. |
| 4. Present perfect continuous tense | The verb “comparing” is used in the present perfect continuous tense with the helping verb has been or have been to present the action of making balance among the people or things. It shows the action is going on for a period of time. |
Sentence formation and structure of “compare’’ in the present tense-
| Type of present tense | Sentence formation and structure of “compare’’ |
| 1. Present indefinite tense | a. Subject (first person singular/plural, second person singular/plural, third person plural) + compare + object b. Subject (third-person singular) + compares + object |
| 2. Present continuous tense | a. Subject (first singular, third person singular) + is building + object b. Subject (first person plural, second person singular/plural, third person plural) + are comparing + object |
| 3. Present perfect tense | a. Subject (first person singular/plural, second person singular/plural, third person plural) + have compared + object b. Subject (third singular) + has compared + object |
| 4. Present perfect continuous tense | a. Subject (first person singular/plural, second person singular/plural, third person plural) + have been comparing + object b. Subject (third singular) + has been comparing + object |
Examples and explanations of “compare’’ in the present tense-
| Type of present tense | Example | Explanation |
| 1. Present indefinite tense | The teacher compares my answer with that of Sanvi. | Here the action word “compare’’ is used to frame a present indefinite tense. We see that the teacher makes a comparison between my answer with the answer written by Sanvi. |
| 2. Present continuous tense | He is comparing the weather of Darjeeling with the weather of Shilong. | Here the usage of the verb “comparing’’ in its present participle form indicates the formation of the present continuous tense. It shows that he is trying to make a parallelism between the two weather conditions. |
| 3. Present perfect tense | The poet has compared his lover’s cheeks to the roses blooming in spring. | In this cited sentence, the verb “compared’’ is used to make the present perfect tense. We can see that the poet has made a comparison between the cheeks of his beloved with that of a rose in spring. |
| 4. Present perfect continuous tense | My father has been comparing our house to our neighbor’s house for five years. | The verb “compare’’ is used in the present participle form to make a sentence in the present perfect continuous tense. Here we find my father’s effort to make a balance between the two houses. |
“Compare’’ in the past tense.
A past tense is a grammatical form where the finished action is found. Now, we will take a glance at the word “compare’’ and how it works in the past tense.
We use the term “compare’’ in its second form “compared’’ to refer to our effort to bring something or someone in comparison in the previous moment.
When can we use “compare’’ in the past tense?
| Type of past tense | When to use “compare” in the past tense |
| 1. Past indefinite tense | We can use the verb “compare” in the simple past tense to indicate a completed action of making balance among persons or things in the past. |
| 2. Past continuous tense | We use the irregular verb “comparing” in the past continuous tense with the helping verb was or were to show an act of making balance among the people or things in the previous moment. The work of comparison was in progress before. |
| 3. Past perfect tense | We can use the verb “compared” in its third form in the past perfect tense with the helping verb had to show that the act of making balance had been done in the past before another action. |
| 4. Past perfect continuous tense | The verb “comparing” is used in the past perfect continuous tense with the helping verb had been to present the action of comparison for a period of time in the past before another action took place. |
Sentence formation and structure of “compare’’ in the past tense-
| Type of past tense | Sentence formation and structure of “compare’’ |
| 1. Past indefinite tense | a. Subject (all persons and numbers) + compared + object |
| 2. Past continuous tense | a. Subject (first singular, third person singular) + was comparing + object b. Subject (first person plural, second person singular/plural, third person plural) + were comparing + object |
| 3. Past perfect tense | a. Subject (all persons and numbers) + had compared + object |
| 4. Past perfect continuous tense | a. Subject (all persons and numbers) + had been comparing + object |
Examples and explanations of “compare’’ in the past tense-
| Type of past tense | Example | Explanation |
| 1. Past indefinite tense | The authority compared the applications of the candidates’ degrees for the new job. | The second form of the verb “compared’’ is used to frame a past indefinite tense in which we see the finished action without its result now. |
| 2. Past continuous tense | They were comparing my sister’s songs to the songs sung by the other competitors. | The verb “compare’’ in the present participle form is used to frame a sentence in the past continuous tense. It refers to an action of the persons who were making comparisons of the quality of the songs. |
| 3. Past perfect tense | The boss had compared the attendance of the employees before they came to the office. | Here the usage of “compare’’ in its third form mentions the action of the past perfect tense. It refers that the boss had done a comparison of the attendance of the employees before the arrival of the concerned persons. |
| 4. Past perfect continuous tense | Tanu had been comparing the football teams for an hour before the match started. | Here the verb “compare’’ is used in the present participle form to make an example of past perfect continuous tense. We find that Tanu had been the parallelism between the two teams for an hour. |
“Compare’’ in the future tense.
A future tense is a grammatical form that shows the actions of the future moment. Let us discuss how the word “compare’’ is used in the future tense.
We can use the term “compare’’ in the future tense to show that the actions of comparison or parallelism between something or someone will be done in the future.
When can “compare’’ be used in the future tense?
| Type of future tense | When to use “compare” in the future tense |
| 1. Future indefinite tense | The verb “compare” is used in the simple future tense with shall or will to indicate an action of comparing the quality of someone or something. It shows that the comparison will be done in the future in a general sense. |
| 2. Future continuous tense | We can insert the verb “comparing” in the future continuous tense with the helping verb shall be or will be to show the act of making balance among something or someone in the future. It refers to the work that will be going on in the future. |
| 3. Future perfect tense | We can use the verb “compared” in the present perfect tense with the helping verb shall have or will have to show the act of making a comparison among people or things. It shows that it will have a comparison in the future before another action. |
| 4. Future perfect continuous tense | The verb “comparing” is used in the future perfect continuous tense with the helping verb shall have been or will have been to present the action of making a balance that will be going on for a period of time in the future before another action. |
Sentence formation and structure of “compare’’ in the future tense-
| Type of future tense | Sentence formation and structure of “compare’’ in the future tense- |
| 1. Future indefinite tense | a. Subject (first person singular/ plural) + shall compare + object b. Subject (second person singular/plural, third person singular/plural) + will compare + object |
| 2. Future continuous tense | a. Subject (first person singular/ plural) + shall be comparing + object b.Subject (second person singular/plural, third person singular/plural) + will be comparing + object |
| 3. Future perfect tense | a. Subject (first person singular/ plural) + shall have compared + object b. Subject (second person singular/plural, third person singular/plural) + will have compared + object |
| 4. Future perfect continuous tense | a. Subject (first person singular/ plural) + shall have been comparing + object b. Subject (second person singular/plural, third person singular/plural) + will have been comparing + object |
Examples and explanations of “compare’’ in the future tense-
| Type of future tense | Example | Explanation |
| 1. Future indefinite tense | Jayeeta will compare the standard of living between the two families she is associated. | The verb “compare’’ is used in its present form with the verb “will’’ to construct a sentence in the future indefinite tense. We see that the girl will make a parallelism of the standard of living of the families. |
| 2. Future continuous tense | Garrison will be comparing his story to the ghost stories. | Here the action word “compare’’ is used to frame a future continuous tense to indicate that Garrison will be going on to make balance his story with the ghost stories. |
| 3. Future perfect tense | The boy will have compared the behavior of his friend and relative before his father calls him. | The verb “compare’’ is used in the future perfect tense as the formation shows its function in the sentence. Here we see the boy’s comparison will be done before his father’s call. |
| 4. Future perfect continuous tense | They will have been comparing the performance of the striker and defender for two hours before the game starts. | The usage of the verb “compare’’ shows the action of the future perfect continuous tense. We see that they will have been comparing the strength of the striker and defender for a period of time before the match starts in the future. |
Conclusion
The article will give us the correct usage of “compare’’ in the three tenses in their all forms. We can frame phrasal verbs like “compare with’’, and “compare to’’. We can use it as a noun in the form “compare’’, and as an adjective in the form “comparatively’’. We can construct phrase like “compare favorably’’.
Hi…. I am Goutam Datta. I have completed a double M. A. in English and B. Ed. I am a creative writer. Currently, I am a part of the LambdaGeeks.
