1.2 Participles: verbs without any tense
There are other forms of the verb which are not different tenses. They are called participles (which just means ‘parts’).
The present participle ends in -ing (e.g. wanting, flying). This is used when we want to emphasise that something is in the process of happening, either in the present:
Of course I’ll bring it – I’m putting it into my bag as I speak!
Or the past:
I was crossing the street when a cyclist hit me.
The past participle will be discussed in the next section, on irregular verbs.