The action in the verb “prevent” is shown in the present tense, which is a current moment; past tense, which is a time that has passed; and the future tense, which is yet to come.
The verb “prevent” defines the deed of avoiding something from happening. With the aid of inflections and other modal and auxiliary verbs, the act occurs in all three verb tense forms and is further separates into its conjugational sub-parts like perfect, continuous, and perfect continuous.
This same page has gone into greater detail on the tenses described above and their component elements. To find out more about this topic, let us continue reading.
Prevent in present tense
A current event or situation that appears to be happening in the now is defined by the present tense. Let us examine how the word “prevent” would be used in this exact tense form.
The verb “prevent” can be used in its most basic form, the simple present tense, or as “prevents”. The phrase in the present continuous tense changes into ‘is/are preventing’; in present perfect tense into ‘has/have prevented’, and finally in the present perfect continuous tenses it becomes ‘has/have been preventing’.
Essentially, the verb’s fundamental form is the present participle. The present perfect tense, on the other hand, employs the past participle form. The additional conjugational forms of the verb are established by specific inflections, modal verbs, and/or auxiliary verbs.
When can “prevent” be used in the present tense?
Present tense of the verb “prevent’ and its conjugational variations that expand on simple, continues, or ongoing action can be used when someone takes action to prevent someone from doing something or from happening in the present.
Examples of “prevent” are used in different present-tense forms.
| Example Sentences | Explanations |
| 1. I/We prevent dogs and cats from suffering alone on the streets in this shelter. 2. You prevent dogs and cats from suffering alone on the streets in this shelter. 3. He/She prevents dogs and cats from suffering alone on the streets in this shelter. 4. They prevent dogs and cats from suffering alone on the streets in this shelter. | The verb’s base form is used to highlight the simple present tense component of this sentence, which shows that the action of stopping someone from doing something or just keeping any kind of unfortunate situation from happening at the moment. In the four examples provided, we can see how the verb “prevent” is used in the simple present tense and how various types of pronouns give it a singular or plural character according to standard grammar norms. |
| 1. I am preventing the trip to the woods from happening as it is quite dangerous. 2. We are preventing the trip to the woods from happening as it is quite dangerous. 3. You are preventing the trip to the woods from happening as it is quite dangerous. 4. He/She is preventing the trip to the woods from happening as it is quite dangerous. 5. They are preventing the trip to the woods from happening as it is quite dangerous. | As one can observe from these examples, auxiliary verbs such as ‘is’, ‘am’, and ‘are’ have been situated before the phrase “preventing” based on the pronoun that qualifies them and amply demonstrates their present tense nature. The base form of the verb, which consists of the inflectional suffix ‘-ing’ at the end highlights the present continuous tense aspect in this sentence by showing how the action of stopping someone from doing something or just keeping any kind of unfortunate situation from happening is progressing. |
| 1. I/We have prevented the onset of a cold with the aid of many precautions. 2. You have prevented the onset of a cold with the aid of many precautions. 3. He/She has prevented the onset of a cold with the aid of many precautions. 4. They have prevented the onset of a cold with the aid of many precautions. | To emphasise the verb’s present nature, auxiliary verbs like ‘have’ and ‘has’, depending on the type of noun they qualify, have been used before it. Stopping someone from doing something or just keeping any kind of unfortunate situation from happening is an action that requires completion, and the present auxiliary verbs and past participle together give the completed phrase this quality. The past participle form of the verb is “prevented” and it serves as a clear indication that the conjugational variety in this case is the present perfect tense. This quality is what distinguishes the present perfect tense from other forms. |
| 1. I/We have been preventing guests from coming over since ours house is under renovation. 2. You have been preventing guests from coming over since ours house is under renovation. 3. He/She has been preventing guests from coming over since ours house is under renovation. 4. They have been preventing guests from coming over since ours house is under renovation. | The auxiliary verbs ‘have’ and ‘has’, which are used in conjunction with the respective pronouns or in some cases even nouns, clearly demonstrate the present tense nature. The use of the modal word “been,” which lends the phrase a sense of wholeness, demonstrates the perfect quality. Finally, the progressive suffix form “-ing” added to the end of “preventing” highlights the quality of continuity. As can be seen in these statements, the action of stopping someone from doing something or just keeping any kind of unfortunate situation from happening appears to have started in the past and is still in progress in the present when elements of the present continuous tense and present perfect tense combine and create the present perfect continuous tense. |
Prevent in past tense
When an event has already happened, is over, or has passed, the past tense is used. Let us examine this particular tense form’s application to the word “prevent” in more detail.
The verb “prevent” changes from its base form to the inflectional form “prevented” in the past tense. In the past continuous tense, it becomes ‘was/were preventing’, in the present perfect tense, ‘had prevented’, and ultimately, in the present perfect continuous tense, ‘had been preventing’.
The past tense is essentially all that the general past participle form contains. Different inflections, modal verbs, and/or auxiliary verbs are thought to be useful in illuminating the verb’s other conjugations.
When can “prevent” be used in the past tense?
The verb “prevent” is often employed in the past tense when a person engaged in the act of preventing someone from doing something or stopping something from happening during a time that has already passed them by. Depending on the verb’s conjugation, this previous action might be represented in a basic, continued, or completed form.
Examples of “prevent” are used in different past tense forms.
| Example Sentences | Explanations |
| 1. I/We prevented a small child from falling off a swing in the park. 2. You prevented a small child from falling off a swing in the park. 3. He/She prevented a small child from falling off a swing in the park. 4. They prevented a small child from falling off a swing in the park. | The verb’s past participle form, which ends with the inflectional suffix “-ed,” is used to highlight the simple past tense component of this sentence. It also illustrates how the action of stopping someone from doing something or just keeping any kind of unfortunate situation from happening is simply occurring during a time that has already passed. The multiple examples over here show how the word “prevented” is used in the simple past tense and how differing pronoun types have no bearing on the verb’s meaning because it always takes the past participle form. |
| 1. I was preventing the food from getting over so that some of it could be saved for the next day for everyone to consume and enjoy. 2. We were preventing the food from getting over so that some of it could be saved for the next day for everyone to consume and enjoy. 3. You were preventing the food from getting over so that some of it could be saved for the next day for everyone to consume and enjoy. 4. You all were preventing the food from getting over so that some of it could be saved for the next day for everyone to consume and enjoy. 5. Mira was preventing the food from getting over so that some of it could be saved for the next day for everyone to consume and enjoy. 6. They were preventing the food from getting over so that some of it could be saved for the next day for everyone to consume and enjoy. | As one can see from these example phrases, auxiliary verbs like ‘was’ and ‘were’ have been added before the word “preventing” based on the pronoun that qualifies them which subsequently demonstrates their past tense nature. The base form of this particular verb, which ends in the inflectional suffix “-ing,” stresses the past continuous tense feature of this sentence by showing how the action of stopping someone from doing something or just keeping any kind of unfortunate situation from happening occurred through time in a progressive way. |
| 1. I/We/You//He/She/They had prevented the organization from cancelling the most anticipated trip. | Prior to the verb, the auxiliary verb ‘had’ has been used to emphasize the past tense nature of this verb. It is the quality of completion regarding the action of stopping someone from doing something or just keeping any kind of unfortunate situation from happening at a time that has already passed that makes the past auxiliary verb and the obvious past participle together give the full term the designation of past perfect tense. The past participle form of the verb “prevented”, which by itself gives the sentence a sense of completion, serves as the clearest indication of the conjugational variety. |
| 1. I/We/You//He/She/They had been preventing the old lady from crossing the busy road all by herself. | Past perfect continuous tense is created when elements of the past continuous tense and past perfect tense blend. The auxiliary verb ‘had’, which is used in agreement with the respective pronouns, clearly indicates that the sentence is in the past tense. The use of the modal word ‘been’ which lends the phrase a sense of wholeness, demonstrates the perfect quality. Last but not least, the progressive suffix form “-ing” added to the end of “preventing” demonstrates the quality of continuity. As shown through these example texts, the action of stopping someone from doing something or just keeping any kind of unfortunate situation from happening appeared to have started in the past and continued to progress in the past itself. |
Prevent in future tense
When an activity is projected to happen soon or far away from the present, it is said to be in the future tense. Let us find out more about the future tense of the word “prevent.”
The expression ‘will/shall prevent’ illustrates the future tense form of the verb “prevent”. The verb changes into the past continuous tense form ‘will be preventing’, the present perfect tense form ‘will have prevented’, and lastly the present perfect continuous tense ‘will have been preventing’.
The addition of modal verbs like “will” and “shall” gives this primary verb the ability to be seen as the future tense even if its future tense form is the same as the present tense form, or rather the present participle form.
When can “prevent” be used in the future tense?
One typically uses the verb “prevent” in the future tense when someone tries to prevent a scenario from emerging or someone from acting in an undesirable way when an expected time has not yet arrived, and is yet to come by whether in a short or long while.
Examples of “prevent” are used in different future tense forms.
| Example Sentences | Explanations |
| 1. I/We/You/She/They will/shall prevent the exam from happening without a two-week notice. | The use of modal verbs like ‘will’ and ‘shall’, which convey that the action of stopping someone from doing something or just keeping any kind of unfortunate situation from happening is merely going to happen during a time that has not yet arrived, highlights the simple future tense feature in this sentence. The present participle of the verb “prevent” is employed in the simple future tense in the four instances provided. |
| 1. I/We/You/She/They will/shall be preventing an unfortunate misunderstanding if information is just simply communicated. | As one can see from these examples, the word “preventing” has been put after the modal verb ‘be’, which furthers the future progressive aspect of the given sentence. Future tense expressions must always be made with the modal verbs ‘will’ and ‘shall’. The base form of the verb, which ends in the inflectional suffix “-ing,” illustrates the future continuous tense aspect here by showing how the process of action of stopping someone from doing something or just keeping any kind of unfortunate situation from happening is happening gradually in a future time period. |
| 1. I/We/You/She/They will/shall have prevented the little boy from having anymore chocolate. | To emphasize the completed quality of the verb as far as the perfect tense characteristics are concerned, the auxiliary verb ‘have’ has been used before it. The auxiliary verb and the past participle coupled with the modal verbs ‘will’ and ‘shall’ end up giving the entire sentence a sense of completeness with relation to the action of stopping someone from doing something or just keeping any kind of unfortunate situation from happening, which is ultimately what makes it the future perfect tense. It is clear from the usage of the past participle form of the verb in question which is “prevented”, that the conjugational variety. |
| 1. I/We/You/She/They will/shall have been preventing the television set from spoiling on game-day. | The action of stopping someone from doing something or just keeping any kind of unfortunate situation from happening is foreseen to start at some point in the future and continue in the future itself, be it in the short-term or even long-term future. The modal verbs ‘will’ and ‘shall’ prove that the sentence is in the future tense. The use of the other modal verb ‘been’, which gives the statement a sense of completeness and demonstrates the perfect tense quality. Finally, the progressive suffix form “-ing” added to the end of “preventing” highlights the quality of continuation. As can be seen in these sentences, the future perfect continuous tense is created when elements of the future perfect tense and future continuous tense combine. |
Conclusion
As a result, the verb “prevent” has a wide range of forms that can be obtained with the help of certain inflectional forms, as well as auxiliary and modal verbs, which account for the many tense and sub-tense conjugational variants.
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