The English verb is traditionally presented as having so many "tenses" that both students and teachers are confused. No real logic seems to hold the whole thing together, and teachers' explanations are often off the mark. Organizing verb forms in terms of past, present, and future is not only incorrect, but misleading. The linguist Martin Joos offers a different approach with which to view and analyze the English predicate. This system is presented in practical terms for the classroom teacher. The concepts of remote tense and perfect phase are defined and shown to be a useful way of organizing and teaching verb forms, particularly the most troublesome ones: present and past perfect, conditionals, and reported speech. The emphasis throughout is on the privative meanings denoted by verb form markers, rather than on abstract forms and rules. Tense pattern drills should not be used for intermediate or higher level classes. What students at these levels need is practice switching from form to form, meaning to meaning, not just the mechanical affixing of an "ing." (Author/CFM)