Possible Clues:

• Now is the time to use this
• Conjugation category (... first 3 letters + the last 5)
• Form that a verb may take — steepen rents (anag)
• Verb form of "am," "is" or "are"
• Spin doctor shocking Tennessee (about time!) in part of speech
• Offering figure solace after stuffing knocked out, might this be simple?
• Commentators use it to take exception to score, at least in gym
• Like shoppers worrying about getting the right gift?
• Describes current events, in a manner of speaking
• Current events, in English class