VERBAL TENSES REVIEW. Present

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1 VERBAL TENSES REVIEW Present PRESENT SIMPLE AFFIRMATIVE: The Present Simple is the base form of the verb (=infinitive), except for the 3 rd person singular, which ends in s / -es. NEGATIVE: It is formed with DON T / DOESN T (3 rd person singular) and the infinitive. INTERROGATIVE: It is formed with the auxiliary DO / DOES (3 rd person singular) and the infinitive. Habits or routines: I go to the cinema twice a week General or scientific facts: Paris is the capital of France Permanent situations: I live in Madrid Stative verbs: I think she is attractive How often?, always, often, usually, frequently, generally, occasionally, sometimes, rarely, hardly ever, never; once, twice, three times (a day, week...); every (week, month...); in the morning /afternoon..., at night. PRESENT CONTINUOUS AFFIRMATIVE: The Present Continuous is formed with the auxiliary verb TO BE in the present simple form: AM/ ARE / IS and the main verb in the ing form. NEGATIVE: AM NOT / AREN T / ISN T + gerund. INTERROGATIVE: We start the question with the auxiliary AM / ARE/ IS, then the subject and the ing form. Unfinished actions in progress in the present time, not necessarily happening at the time of speaking: Please, be quiet! I am reading (at the moment of speaking) or I am reading a very interesting book at the moment. It is about a boy who... (speaking on the phone to a friend). Temporary actions: I am living in London this year, because I have an Erasmus grant Now, right now, at the moment; today, this (week, month...).

2 Past PAST SIMPLE AFFIRMATIVE: The Past Simple REGULAR is formed by adding ed to the infinitive. IRREGULAR verbs make the affirmative form in different ways. NEGATIVE: The Past Simple is formed with the auxiliary DIDN T and the infinitive. INTERROGATIVE: The Past Simple is formed with the auxiliary DID and the infinitive. The Past Simple is used to talk about complete events in a finished past. JANUARY Last month, the company lost $1m Yesterday (5 weeks, 2 years...) ago Last (week, month...) In December... (February) In On Wednesday... PAST CONTINUOUS AFFIRMATIVE: The Past Continuous is formed with the auxiliary verb TO BE in the past simple form: WAS/ WERE and the main verb in the ing form. NEGATIVE: WASN T/ WEREN T and the ing form. INTERROGATIVE: We start the question with the auxiliary WAS/ WERE, then the subject and the ing form. The Past Continuous is used to talk about incomplete actions in progress in the past. What were you doing yesterday evening? I was watching the news We can use the same time expressions as in the Past Simple. When we want to talk about actions in progress interrupted by another short action in past simple, we use when and while WHEN: Past Simple WHILE / AS: Past Continuous Peter left while the director was presenting the new plan While the director was presenting the new plan, Peter left

3 PRESENT PERFECT AFFIRMATIVE: The Present Perfect is formed with the auxiliary verb HAVE: HAVE / HAS and the main verb in the PAST PARTICIPLE form. The past participle will be formed by adding ed to regular verbs. Irregular verbs form the past participle in different ways. NEGATIVE: HAVEN T / HASN T + past participle INTERROGATIVE: HAVE / HAS + subject + past participle The Present Perfect is used to connect the past to the present tense. The action which started in the past still continues today, or it has a result now, or we talk about a period of time that continues until now How long have you lived in this town? I have lived here since I was born New technologies have changed communications dramatically How long? ever for/ since never already just yet recently PRESENT PERFECT vs. PAST SIMPLE in recent months/ years in the last month/ year February The weather has improved for the last two months February Last February, the weather was very cold PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS AFFIRMATIVE: HAVE / HAS + BEEN and the main verb in the GERUND form. NEGATIVE: HAVEN T / HASN T + BEEN + gerund INTERROGATIVE: HAVE / HAS + subject + BEEN + gerund Similar use to the Present Perfect Simple, but with a highlight on the duration of the action, as the translation would be equivalent to the Spanish: llevar haciendo algo... I have been waiting for you since 2 o clock, Have they been going out for a long time?

4 PAST PERFECT AFFIRMATIVE: The Past Perfect is formed with the auxiliary verb HAVE in the past simple form: HAD and the main verb in the PAST PARTICIPLE form. The past participle will be formed by adding ed to regular verbs. Irregular verbs form the past participle in different ways. NEGATIVE: HADN T + past participle INTERROGATIVE: HAD + subject + past participle The Past Perfect is used to relate past actions. Sometimes we talk about a complete action in the past as a starting point (past simple) and then, we relate it to a previous moment, which is represented by the Past Perfect. 22:30 23:00 Linda left the pub Later, I arrived at the pub PAST SIMPLE PAST SIMPLE = Independent actions Linda had left when I arrived at the pub PAST PERFECT PAST SIMPLE = Related actions To set the time, we use past time expressions: yesterday, last week, 2 years ago... As in any perfect tense, we can use expressions such as: already, yet, just, ever... Finally, to relate both actions or situations, we use these conjunctions: WHEN/ BEFORE/ BY THE TIME+ past simple AFTER+ past perfect Before I arrived at the pub, Linda had left I arrived at the pub after Linda had left PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS AFFIRMATIVE: The Past Perfect Continuous is formed with the auxiliary verb HAVE in the past simple form: HAD + BEEN and the main verb in the GERUND form. NEGATIVE: HADN T + BEEN + gerund INTERROGATIVE: HAD + subject + BEEN + gerund As in the Present Perfect Continuous, there is a highlight on the duration of the action, as the translation would be equivalent to the Spanish: llevaba haciendo algo... The telephone had been ringing for five minutes, before he answered it

5 Future PRESENT SIMPLE Future actions which form part of a schedule, timetable, programme: We visit the Tower of London on Tuesday at am The flight 612XV destination Los Angeles leaves at PRESENT CONTINUOUS Plans already arranged and confirmed, normally in a close future: We re travelling to Brussels next month What are you doing this evening? (We expect that you have already made plans) Also when we are about to begin an action, especially with verbs of movement (go, leave, come): Mum, I m leaving I am going to bed WILL + infinitive Something certain about the future, independent from the subject s will: He ll be twenty tomorrow Deduction: The phone is ringing. It will be my sister Prediction: Our team will win the Cup Final Promise: I promise I ll be there Decision taken at the moment of speaking: These shoes are lovely. I ll buy them With these verbs and expressions: think, wonder, expect, sure, certain, probably...: I don t think/ I wonder whether I will pass the exam Be + GOING TO + infinitive Intention to do something, but you have not arranged to do it: I am going to give up smoking Certainty that something is going to happen because there is evidence: Look at that car! It s going to crash! They are going to have a baby FUTURE CONTINUOUS (= will + be+ gerund) Action in progress in the future: This time tomorrow, we will be flying to London FUTURE PERFECT (= will + have + past participle) Finished action in the future. We usually use expressions with by... : By 2 o clock, we will have finished

ENGLISH VERB TENSES FORMS, USES, AND EXAMPLES

1 ENGLISH VERB TENSES FORMS, USES, AND EXAMPLES Present Simple Tense Base verb, 3 rd Person Singular s (I work, He works) 1. To refer to a situation or affairs as permanent (Water boils at 100 C.) 2. To