Download Verb Tenses TENSE FORM USE EXAMPLE Present Simple

Verb Tenses
TENSE
Present Simple
Present Continuous
FORM
Infinitive (+s 3rd pers. sing.)
Am/is/are + present participle
USE
Facts (permanent states)
EXAMPLE
Dogs bark / Water boils at 100°C.
Habits/routines
Flowers blossom in the spring.
We study English every day.
With the verb say (used in
quoting books, signs, etc.)
“What does the recipe say?” “It says
cook for 30 minutes”.
“What does Jim say in his letter?”
With state verbs1
This book belongs to me.
I don’t think Chris likes Jane.
Action in progress now
(temporary activity)
I am talking to you.
Action generally in progress
around now (this week, this
year)
She’s studying English.
Are you enjoying your holiday?
Annoying habits
You’re always complaining!
Changing trends
The weather is getting worse.
More and more companies are closing
down.
The cost of living is getting higher
and higher.
1
Examples of state verbs: be, believe, belong, consist, contain, depend, doubt, fit, hate, have, know, like, love, matter, mean, need, own, prefer, realize, remember, seem, suppose,
suspect, understand, want, wish.
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Verb Tenses
TENSE
Present Perfect Simple
Present Perfect Continuous
2
FORM
Have/has + past participle
Have/has + been + present
participle
USE
Something happened (or never
happened) before now at an
unspecified time in the past. The
adverbs so far, always, since,
often, ever, never, already, yet,
still, just are often used.
EXAMPLE
I have (just) been to the doctor’s.
Have you (ever) been to China?
“Haven’t you finished your translation
yet?” “No, I still haven’t finished it”.
I’ve (already) read that book.
Repetition of an activity
performed so far in my life
I have read 4 chapters so far.
I’ve been to Paris many times
With for and since to describe a
situation that began in the past
and is still true
Peter has lived in London since 2005.
We have been here for 2 hours.
I have liked mystery books since I was a
child.
To describe the duration of an
activity that began in the past
and is still continuing or has just
finished2
We have been studying English since 9.30
(and we are still studying).
Susan’s been cleaning the house all
morning (and she’s still cleaning).
It’s been snowing all week, I’m so glad it’s
stopped now!
I’ve been cleaning the house, can’t you
tell? (I’ve finished, the house is clean and
I’m all dusty).
General activity in progress
recently
I’ve been thinking about studying French.
I’ve been working a lot lately.
I’ve been wondering what happened to
you! (I haven’t heard from you for ages).
Note that as with the present continuous, the present perfect continuous cannot normally be used with state verbs, only action verbs
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Verb Tenses
TENSE
Past Simple
Past Continuous
FORM
Past form (infinitive + ed) or
irregular form3
Was/were + present participle
Past Perfect Simple
Had + past participle
Past Perfect Continuous
Have/has + been + present
participle
3
USE
Activities completed in the past
at a specified time (explicit)
EXAMPLE
I went to the cinema yesterday.
When specific time is asked
about
When did you go to the cinema?
When was Napoleon born?
Activities that took place at a
definite time, but this time is not
mentioned (implicit)
Activities in progress in the past
(often interrupted by another
event) Or
Two (or more activities) in
progress at the same time.
The train was late!
Why did you choose to study English?
I bought these shoes in the sales.
I was having a shower when the phone
rang.
A gradual development (mostly
literary descriptions)
It was growing darker and the clouds were
closing in. The wind was rising, it was
howling through the trees.
Changing trends in the past (cf
present continuous)
Activities completed before
another action or time in the past
It was getting later and later.
Duration of an activity that was
in progress before another
activity or time in the past
For a list of irregular verbs see Table 397 p. 611 in English Grammar Today. (Also Table 397 English Grammar Today CD).
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I was having a shower while my husband
was mowing the lawn.
When I arrived, the film had already
started.
Jane had forgotten to close the door and
so the dog ran away.
After the guests had left, I went to bed.
I had been living in Rome living for four
years before I met my husband.
Sally finally arrived at 6.30. I had been
waiting for her since 5.30!
Verb Tenses
TENSE
FORM
Used to + infinitive
neg. didn’t use to + infinitive
formal: used not to +
infinitive
USE
Past situation (no longer true)
EXAMPLE
I used to like tennis. (I don’t any more).
I used to live in London.
Repeated actions or states in the
past
I used to play tennis every day.
Would
Would + infinitive
Repeated action in the past
(descriptions and reminiscences)
Every day he would get up and go running in
the park.
When I was young, I would visit my
grandparents every Sunday.
Unfulfilled events in the past
Was/were going to go to +
infinitive
Events that were intended to
take place but did not happen
I was going to (intended to) call you
yesterday, but I forgot.
Used to
Phil and Wendy were thinking of getting
married this spring, but they decided to
wait until next year.
Was/were thinking of + gerund
Was/were about to + infinitive
Mary was about to email Vera but she
started surfing the net instead.
Was/were to have taken part
Keith was to have taken part in the
Olympics, but he broke his leg.
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Verb Tenses
TENSE
Future will
Future going to
FORM
Will + infinitive
Going to + infinitive
USE
Predictions
Intention at moment of decision
The phone is ringing. I’ll answer it.
I’ll have a mixed salad please.
Making assumptions
That will be Mike on the phone.
With I think, I don’t think4, I
expect, I don’t expect, I’m sure,
I’m not sure, will definitely,
definitely won’t, perhaps
I think Christie will win the race.
I don’t expect he’ll see you at such short
notice.
It definitely won’t rain today.
Perhaps I’ll see you at the party?
I’m going to take driving lessons next
month. (I’ve already decided to do so)
I’m going to be an English teacher.
Intentions and plans
Prediction with “evidence”
Future shall5
4
5
Shall + infinitive (used only
with I and we)
EXAMPLE
The economic situation will improve soon.
You will all pass your exams.
Making suggestions, offer to do
something
Look at those black clouds, it’s going to
rain.
Look out! The milk’s going to boil over.
Shall we go to the cinema?
Shall I open the window?
Requests for instructions or
suggestions
What shall we do about the situation?
What shall I do with your mail?
Tag question with let’s
Let’s play Trivial Pursuit, shall we?
Determination
I shall not cut my hair!
We shall fight for our freedom!
We don’t usually say I think he won’t come or I expect she won’t be there, but we say I don’t think he’ll come and I don’t expect she’ll be there.
In the past, will was used for intention: I will write to him (I intend to write to him) and shall was used when there was no intention I shall be 30 next birthday; We shall have
the exam results tomorrow. Nowadays, will is normally used in both cases.
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Verb Tenses
TENSE
Future present continuous
FORM
Am/is/are + present participle
USE
Scheduled arrangements in the
future (not used with state
verbs)
Future present simple
Infinitive (+s 3rd pers. sing.)
Formal arrangements (events
established by “authorities)
Future continuous
Will be + present participle
Events which will be happening in
the future
Future perfect simple
Will have + past participle
An activity that will be completed
before another time or event in
the future
Future perfect continuous
Will have been + present
participle
Be due to
Be due to + infinitive
The duration of an activity that
will be in progress before
another time or event in the
future
Reference to a scheduled time
(meaning: expected to happen,
scheduled to happen)
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EXAMPLE
I’m meeting Sam tomorrow afternoon.
Tom is playing tennis with Peter on
Saturday.
I’m having my hair cut next Wednesday.
My plane leaves at 9am tomorrow.
The course starts on January 21nd.
I will be leaving for New York this time
next week.
Mary will be helping me tomorrow.
If you arrive before 8 o’clock, I’ll still be
having my breakfast.
Will you be having a break at 10.30? If so,
I’ll join you.
In five years time, you will have finished
university and you will be working.
By the end of this year I will have saved
enough money to buy a car.
By the end of May, I will have been
teaching you for 8 months.
When we finish at 12.30, we will have been
studying for 3 hours.
The plane is due to arrive in 10 minutes.
The lesson is due to start at 9.30.