TENSES IN ENGLISH
This tense expresses what is happening NOW, at the moment of speaking.
Affirmative
Subject |
To be |
Verb+ing |
We |
are |
talking |
I |
am |
sleeping |
Negative
Subject |
To be |
Verb+ing |
She |
isn’t |
sleeping |
They |
aren’t |
writing |
Interrogative
To be |
Subject |
Verb+ing |
Am |
I |
reading? |
Are |
you |
cooking? |
Special words:
Now – at this moment – Look! – Listen! – still
This tense expresses habitual activities, the things we usually do or don’t do.
Affirmative
I – you – we – they |
Verb |
They |
play |
He – she – it |
Verb+s |
She |
runs |
Negative
I – you – we – they |
Don’t (do not) |
Verb |
I |
don’t |
smoke |
He - she - it |
Doesn’t (does not) |
Verb |
She |
doesn’t |
speak |
Interrogative
Do |
I – you – we – they |
Verb? |
Do |
you |
sing? |
Does |
he – she – it |
Verb? |
Does |
he |
work? |
Special words:
Always – usually – often – seldom – hardly ever – sometimes - never - Example: We always eat meat |
· PRESENT PERFECT
a) This tense expresses an action that started in the past but it is still going on in itself or its consequences.
Example: This year I have gone to the cinema four times
b) It also expresses an action that happened in the past a short time ago and has clear consequences in the present.
Example: I have lost my key. I can’t open the door.
Affirmative
Subject |
Have/has |
Past participle |
We |
have |
Swum |
Negative
Subject |
Haven’t/hasn’t |
Past participle |
She |
hasn’t |
Studied |
Interrogative
Have/has |
Subject |
Past participle? |
Have |
you |
copied? |
Past participle: → Regular: Verb + ed = worked
→Irregular:3rd column of irregular verbs = gone, broken, etc.
Special words:
These words are always between have/has and the past participle Example: He has already got home |
This tense is similar to the present perfect simple in meaning but it has some characteristics.
Affirmative
Subject |
Have/has |
Been |
Verb+ing |
We |
have |
been |
studying |
Negative
Subject |
Haven’t/hasn’t |
Been |
Verb+ing |
She |
hasn’t |
Been |
Sleeping |
Interrogative
Have/has |
Subject |
Been |
Verb+ing? |
Have |
you |
been |
working? |
Special words: the same that we use for Present Perfect Simple
This tense expresses something that happened in the past and finished in the past.
Affirmative
Subject |
Verb in past |
We |
worked |
She |
Slept |
Verb in past:→ Regular: verb + ed= worked
→ Irregular: 2nd column of irregular verbs: went, broke, etc.
Negative
Subject |
didn’t |
Verb |
She |
didn’t |
Study |
Interrogative
Did |
Subject |
Verb? |
Did |
you |
go? |
Special words:
Yesterday – last night/week/month, etc – a week/two day/ etc ago – in 1998 – when
· PAST CONTINUOUS
This tense expresses an action that was happening during a period of time in the past.
The phone rang
↓
Past 2.00 2.45 4.00 present future
←------------------■---------------------------■---------------------------│--------------------------------→
↑ ↑
I started watching TV I stopped watching TV
│_________________ │
I was watching TV
Example: I was watching TV when the telephone rang
Affirmative
Subject |
was/were |
verb+ing |
I |
was |
swimming |
Negative
Subject |
wasn’t/weren’t |
verb+ing |
We |
weren’t |
jumping |
Interrogative
Was/were |
Subject |
verb+ing? |
Were |
you |
singing? |
Special words: when – while – as – at 2 o’clock yesterday ( or any other specific point of time)
· PAST PERFECT
This tense expresses a past action that happened before another past action.
past 1.00 3.00 present future
←------------------------■-------------------------■----------------------------│-----------------------→
↓ ↓
I bought the tickets I went into the cinema
Example: I went into the cinema after I had bought the tickets
Affirmative
Subject |
had |
past participle |
We |
had |
written |
Negative
Subject |
hadn’t |
past participle |
I hadn’t |
hadn’t |
Slept |
Interrogative
Had |
subject |
past participle? |
Had |
she worked? |
worked? |
Special words: when - after - before – by the time
· FUTURE
Future is not a tense in English. It can be expressed in different ways
Will: ☻ Predictions based on ideas or opinions: Next year there will be 2% rate of inflation.
☻ Promises: I’ll phone you at 9.00 o’clock.
☻ Instant decision: Don’t worry. I’ll help you.
☻ Polite requests: Will you open the window, please?
☻ Future fact: I’ll be 16 next birthday.
“Going to”: ☻Plans or intentions: Next week I’m going to buy a new car.
☻ Predictions based on evidence: The sky is cloudy. I think it is going to rain.
Present Continuous:☻ Arrangements: Tomorrow I’m playing tennis with my boss.
Present Simple: ☻Schedules or timetables that I can’t change: The concert starts at 5.