miércoles, 26 de octubre de 2011

VERB TENSES

PRESENT SIMPLE AND PRESENT CONTINUOUS

TENSE
SIGNAL WORDS
FORM
MAIN USES
EXAMPLES
PRESENT SIMPLE
every day

sometimes

always

often

usually

never
I/you/we/they + infinitive

he/she/it + infinitive + s
Talking about routines and habits

I wake up at seven every morning
Talking about general truths and facts

London is a large city
Instantaneous simple present
Xavi passes the ball to Villa.
Stative verbs
I love music.
To talk about future schedules or programs
The plane arrives
at 6 pm.
PRESENT CONTINUOUS
now

at the moment

these days

at present

Look!

to be (am/are/is) + infinitive + -ing
Talking about something that is happening at the moment
I am studying verb tenses.
A temporary action
Mary and I are learning Italian this year
A definite plan for the near future
I’m meeting my girlfriend tonight.


PAST SIMPLE, PAST CONTINUOUS AND PAST PERFECT

TENSE
SIGNAL WORDS
FORM
MAIN USES
EXAMPLES
PAST SIMPLE
last ...

... ago

in 1990

yesterday
Regular: infinitive + -ed

Irregular: second column
Talking about completed actions that took place at a specific time in the past

She bought some clothes last Monday
PAST CONTINUOUS
while
was/were + infinitive + -ing
Talking about actions that were in progress at a specific time in the past
She was buying some clothes yesterday afternoon.
When both tenses are used in the same sentence, we normally use when with the Past simple (Fernando was playing the guitar when they arrived); and while or as with the Past continuous (While/As Frenando was playing the guitar, they arrived).
PAST PERFECT SIMPLE
Already

By the time

Until

Before

After

Never

Had + past participle (3rd column)
To indicate that a completed action happened before another action in the past (for which we use the past simple)
The song had stopped before I left
PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS
For
Since
How long
Before
until
Had + been + infinitive + ing
How long something had been happening before something else happened
She had been looking for a new house for some time before she found one.


PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE AND PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

TENSE
SIGNAL WORDS
FORM
MAIN USES
EXAMPLES
PRESENT PERFECT
just

yet

never

ever

already

up to now,

since

for

how long…?
I/you/we/they + have + past participle (third column)

he/she/it + has + past participle (third column)
An action that began in the past and continues until the present.

I have lived in London for two years.
An action that took place at an undetermined time in the past and has importance in the present.
I have already had dinner.
PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS
all day

the whole day

how long

since

for
I/you/we/they + have + been + infinitive + -ing

He/she/it + has + infinitive + -ing
Describing a continuous action. We are interested in the activity.
I have been doing my homework.
FUTURE SIMPLE, FUTURE PERFECT AND FUTURE CONTINUOUS.
TENSE
SIGNAL WORDS
FORM
MAIN USES
EXAMPLES
FUTURE SIMPLE
Later

Next month

In an hour

Tomorrow

In the future

Will + infinitive SIN TO
A prediction
The government will not allow this type of experiment.
A timetable
The football match will be at 5.00
A spontaneous decision
There is no meat left, so I will have fish for lunch.
Present of the verb TO BE + going to + infinitive
A planned action for the future
The newspaper is going to publish the results of the experiment next week.
An action that is about to happen
Be careful! The dog is going to bite you.
FUTURE PERFECT
By this time

Next week

In two months…

Will + have + past participle (3rd column)
A completed action at a certain future time
Students will have finished their homework in two hours..
FUTURE CONTINUOUS
At this time tomorrow

At this time next week…
Will be + -ing
An action in progress at a certain future time
At this time tomorrow, we will be playing football.