HANDOUT 3 (Compilled by Janita Norena, S.Pd., M.Pd.

)
TENSES: ACTIVE VOICE
Present simple tense
Form
Positive statement: I play, He plays
Negative statement: I do not play (I don't play), He does not play (He doesn't play)
Question form: Do you play? Does he play?
Negative question: Do you not play? (Don't you play?) Does he not play? (Doesn't he play?)
The auxiliary verb do is not used to make questions and negative statements with modal
verbs and the verb to be. Are you a student? Is he in London? I am not at home. He is not
happy. Can you sing? Must I come? I cannot swim. He mustn't stay. If the wh- pronoun
introducing the question (who, which) is the subject of the question, we do not use the
auxiliary verb do. Compare the following sentences. Who knows you? (who is the subject)
Which cars belong to you? (which cars is the subject) But: Who do you know? (who is the
object) The negative question normally expresses a surprise. Doesn't he work?
Use
1. We use the present simple tense for activities that happen again and again (everyday,
sometimes, ever, never). Examples: I sometimes go to school by bike. You don't speak
Greek. Do they get up early? He often travels. She doesn't work. Does she ever help you?
2. We use it for facts that are always true. Examples: Our planet moves round the sun.
Lions eat meat.
3. With a future time expression (tomorrow, next week) the present simple is used for
planned future actions (timetables). Examples: The train leaves at 8.15. They return tonight.
Present continuous tense
Form
Positive statement: I am playing, You are playing, He is playing
Negative statement: I am not playing (I'm not playing), You are not playing (You aren't
playing), He is not playing (He isn't playing)
Question: Are you playing? Is he playing?
Negative question: Are you not playing? (Aren't you playing?) Is he not playing? (Isn't he
playing?) The negative question normally expresses a surprise: Isn't he working?
Use
The present continuous tense is used:
1. If we want to say that something is happening at the time of speaking. We often use it
with time expressions such as now or at the moment.
I am doing housework at the moment. You aren't listening to me now! Look at him! What is
he doing?
2. For temporary activities that are true now, but maybe not happening at the time of
speaking. Time expressions such as today, this week or these days are typical of this use.
I am in London. I am learning English here. She can't go out today. She is preparing for an
exam. You can't meet him this week. He is working in Bath.
3. For planned future arrangements. The time of the action must be given in the sentence
(soon, tomorrow, on Monday, next week), otherwise it is not clear that we talk about future.
I am coming soon. We are leaving on Monday. She is starting next week.
4. With always to express the idea that something happens too often and it annoys the
speaker.
I am always forgetting my keys. He is always smoking in the living room!

HANDOUT 3 (Compilled by Janita Norena, S.Pd., M.Pd.)

We do not normally use in the continuous the following groups of verbs (so called state
verbs):
1. Of senses: feel, hear, see, smell, taste. On the other hand, look, watch or listen are action
verbs and can be used in the continuous:
I can hear you. - I am listening to you. Can you see the bird? - Are you looking at the bird?
2. Of liking and disliking: like, love, hate, fear, detest, want, wish...
I like animals. I hate snakes.
3. Of mental states: agree, believe, forget, know, remember, suppose, think...
I agree with you. I suppose you are right.

HANDOUT 3 (Compilled by Janita Norena, S.Pd., M.Pd.)

4. Of permanent states: be, have, belong, contain, owe, own, possess...
This pen belongs to me. I have a new pet.
5. Of appearance: seem, appear, look, sound...
It seems that it will rain. Your new haircut looks really good.
If some of these verbs are used in the present continuous, they have a different meaning. In
such a case they become action verbs.
I think he is my best friend. (mental state) - I'm thinking of giving him a present. (mental
activitiy) He has a new bathroom. (possess) - He is having a bath. (take a bath) I see what
you mean. (know) - I am seeing a doctor. I am ill. (visit) The flower smells beautiful. (scent) The dog is smelling the sausage. (sniff) This wine tastes sour. (It has a sour taste.) - She is
tasting the soup if it is warm enough.
Future simple - will
Form
Positive statement: I will learn (I'll learn), He will learn (He'll learn)
Negative statement: I will not learn (I won't learn), He will not learn (He won't learn)
Question: Will you learn?
Neg. question: Will you not learn? (Won't you learn?) We can also use shall in the first person
singular and plural (I, we). But this form is quite formal in modern English and is not very common.
I shall do it for you.
We shall come soon.
Use
1. Will is used as a modal auxiliary verb to show a general intention.
He will change his job.
We'll travel abroad. (short form of will)
I will not need it.
They won't change the telephone number. (short form of will not)
Will you take the exam?
2. Will is used for predictions or opinions.
It will snow in winter.
The horse will not win.
We can use following verbs or adverbs to express that we assume something, but we are not sure:
think, be sure, hope, believe, suppose, perhaps, possibly, probably, surely.
They'll probably study art.
I don't think she'll accept it.
3. Will is used to express a decision or offer made at the moment of speaking.
Can I walk you home? - No, thank you. I'll take a taxi.
Please, tell Peter about it. - O.K. I'll call him.
But:
I am going to call Peter. Do you want me to say hello to him?
(Going to expresses our decision made before the moment of speaking.)
Present perfect simple
Form
Positive statement: I have cooked, I have written , He has cooked, He has written (I've cooked, He's
cooked)
Negative statement: I have not worked (I haven't worked), He has not worked (He hasn't worked)
Question: Have you worked?
Neg. question: Have you not worked? (Haven't you worked?)
Use
The present perfect combines the past and present.

HANDOUT 3 (Compilled by Janita Norena, S.Pd., M.Pd.)

1. We use the present perfect simple for actions or states that started in the past and still continue.
We have lived here since 2001.
She has known me for more than two years.
I haven't seen her since Christmas.
How long have they been here?
It is often used with expressions indicating that the activity began in the past and comes up to now,
such as: for 10 years, since 1995, all week, all the time, always, lately, recently ...
We have always worked in York. (We still work in York.)
It has been quite cold lately. (It is still cold.)
If the activity started in the past and ended in the past we cannot use the present perfect.
I have smoked for 5 years. (present perfect - I still smoke.)
I smoked for 5 years. (past simple - I smoked from 2000 to 2005, then I stopped.)
2. We use it to describe an experience that happened in the past (the time is not given), but the effects
are important now.
She has been to London. (And so she knows London.)
Compare:
I have already been to Greece. (experience - And I want to go somewhere else now.)
I have been in Greece for two weeks. (state - I am stlill in Greece.)
When we use this tense to express some experience, we can use following adverbs - ever, never,
already, often, occassionaly, yet, before ......
Have you ever tried it?
She has never read this book.
We haven't seen it yet.
Have you fallen off a bike yet?
I haven't met her before.
3. The present perfect simple is used for past activities that have a present result.
The bus hasn't arrived. (It did not arrived on time and we are still waiting now.)
I have bought a new house. (I did it last month and it means that now I have a new address.)
For such activities we often use these adverbs - yet, already, just.
They haven't finished their homework yet. (They can't go out now.)
Has she signed it yet? (Can I take the document?) ive already sent the letter. (There is no need to go
to the post-office.)
We have just heard the news. (We know about it.)
Present perfect vs past simple
With the present perfect we do not specify when the action happened. If we give the time or it is clear
from the context that we mention a certain time in the past, we must use the past simple.
Have you had breakfast? But: Did you have breakfast at the hotel?
I've read your letter. But: I read your letter last night.
They have told me. But: They told me when we met.
Have you had the operation? But: When did you have the operation?
In the present perfect we express that something happened in the past which is important now. The
time is not relevant.
In the past tense the time of the action is relevant.
Present perfect vs present simple
The present perfect is used for actions that began in the past and continue at present. It expresses how
long the action has been.
The present simple is used for actions that are repeated at present. It expresses how often the action
happens.

HANDOUT 3 (Compilled by Janita Norena, S.Pd., M.Pd.)

She has worked here for a long time. But: She works here every day.
How long have you worked here? But: How often do you work here?
Past simple
Form - regular verbs
Positive statement: I watched, He watched
Negative statement: I did not watch (I didn't watch), He did not watch (He didn't watch) Question:
Did you watch?
Neg. question: Did you not watch? (Didn't you watch?) It is formed by -ed ending. It is the same for
all persons, singular and plural.
Spelling
We add -d (not -ed) to the verbs that end with -e: like - liked If the verb ends with a consonant and -y,
we change -y into -i: carry - carried, try - tried. But: play - played, because this verb ends with a
vowel and -y. If the verb has only one syllable and ends with a vowel and a consonant, we double the
consonant to keep the same pronunciation: stop - stopped. The same rule applies to the verbs that end
with -l: travel - travelled.
Form - irregular verbs
All the irregular verbs have different forms: go - went, buy - bought, cut - cut etc. The question and
negative are made in the same way: I went - Did you go? No, I did not go.
Notes
We do not use the auxiliary verb did with the verb to be and modal verbs. Were you a student? Was he
in London? I was not at home. He was not happy. Could you sing? Could he come? I could not swim.
He could not stay. The auxiliary verb did is not used in questions beginning with wh- pronouns (who,
which) in case that the pronoun is the subject of the question. Who met you? (who is the subject)
Which train arrived on time? (which train is the subject) But: Who did you meet? Which train did
you miss? (who and which train are the objects) The negative question normally shows a surprise.
Didn't you know it?
Use
1. We use the past simple for activities or situations that were completed in the past at a definite time.
a) The time can be given in the sentence:
I came home at 6 o'clock.
When he was a child, he didn't live in a house.
b) The time is asked about:
When did they get married?
c) The time is not given in the sentence, but it is clear from a context that the action or situation
finished in the past.
He is 20 years old. He was born in Canada. Ive been to Iceland. (present perfect) - Did you enjoy it?
(past simple)
2. We use it for repeated actions in the past.
We walked to school every day. - And did you ever go by bus?
3. It is used in stories to describe events that follow each other.
Charles entered the hall and looked around. He took off his coat and put it on a chair. He was at
home.
Past continuous
Form

HANDOUT 3 (Compilled by Janita Norena, S.Pd., M.Pd.)

Positive statement: I was watching, You were watching
Negative statement: I was not watching (I wasn't watching), You were not watching (You weren't
watching)
Question: Were you watching? Was he watching?
Neg. question: Were you not watching? (Weren't you watching?) Was he not watching? (Wasn't he
watching?)
Use
We use the continuous tense for actions or situations in the past that were not completed.
From 10 to 12 I was washing my car. I was in the garage.
(I did not finish my work. It was in progress. I started before 10 and finished after 12.)
The sun was setting. The beach was changing its colours.
(The sun was still in the sky when I was watching it.)
Compare this sentence with the past simple, which is used for completed activities:
From 10 to 12 I washed my car.
(I finished my work. I started at 10 and finished at 12.)
Finally, the sun set. It was dark and we did not see the beach anymore.
(The sun completely disappeared.)
We use it for continuous, uninterrupted activities. If the action is interrupted (something is done in
more intervals or we did more things one after another), we must use the past simple.
Tom was watching TV on Sunday.
Tom watched TV in the morning and in the evening.
Yesterday I was working in the garden.
Yesterday I worked in the garden and on my house.
The past continuous tense is typically used:
1. Combined with the past simple tense to describe the idea that the action in the past continuous
started before the action in the past simple and continued after it.
When she saw me, I was looking at the trees.
(These two activities happened at the same time. I was looking at the trees for some time and she saw
me in the middle of it.)
Compare with the past simple:
When she saw me, I looked at the trees.
(These two activities happened one after another. First she saw me and then I looked at the trees.)
2. with a point in time to express an action that started before that time and continued after it.
At 8 o'clock Jane was having a bath.
(At 8 o'clock she was in the middle of the activity. She did not finish it.)
Compare with the simple tense:
At 8 o'clock Jane had a bath.
(She started the activity at 8 o'clock and finished it.)
3. To describe a situation, while the past simple is used to tell a story.
The sun was shining. Jack and Jill were lying on the beach. Jack was reading a book and Jill was
sleeping. All of a sudden, Jack raised his head. Jill woke up. Something happened.
4. For incomplete activities in contrast with the past simple, which is used for completed activities.
I was reading a book yesterday. And today I am going to continue.
I read the book yesterday. I can lend it to you now.

HANDOUT 3 (Compilled by Janita Norena, S.Pd., M.Pd.)

5. The past continuous can be used instead of the simple to show a more casual action:
I was talking to my neighbour yesterday. We had a nice chat.
(I did not do it on purpose. We just met in the street.)
I talked to my neighbour yesterday. And he promised to help me.
(I did it on purpose. I needed to ask him for help.)
Exercise 1:
WORKSHEET 20
SUBJECT : Tense Review (Present Simple / Present Continuous / Simple Past)
A) Complete the sentences using the verbs in brackets in the PRESENT CONTINUOUS or
PRESENT SIMPLE:
1. Please be quiet. I (try) to read the paper.
2. This is a very quiet town. Where . (people / go) in the
evenings?
3. John . (drink) milk every night, but now he ...
(drink) tea.
4. What . (you / do) with all that paper and glue?
5. I .. (not / use) the computer at the moment so you can use it.
6. . (Karen and John / ever / write) to you?
B) Put the words in brackets in the correct place in the sentences:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

I . always.. keep . my room tidy. (always)

Do you . go .. on holiday in winter? (sometimes)
. he helps with the housework. (never)
She . plays .. cards. (rarely)
Does she .. visit . his friends? (often)
They dont eat sweets. (often)
We . eat a lot of vegetables. (usually)
You must . tell lies. (never)
She can answer the teachers questions. (always)

C) Put the verbs in brackets into PRESENT SIMPLE or PRESENT CONTINUOUS:

Caller: Good morning. Is (be) Mr. Green there?
Man : No, he . (not / be) here. He ... (work)
at the moment. He usually (work) until 4 p.m.
Caller: What about Mrs. Green? Where (be) she?
Man : She . (do) the shopping. She alwayS... (do) the
shopping on Thursday afternoons.
Caller: Where (be) the children?
Man : They .. (play) football. They always ...(play)
football after school.
Caller: How . (you / know) all this? Who are
you?
Man : I .. (be) the burglar!

HANDOUT 3 (Compilled by Janita Norena, S.Pd., M.Pd.)

D) Fill in the postcard with the correct form of the verbs.:

Dear Joe,
Hello from Hawaii. .Were having (have) a
great time.
The sun . (shine) and we

(enjoy) every minute of our vacation. Jack

...
(sit) on the beach. He ..
(watch) the
children. The water .. (be) warm, but
Im lazy. So
E) Write sentences using the verbs at the right:
Where is everybody?
1. Harry and Jennifer are outside.

2. The dogs outside too.

3. Larrys in the dining room.

4. Sallys in the bathroom.

5. Dads in the kitchen.

6. Moms on the phone.

7. Im at my desk.

* do homework
* make dinner
* talk to a friend
* set the table
* take a shower
* run after the ball
* play baseball

F) Fill in the blanks to complete the movie review. Use the correct tense of the verbs given:
E.T. by JOE BERNES
Last night, I saw a good movie. The title of the movie was E.T. It was an excellent film. To my
surprise. I .. laughed .. (laugh), I (cry), and I ..(worry)
about the little creature from space, and I completely . (enjoy) the show.
The story is about an extraterrestrial person named E.T. He . (land) on earth
in a flying saucer. But his space ship . (depart) without him. A little
American boy (discover) E.T. They .. (play) together
and they .. (like) each other a lot. But E.T. (miss) his
home. He .. (want) to go back. He . (plan) his return trip,
but then
Well, go and see this excellent summer film and find out about E.T.

HANDOUT 3 (Compilled by Janita Norena, S.Pd., M.Pd.)

G) Fill in the blanks to complete the postcard. Use the PAST TENSE form of the verbs
given:
Dear Mom,
Im having a wonderful time. Last night
I ..went (go) to the Hollywood Bowl with
some friends. We .
(take) a special bus and .. (get) there
easily. A friend (buy) some wine and
we also ..
(bring) a picnic basket. So we (find)
our seats
and . (eat) our picnic. Then the
concert ..

H) Fill in the blanks to complete the letter:

Dear Betty,
Thank you for dinner last night. We .. ate
. (eat)
like Kings and .. (have) a wonderful
time. Charles . (put) so much effort
into the meal.
It .. (be) a wonderful way to end our
vacation.
Your directions were excellent.
Unfortunately, Jim
(take) the wrong street and we

(get) lost. We finally . (find) the right

street around 3:00 a.m. But we didnt go
I) Complete the sentences. Use the words in parentheses. Use SIMPLE PRESENT,
PRESENT CONTINUOUS, or SIMPLE PAST.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

I .. (get) up at eight oclock yesterday morning.

Mark .. (talk) to John on the phone last night.
Mark .. (talk) to John on the phone right now.
Mark .. (talk) to John on the phone every day.
Jim and I . (eat) lunch at the cafeteria two hours ago.

HANDOUT 3 (Compilled by Janita Norena, S.Pd., M.Pd.)

6. We . (eat) lunch at the cafeteria every day.
7. I . (go) to bed early last night.
8. My roommate .. (study) Spanish last year.
9. Sue .. (write) a letter to her parents yesterday.
10. Sue .. (write) a letter to her parents every week.
11. Sue is in her room right now. She . (sit) at her desk. She
. (write) a letter to her boyfriend.
12. Marianne (do) her homework last night.
13. Yesterday I . (see) Dick at the library.
14. I (have) a dream last night.I .. (dream)
about my friends. I . (sleep) for eight hours.
15. Alice (smoke) a cigarette after class yesterday.
16. My wife .. (come) home around five every day.
17. Yesterday she (come) home at 5:15.
18. Our teacher (stand) in the middle of the room right now.
19. Uor teacher .. (stand) in the front of the room yesterday.
20. John usually . (sit) in the back of the room, but yesterday he
(sit) in the front row. Today he . (be) absent.
He .. (be) absent two days ago too.
J) Read the passage and ask questions:
Janet Johnson is a film actress. She made several animal films. She is talking about an elephant
called HEKIMA.
I met Hekima when I went to Africa seven years ago. We were in Tanzania and we were
making a film about elephants. When we arrived, we saw three young elephants. They were
playing together. Hekima was small, friendly and intelligent. We called her Hekima because it
means wisdom. Hekima was a great actress, and the film made her famous. After we finished
the film we left Africa. I thought Id never see Hekima again. But she left Africa, too. She came to
a zoo in the USA. I was working in New York when I heard about that. She was happy when she
saw me. She was playing happily. I think she remembered me.
1. ___________________________________________________________________ ?
Janet went to Africa seven years ago.
2. ___________________________________________________________________ ?
Janet was making a film in Tanzania.
3. ___________________________________________________________________ ?
The elephants were playing when they arrived.
4. ___________________________________________________________________ ?
Because Hekima was an intelligent elephant.
5. ___________________________________________________________________ ?
It means wisdom.
6. ___________________________________________________________________ ?
Hekima was in a zoo in the USA while Janet was working in New York.
7. ___________________________________________________________________ ?
Hekima was playing when Janet went to see her.
K) Match the sentences using WHILE and PAST CONTINUOUS / PAST SIMPLE:
_______A________

________B__________

HANDOUT 3 (Compilled by Janita Norena, S.Pd., M.Pd.)

1. I (burn) my finger.
2. I (break) a cup.
3. My car (break down).
4. I (see) a shark.
5. My clothes (get) dirty.
6. I (break) a tooth.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

I
I
I
I
I
I

(drive) to work.
(eat) a nut.
(cook) the dinner.
(do) the washing up.
(swim) in the sea.
(clean) my room.

.I burnt my finger while I was cooking the dinner. .

.
.
.
.
.

L) Look at the chart and make sentences as in the examples:

people / travel
children / play
man / explore
we / live in
wives / use
vehicles / run by

YESTERDAY
on horseback
hide-and-seak
the poles
villages
handmade tools
horses

TODAY
by plane
computer games
solar system
modern cities
electric appliances
petrol

1. People traveled on horseback yesterday.

People are traveling by plane today.
People will travel in spaceships tomorrow.
2. ..
..
..
3. ..
..
..
4. ..
..
..
5. ..
..
..
6. ..
..
..

TOMORROW
in spaceships
with robots
galaxies
undersea cities
intelligent robots
water / electricity

HANDOUT 3 (Compilled by Janita Norena, S.Pd., M.Pd.)

M. Present perfect tense
Choose the correct form.
A: ....... 1 ....... Greg lately?
B: No, I ...... 2 ...... . I ...... 3 ...... to him
at the airport two weeks ago. But I ...... 4 ......
him since then.

8 A were spending
B have spent
C spent
9 A didn't ever visit
B have never been to
C was never in

A: Where ...... 5 ...... ?

B: He ...... 6 ...... to Greece for a holiday.
A: I ...... 7 ...... Greece three times. I love
Greece.
B: Really? My wife and I ...... 8 ...... a week in
Turkey in 1996, but I ...... 9 ...... Greece.
By the way, ...... 10 ...... back yet?
A: Yes, he ...... 11 ...... . I ...... 12 ..... him
yesterday. He ...... 13 ...... extremely
healthy.
1. A Have you seen
B Did you see
C Were you seeing
2 A haven't seen
B didn't
C haven't
3 A did talk
B have talked
C talked
4 A didn't see
B haven't seen
C saw
5 A did he travel
B has he travelled
C did he travelled
6 A flied
B flew
C has flown
7 A was in
B had been to
C have been to

10 A has Greg come

B has Greg came
C did Greg come
11 A did
B has
C has come
12 A met
B have met
C was meeting
13 A was looking
B has looked
C looked
B) Rewrite these sentences in the present
perfect.
Example: I went to shops.
I have gone to shops.
I didn't do it.
...........................................................................
.
We bought the tickets.
...........................................................................
.
My girlfriend didn't arrive.
...........................................................................
.
The team weren't successful.
...........................................................................
.
You threw the cap into water.
...........................................................................
.
He didn't deliver the parcel.
...........................................................................
.
I cut my finger.
...........................................................................

HANDOUT 3 (Compilled by Janita Norena, S.Pd., M.Pd.)

SUBJECT : Correct Tense or Voice
M) Fill in the blanks using the CORRECT TENSE or VOICE:
1. Listen! An old tune . (play) on the radio.
2. Nobody . (help) Mr. Green while the garage
(paint).
3. Mary .. (have) a bath before she
(call) by one of her friends yesterday.
4. The accountant (look) sad because the bills
. (pay) yet.
5. He felt sorry when he .. (realize) that his stamp collection
. (steal).
6. If I (be) him, I (not /
treat) my father like that. He will be sorry for that in the future.
7. If she . (see) me, she
.. (get) angry with me, because I had promised to call
her out but I didnt.
8. He . (stop / smoke) since he .
(have) a heart attack.
9. As soon as she . (finish / change) the babys
nappy, she . (take) the children to school.
10. He said his car .. already .. (mend).
11. She said she (open) her first exhibition the following
month.
12. Mary and Joe want (go) to the shore which
. (sound) like a good idea to me.
13. He . (not / wake up) on time unless he
.. (use) an alarm clock.
N) Supply the CORRECT TENSE or VOICE:
1. These magazines (read) by 1.000.000 people every
week.
2. Where . the cars (sell) in this town?
3. The trees .. (must / cut) once a day.
4. Wait a minute! I .. (have) a bath.
5. This carpet . (already / clean).
6. Nobody .. (eat) breakfast yet.
7. the car (check) by the mechanic yesterday?
8. The helicopter (fly) to Izmir when it suddenly
(crash) last month.
9. How many books (sell) so far this month?
10. Your watch . (mend) at the moment.
11. While Mr. Jackson (cross) the road yesterday, she
. (hit) by a truck.
12. A new school (build) next to the bank next
month.

HANDOUT 3 (Compilled by Janita Norena, S.Pd., M.Pd.)

13. Mike (live) in the same place since he
.. (come) to London.
14. The house .. (paint) when it began to rain
yesterday.
15. His shirt looks dirty. I think it (not / clean)
since last Tuesday.
16. Sally (not / be) at home now. She
(just / go) out.
17. If you took these pills, you (get) well.
18. (Can / he / play) football when he was
ten years old?
19. This hospital .. (build) in 1980.