INSTITUTO TECNOLOGICO SUPERIOR DE MONCLOVA

ACADEMIA DE INGLES

MANUAL DE PRACTICAS SOBRE LOS TIEMPOS

VERBALES EN EL IDIOMA INGLES

ELABORO:

ING. PAULO CESAR ORTIZ GONZALEZ

REVISO:

LIC. MARTINA DE LA CRUZ MATA

MONCLOVA, COAHUILA JULIO DEL 2008

INDEX

PRESENT TENSES

Simple Present ..…………………………………………………………………… 3

Present Continuous ………………………………………………………………. 7

PAST TENSES

Simple Past …………………………………………………………………………. 12

Past Continuous …………………………………………………………………… 16

PERFECT TENSES

Present Perfect ……………………………………………………………………. 19

Present Perfect Continuous ………………………………………………….. 22

Past Perfect ……………………………………………………………………….. 26

Past Perfect Continuous …………………………………………………….... 29

Future Perfect ……………………………………………………………………. 32

Future Perfect Continuous …………………………………………………… 34

FUTURE TENSES

Simple Future …………………………………………………………………..... 37

Future continuous ………………………………………………………………. 40

ENGLISH IREGULAR VERBS LIST …………………………………………………. 42

REFERENCES ……………………………………………………………………………… 46

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TENSES

SUMMARY OF VERB TENSES

Present tenses
Simple present: She wants a drink.
Present continuous: They are walking home.

Past tenses
Simple past: Peter lived in China in 1965.
Past continuous: I was reading when she arrived.

Perfect tenses
Present Perfect: I have lived here since 1987.
Present perfect continuous: I have been living here for years.
Past perfect: We had been to see her several times before she visited us.
Past perfect continuous: He had been watching her for some time when she turned and smiled.
Future perfect: We will have arrived in the States by the time you get this letter.
Future perfect continuous: By the end of your course, you will have been studying for five
years.

Future tenses
Simple future: They will go to Italy next week.
Future continuous: I will be traveling by train.

PRESENT TENSES

SIMPLE PRESENT
(See also Verbs -'Regular verbs in the simple present')

Simple present, third person singular

Note:

1. he, she, it: in the third person singular the verb always ends in -s:
he wants, she needs, he gives, she thinks.

2. Negative and question forms use DOES (=the third person of the auxiliary 'DO') + the
infinitive of the verb.
He wants. Does he want? He does not want.

3. Verbs ending in -y : the third person changes the -y to -ies:

fly flies, cry cries

Exception: if there is a vowel before the -y:

play plays, pray prays

4. Add -es to verbs ending in:-ss, -x, -sh, -ch:

he passes, she catches, he fixes, it pushes

See also Verbs -'Regular verbs in the simple present', and 'Be, do & have'

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 Examples:

1. Third person singular with s or -es

a. He goes to school every morning.

b. She understands English.
c. It mixes the sand and the water.
d. He tries very hard.
e. She enjoys playing the piano.

2. Simple present, form

Example: to think, present simple

Affirmative Interrogative Negative

I think Do I think ? I do not think.

You think Do you think? You don't think.

he, she, it thinks Does he, she, it think? He, she, it doesn't think.

we think Do we think? We don't think.

you think Do you think? You don't think.

The simple present is used:

1. to express habits, general truths, repeated actions or unchanging situations, emotions

and wishes:
I smoke (habit); I work in London (unchanging situation); London is a large city (general
truth)

2. to give instructions or directions:

You walk for two hundred meters, then you turn left.

3. to express fixed arrangements, present or future:

Your exam starts at 09.00

4. to express future time, after some conjunctions: after, when, before, as soon as,
until:
He'll give it to you when you come next Saturday.

BE CAREFUL! The simple present is not used to express actions happening now. See
Present Continuous.

Examples:

1. For habits
He drinks tea at breakfast.
She only eats fish.
They watch television regularly.

2. For repeated actions or events

We catch the bus every morning.
It rains every afternoon in the hot season.
They drive to Monaco every summer.

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 3. For general truths
Water freezes at zero degrees.
The Earth revolves around the Sun.
Her mother is Peruvian.

4. For instructions or directions

Open the packet and pour the contents into hot water.
You take the No.6 bus to Watney and then the No.10 to Bedford.

5. For fixed arrangements

His mother arrives tomorrow.
Our holiday starts on the 26th March

6. With future constructions

She'll see you before she leaves.
We'll give it to her when she arrives.

Exercises.

A) Put the verb into the correct form.

Examples: Water _boils_ (boil) at 100 degrees Celcius.

George _doesn’t go_ (not/go) to the movies very often.

How many languages _do you speak_ (you/speak)?

a. The swimming pool ___________ (open) at 9:00 and ___________ (close) at 6:30 every
day.
b. What time _______________________ (the banks/close) here?
c. I have a car, but I ______________(not/use) it very often.
d. How many cigarettes _________________(you/smoke) a day?
e. ‘’What ______________(you/do)?’’ ‘’I’m an electrical engineer.’’
f. ‘’Where __________________(your father/come) from?’’ ‘’He ___________ (come)
from Mexico.’’
g. It ___________ (take) me an hour to get to work. How long ___________________
(it/take) you?
h. I ___________ (play) the piano, but I _____________ (not/play) very well.
i. I don’t understand the word ‘’deceive’’. ‘’What
_________________________(‘’deceive’’/mean)?

B) Read the sentences and correct them. The English is correct but the information is
wrong.

Example:

The sun goes around the earth.

The sun doesn’t go around the earth. The earth goes around the
sun.______________________________________________

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 a. The sun rises in the west.
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
b. Mice catch cats.
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
c. Carpenters make things from metal.
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
d. The Amazon River flows into the Pacific Ocean.
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________

C) Use the sentences to make questions. Begin your question with the word(s) in
parentheses (…).

Examples:

Tom plays tennis. (How often?) ___How often does Tom play tennis?___________________

I jog in the morning. (What time/usually?) _____What time do you usually jog?__________

a. Ann watches television. (How often?) _____________________________________

b. I write to my parents. (How often?)_______________________________________
c. I have dinner in the evening (What time/usually?) ___________________________
d. Tom works. (Where?) __________________________________________________
e. I go to the movies. (How often?) _________________________________________
f. People do stupid things. (Why?) __________________________________________
g. The car breaks down. (How often? ________________________________________

D) Complete the following chart using the simple present.

Affirmative Interrogative Negative

I play tennis.
Does he live in London?
She doesn’t like pizza.
They live in Australia.
Do they have two cars?
I don’t speak Chinese.
He goes to school.
Does she speak English?
He doesn’t play golf.
I work.

PRESENT CONTINUOUS

1. Present continuous, form

The present continuous of any verb is composed of two parts - the present tense of the verb to
be + the present participle of the main verb.

(The form of the present participle is: base+ing, e.g. talking, playing, moving, smiling)

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Affirmative

Subject + to be + base+ing

she is talking

Negative

Subject + to be + not + base+ing

she is not (isn't) talking

Interrogative

to be + subject + base+ing

is she talking?

Example: to go, present continuous

Affirmative Negative Interrogative

I am going I am not going Am I going?

You are going You aren't going. Are you going?

He, she, it is going He, she, it isn't going Is he, she, it going?

We are going We aren't going Are we going?

You are going You aren't going Are you going?

They are going They aren't going Are they going?

Note: alternative negative contractions: I'm not going, you're not going, he's not going etc.

2. Present continuous, function

As with all tenses in English, the speaker's attitude is as important as the time of the action or
event. When someone uses the present continuous, they are thinking about something that is
unfinished or incomplete.

The present continuous is used:

• to describe an action that is going on at this moment e.g. You are using the Internet.
You are studying English grammar.

• to describe an action that is going on during this period of time or a trend, e.g.
Are you still working for the same company? More and more people are becoming
vegetarian.

• to describe an action or event in the future, which has already been planned or prepared
(See also 'Ways of expressing the future) e.g. We're going on holiday tomorrow. I'm
meeting my boyfriend tonight. Are they visiting you next winter?

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 • to describe a temporary event or situation, e.g. He usually plays the drums, but he's
playing bass guitar tonight. The weather forecast was good, but it's raining at the
moment.

• with 'always, forever, constantly', to describe and emphasise a continuing series of

repeated actions, e.g. Harry and Sally are always arguing! You're forever
complaining about your mother-in-law!

BE CAREFUL! Some verbs are not used in the continuous form - see below.

3. Verbs that are not normally used in the continuous form

The verbs in the list below are normally used in the simple form, because they refer to states,
rather than actions or processes:

List of common verbs normally used in simple form:

Senses / Perception
feel*, hear, see*, smell, taste
Opinión
assume, believe, consider, doubt, feel (= think), find (= consider), suppose,
think*
Mental status
forget, imagine, know, mean, notice, recognise, remember, understand
Emotions / desires
envy, fear, dislike, hate, hope, like, love, mind, prefer, regret, want, wish
Measurement
contain, cost, hold, measure, weigh
Others
look (=resemble), seem, be (in most cases), have (when it means to
possess)*

Notes:

1. 'Perception' verbs (see, hear, feel, taste, smell) are often used with 'can': e.g. I can see...

2. * These verbs may be used in the continuous form but with a different meaning, compare:

a. This coat feels nice and warm. (= your perception of the coat's qualities)
b. John's feeling much better now (= his health is improving)

a. She has three dogs and a cat. (=possession)

b. She's having supper. (= She's eating)

a. I can see Anthony in the garden (= perception)

b. I'm seeing Anthony later (= We are planning to meet)

Examples:

• I wish I was in Greece now.

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 • She wants to see him now.
• I don't understand why he is shouting.
• I feel we are making a mistake.
• This glass holds half a litre.

Exercises:

A) Put the verb into the correct form.

Examples: Please don’t make so much noise. I am studying (study).

Let’s go out now. It isn’t raining (not/rain) anymore.

Listen to those people. What language are they speaking (they/speak)?

a. Please be quiet. I ____________________ (try) to concentrate.

b. Look! It ___________________ (snow).
c. Why _____________________ (you/look) at me like that? Did I say something wrong?
d. You _____________________ (make) a lot of noise. Can you be a little bit quieter?
e. Excuse me, I _________________ (look) for a phone booth. Is there one near here?
f. (at the movies) It’s a good movie, isn’t it? ______________________ (you/enjoy) it?
g. Listen! Can you hear those people next door? They ___________________ (yell) at each
other again.
h. Why _______________________ (you/wear) your coat today? It’s very warm.
i. I ____________________ (not/work) this week. I’m on vacation.
j. I want to loose weight. I ___________________ (not/eat) anything today.

B) Put the words in order.

a. glasses for I’m looking my

___________________________________________________

b. book kind are What of reading? you

___________________________________________________

c. crying? Why Pamela is

___________________________________________________

d. Why laughing? is everyone

___________________________________________________

e. for me? you Are waiting

___________________________________________________

f. are When leaving? you

___________________________________________________

g. in working is the moment Canada John at

___________________________________________________

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 h. the for same as Is you? Jennifer company working
___________________________________________________

i. population The world the of is fast very rising

___________________________________________________

j. English your Is better? getting

___________________________________________________

C) Complete these sentences using one of these verbs. You don’t have to use all
the verbs and you can use some of them more than once.

get become change rise improve fall increase

Example: The population of the world is rising very fast.

a. The number of people without jobs ____________________ at the moment.

b. He is still sick, but he ____________________ better slowly.
c. These days food _____________________ more and more expensive.
d. The world _____________________. Things never stay the same.
e. The cost of living __________________. Every year things are more expensive.
f. George has gone to work in Spain. At first, his Spanish wasn’t very good, but now
it ____________________.
g. The economic situation is already very bad, and it __________________ worse.

D) A friend of yours is planning to go on vacation very soon. You ask him about his
plans. Use the words in parentheses to make your questions.

Example: (where/go)? Where are you going?

a. (how long/stay?) ___________________________________________________

b. (when/leave?) _____________________________________________________
c. (go/alone?) _______________________________________________________
d. (go/by car?) ______________________________________________________
e. (where/stay?) _____________________________________________________

E) Ann is going on vacation. Write sentences about her vacation plans. Use the words in
parentheses to write your sentences.

Example: (go/Hawaii) She is going to Hawaii.__

a. (leave/next Friday) ___________________________________________________

b. (stay/in Hawaii for two weeks) __________________________________________
c. (go/with a friend of hers) ______________________________________________
d. (stay/in a hotel) They _________________________________________________
e. (go/by plane) _______________________________________________________

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PAST TENSES

SIMPLE PAST

BE CAREFUL! The simple past in English may look like a tense in your own language, but the
meaning may be different.

1. Simple past, form

Regular verbs: base+ed

e.g. walked, showed, watched, played, smiled, stopped

Irregular verbs: see list in verbs

Simple past, be, have, do:

Subject Verb

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 Be Have Do

I was had did

You were had did

He, she, it was had did

We were had did

You were had did

They were had did

Affirmative
a. I was in Japan last year
b. She had a headache yesterday.
c. We did our homework last night.

Negative and interrogative

Note: For the negative and interrogative simple past form of "do" as an ordinary verb, use the
auxiliary "do", e.g. We didn't do our homework last night. The negative of "have" in the simple
past is usually formed using the auxiliary "do", but sometimes by simply adding not or the
contraction "n't".
The interrogative form of "have" in the simple past normally uses the auxiliary "do".

• They weren't in Rio last summer.

• We hadn't any money.
• We didn't have time to visit the Eiffel Tower.
• We didn't do our exercises this morning.
• Were they in Iceland last January?
• Did you have a bicycle when you were a boy?
• Did you do much climbing in Switzerland?

Simple past, regular verbs

Affirmative
Subject verb + ed
I washed
Negative
Subject did not infinitive without to
They didn't visit ...
Interrogative
Did subject infinitive without to
Did she arrive...?
Interrogative negative
Did not subject infinitive without to
Didn't you like..?

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Example: to walk, simple past.

Affirmative Negative Interrogative

I walked I didn't walk Did I walk?
You walked You didn't walk Did you walk?

He,she,it walked He didn't walk Did he walk?

We walked We didn't walk Did we walk?
You walked You didn't walk Did you walk?
They walked They didn't walk Did they walk?

Note: For the negative and interrogative form of all verbs in the simple past, always use the
auxiliary 'did''.

Examples: Simple past, irregular verbs

to go
a. He went to a club last night.
b. Did he go to the cinema last night?
c. He didn't go to bed early last night.

to give
d. We gave her a doll for her birthday.
e. They didn't give John their new address.
f. Did Barry give you my passport?

to come
g. My parents came to visit me last July.
h. We didn't come because it was raining.
i. Did he come to your party last week?

2. Simple past, function

The simple past is used to talk about a completed action in a time before now. Duration is not
important. The time of the action can be in the recent past or the distant past.

• John Cabot sailed to America in 1498.

• My father died last year.
• He lived in Fiji in 1976.
• We crossed the Channel yesterday.

You always use the simple past when you say when something happened, so it is associated with
certain past time expressions

Examples:

• frequency:
often, sometimes, always;
• a definite point in time:
last week, when I was a child, yesterday, six weeks ago.
• an indefinite point in time:
the other day, ages ago, a long time ago etc.

Note: the word ago is a useful way of expressing the distance into the past. It is placed after
the period of time e.g. a week ago, three years ago, a minute ago.

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Examples:

a. Yesterday, I arrived in Geneva.

b. She finished her work at seven o'clock.
c. We saw a good film last week.
d. I went to the theatre last night.
e. She played the piano when she was a child.
f. He sent me a letter six months ago.
g. Peter left five minutes ago.

Exercises:

A) Read a sentence abpout the present and then write a sentence about the past.

Example: Carol usually gets up at 7:30. Yesterday she got up at 7:30.______

a. Carol usually wakes up early. Yesterday morning ____________________________

b. Carol usually walks to work. Yesterday ____________________________________
c. Carol is usually late for work. Yesterday ___________________________________
d. Carol usually has a sandwich for lunch. Yesterday ____________________________
e. Carol usually goes out in the evening. Yesterday evening ______________________
f. Carol usually sleeps very well. Last night ___________________________________

B) Put one of these verbs in each sentence:

hurt teach spend sell throw fall catch buy cost

Example: I was hungry, so I _bought_ something to eat at the store.

a. Tom’s father _____________ him ho to drive when he was 17.

b. Don _____________ down the stairs this morning and _____________ his leg.
c. We needed some money, so we _____________ the car.
d. Ann _____________ a lot of money yesterday. She ______________ a dress that
______________ $80.
e. Jim _____________ the ball to Sue, who _____________ it.

C) Write questions. A friend has just come back from vacation and you are asking
about it.

Example: where/go? __Where did you go?_____

food/good? __Was the food good?___

a. how long/stay there? ______________________________________________?

b. stay in a hotel? ___________________________________________________?
c. go alone? ________________________________________________________?
d. how/travel? ______________________________________________________?
e. the weather/nice? _________________________________________________?
f. what/do in the evenings? ___________________________________________?
g. meet any interesting people? ________________________________________?

D) Put the verb into the correct form. Use the simple past.

Example: I _didn’t go__ (not/go) to work yesterday because I __wasn’t_ (not/be) well.

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 a. Tom _______________ (not/shave) this morning because he _________________
(not/have) time.
b. We ________________ (not/eat) anything because we ______________ (not/be)
hungry.
c. I ________________ (not/rush) because I _______________ (not/be) in a hurry.
d. She ________________ (not/be) interested in the book because she
___________________ (not/understand) it.

PAST CONTINUOUS

1. Past continuous - form.

The past continuous of any verb is composed of two parts : the past tense of the verb to be
(was/were), and the base of the main verb +ing.

Subject was/were base-ing

They were watching

Affirmative
She was reading
Negative
She wasn't reading
Interrogative

Was she reading?

Interrogative negative
Wasn't she reading?

Example: to play, past continuous

Affirmative Negative Interrogative

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I was playing
You were playing
He, she, it was playing
We were playing
You were playing
They were playing
I was not playing Was I playing?
You were not playing Were you playing?
She wasn't playing Was she playing?
We weren't playing Were we playing?
You weren't playing Were you playing?
They weren't playing Were they playing?

2. Past continuous, function

The past continuous describes actions or events in a time before now, which began in the past
and was still going on at the time of speaking. In other words, it expresses an unfinished or
incomplete action in the past.

It is used:

• often, to describe the background in a story written in the past tense, e.g. "The sun was
shining and the birds were singing as the elephant came out of the jungle. The other
animals were relaxing in the shade of the trees, but the elephant moved very quickly.
She was looking for her baby, and she didn't notice the hunter who was watching her
through his binoculars. When the shot rang out, she was running towards the river..."

• to describe an unfinished action that was interrupted by another event or action: "I was
having a beautiful dream when the alarm clock rang."

• to express a change of mind: e.g. "I was going to spend the day at the beach but I've
decided to go on an excursion instead."

• with 'wonder', to make a very polite request: e.g. "I was wondering if you could baby-
sit for me tonight."

More examples:

a. They were waiting for the bus when the accident happened.
b. Caroline was skiing when she broke her leg.
c. When we arrived he was having a bath.
d. When the fire started I was watching television.

Note: with verbs not normally used in the continuous form, the simple past is used. See list in
Present continuous.

Exercises:

A) Here is a list of some things that Ann did yesterday ( and the times at
which she did them.

a. 8:45-9:15 had breakfast.

b. 9:15-10:00 read the newspaper.
c. 10:00-12:00 cleaned her apartment.
d. 12:45-1:30 had lunch.
e. 2:30-3:30 washed some clothes.
f. 4:00-6:00 watched TV.

Now write sentences saying what she was doing at these times.

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 a. At 9:00 she was having breakfast.______________
b. At 9:30 ___________________________________
c. At 11:00 __________________________________
d. At 1:00 ___________________________________
e. At 3:00 ___________________________________
f. At 5:00 ___________________________________

B) A group of people were staying in a hotel. One evening the fire alarm
went off. Use the words in parentheses to make sentences saying what
each person was doing at the time.

Example: (Don/take/a bath) __Don was taking a bath._________

a. (Ann/write/a letter in her room) ______________________________________

b. (George/get/ready to go out) ________________________________________
c. (Carol and Dennis/have/dinner) _______________________________________
d. (Tom/make/a phone call) ____________________________________________

C) Make sentences from the words in parentheses. Put the verbs into the
correct form: simple past (I did) or past continuous (I was doing).

Example: (I/fall/asleep when I/watch/TV) __I fell asleep when I was watching TV.___

a. (the phone/ring/while I/take a shower) ____________________________________

b. (it/begin/to rain while I/walk/home) ______________________________________
c. (we/see/an accident while we/wait/for the bus) _____________________________

D) Put the verb into the correct form: past continuous or simple past.

Example: While Tom _was cooking_ (cook) dinner, the phone _rang_ (ring).

a. George _______________ (fall) off the ladder while he _________________ (paint) the
ceiling.
b. Last night I _________________ (read) in bed when suddenly I ________________
(hear) a scream.
c. ______________________ (you/watch) TV when I called you?
d. Amy _____________________ (wait) for me when I __________________ (arrive).
e. I _____________________ (not/drive) very fast when the accident _____________
(happen).
f. I _________________ (break) a plate last night. I _____________________ (wash)
when it ________________ (slip) out of my hand.
g. Tom _________________ (take) a picture of me while I _____________________
(not/look).
h. We ___________________ (not/go) out because it ____________________ (rain).
i. What _______________________ (you/do) at this time yesterday?
j. I __________________ (see) Carol at the party. She ____________________ (wear) a
new dress.

E) Using the words in parentheses, complete the text below with the
appropriate tenses (simple past or past continuous).

Last night, while I ___________________ (do) my homework, Angela __________________

(call). She said she ____________________ (call) me on her cell phone from her biology
classroom at UCLA. I asked if she __________________ (wait) for class, but she said that the
17
professor was at the front of the hall lecturing while she _____________________ (talk) to me. I
couldn’t believe she __________________ (make) a phone call during the lecture. I asked what
was going on. She said her biology professor was so boring that several of the students
____________________ (sleep) in class. Some of the students ___________________ (talk)
about their plans for the weekend and the student next to her ___________________ (draw) a
picture of a horse. When Angela _________________ (tell) me she was not satisfied with the
class, I ___________________ (mention) that my biology professor was quite good and
____________________ (suggest) that she switch to my class. While we
_____________________ (talk), I _________________ (hear) her professor yell, ‘’Miss, are you
making a phone call?’’ Suddenly, the line went dead. I __________________ (hang) up the
phone and went to the kitchen to make dinner. As I ___________________ (cut) vegetables for
a salad, the phone ____________________ (ring) once again. It ____________________ (be)
Angela, but this time she ___________________ (not/sit) in class.

PERFECT TENSES

PRESENT PERFECT

1. Present perfect - form

The present perfect of any verb is composed of two elements : the appropriate form of the
auxiliary verb to have (present tense), plus the past participle of the main verb. The past
participle of a regular verb is base+ed, e.g. played, arrived, looked. For irregular verbs, see the
Table of irregular verbs in the section called 'Verbs'.

Affirmative
Subject to have past participle
She has visited
Negative
Subject to have + not past participle
She hasn't visited
Interrogative
to have subject past participle
Has she visited..?
Interrogative negative
to have + not subject past participle
Hasn't she visited...?

Example: to walk, present perfect

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Affirmative Negative Interrogative
I have walked I haven't walked Have I walked?
You have walked You haven't walked Have you walked?
He, she, it has walked He, she, it hasn't walked Has he,she,it walked
We have walked We haven't walked Have we walked?
You have walked You haven't walked Have you walked?
They have walked They haven't walked Have they walked?

2. Present perfect, function

The Present Perfect is used to indicate a link between the present and the past. The time of the
action is before now but not specified, and we are often more interested in the result than in
the action itself.

BE CAREFUL! There may be a verb tense in your language with a similar form, but the meaning
is probably NOT the same.

The present perfect is used to describe:

1.An action or situation that started in the past and continues in the present. Example: I have
lived in Bristol since 1984 (= and I still do.)

2. An action performed during a period that has not yet finished. Example: She has been to the
cinema twice this week (= and the week isn't over yet.)

3. A repeated action in an unspecified period between the past and now. Example: We have
visited Portugal several times.

4. An action that was completed in the very recent past, (expressed by 'just'). Example: I
have just finished my work.

5. An action when the time is not important. Example: He has read 'War and Peace'. (the result
of his reading is important)

Note: When we want to give or ask details about when, where, who, we use the simple past.
Example: He read 'War and Peace' last week.

Examples:

1. Actions started in the past and continuing in the present.

a. They haven't lived here for years.
b. She has worked in the bank for five years.
c. We have had the same car for ten years.
d. Have you played the piano since you were a child?

2. When the time period referred to has not finished.

a. I have worked hard this week.
b. It has rained a lot this year.
c. We haven't seen her today.

3. Actions repeated in an unspecified period between the past and now.

a. They have seen that film six times.
b. It has happened several times already.
c. She has visited them frequently.
d. We have eaten at that restaurant many times.

4. Actions completed in the very recent past (+just).

a. Have you just finished work?
b. I have just eaten.
19
c. We have just seen her.
d. Has he just left?

5. When the precise time of the action is not important or not known.
a. Someone has eaten my soup!
b. Have you seen 'Gone with the Wind'?
c. She's studied Japanese, Russian and English.

Exercises.

A) You are writing a letter to a friend and giving news about people you
both know. Use the words given to make sentences and put the verb into
the correct form.

Example: Phil/find a new job _Phil has found a new job.__

Dear Chris, lots of things have happened since I last wrote to you.

a. Fred/go/Brazil ______________________________________________________
b. Jack and Jill/decide/to get married ______________________________________
c. Suzanne/have/a baby ________________________________________________
d. Liz/give up/smoking _________________________________________________
e. George/pass/his driving test ___________________________________________

B) Read the situation and then write an appropriate sentence. Use the verb
given.

Example: Tom is looking for his key. He can’t find it. (lose) _He has lost his key.__

a.
Sue’s hair was dirty. Now it is clean. (wash)
____________________________________________
b. Tom weighed 190 pounds. Now he weighs 170. (lose weight)
____________________________________________
c. The car has just stopped because there isn’t any more gas in the tank. (run out of gas)
_____________________________________________
d. This morning Bill was playing football. Now he can’t walk and his leg is in a cast. (break)
_____________________________________________

C) Use just. Answer the questions using the words given.

Example: Would you like something to eat? (no thank you/I/just/have/dinner)

__No thank you. I’ve just had dinner.___

a. Have you seen John anywhere? (yes/I/just/see/him)

________________________________________________
b. Has Ann Called yet? (yes/she/just/call)
________________________________________________
c. Would you like a cigarette? (no thanks/I/just/put/one out)
________________________________________________
d. Would you like something to drink? (no thanks/I/just/drink/water)
________________________________________________

D) Fill in been or gone.

Example: ‘’Where is Amy?’’ ‘’She’s on vacation. She has _gone_ to Italy’’.

20
a. She’s ________ out for lunch-she’ll be back at two o’clock.
b. Have you ever ________ to Prague?
c. I’ll speak to him tomorrow. He’s _________ home.
d. He’s just ________ been to the bank, so you could ask him to lend you some money.
e. Where have you ________? I’ve been waiting you for an hour.
f. His parents are very worried. He’s _________ missing for a week now.
g. I can’t find it-I had this morning but it’s _________.
h. I’ve _________ in meetings all day.

E) Make questions with the words given.

Example: (you/hear/from George recently?) _Have you heard from George recently?_

a. (you/read/a newspaper lately?) __________________________________________

b. You/see/Lisa in the past few days?) _______________________________________
c. (you/play/tennis lately?) ________________________________________________
d. (you/eat/anything today?) _______________________________________________
e. (you/see/any good movies lately?) ________________________________________
f. (you/take/your vacation yet?) ____________________________________________

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

Present perfect continuous, form

The present perfect continuous is made up of two elements: (a) the present perfect of the verb
'to be' (have/has been), and (b) the present participle of the main verb (base+ing).

Subject has/have been base+ing

She has been swimming

Affirmative
She has been / She's been running
Negative
She hasn't been running
Interrogative
Has she been running?
Interrogative negative
Hasn't she been running?

Example: to live, present perfect continuous

Affirmative Negative Interrogative

I have been living
You have been living
He, she, it has been living
We have been living
You have been living
They have been living
I haven't been living
You haven't been living
He hasn't been living
We haven't been living
You haven't been living
They haven't been living
Have I been living?
Have you been living?
Has she been living?
Have we been living?
Have you been living?
Have they been living?

Present perfect continuous, function

The present perfect continuous refers to an unspecified time between 'before now' and 'now'.
The speaker is thinking about something that started but perhaps did not finish in that period of

21
time. He/she is interested in the process as well as the result, and this process may still be
going on, or may have just finished.

Examples:

1. Actions that started in the past and continue in the present.

a. She has been waiting for you all day (=and she's still waiting now).

b. I've been working on this report since eight o'clock this morning (=and I still haven't
finished it).

c. They have been traveling since last October (=and they're not home yet).

2. Actions that have just finished, but we are interested in the results:

a. She has been cooking since last night (=and the food on the table looks delicious).

b. It's been raining (= and the streets are still wet).

c. Someone's been eating my chips (= half of them have gone).

Note:

Verbs without continuous forms

With verbs not normally used in the continuous form, use the present perfect simple. See list of
these verbs under 'Present Continuous':

• I've wanted to visit China for years.

• She's known Robert since she was a child.
• I've hated that music since I first heard it.
• I've heard a lot about you recently.
• We've understood everything we've heard this morning.

Exercises.

A) Read the situation and then write a sentence with the present perfect
continuous.

Example: Carlos is out of breath. (he/run) _He has been running. __

a. Jane is very tired. (she/work/hard)

_____________________________________________
b. Bob has a black eye, and Bill has a cut lip. (Bob and Bill/fight)
_____________________________________________
c. George has just come back from the beach. He’s very red. (he/lie/in the sun)
_____________________________________________
d. Janet is so hot and tired. (she/play/tennis)
_____________________________________________

B) Ask a question for each situation.

Example: Your friend’s hands are covered with grease. (you/work/on the car?)

_Have you been working on the car?__

22
 a. You see a little boy. His eyes are red and watery. (you/cry?)
_________________________________________________
b. You just arrived to meet your friend, who is waiting for you. (you/wait/long?)
_________________________________________________
c. Your friend comes in. Her face and hands are very dirty. (what/you/do?)
_________________________________________________

C) Say how long something has been happening.

Example: It is raining now. It began raining two hours ago.

It has been raining for two hours.

a. Kevin is studying. He began studying three hours ago.

He_____________________________ for three hours.
b. I’m learning Spanish. I started learning Spanish in December.
I_____________________________ since December.
c. Ann is looking for a job. She began looking six months ago.
________________________________ for six months.
d. Mary is working in Toronto. She started working there on January 18th.
________________________________ since January 18th.
e. Mark smokes. He started smoking five years ago.
________________________________ for five years.

D) Present prefect and present perfect continuous. Choose the correct answer.

a. I’ve been reading the book for weeks now.

___The person has finished reading the book.

___ The person hasn’t finished reading the book.

b. She’s gone to Madrid.

___ She’s come back.

___ She’s still there.

c. He’s been to Paris.

___ He’s come back.

___ He’s still in Paris.

d. Look at the ashtray-someone’s been smoking in here!

___ Someone is still smoking in the room.

___ Nobody is smoking in the room.

e. I’ve just sent the reply.

___ The action is not finished.

23
 ___ The action is finished.

f. She’s been to Jamaica.

___ We don’t know when she went.

___ We know when she went.

g. He’s been working in London for six months.

___ He’s likely to stay in London forever.

___ He’s likely to leave London.

h. He’s taken his driving test seven times.

___ He hasn’t passed the test yet.

___He has passed it.

i. He’s been looking for a job for ages.

___ The person has found a job.

___ The person has not found a job yet.

j. Have you ever eaten snails?

___ The person the person has eaten snails.

___ The person has no idea if the person has eaten snails.

k. I’ve learnt a lot about computers this year.

___ The speaker is probably still learning.

___ The speaker has probably learnt enough.

l. I’ve been waiting for the last two hours.

___ The speaker does not like waiting.

___ The speaker does not mind waiting at all.

m. I’ve lived all my life around here.

___ The speaker will probably stay in the same area.

___ The speaker will probably move soon.

E) Put the verb into the correct form: present perfect simple or present perfect
continuous.

Example: I _have lost_ (lose) my key. Can you help me look for it?

24
 You look tired. _ Have you been working (you/work) too hard?

a. Look. Somebody ___________________ (break) that window.

b. I _____________________ (read) the book you gave me, but I ___________________
(not/finish) it yet.
c. ‘’Sorry I’m late.’’ ‘’That’s all right. I ___________________________ (not/wait) long.’’
d. Hello! I ______________________ (clean) the windows. So far I ___________________
(clean) five of them and there are two more to do.
e. There’s a strange smell in here. ____________________________ (cook) something?
f. My brother is an actor. He ______________________ (appear) in several movies.

PAST PERFECT

Past perfect, form

The Past Perfect tense in English is composed of two parts: the past tense of the verb to have
(had) + the past participle of the main verb.

Subject had past participle

We had decided...

Affirmative
She had given.
Negative
We hadn't asked.
Interrogative
Had they arrived?
Interrogative negative
Hadn't you finished?

Example: to decide, Past perfect

Affirmative Negative Interrogative

I had decided I hadn't decided Had I decided?
You had decided You hadn't decided Had you decided?
He, she, it had decided He hadn't decided Had she decided?
We had decided We hadn't decided Had we decided?
You had decided You hadn't decided Had you decided?
They had decided They hadn't decided Had they decided?

Past perfect, function

The past perfect refers to a time earlier than before now. It is used to make it clear that one
event happened before another in the past. It does not matter which event is mentioned first -
the tense makes it clear which one happened first.

In these examples, Event A is the first or earliest event, Event B is the second or latest event:

John had gone out when I arrived in the office.

a.
Event A Event B
b. I had saved my document before the computer crashed.

25
 Event A Event B
When they arrived we had already started cooking
c.
Event B Event A
He was very tired because he hadn't slept well.
d.
Event B Event A

Past perfect + just

'Just' is used with the past perfect to refer to an event that was only a short time earlier than
before now, e.g.

a. The train had just left when I arrived at the station.

b. She had just left the room when the police arrived.
c. I had just put the washing out when it started to rain.

Exercises.

A) Complete these sentences using the verbs in parentheses. You went back
to your home town after many years, and you found that many things
were different.

Example: Most of my friends were no longer there. __They had left.___

a. My best friend, Kevin, was no longer there. He __________________ (go) away.

b. The local movie theater was no longer open. It __________________ (close) down.
c. Mr. Johnson was no longer alive. He __________________ (die).
d. I didn’t recognize Mrs. Johnson. She __________________ (change) a lot.
e. Bill no longer had his car. He _________________ (sell) it.

B) Complete these sentences as in the example. Use the verbs in

parentheses.

Example:

Mr. And Mrs. Davis were in an airplane. They were very nervous as the plane took off because
they (never/fly) __had flown before._______

a. The woman was a complete stranger to me. (never/see) I ______________________

before.
b. Margaret was late for work. Her boss was very surprised. (never/be/late) She
_____________________________________________________________________
c. Jane played tennis yesterday –at least she tried to play tennis. She wasn’t very good at it
because she (never/play) ________________________________________________
d. It was Carl’s first driving lesson. He was very nervous and didn’t know what to do.
(never/drive) He _______________________________________________________

C) Make sentences using the words in parentheses.

Example: I wasn’t hungry. (I/just/have/lunch) _I had just had lunch.___

a. Tom wasn’t home when I arrived. (he/just/go/out)

__________________________________________________________________

26
 b. We arrived at the theater late. (the movie/already/begin)
__________________________________________________________________
c. They weren’t eating when I went to see them. (they/just/finish/their dinner)
__________________________________________________________________
d. I invited Ann to dinner last night, but she couldn’t come. (she/already/make plans/ to do
something else)
___________________________________________________________________
e. I was very pleased to see Diane again after such a long time. (I/not/see/her for five
years)
___________________________________________________________________

D) Put the verb into the correct form: past perfect or simple past.

Examples: ‘’Was Tom there when you arrived?’’ ‘’No, he _had gone _ (go) home.’’

‘’Was Tom there when you arrived?’’ ‘’ Yes, but he went_ (go) home soon afterward.’’

a. The house was very quiet when I got home. Everybody _________________ (go) to bed.
b. I felt very tired when I got home, so I _________________ (go) straight to bed.
c. Sorry I’m late. The car ________________ (break) down on my way here.
d. There was a car by the side of the road. It _______________ (break) down and the
driver was trying to repair it. So we ________________ (stop) to see if we could help.

E) Complete the following text with the correct tense: past perfect or simple
past.

I can't believe I (get) _____________ that apartment. I (submit) _______________ my application last
week, but I didn't think I had a chance of actually getting it. When I (show) _____________ up to
take a look around, there were at least twenty other people who (arrive) _____________ before me.
Most of them (fill, already) ________________ out their applications and were already leaving. The
landlord said I could still apply, so I did.

I (try) _____________ to fill out the form, but I couldn't answer half of the questions. They (want)
_____________ me to include references, but I didn't want to list my previous landlord because I
(have) ______________ some problems with him in the past and I knew he wouldn't recommend me.
I (end) ______________ up listing my father as a reference.

It was total luck that he (decide) ______________ to give me the apartment. It turns out that the
landlord and my father (go) ______________ to high school together. He decided that I could have
the apartment before he (look) _____________ at my credit report.

27
PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS

Past perfect continuous, form

The past perfect continuous is composed of two elements - the past perfect of the verb to be
(=had been) + the present participle (base+ing).

Examples:

Subject had been verb-ing

I had been walking

Affirmative
She had been trying
Negative
We hadn't been sleeping
Interrogative
Had you been eating
Interrogative negative
Hadn't they been living

Example: to buy, past perfect continuous

Affirmative Negative Interrogative

I had been buying
You had been buying
He,she,it had been buying
We had been buying
You had been buying
They had been buying
I hadn't been buying Had I been buying?
You hadn't been buying Had you been buying
He hadn't been buying Had she been buying?
We hadn't been buying Had we been buying?
You hadn't been buying Had you been buying
They hadn't been buying Had they been buying

Past perfect continuous, function

The past perfect continuous corresponds to the present perfect continuous, but with reference to
a time earlier than 'before now'. Again, we are more interested in the process.

Examples:

a. Had you been waiting long before the taxi arrived?

b. We had been trying to open the door for five minutes when Jane found her key.
c. It had been raining hard for several hours and the streets were very wet.
d. Her friends had been thinking of calling the police when she walked in.

This form is also used in reported speech. It is the equivalent of the past continuous and the
present perfect continuous in direct speech:

28
Jane said "I have been gardening all afternoon." Jane said she had been gardening all
afternoon.

When the police questioned him, John said "I was working late in the office that night." When
the police questioned him, John told them he had been working late in the office that night.

Exercises.

A) Read a situation and then write a sentence.

Example: The two boys came into the house. One had a black eye and the other had a cut lip.

(they/fight) __They had been fighting. ___

a. Tom was watching TV. He was feeling very tired. (he/study/hard/all day)
He___________________________________________________________________
b. When I walked into the room, it was empty. But it smelled of cigarettes.
(somebody/smoke/in the room) ___________________________________________
c. When Mary came back from the beach, she looked very red from the sun. (she/lie/in the
sun too long) __________________________________________________________
d. The two boys came into the house. They had a football, and they were both very tired.
(they/play/football) _____________________________________________________
e. Amy wok up in the middle of the night. She was frightened, and she didn’t know where
she was. (she/dream) ___________________________________________________

B) Read the situation and then write a sentence.

Example: We began playing football. After half an hour there was a terrible storm.

We _had been playing for half an hour _ when _there was a terrible storm.__

a. The orchestra began playing at the concert. After about ten minutes a man in the
audience suddenly began shouting.

The orchestra ___________________________ for about ten minutes when

____________________________________________

b. I had arranged to meet Sue in a café. I arrived and began waiting. After 20 minutes I
realized that I had come to the wrong café.

I ________________________________ when I _______________________________

c. Mr. and Mrs. Jenkins went to live in the south of France. Six months later Mr. Jenkins died.

They ________________________________ when _______________________________

C) Put the verb into the correct form: past perfect continuous or past
continuous.

Examples: Sue was leaning against the wall, out of breath _she had been running._ (run)

I tried to catch Sue but I couldn’t. She _was running __(run) very fast.

29
a. Jim was on his hands and knees on the floor. He _____________________ (look) for his
contact lens.

b. We _________________________ (walk) along the road for about 20 minutes when a car
stopped and the driver offered us a lift.

c. When I arrived, everyone was sitting around the table with their mouths full. They
___________________________ (eat).

d. When I arrived, everyone was sitting around the table and talking. Their mouths were empty
but their stomachs were full. They ______________________________ (eat).

e. When I arrived. Ann _________________________ (wait) for me. She was annoyed because I
was late, and she __________________________ (wait) for a very long time.

D) Put the verbs into the correct form: past perfect continuous or past
perfect.

I'm sorry I left without you last night, but I told you to meet me early because the show started at

8:00. I (try) _________________ to get tickets for that play for months, and I didn't want to miss it.

By the time I finally left the coffee shop where we were supposed to meet, I (have)

________________ five cups of coffee and I (wait) _________________ over an hour. I had to leave

because I (arrange) __________________ to meet Kathy in front of the theater.

When I arrived at the theater, Kathy (pick, already) _________________ up the tickets and she was

waiting for us near the entrance. She was really angry because she (wait) _______________ for more

than half an hour. She said she (give, almost) ________________ up and (go) __________________ into

the theater without us.

Kathy told me you (be) __________________ late several times in the past and that she would not

make plans with you again in the future. She mentioned that she (miss) ________________ several

movies because of your late arrivals. I think you owe her an apology. And in the future, I suggest

you be on time!

30
FUTURE PERFECT

Future perfect, form

The future perfect is composed of two elements: the simple future of the verb to have (will have)
+ the past participle of the main verb:

Subject will have past participle

He will have finished

Affirmative
I will have left

Negative
They won't have gone

Interrogative
Will we have seen?

Interrogative negative
Won't he have arrived?

Example: to arrive, future perfect

Affirmative Negative Interrogative

I'll have arrived I won't have arrived Will I have arrived?
You'll have arrived You won't have arrived Will you have arrived?
He'll have arrived She won't have arrived Will it have arrived?
We'll have arrived We won't have arrived Will we have arrived?
You'll have arrived You won't have arrived Will you have arrived?
They'll have arrived They won't have arrived Will they have arrived?

Future perfect, function

The future perfect refers to a completed action in the future. When we use this tense we are
projecting ourselves forward into the future and looking back at an action that will be completed
some time later than now.
It is often used with a time expression using by + a point in future time.

Examples:

a. I'll have been here for six months on June 23rd.

b. By the time you read this I'll have left.
c. You will have finished your work by this time next week.

Exercises.

A) What will life be like in the year 2100? Complete the sentences using the
future perfect tense.

Example:

By the year 210, the world’s population _will have increased (increase) to around 30,000 million.

31
a. Life _____________________ (become) more automated then.
b. Computers ____________________ (take over) many of the jobs that people do today.
c. The earth’s supplies of oil, coal and gas _______________________ (run out).
d. _______________________ (scientists/find) other sources of energy?
e. How ___________ education __________________ (change)?
f. ______________________ (we/find) a way to feed all the people in the world?

32
FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS

Future perfect continuous, form

This form is composed of two elements: the future perfect of the verb to be (will have been) +
the present participle of the main verb (base+ing):

Subject will have been base+ing

We will have been living

Affirmative
I will have been working

Negative
I won't have been working
Interrogative
Will I have been working?
Interrogative negative
Won't I have been working?

Example: to live, Future Perfect continuous

Affirmative Negative Interrogative

I'll have been living I won't have been living Will I have been living?
You'll have been living You won't have been living Will you have been living?
He'll have been living He won't have been living Will she have been living?
We'll have been living We won't have been living Will we have been living?
You'll have been living You won't have been living Will you have been living?
They'll have been living They won't have been living Will they have been living?

Future perfect continuous, function

Like the future perfect simple, this form is used to project ourselves forward in time and to look
back. It refers to events or actions in a time between now and some future time, that may be
unfinished.

Examples:

a. I will have been waiting here for three hours by six o'clock.
b. By 2001 I will have been living here for sixteen years.
c. By the time I finish this course, I will have been learning English for twenty
years.
d. Next year I will have been working here for four years.

Exercises.

A) Complete the sentences with the future perfect or future perfect continuous.

a. By 2012 we ______________________ (live in London for 14 years.

b. He ________________________ (write) a book by the end of the week.
c. He ________________________ (write this book for 3 months by the end of the week.
d. ________________________ (you/finish) this project by the next week.

33
 e. We _______________________ be/married) a year on July 15th.
f. If it doesn’t come tomorrow, I _______________________ (be) without the projector for
a month.
g. _______________________ (she/be) pregnant for 5 months this week?

B) Complete the conversations using the future perfect or the future perfect

continuous.

1.

Jack: Have you been watching the Eco-Challenge on TV?

Janet: Isn't that exciting? It has got to be the most unbelievably difficult sporting event in the

world.

Jack: I know. By the time they finish the course, they (raft) _____________________ more than 150

miles down a raging river, (hike) ____________________ through 80 miles of jungle, (climb)

_____________________ a volcano and (kayak) ____________________ through shark-infested waters.

Janet: And don't forget that they (move) _______________________ for at least eight days straight.

2.

Oliver: When are going to get your bachelor's degree, Anne?

Anne: I am going to finish my degree next June. By the time I graduate, I (go)

_______________________ to four different colleges and universities, and I (study)

_______________________ for more than seven years.

Oliver: Wow, that's a long time!

Anne: And I plan to continue on to get a Ph.D.

Oliver: Really? How long is that going to take?

Anne: By the time I finally finish studying, I (be) ______________________ a student for over 13

years.

3.

Max: Sarah has been in the kitchen all day long.

Jake: It doesn't sound like she's having a very good Thanksgiving.

Max: She (cook) ________________________ for over seven hours by the time everyone arrives for

dinner this afternoon. Hopefully, she (finish) ______________________ everything by then.

Jake: Maybe we should help her out.

34
4.

Mike: It's 6:00, and I have been working on my essay for over three hours.

Sid: Do you think you (finish) ________________________ by 10:00? There's a party at Donna's

tonight.

Mike: I (complete, probably) ________________________ the essay by 10:00, but I (work)

_________________________ on it for more than seven hours, and I don't think I am going to feel like

going to a party.

5.

Fred: By the time they finish their trip across Yosemite National Park, they (hike)

_________________________ for more than six days.

Ginger: And they (be, not) _________________________ in a bed or (have, not)

_________________________ a shower in almost a week!

Fred: When we pick them up, they (eat) ________________________ camping food for days, and I am

sure they will be starving.

Ginger: I think we had better plan on taking them directly to a restaurant.

35
FUTURE TENSES

SIMPLE FUTURE

Simple future, form

The 'simple' future is composed of two parts: will / shall + the infinitive without 'to'

Subject will infinitive without to

He will leave...

Affirmative
I will go
I shall go
Negative
They will not see
They won't see
Interrogative
Will she ask?
Interrogative negative
Won't she take?

Contractions:
I will I'll We will we'll
You will you'll You will you'll
He,she, will he'll, she'll They will they'll

NOTE: The form 'it will' is not normally shortened.

Example: to see, simple future

Affirmative Negative Interrogative

I'll see I won't see/ Will I see?/
*I will/shall see I shan't see Shall I see?
You'll see You won't see Will you see?
He, she, it will see He won't see Will she see?
We'll see We won't see/ Will we see?/
*We will/shall see We shan't see Shall we see?
You will see You won't see Will you see?
They'll see They won't see Will they see?

*NOTE: shall is slightly dated but can be used instead of will with I / we.

36
Simple future, function
The simple future refers to a time later than now, and expresses facts or certainty. In this case
there is no 'attitude'.

The simple future is used:

a. to predict a future event: It will rain tomorrow.

b. (with I/we) to express a spontaneous decision: I'll pay for the tickets by credit card.

c. to express willingness: I'll do the washing-up. He'll carry your bag for you.

d. (in the negative form) to express unwillingness: The baby won't eat his soup. I won't leave
until I've seen the manager!

e. (with I in the interrogative form) to make an offer: Shall I open the window?

f. (with we in the interrogative form) to make a suggestion: Shall we go to the cinema tonight?

g. (with I in the interrogative form) to ask for advice or instructions: What shall I tell the boss
about this money?

h. (with you) to give orders: You will do exactly as I say.

i. (with you) to give an invitation: Will you come to the dance with me?
Will you marry me?

NOTE: In modern English will is preferred to shall.

Shall is mainly used with I and we to make an offer or suggestion (see examples (e) and (f)
above, or to ask for advice (example (g) above).
With the other persons (you, he, she, they) shall is only used in literary or poetic situations, e.g.

"With rings on her fingers and bells on her toes, She shall have music wherever she goes."

Exercises.

A) Derek is 18 years old now. What will he be like in 10 years from now?
How will his life be different then? Complete what Derek says using
will/won’t.
Example: I hope I/have a job in 10 years’ time.
I hope I’ll have a job in 10 years’ time.

a. Perhaps I/have a good job.

_______________________________________________________
b. I probably/not/be very rich.
_______________________________________________________
c. I/not/look the same as I do now.
_______________________________________________________
d. I think I/be married.
_______________________________________________________
e. I/probably/have children.
_______________________________________________________

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 B) Complete the sentences using I’ll or I won’t and the verbs in the list.

go answer not go put on not have lend wait

Example: I’m tired I think __I’ll go__ to bed early tonight.

a. ‘’I haven’t got any money.’’ ‘’haven’t you?’’ Oh. ______________ you some if you like.
b. ‘’The telephone is ringing.’’ Oh. ________________ it.’’
c. I’m a bit cold. I think ______________ a sweater.
d. ‘’Would you like something to eat?’’ _______________ anything at the moment, thank
you. I’m not very hungry.’’
e. ‘’I’m going out for a walk,’’ ‘’It’s raining.’’ ‘’Oh, is it? Well, ______________ out now,
then, _________________ until it’s stopped.’’

C) Peter wants to see Sally. He is talking to her on the phone. Complete

the conversation using will/won’t. And the verbs given.

Peter: _______ you _______ (be) at home this evening, Sally?

Sally: Well, I’m working late. I don’t expect I _______________ (finish) until after 9:00, so I
_______________ (not/be) home until quite late.
Peter: Oh, I see. What about tomorrow? _______ you _______ (be) free for lunch?
Sally: No, I’m afraid I _____________ (be) in a meeting at lunchtime.
Peter: What do you think ________ the meeting ________ (end)?
Sally: I’m not sure, but it probably _____________ (not/finish) before 2:00. Listen, Peter. Whay
don’t we meet for a coffee after work tomorrow evening?
Peter: What time _______ you ________ (be) finished tomorrow?
Sally: I ______________ (be) free by 6:00.
Peter: All right. I ______________ (meet) you at your office at 6:00, then.
Sally: Right. I ______________ (see) you then.

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FUTURE CONTINUOUS

Future continuous, form

The future continuous is made up of two elements: the simple future of the verb 'to be' + the
present participle (base+ing)

Subject simple future, 'to be' base+ing

You will be watching

Affirmative
I will be asking

Negative
She won't be leaving

Interrogative
Will they be retiring?

Interrogative negative
Won't we be staying?

Example: to stay, future continuous

Affirmative Negative Interrogative

I will be staying I won't be staying Will I be staying?
You will be staying You won't be staying Will you be staying?
He, she, it will be staying He won't be staying Will she be staying?
We will be staying We won't be staying Will we be staying?
You will be staying You won't be staying Will you be staying?
They will be staying They won't be staying Will they be staying?

Future continuous, function

The future continuous refers to an unfinished action or event that will be in progress at a time
later than now. It is used:

a. to project ourselves into the future and see something happening: This time next week I will
be sun-bathing in Bali.

b. to refer to actions/events that will happen in the normal course of events: I'll be seeing Jim
at the conference next week.

c. in the interrogative form, especially with 'you', to distinguish between a simple request for
information and an invitation: Will you be coming to the party tonight? (= request for
information) Will you come to the party? (= invitation)

d. to predict or guess about someone's actions or feelings, now or in the future: You'll be
feeling tired after that long walk, I expect.

More examples:

a. events in progress in the future:

When you are in Australia will you be staying with friends?
This time next week you will be working in your new job.
At four thirty on Tuesday afternoon I will be signing the contract.

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b. events/actions in normal course of events:
I'll be going into town this afternoon, is there anything you want from the shops?
Will you be using the car tomorrow? - No, you can take it.
I'll be seeing Jane this evening - I'll give her the message.

c. asking for information:

Will you be bringing your friend to the pub tonight?
Will Jim be coming with us?

d. predicting or guessing:
You'll be feeling thirsty after working in the sun.
He'll be coming to the meeting, I expect.
You'll be missing the sunshine now you're back in England.

Exercises.

A) Lynne Carter is going from London to Manchester on business tomorrow.

Look at Lynne’s plans.

8:00-8:55 Fly to Manchester.

10:00-12:00 Visit the ABC Travel Company.

13:00-14:30 Have lunch with Mary and Ron king.

15:00-16:00 Visit Derek Hall.

16:15-16:45 Take a taxi to the airport.

17:15-18:05 Fly back to London.

What will Lynne be doing at these times tomorrow?

a. 8:30 _____________________________________________________________
b. 11:00 ____________________________________________________________
c. 13:30 ____________________________________________________________
d. 15:30 ____________________________________________________________
e. 16:30 ____________________________________________________________
f. 17:30 ____________________________________________________________

B) Complete these sentences using the future continuous and the verbs given.

Example: I __will be working_ (work) at 7:00 AM.

a. I ____________________ (have) dinner at 7:00 PM.

b. We ___________________ (not/work) tomorrow morning.
c. Don’t phone me at 8:00. I __________________ (do) my homework.
d. I ____________________ (drive) into town later on.
e. _______ you _______________ (go) out this morning?
f. _______ you _______________ (use) your camera at the weekend?
g. They __________________ (not/study) this evening.

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ENGLISH IRREGULAR VERBS LIST

Base Form Past Form Past Participle Group

arise arose arisen 3
awake awoke, awaked awoken 3
be was been 3
bear bore borne 3
beat beat beaten 2
become became become 2
befall befell befallen 3
beget begot begotten 3
begin began begun 3
behold beheld beheld 2
bend bent bent 2
bereave bereaved bereft 3
beseech besought besought 2
bestride bestrode bestridden 3
bet bet, betted bet, betted 2
bid bade bidden 3
bid bid bid 1
bind bound bound 2
bite bit bitten 3
bleed bled bled 2
blow blew blown 3
blow blew blown 3
break broke broken 3
breed bred bred 2
bring brought brought 2
broadcast broadcast broadcast 3
build built built 2
burn burnt, burned burnt, burned 2
burst burst burst 3
buy bought bought 2
cast cast cast 3
catch caught caught 2
choose chose chosen 3
cling clung clung 2
come came come 2
cost cost cost 3
creep crept crept 2
cut cut cut 1
dare dared dared 2
deal dealt dealt 2
ditg dug dug 2
dive dived dived 2
do did done 3
draw drew drawn 3
dream dreamt dreamt 2
drink drank drunk 3
drive drove driven 3

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dwell dwelt,dwelled dwelt,dwelled 2
eat ate eaten 3
fall fell fallen 3
feed fed fed 2
feel felt felt 2
fight fought fought 2
find found found 2
fit fit, fitted fit, fitted 2
flee fled fled 2
fling flung flung 2
fly flew flown 3
forbear forbore forborne 3
forbid forbade forbidden 3
forget forgot forgotten 3
forgive forgave forgiven 3
forsake forsook forsaken 3
freeze froze frozen 3
get got got 2
gild gilt, gilded gilt, gilded 2
gird girt, girded girt, girded 2
give gave given 3
go went gone 3
grind ground ground 2
grow grew grown 3
hang hung hung 2
have had had 2
hear heard heard 2
hide hid hidden 3
hit hit hit 1
hold held held 2
hurt hurt hurt 1
keep kept kept 2
kneel knelt knelt 2
know knew known 3
lay laid laid 2
lead led led 2
leap leapt, leaped leapt, leaped 2
learn learnt learnt 2
leave left left 2
lend lent lent 2
let let let 1
lie lay lain 3
light lit lit 2
lose lost lost 2
make made made 2
mean meant meant 2
meet met met 2
melt melted melted, molten 3
mow mowed mown, mowed 3
pay paid paid 2

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plead pled, pleaded pled, pleaded 2
put put put 1
quit quit quit 1
read read read 1
rend rent rent 2
rid rid rid 1
ride rode ridden 3
ring rang rung 3
rise rose risen 3
rise rose risen 3
run ran run 2
say said said 2
see saw seen 3
seek sought sought 2
sell sold sold 2
send sent sent 2
sew sewed sewn 3
shake shook shaken 3
shear sheared shorn, sheared 3
shed shed shed 3
shine shone shone 2
shoe shod, shoed shone 3
shoot shot shone 3
show showe shown 3
shrink shrank shrunk 3
shut shut shut 1
sing sang sung 3
sink sank sunk 3
sit sat sat 2
sleep slept slept 2
slide slid slid 2
sling slung slung 2
slink slunk slunk 2
slit slit slit 3
smell smelt smelt 2
smite smote smitten 3
sneak snuck, sneaked snuck, sneaked 2
speak spoke spoken 3
speed sped, speeded sped, speeded 2
spell spelt spelt 2
spend spent spent 2
spill spilt spilt 2
spin spun spun 2
spit spat spat 2
split split split 1
spoil spoilt, spoiled spoilt, spoiled 2
spread spread spread 1
spring sprang sprung 3
stand stood stood 2
steal stole stolen 3

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 stick stuck stuck 2
sting stung stung 2
stride strode stridden 3
strike struck struck 2
swaear swore sworn 3
sweep swept swept 2
swim swam swum 3
swing swung swung 2
take took taken 3
teach taught taught 2
tear tore torn 3
tell told told 2
think thought thought 2
throw threw thrown 3
thrust thrust thrust 1
tread trod trodden 3
tread trod trodden 3
undergo underwent undergone 3
understand understood understood 2
undertake undertook undertaken 3
wake woke woken 3
wear wore worn 3
weave wove woven 3
weep wept wept 2
wet wet, wetted wet, wetted 2
win won won 2
wind wound wound 2
withdraw withdrew withdraw 2
wring wrung wrung 2
write wrote written 3

References :

Communicative Grammar. (2003). Programa de Capacitación, Actualización y Especialización

Docente en la Enseñanza del Inglés como Lengua Extranjera. Secretaría de Educación
Pública. Gobierno de Coahuila.

Digby Beaumont & Colin Granger. (1992). English Grammar. An Intermediate Reference and
Practice Book. Oxford: The Heinemann.

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English4today.com. English4today online English Grammar home page. Consulta realizada el 14
de Julio del 2008 en
http://www.english4today.com/englishgrammar/grammar/Tensesmenu.cfm

Eclectic English. Free activities for learners of English as a second language. Consulta realizada el
14 de Julio del 2008 en
http://www.eclecticenglish.com/grammar/PresentContinuous1F.html

Englishpage.com-Free online English lessons and ESL & EFL resources. Consulta realizada el 16 de
Julio del 2008 en http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/verbs4.htm

Englishpage.com-Free online English lessons and ESL & EFL resources. Consulta realizada el 17 de
Julio del 2008 en http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/verbs11.htm

Englishpage.com-Free online English lessons and ESL & EFL resources. Consulta realizada el 18 de
Julio del 2008 en http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/verbs13.htm

Englishpage.com-Free online English lessons and ESL & EFL resources. Consulta realizada el 19 de
Julio del 2008 en http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/verbs27.htm

UsingEnglish.com-Resources for English as a second language. Consulta realizada el 20 de Julio

del 2008 en http://www.usingenglish.com/handouts/answers.php?id=244

English Tenses with Cartoons. Learn/Teach Verb Tenses. Consulta realizada el 22 de Julio del 2008
en
http://www.englishtenseswithcartoons.com/page/exercise/future_perfect_vs_continuous

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