TENSES

tense Affirmative/Negative/Question Use Signal Words

always, every
 action in the present
Simple Present A: He speaks. …, never,
N: He does not speak. taking place once, never normally,
Q: Does he speak? or several times often, seldom,
sometimes,
 facts
usually
 actions taking place one if sentences
after another type I (If I talk,
…)
 action set by a timetable
or schedule

Present Progressive A: He is speaking. at the moment,

 action taking place in
N: He is not speaking. just, just now,
Q: Is he speaking? the moment of speaking Listen!, Look!,
 action taking place only now, right now
for a limited period of
time
 action arranged for the
future

Simple Past A: He spoke. yesterday, 2

 action in the past taking
N: He did not speak. minutes ago, in
Q: Did he speak? place once, never or 1990, the other
several times day, last Friday
if sentence type
 actions taking place one
II (If I talked,
after another …)
 action taking place in the
middle of another action

Past Progressive A: He was speaking. when, while, as

 action going on at a
N: He was not speaking. long as
Q: Was he speaking? certain time in the past
 actions taking place at
the same time
 action in the past that is
interrupted by another
action

Present Perfect Simple A: He has spoken. already, ever,

 putting emphasis on the
N: He has not spoken. just, never, not
Q: Has he spoken? result yet, so far, till
 action that is still going now, up to now
on
  action that stopped
recently
 finished action that has
an influence on the
present
 action that has taken
place once, never or
several times before the
moment of speaking

Present Perfect A: He has been speaking. all day, for 4

 putting emphasis on the
Progressive N: He has not been speaking. years, since
Q: Has he been speaking? course or duration (not 1993, how
the result) long?, the
whole week
 action that recently
stopped or is still going
on
 finished action that
influenced the present

Future I Simple A: He will speak. in a year, next

 action in the future that
N: He will not speak. …, tomorrow
Q: Will he speak? cannot be influenced If-Satz Typ I
 spontaneous decision (If you ask her,
she will help
 assumption with regard you.)
to the future assumption: I
think,
probably,
perhaps
Idiomatic Future A: He is going to speak. in one year,
 decision made for the
N: He is not going to speak. next week,
(going to) Q: Is he going to speak? future tomorrow
 conclusion with regard to
the future

PRESENT PERFECT TEST

Test
Write the participle forms of the following verbs.

1. shut →

2. spend →
3. give →

4. teach →

5. sell →

Complete the table in present perfect simple.

positive negative question

We have chatted.

The lesson has not started.

Have we won?

She has turned around.

They have not arrived.

Write sentences in present perfect simple.

1. we / reach / our goal -

2. our team / lose / the match -

3. she / underline / the word -

4. they / not / discover / the treasure -

5. Ron / not / talk / about the problem -

Write questions in present perfect simple.

1. you / knock / at the door -

2. the teacher / mark / the tests -

3. she / buy / a new computer -

4. they / rescue / the girl -

5. Brad / wear / a blue shirt -

 Ask for the information in the bold part of the sentence.

1. They have seen him at the library. -

2. Robby Robber has robbed another bank. -

3. Bill has ordered three desserts. -

4. Clara has repeated the sentence five times. -

5. Jane has asked a question. -

Form

Simple Past Present Perfect Simple

irregular verbs: see 2nd column of irregular verbs irregular verbs: form of 'have' + 3rd column of irregular
Example: verbs
I spoke
Example:
I / you / we / they have spoken
he / she / it has spoken

regular verbs: infinitive + ed regular verbs: form of 'have' + infinitive + ed

Example: Example:
I worked I / you / we / they have worked
he / she / it has worked

Exceptions

Exceptions when adding 'ed':

 when the final letter is e, only add d
Example:
love - loved

 after a short, stressed vowel, the final consonant is doubled

Example:
admit - admitted

 final l is always doubled in British English (not in American English)

Example:
travel - travelled

 after a consonant, final y becomes i (but: not after a vowel)

Example:
worry - worried
but: play - played
See also explanations on Simple Past and Present Perfect Simple

Use
In British English, the use of Simple Past and Present Perfect is quite strict. As soon as a time expression in
the past is given, you have to use Simple Past. If there are no signal words, you must decide if we just talk
about an action in the past or if its consequence in the present is important.

Note that the following explanations and exercises refer to British English only. In American English, you
can normally use Simple Past instead of Present Perfect. We cannot accept this in our exercises, however, as
this would lead to confusions amongst those who have to learn the differences.

Certain time in the past or just / already / yet?

Do you want to express that an action happened at a certain time in the past (even if it was just a few seconds
ago) or that an action has just / already / not yet happened?

Simple Past Present Perfect Simple

certain time in the past just / already / not yet

Example: Example:
I phoned Mary 2 minutes ago. I have just phoned Mary.

Certain event in the past or how often so far?

Do you want to express when a certain action took place or whether / how often an action has happened till
now?

Simple Past Present Perfect Simple

certain event in the past whether / how often till now

Example: Example:
He went to Canada last summer. Have you ever been to Canada? / I have been to Canada
twice.

Emphasis on action or result?

Do you just want to express what happened in the past? Or do you want to emphasise the result (a past
action's consequence in the present)?

Simple Past Present Perfect Simple

 Emphasis on action Emphasis on result
Example: Example:
I bought a new bike. (just telling what I I have bought a new bike. (With this sentence I actually want to express
did in the past.) that I have a new bike now.)

Signal Words

Simple Past Present Perfect Simple

 yesterday  just
 ... ago  already
 in 1990  up to now
 the other day  until now / till now
 last ...  ever
 (not) yet
 so far
 lately / recently

SIMPLE PAST AND PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE TEST

Test your knowledge on Simple Past and Present Perfect Simple. After submitting your answers, you will see
how well you have done in the test.

test3

Form

Write down the correct form (pronoun + verb).

Simple Past Present Perfect Simple

he / listen

they / speak

I / watch
 she / grow

you / fall

Use

When do we use which tense?

1. To talk about an action in the past (without any consequences in the present), we use ...

2. To emphasise a past action's consequence in the present, we use ...

3. 'so far' is a signal word for ...

4. '5 minutes ago' is a signal word for ...

5. 'recently' is a signal word for ...

Positive Sentences

Put the verbs into the correct tense (simple past or present perfect simple).

1. He (leave / just) his house.

2. We (build) a tree house last week.

3. Two years ago, Fiona (break) her leg.

4. I (wash / already) the dishes.

5. The other day, our cat (bring) home a mouse.

Negative Sentences

Put the verbs into the correct tense (simple past or present perfect simple).

1. We (empty / not) the bin last week.

2. She (be / not) there an hour ago.

3. He (lose / not) any game so far.

4. My brother (pick / not) me up at 8 o'clock.

5. I (make / not) up my mind yet.

 Questions

Put the verbs into the correct tense (simple past or present perfect simple).

1. (you / see) Bob recently?

2. Who (switch) off the lights a minute ago?

3. When (she / become) a teacher?

4. (you / ride / ever) an elephant?

5. (you / hurt) your knee when you were playing football?

Text
Put the verbs into the correct tense (simple past or present perfect simple).

1. Last week I (be) very busy and I (have not) the time to do a lot in the household.

2. On Monday I (work) three hours overtime and (come) home very late in the
evening.

3. From Tuesday to Thursday I (be) on a business trip.

4. On Friday I (go) to a friend's birthday party and at the weekend I (visit) my

grandparents.

5. Tomorrow some friends are coming over. I (see / not) them for ages and they (be / never)

at my place before.

6. I (clean / just) my house so I can show them around. Now everything is perfect.

Form of Present Perfect Progressive

Positive Negative Question

I / you / we / they I have been speaking. I have not been speaking. Have I been speaking?

he / she / it He has been speaking. He has not been speaking. Has he been speaking?

Exceptions in Spelling
 Exceptions in spelling when adding ing Example

final e is dropped come – coming

(but: ee is not changed) (but: agree – agreeing)

after a short, stressed vowel, the final consonant is doubled sit – sitting

l as final consonant after a vowel is doubled (in British English) travel – travelling

final ie becomes y lie – lying

Use of Present Perfect Progressive

 puts emphasis on the duration or course of an action (not the result)

Example: She has been writing for two hours.

 action that recently stopped or is still going on

Example: I have been living here since 2001.

 finished action that influenced the present

Example: I have been working all afternoon.

Signal Words of Present Perfect Progressive

 all day, for 4 years, since 1993, how long?, the whole week

Exercise on Present Perfect Progressive

default 0

Put the verbs into the correct form (present perfect progressive).

has been w
1. He(work) in this company since 1985.

2. I(wait) for you since two o'clock.

3. Mary(live) in Germany since 1992.

4. Why is he so tired? He(play) tennis for five hours.

5. How long(learn / you) English?

6. We(look for) the motorway for more than an hour.

7. I(live) without electricity for two weeks.

8. The film(run / not) for ten minutes yet, but there's a commercial break already.

9. How long(work / she) in the garden?

10. She(not / be) in the garden for more than an hour.

SIMPLE FUTURE TEST

Test your knowledge on the Future I Simple (will). After submitting your answers, you will see how well
you have done in the test.

Test
1. Harry / cause / trouble

 Positive:

 Negative:

 Question:
2. you / copy / the homework

 Positive:

 Negative:

 Question:
3. the clouds / disappear

 Positive:

 Negative:

 Question:
4. he / marry / his girlfriend

 Positive:

 Negative:

 Question:
5. the snowman / melt

 Positive:
 Negative:

 Question:
6. the people / panic

 Positive:

 Negative:

 Question:
7. they / react / to my question

 Positive:

 Negative:

 Question:
8. she / probably / teach / in London

 Positive:

 Negative:

 Question:

PAST CONTINUOUS
Test your knowledge on the Past Progressive. After submitting your answers, you will see how well you
have done in the test.

Test
Write the ing form of the following verbs.

1. share →

2. tidy →

3. shut →

4. dial →

5. lie →

Complete the table in past progressive.

positive negative question

 They were not chatting.

Was the couple kissing?

They were complaining.

It was not getting dark.

Bob was studying.

Was or Were?

1. The pirates fighting for the treasure.

2. We discussing the problem.

3. The candle burning.

4. The cat chasing the mice.

5. The mice running away from the cat.

Write sentences in past progressive.

1. the snowman / melt / in the sun →

2. we / explore / a new territory →

3. the secretary / print out / a document →

4. the girls / not / concentrate / on the task →

5. Garth / not / practise / on the piano →

Write questions in past progressive.

1. Jill / dance →

2. your cousins / swim / in the lake →

3. the student / answer / a question →

4. William / play / the guitar →

5. Janet / sit / on the bench →

 Ask for the information in the bold part of the sentence.

1. At a quarter past six, Phil was translating the document.

2. Sheila was waiting in the park.

3. The pupils were talking about the United States.

4. The boss was dictating a letter.

5. Barbara was looking for her necklace.

SIMPLE PAST AND PAST CONTINUOUS

1) Use

Simple Past Past Progressive

action was in progress at a special time in the

action finished in the past (single or repeated)
past
two actions were happening at the same time
series of completed actions in the past
(the actions do not influence each other)

2) Form

Simple Past Past Progressive

regular verbs: infinitive + -ed

irregular verbs: 2nd column of the table of the (was or were) + infinitive + -ing
irregular verbs

3) Examples

Simple Past Past Progressive

3-1 Affirmative sentences

He played football. He was playing football.

We played football. We were playing football.
He sang songs. He was singing songs.
We sang songs. We were singing songs.

Simple Past Past Progressive

3-2 Negative sentences

He did not play football. He was not playing football.

We did not play football. We were not playing football.
He did not sing songs. He was not singing songs.
We did not sing songs. We were not singing songs.

Simple Past Past Progressive

3-3 Questions

Did he play football? Was he playing football?

Did you play football? Were you playing football?
Did he sing songs? Was he singing songs?
Did you sing songs? Were you singing songs?

4) Spelling

stopped (Double the consonant after a short

sitting (double consonant after short vowel)
vowel.)
loved (one -e at the end of the word -> Leave
writing (leave out one -e at the end)
out the -e and add -d.)
worried (consonant before -y ->Change to -ie.) lying (change -ie to -y)

5) Use

Both tenses are often used in one sentence:

While we were sitting at the breakfast table, the telephone rang.

We were sitting at the breakfast table when the telephone rang.

The signal word while is in the part with the Past Progressive,
the signal word when is in the part with the Simple Past.

ATTENTION!
Past Progressive: we were sitting at the table
Simple Past: the telephone rang.

The action in the Simple Past (pink) interrupts the action in the Past Progressive (blue).
Put in the verbs in brackets in the Simple Past or the Past Progressive into the gaps.

Example: I ________ my keys while I ________ to school. (to lose) (to walk)

Answer: I lost my keys while I was walking to school.

1) While I , the school bus . (to text) (to arrive)

2) Cindy her leg while she . (to break) (to snowboard)

3) He to the radio while he breakfast. (to listen) (to prepare)

4) My father at 70 km/h when a policeman him. (to drive) (to

stop)

5) The girl that the boy her. (to notice) (to watch)

6) My dad the ladder while he the carport. (to fall off) (to
paint)

7) While we , we crossword puzzles. (to wait) (to do)

8) Nick sick while he in Texas. (to become) (to travel)

9) What when you about 9/11? (to do) (to hear)

10) She said that she happy, so I to her. (not/to feel) (to
talk)