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The Third Meeting (26/12/2009)

Simple Present Tense

1. Simple Present Tense

Past Present Future

Simple Present Tense

Simple Present Tense is used to show actions, events, or states that happen habitually or as a
general rule/statement of fact.

1.1 The form of Simple Present Tense

be

Positive S + To Be + Negative S + To Be + Question To Be + S +

Complement Not + Complement Complement?
I I am a student I am not a student Am I a student?
Are you a student?
He/She/It He is clever He is not clever Is he clever?
You/We/They They are fat They are not fat Are they fat?
Note: am with the personal pronoun I
is with the personal pronouns he, she or it (or the singular form of nouns)
are with the personal pronouns you, we or they (or the plural form of nouns)
other verbs

Positive S + V1 + O Negative S + do not Question Do + S +

+ V1 + O V1 + O?
I They play basketball They do not play Do they play
You basketball basketball?
We
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They

Positive S + V1 –s/-es Negative S + does not Question Do + S + V1

+O + V1 + O + O?
He She plays basketball She does not play Does she play
She basketball basketball?
It

1.2 The Use of Simple Present Tense

As a general guide, the simple present tense is used:
1.
2. The simple present tense says that something was true in the past, is true in the present,
and will be true in the future. It is used for general statements of fact.
Example: The world is round.
3. The simple present tense is used to express habitual or everyday activity.
Example: I usually swim on Sunday afternoon.
4. The simple present tense usually expresses the action set by a timetable or schedule.
Example: The plane arrives at six.
5. The simple present tense is used for permanent situation.
Example: My parents live in Surabaya.
6. Whenever we want to express state, possession, sense or emotions, use simple form (not
the progressive). The following words all belong to this group: be (state), believe (mental
state), belong (possession), hate (feeling and emotion), hear (senses), etc.
Example: I love him.
(When we love someone, which is a state, a fact or emotion, but not an action, so here we
use simple present tense)
1.3 The Time Signals of Simple Present Tense
1. Every………(Every week, every morning, every day, etc)
2. On…………(On Sunday, etc)
3. Once a week, twice a day, three times a day, etc.
4. Always, usually, often, sometimes, seldom, rarely, etc.
5. In the morning, at night, etc.
1.4 The exception in Spelling

Exception Example

Verbs ending in ‘o’ or ‘ch’, ‘sh’, ‘s’, ‘th’, Do – He does

‘x’ add -es instead of –s Wash – She washes
Breath – He breathes
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Fix – He fixes
Watch – She watches
Bless – He blesses

A final y after a consonant becomes ie Worry – he worries

before s. (but: play – he plays)
(but: don’t modify y after a vowel)

Present Progressive Tense

2. Present Progressive Tense

Past Moment of speaking Future

Present Progressive

Present Progressive Tense is used to show actions, events, or states that are in progress at the
moment (not finished)

2.1 The form of Present Progressive Tense

Positive S + To Be + Negative S + To Be + Interrogative To Be

V-ing not + V-ing + S + V-ing?
I I am playing I am not playing Am I playing?
He/She/It He is playing He is not playing Is he playing?
You/We/They They are playing They are not playing Are they playing?
Note: am with the personal pronoun I
is with the personal pronouns he, she or it (or the singular form of nouns)
are with the personal pronouns you, we or they (or the plural form of nouns)
2.2 The Use of Present Progressive Tense
The usage of present progressive tense are:
1. The present progressive tense expresses an activity that is in progress at the moment of
speaking. It is temporary activity that began in the past, is continuing at present and will
probably end at some point in the future.
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Example: She is waiting for the bus.

2. Often activity is of a general nature: something generally in progress this week, this
month, this year.
Example: I am taking five courses this semester.
3. In special circumstances, a speaker may use the present progressive with always to
complain and to express annoyance or anger.
Example: Mary is always leaving her dirty socks on the floor.
(Expresses annoyance, may be included in the speaker’s tone of voice)
It is also used to express the event that happens too often or more often than normal.
Example: I’ve lost my key again. I’m always losing things.
(It does not mean that I lose things every time. It means that I lose things too often or more
often than normal)
4. When we are talking about an arrangement for the near future.
Example: I’m planning to give her money.
5. The present progressive tense describes a development from one situation to another.
Example: The population of China is rising very fast.
2.3 The Time Signals of Present Progressive Tense
There are some time signals which are used in present progressive, such as: right now; at
the moment; now; today; this… (this week, this semester, etc); Look!; Listen!
2.4 The exception in Spelling

Exception Example

silent e is dropped before ing (but ee is not come – coming (but: agree – agreeing)
changed)

final consonant after short, stressed vowel is sit- sitting

doubled

ie becomes y before ing lie – lying

Simple Past Tense

3. Simple Past Tense
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Simple Past Tense is used to show actions, events, or states at a specific time in the past or
general time in the past.

3.1 The Form of Simple Past Tense

be

Positive S + To Be + Negative S + To Be + Question To Be + S +

Complement Not + Complement Complement?
I/he/she/it He was a doctor He was not a doctor Was he a doctor?

You/we/they They were at the park They were not at the Were they at the
park park?
They weren’t at the
park

Note: ‘was’ with the personal pronoun I, He, She, It

‘were’ with the personal pronouns We, They, You
other verbs

Positive: S + V2 + O Negative: S + did not Question:

(didn’t) + V1 + O Did + S + V1 + O?
I, You, We, They, He, She watched TV last She didn’t watch TV Did she watch TV last
She, It night last night night?

3.2 The Use of Simple Past Tense

1. The simple past tense indicates that an activity or situation began and ended at a particular
time in the past.
Example: Yesterday, police arrested two thieves.
2. If a sentence contains when and has the simple past in both clauses, the action in the “when
clause” happens first.
Example: The telephone rang when someone knocked the door.
3. The simple past tense expresses that the actions in the past taking place one after the other.
Example: Last month, I celebrated Idul Adha. After I prayed, I went to my neighbor’s
house, then cooked gulai and satai.
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3.3 The time signals of Simple Past Tense

1. Yesterday, the day before yesterday, this morning, just now.
2. …..ago (two years ago, a week ago, a minute ago, etc).
3. Last…..(last year, last month)

3.4 The exception in Spelling

Exceptions in Spelling when adding -ed Example

After a final e only add –d Love – loved

Final consonant after a short, stressed vowel or Admit – admitted

as final consonant after a vowel is doubled

Final y after a consonant becomes ie Hurry - hurried

Past Progressive Tense

4. Past Progressive Tense
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Past Progressive Tense is used to express an action that was in progress (not finished) at a time in
the past.

4.1 The Form of Past Progressive Tense

Positive Negative Question

S + was/were + V-ing + O S + was/were + not + Were/Was + S + V-
V-ing + O ing + O?
I/he/she/it She was speaking She was not speaking Was she speaking?

You/we/they We were speaking We were not speaking Were we speaking

We weren’t speaking

Note: ‘was’ with the personal pronoun I, He, She, It

‘were’ with the personal pronouns We, They, You

4.2 The Use of Past Progressive Tense

1. Sometimes past progressive is used in both parts of a sentence when two actions are in
progress simultaneously.
Example: While I was studying English in one room of our apartment, my roommate was
having a party in another room.
2. Past progressive is used to show two actions occurred at the same time, but one action began
earlier and was in progress when another action occurred.
Example: One day, Virginia was walking along the corridor, when she saw a person in one
of the rooms and went in.
4.3 The time signals of Simple Past Tense
Time signals which are used in past progressive: when and while.

Present Perfect Tense

5. Present Perfect Tense
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The present perfect expresses an action that is still going on or that stopped recently, but
has an influence on the present.

5.1 The Form of Present Perfect Tense

Positive Negative Question

S + have/has + V3 + O S + have/has + not + V3 + Have/Has + S + V3
O + O?
He/She/It He has eaten fish He has not eaten fish Has he eaten fish?

I/You/We/They We have fixed it We have not fixed it Have we fixed it?

We haven’t fixed it

Note: ‘has’ with the personal pronoun He, She, It

‘have’ with the personal pronouns I, We, They, You
5.2 The Use of Present Perfect Tense

1). The present perfect tense expresses the idea that something happened (or never happened)
before now, at an unspecified time in the past. The exact time it happened is not important. If
there is a specific mention of time, the simple past.

Example: Many of the mudflow victims have received the compensation.

2) The present perfect tense also expresses the repetition of an activity before now. The exact
time of each repetition is not important.

Example: Zul has written hundreds of short stories, more 100 poems, 73 television drama
scripts.

3) The present perfect, when used with for or since, also expresses a situation that in the past and
is still happening now.

Example: Australia has intercepted at least five boats carrying dozens of refugees from
Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Sri Lanka, with Indonesian crews, since September this year.

5.3 The Time Signals of Present Perfect Tense

There are some time signals used in present perfect tense, such as: ever, never, already,
yet, still, just.

Simple Future Tense

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6. Simple Future Tense

Simple Future Tense expresses an event or situation that will happen at one particular
time in the future.

6.1 The Form of Simple Future Tense

6.1.1 Will

Will (using verb)

Positive Negative Question

He/She/It/I/You/We/They
Will (using be)
S + will + V1 + O S + will + not + V1 + O Will + S + V1 +
O?
She will have an She will not have an Will she have an
exam exam exam?
She won’t have an exam

Positive Negative Question

S + will + be + S + will + not + be + Will + S + be +
Complement Complement Complement?
He/She/It/I/You/We/They It will be cloudy It will not be cloudy Will it be cloudy?
It won’t be cloudy

6.1.2 Be Going To

Be Going To (using verb)

Positive Negative Interrogative

S + To Be + going to S + To Be + not + To Be + S + going to
+ V1 + O going to + V1 + O + V1 + O?
I I am going to play I am not going to play Am I going to play
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tennis tennis tennis?

He/She/It He is going to paint He is not going to Is he going to paint
the wall paint the wall the wall?
You/We/They You are going to cook You are not going to Are you going to cook
fried chicken cook fried chicken fried chicken?

Be Going To (using be)

Positive Negative Interrogative

S + To Be + going to S + To Be + not + To Be + S + going to
+ be + Complement going to + be + + be + Complement?
Complement
I I am going to be a I am not going to be a Am I going to be a
doctor doctor doctor?
He/She/It It is going to be It is not going to be Is it going to be
cloudy cloudy cloudy?

You/We/They You are going to be a You are not going to Are you going to be a
cook be a cook cook?
Note: am with the personal pronoun I
is with the personal pronouns he, she or it (or the singular form of nouns)
are with the personal pronouns you, we or they (or the plural form of nouns)

6.2 The Use of Simple Future Tense

1). To express a prediction (can use both: will or be going to)

When the speaker is making a prediction (a statement about something, the speaker thinks will
be true or will occur in the future.

Example: According to the weather report, it will be cloudy tomorrow

According to the weather report, it is going to be cloudy tomorrow

Those two sentences have the same meaning

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2) To express a prior plan (use only be going to)

When the speaker is expressing a prior plan (something the speaker intends to do in the future
because in the past the speaker has made a plan or decision to do it)

Example: He is going to buy a car

3) To express willingness / a voluntary action (use only will)

When the speaker will do something voluntarily or offers to do something for someone else.
Often, we use “will” to respond to someone’s complaint or request for help. It is also used to
request someone help or volunteer to do something for us. On the contrary, we use “will not” or
“won’t” when we refuse to voluntarily do something.

Examples:

I will translate the email, so Mr. Smith can read it.

Will you help me move this heavy table?

I will not do your homework.

4) To express a promise (use only will)

Examples:

I promise I will not tell her about your disease

If I am elected President of Indonesia, I will give free education to the public

6.3 The Time Signals of Simple Future Tense

There are some time signals used in simple future tense, such as:

- tomorrow

- next (next year, next week, etc.)

- tonight

- soon

- the day after tomorrow

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- later