VERB TENSES AND OTHER FORMS
SIMPLE PRESENT
Time: not important, any time
Viewpoint: simply describes
the action or the state
Use it to:
- Make general true
statements
- With verbs that describe
mental states, possession,
measurement, appearance
- To describe timetabled or
fixed events
MODALS
Use MUST / HAVE (GOT)
TO
- To express obligation
- To express a positive
logical deduction
Use HAVE / HAD (GOT)
TO for other tenses
Use DON’T HAVE TO (OR
DON’T NEED TO) to
express obligation
SIMPLE PAST
Time: before now
Viewpoint: a completed act
Use it to:
- Make statements about the
past
- Tell a story
- With verbs that describe
mental states, possession,
measurement, appearance
MODALS
Use SHOULD / OUGHT TO
- To say you expect
something to happen
- To say it is better to do
/ not to do something
Use CAN / COULD
- To express ability /
possibility
- To express a negative
logical deduction
-To make a polite request
CONTINUOUS PERFECT TENSES
Time: shown by a part of be FUTURE
Time: between a point in the
Viewpoint: an unfinished action, one Time: later than now
past and now, exact time is not
in progress Viewpoint: fixed, planned,
given
Use it to: predicted…
Viewpoint: result of the action is
- Use a part of be with the -ing form Use it to:
of the verb more important than the time
when it happened - Use will in statements of
-The present continuous describes:
- Things happening now or in this Use it to: fact
period of time - Use has / have + the past - Use present simple for a
- Something planned to happen participle regular planned event
soon - Use the continuous form if the - Use present continuous for
- A temporary situation action is still going on or if you a planned but not regular
-The past continuous describes:
can see the results of a recent event
background actions in account of
action - Use going to.
past events
- Use had for the past perfect
GERUNDS AND
MODALS CONDITIONALS PASSIVES INFINITIVES
-Gerunds can be the subject
CONDITIONALS PASSIVES or the object
Use MAY / MIGHT - Use part of be + the - Use it after prepositions,
after certain verbs (e.g.
- To say you are not - They have at least 2 past participle
Dislike, enjoy), in the
certain if something will clauses (1 condition + - Use it to put the most
expression “it’s no use/good”
happen or not one consequence) important element first
- Use the infinitive without to
- To express a polite - Use clauses beginning - Use it when the person after modals, after let and
request or ask with if to say how the performing the action is make, with sense verbs (e.g.
permission condition leads to the not important or is not feel, hear), to express
intention, after certain verbs
consequence known
(e.g. agree, decide)