T H E PRESENT INDEFINITE

The Present Indefinite is formed from the infinitive without the particle to. In the
third person singular the ending -s is added. After a sibilant represented in
spelling by s, ss, ch, sh, tch, x , z and after the vowel o, -es is added

In the third person singular we find the following orthographical change: S2 Д

final у is changed into i if it is preceded by a consonant and then -es is added

. 4. The interrogative and the negative forms are formed by means of the Present
Indefinite of the auxiliary verb to do and the infinitive of the notional verb
without the particle to.

1. Customary, repeated actions.

2. Actions and states characterizing a given person.
3. Universal truths, something which is eternally true.
4. Actions going on at the present moment (with verbs not used in the
Continuous form). i see George iti the street. Tell him to come in
5. A future action: (a) in adverbial clauses of time and condition after the
conjunctions when, till, u n til, before, after, as soon qs, as long as, ift
unless, on condition that, provided.
6. Time table

T H E PAST INDEFINITE
The Past Indefinite is formed by adding ~ed or -d to the regular verbs, or by
changing the root vowel, or in some other ways (irregular verbs

2 . The interrogative and the negative forms are formed by means of the Past
Indefinite of the auxiliary verb to do (d id ) and the infinitive of the notional verb
without the particle to.

The Past Indefinite denotes an action performed within a period of time which is
already over. The action is cut off from the present.

The Past Indefinite denotes an action performed within a period of time which is
already over. The action is cut off from the present.
repeated actions in the past.

He made an entry in his diary every night

T H E FUTURE INDEFINITE
The F utu re Indefinite is formed by means of the auxiliary verbs shall and will and
the infinitive without to of the notional verb.

In the interrogative form the auxiliary verb is placed before the subject. In the
negative form the negative particle not is placed after the auxiliary verb.

The Future Indefinite is used to denote a future action.

To denote a future action the word combinations to be g o in g plus infinitive, to

be about-- Infinitive, and to be on the poinf +gerund are often used

T H E PRESENT CONTINUOUS
The Present Continuous is formed by means of the Present Indefinite of the
auxiliary verb to be and Participle I of the notional verb. (On the formation of
Participle I see Chapter V III, § 3.) 2. In the interrogative form the auxiliary verb is
placed before the subject. In the negative form the negative particle not is placed
after the auxiliary verb.

1. The Present Continuous is used to denote an action going on at the present

moment. It should be borne in mind that the term ‘present m om ent’ is
not limited to the actual moment of speaking.
2. 2. When there are two actions one of which is in progress and the other is a
habitual action, the first is expressed by the Present Continuous and the
second by the Present Indefinite.
3. 3. The Present Continuous is used to denote a future action mainly with
such verbs as to go, to come, to leave. The future action is regarded as
something fixed.

I never talk while im working

4. The Present Continuous is used to express a continual process. In this case

the adverbs always, constantly, ever are used.

The earth is always moving

5. She is always grumbling. It is called by emotion,

 TH E PAST CONTINUOUS
1. The Past Continuous is formed by means of the Past Indefinite of the
auxiliary verb to be and Participle I of the notional verb. 2. In the
interrogative form the auxiliary verb is placed before the subject. In the
negative form the negative particle not is placed after the auxiliary verb.

1. The P ast Continuous is used to denote an action which was going on

at a definite moment in the past.
2. The definite moment is indicated either by another past action
expressed by a verb in the Past Indefinite or by an adverbial phrase.
When I returned, she was sweeping the floor
The definite moment is often not expressed, but understood £rom
the situation
3. The Past Continuous is used to denote an action thought of is a
continual process. In this case the adverbs always, ever, constantly
are used. The Past Continuous in this use is often to be found in
emotional speech.
She was constantly complaining of being lonely.
T H E FUTURE CONTINUOUS
1. The Future Continuous is formed by means of the F uture
Indefinite of the auxiliary verb to be and Participle I of the
notional verb. 2 .
2. In the interrogative form the first auxiliary verb is placed before
the subject. In the negative form the negative particle not is
placed after the first auxiliary verb

1. The Future Continuous is used to denote an action which will

be going on at a definite, moment in the future.
2. The Future Continuous is very often used in modern English in
the same meaning as the future Indefinite, i. e. to denote a
future action.

THE. PRESENT PERFECT

1. The Present Perfect is formed by means of the Present Indefinite of the
auxiliary verb to have and Participle II of the notional verb.

2. In the interrogative form the auxiliary verb is placed before the subject. In the
negative form the negative particle not is placed after the auxiliary verb.

1. The Present Perfect denotes a completed action connected with the

present. Stop that car! They have killed a child.
2. The Present Perfect is frequently used with the adverbs just, yet, already
and of late.
3. 2. The Present Perfect is used in adverbial clauses of time after the
conjunctions when, till, until, before, after, as soon as to denote an action
completed before a definite moment in the future
1 am not going till you have answered me
4. 3. The Present Perfect denotes an action which began in the oast, has been
going on up to the present and is still going on.
We have been engaged these four years.
T H E PAST PERFECT
The Past Perfect is formed by means of the Past Indefinite of the auxiliary
verb J o t o e and P articiple II of the notional verb.
2. In the interrogative form the auxiliary verb is placed before the subject.
In the negative form the negative particle not is placed after the auxiliary
verb.

1. The Past Perfect denotes an action completed before a certain moment

in the past.
After she had cried out, she felt easier.
2. Sometimes the Past Perfect does not denote priority but only the
completion of the action.
He waited until she had found the latch-key and opened the door.
3. The Past Perfect is used to denote an action which began before a
definite moment in the past, continued up to th at moment and was still
going on at that moment
T H E FUTURE PERFECT
1. The F utu re Perfect is formed by means of the Future Indefinite of
the auxiliary vefb to have and Participle II of the notioni f verb.
2. In the interrogative form the first auxiliary verb is placed feefore the
subject. In the negative form the negative particle not is placed after fie
first auxiliary verb.

1. The F utu re Perfect denotes an action completed before a definite

moment in the future.
1 shall be back by six, and I hope you will have had a good sleep by
that time
2. The fu tu re Perfect can denote an action which will begin before a
definite moment in the future, will continue up to that moment and
will be going on at that moment
I shall have been a teacher for 20 years by next May

T H E PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

1. The Present Perfect Continuous is formed by means of the Present
Perfect of the auxiliary verb to be and Participle I of the notional
verb.
2. In the interrogative form the first auxiliary verb is placed before
the subject. In the negative form the negative particle not is placed
after the first auxiliary verb.

1. The Present Perfect Continuous Inclusive is used to denote an

action which began in the past, has been going on up to the
present and is still going on.
Ever since I saw you last 1 have been thinking, thinking.
2. 2, The Present Perfect Continuous Exclusive denotes an action
which was recently in progress but is no longer going on at the
present moment.
You are not well today. You look distressed. You have been
weeping.
T H E PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS
1. The Past Perfect Continuous is formed by means of the Past
Perfect of the auxiliary verb to be and Participle I of the notional
verb.
2. In the interrogative form the first auxiliary verb is placed be
Гоге the subject. In the negative form the negative particle not is
placed after the first auxiliary verb.

1. The Past Perfect Continuous Inclusive denotes an action which

began before a definite moment in the past, continued up to
that moment and was still going on at that moment
We could not go out because it had been raining since early
morning.
2. The Past Perfect Continuous Exclusive denotes an action
wrhich was no longer going on at a definite moment in the
past, but which had been in progress not long before
I sobbed a little still, but that was because 1 had been crying,
not because I w as crying then.
T H E FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS
1. The F utu re Perfect Continuous is formed by means of the
Future Perfect of the auxiliary verb to be and Participle T of the
notional verb. 108
2. In the interrogative form the first auxiliary verb is placed
before the subject. In the negative form the negative particle
not is placed after the first auxiliary verb.

The Future Perfect Continuous denotes an action which will

begin before a definite moment in the future, w ill continue up
to that moment and will be going on at that moment. We shall
have been working at this problem for a month when you visit
us a second time.