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Verbs come in three tenses: past, present, and future. The past is used to describe
things that have already happened. The present tense is used to describe things that
are happening right now, or things that are continuous. The future tense describes
things that have yet to happen.
The simple past tense, sometimes called the preterit, is used to talk about a
completed action in a time before now. The simple past is the basic form of past
tense in English. The time of the action can be in the recent past or the distant past
and action duration is not important.
You always use the simple past when you say when something happened, so it is
associated with certain past time expressions
Note: the word ago is a useful way of expressing the distance into the past. It is placed
after the period of time: a week ago, three years ago, a minute ago.
Affirmative
Subject + verb + ed
I skipped.
Negative
Interrogative
Interrogative negative
Subject Verb
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
For the negative and interrogative simple past form of "to do" as an ordinary verb, use
the auxiliary "did", e.g. we didn't do our homework last night.
The negative of "have" in the simple past is usually formed using the auxiliary "did",
but sometimes by simply adding not or the contraction "n't".
The interrogative form of "have" in the simple past normally uses the auxiliary "did".
Simple present:
Tense Form
Present simple: I work
Present continuous: I am working
Present perfect: I have worked
Present perfect continuous: I have been working
Signal words:
Usually _ Sometimes_ every day/ week _ always _ often_ rarely _ never
Forms :
Simple present
Statement :
Subject+ basic form of the verb.
( Don’t forget to add « s » with : he , she ; it .
( verbs ending with « ch, sh , o , x » take « es » )
( verbs ending with « y » after a consonant become : « ies » )
. Every week, I visit the infirmary.
.Mohamed often teeters Quran , his voice is calming.
.You always help the others, you are a good person.
. Every day , my father pray at the Masjid one prayer at least.
Question :
Helping verb « did » + subject + basic form of the verb.
. Do you usually visit your family? Twice a week.
. Does he lie? How bad is that.
Present Continuous:
The present continuous tense is formed with the verb to be and the present participle (-ing
ending).
The negative question normally expresses a surprise isn’t he saying the truth?
Use:
The present continuous tense is used:
1. If we want to say that something is happening at the time of speaking. We often use it
with time expressions such as now or at the moment
.
I am doing housework at the moment.
You aren't listening to me now!
Look at him! What is he doing?
2. For temporary activities that are true now, but maybe not happening at the time of
speaking. Time expressions such as today, this week or these days are typical of this use.
I am in London. I am learning English here.
She can't go out today. She is preparing for an exam.
3. For planned future arrangements. The time of the action must be given in the sentence
(soon, tomorrow, on Monday, next week) , otherwise it is not clear that we talk about
future.
I am coming soon.
We are leaving on Monday.
She is starting next week.
4. With always to express the idea that something happens too often and it annoys the
speaker.
I am always forgetting my keys.
He is always smoking in the living room!
The simple future refers to a time later than now, and expresses facts or certainty. In this case
there is no 'attitude'.
Note:In modern English will is preferred to shall. Shall is mainly used with I and we to make
an offer or suggestion, or to ask for advice (see examples 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."
The simple future tense is composed of two parts: will / shall + the infinitive without to
Affirmative
I will go
I shall go
Negative
Interrogative
Interrogative negative
Contractions
I will = I'll
We will = we'll
You will = you'll
He will = he'll
She will = she'll
They will = they'll
Will not = won't