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Complete Present Tense Verb Review Classroom Posters CLT Communicative Language Teach 81986
Complete Present Tense Verb Review Classroom Posters CLT Communicative Language Teach 81986
Present Continuous
Continuous/Progressive verbs are used to define ‘something which is happening at a certain moment in
time’
Verb construction of this present tense
AFFIRMATIVE: Subject + am/are/is + verb in ‘ing’
I am cooking dinner. She is sitting on a chair. The children are playing in the garden.
NEGATIVE: Subject + am/are/is + not (n’t) + verb in ‘ing’
I’m not working today. John isn’t doing his homework. You are not going without me!
QUESTION: Am/Are/Is + subject + verb in ‘ing’.
Am I doing the right thing? Is Mary doing her homework? Are they playing tennis?
Are you coming with me? Are you listening to me? Is the dog eating its food?
With action verbs (we can see this thing/action being done.)
John is playing the piano. They are listening to classical music. (‘ To listen’ - action verb
associated with one of our senses)
In the present, action is associated with adverbs of the present time: –now – at the moment – today – still
I can’t come with you. I am still doing my homework.
I’m watching TV at the moment.
Modals + semi-modals
These verbs are used to express possibility, intention, obligation, necessity, asking for permission, making
requests, offering something, offering to do something. They change our perception of the verb they are
linked to.
I clean my bedroom once a week. (This is a fact. – Simple present tense)
I must/have to clean my bedroom once a week. (I feel obliged/someone makes me do this)
‘Be’ combined with a past participle is used to form the present tense passive voice .
They are building a hotel in the village. (Present Continuous – this is happening)
A bridge is being built in the village. (someone is building it. The object have become the subject
of the sentence because the bridge is more important than the people building it) – Passive form of the
present Continuous.
They produce computers in this factory. (Simple present)
Computers are produced in this factory. (Passive form of the simple present)
We use ‘have got’ to talk about situations or state. It indicates possession, relationship, qualities or
features. It is considered informal and is not commonly used in written English. Its use is very common in
spoken British English but is less common in American English. It is not usually used in any tense other
than the present. The abbreviated form of ‘have’ is usually used.
AFFIRMATIVE: subject + base form verb + (s/es/ies in the 3 rd person singular only) + remaining part of
sentence.
I play tennis every Friday. They produce wine in Italy. He lives with his parents.
Mr Brown teaches English. John studies French at university. Mary has breakfast at 7.30.
Imperative mood
We use the imperative: to give a direct order, to give instructions, to make an invitation, on signs and
noticeboards, to give friendly advice.
Construction of the second person imperative:
AFFIRMATIVE: The base form of the verb is used. The subject is not expressed.
Sit Down! Shut up! Be quiet! (commands)
Construction of the first and third person imperative:
Let me sit down! Let him/her sit down! Let us sit down! (speaking to someone who is not part of
the ‘us’ group) - requests
Let’s sit down. (speaking to the members of the ‘us’ group of people) - Suggestion
NEGATIVE: Don’t + base form of verb + remaining part of sentence.
Don’t behave so badly! Don’t go there! Don’t touch that dog! Don’t drive so fast!
But we usually say – Let’s not go to the cinema rather than Don’t let’s go to the cinema.
Am I . . . ? Would you . . .? Have you seen . . . ? Have you got . . . ? Will you be . . . ? etc.
I’m not You wouldn’t You haven’t seen You have got You will be
I have found that students who are taught regular simple verbs at an early stage, tend to think that the use
of ‘do/does/did’ as an auxiliary is the most common form of constructing questions and negative
sentences.
Teaching the present continuous at a very early stage reinforces the idea of ‘-ing’ = action , introduces
students to the verb ‘be’ at the same time and establishes the idea that the inversion of subject /verb is the
most common construction for questions.
Please, if I have left anything out, or made any mistakes (typos or otherwise) tell me on my recommend
page. If you have any suggestions to better any of my worksheets I would be very grateful.
lesleymisano