Nguyen Nhut Minh, M.A. Tenses (P.S.+P.C.+ P.

Tenses (Past Simple, Past Continuous, Present Perfect)

1. Past Simple

- Forms: Affirmative (+): S + V2/-ed (“Be” => was/were)

Negative (-): S + did + not (didn’t) + Vo
Interrogative (?): Did + S + Vo?
- Usages: hành động xảy ra và đã chấm dứt trong quá khứ (có thời gian xác định);
thói quen trong quá khứ;…
- Ex: 1. I met John yesterday.
2. He often went to bed early when he was a little.
3. If I had a car, I would take a trip to Ha Long Bay.
4. I wish I had more money now.
- Clues: yesterday; the day before yesterday; last night/week/month/year; … ago; a
long time ago, a few/ several/ many years ago; in + 1980; if clause (type 2); present
wish; this morning/ afternoon;…
- Notes:
used to + Vo
used not to/didn’t use to + Vo

“used to” (đã từng) thể hiện một thói quen, một sự việc trong quá khứ mà hiện tại
không còn nữa.
Ex: My father used to smoke 5 years ago. (Now, he doesn’t smoke any more.)

2. Past Continuous/Past Progressive

- Forms: Affirmative (+): S + was/were + V-ing
Negative (-): S + was/were + not (wasn’t/ weren’t/) + V-ing
Interrogative (?): Was/Were + S + V-ing?
- Usages: một hành động xảy ra tại một thời điểm nào đó trong quá khứ; một hành
động đang diễn tiến (dài) thì có hành động khác chen vào (ngắn); hai hành động cùng
đang diễn ra trong quá khứ.
- Ex: 1. We were watching TV at 8 o’clock last night.
2. I was reading when the lights went out.
3. They were playing ball while I was doing my work.
- Clues: at 9 o’clock last night/yesterday; ….. when S + V2/-ed; ... while …; in July
(last year); at this time yesterday/last week; during last; from …to …; all day;…

3. Present Perfect
- Forms: Affirmative (+): S + have/has+ V3/-ed
Negative (-): S + have/has + not (haven’t/hasn’t) + V3/-ed
Interrogative (?): Have/Has + S + V3/-ed?
- Usages: một hành động xảy ra trong quá khứ nhưng không rõ thời gian; một hành
động kéo dài từ quá khứ đến hiện tại; một hành động vừa mới xảy ra; …
- Ex: 1. I have heard that story before.
2. They have lived here for five years.
3. She has just gone out.
 Nguyen Nhut Minh, M.A. Tenses (P.S.+P.C.+ P.

- Clues: before (cuối câu); already; ever; yet; not …yet; never ; just; recently; lately;
so far, until now, up to now, up to the present; still; since then; since + a point of
time ( một mốc thời gian); for + a period of time (một khoảng thời gian); for ages;
for a long time; in the last few days/years; It’s the first time

Practice
Write the correct form of the verbs in brackets.

1. I ………………………. (have) the same car for more than 10 years. I’m
thinking about buying a new one.
2. Last Sunday, in the morning, my mother ………………………… (tidy) the
house while we ……………………………….. (play) in the garden.
3. Mai ………………… (lose) her dictionary 3 days ago.
4. Mr. Green ………………………… (teach) English in this school since he
graduated from the university in 1986.
5. He said he …………………….. (will) return later.
6. How long ………………………… (you, be) in Canada?
7. This is the first time I ……………………….. (eat) this kind of food.
8. What ……………………….. (you, do) when Mary got there?
9. Up to now, the teacher ……………………….. (give) our class 4 tests.
10. I ……………………………………..(already, type) the report.
11. If I ………………………….. (be) you, I would tell the truth.
12. This is the most beautiful singer I ………………………. (ever, meet).
13. When I was at high school, I ………. (use, go) swimming every afternoon.
14. The boss ………………………….. (come) while we were having lunch
yesterday.
15. My best friend and I ……… ………….… (know) each other for over fifteen
years.
16. We ………………………. (not, go) to the mountains last winter.
17. I …………………………… (not, receive) the money from him yet.
18. Three weeks ago, I ……………… (attend) a reunion party with my old
classmates.
19. What ………………………….. (you, do) at 9:00 last night?
20. All of them ………………………. (sing) when I came this morning.
21. I was sitting in a café when I …………….. (see) my boss.
22. The boy fell down while he ……………………… (run).
23. So far, my teacher ………………. (explain) 5 lessons.
24. I …………………………….. (do) my homework at 7 last night.
25. My sister………….……. (just, go) out.