TENSE REVISION
Tenses Formula
Present Normal verbs:
simple (+) S + V/ Vs/es
(-) S + don’t / doesn’t + V
(?) Do / Does + S + V?
To be:
(+) S + am/ is / are
(-) S + amnot/ isn’t / aren’t
(?) Am/ Is/ Are + S + …?
Present (+) S + am/ is/ are + Ving
continuous (-) S + am/is/are + not +
Ving
(?) Am/Is/Are + S + Ving?
1|Tense revision- Nguyễn Hoàng Anh
Usage Examples Notes
-Truth, formula, real - The train leaves every Pronunciation:
facts, daily routine, morning at 8 a.m. /s/: p, ph, k, f, th, t
repeated/ usual - Every twelve months, the /iz/: ce, ch, se, s, ge, x,
actions. Earth circles the Sun. z, ss, sh
- Present habits. - Once a week, Tom cleans the /z/: m, n, l, r, w …
- Timetable/ Schedule car. Expressions:
events - California is in America. - always, usually,
-Conditional sentence - If you are right, I am wrong. often, frequently,
in the future - If the weather is fine, we will sometimes, seldom,
go picnic. rarely, hardly , never,
generally, regularly.
- every day, every
week, every month,
every year …
- once/ twice/ three
times/ four times…..
a day/ week/ month/
year, ...
- as a rule, as usual.
- Happening events - You are learning English * Non-continuous
-Longer actions in now. verbs:
progress - I am studying to become a Abstract verbs: to be,
-Future plans / doctor. to cost, to seem, to
Arrangements - I am meeting friends after need, to care, to
- Complaints work. contain, to owe, to
- He is constantly talking. I exist, to appear …
wish he would shut up. Emotion verbs: to
like, to love, to
dislike, to hate, to
fear, to envy, to mind
…
Possession verbs: to
have, to possess, to
own, to belong …
Sensitive verbs: to
see, to hear, to smell,
to taste …
* Expressions:
- now, right now, at
the moment, at
present, at + particular
time (giờ cụ thể)
 - Look! Listen! Keep
silent! (Imperative
statements)
Past Normal verbs: -Completed actions in - Last year, I traveled to Japan. Pronunciation:
simple (+) S + V2/ed the past - She finished her work, /id/: t, d
(-) S + didn’t + V -A series of completed walked to the beach and found /t/: ce, ph, p, f, ss, x, k,
(?) Did + S + V? actions in the past a nice place to swim. ch, sh
To be: -Duration in the past - We talked on the phone /d/: m, n, l, r, w …
(+) S + was / were -Past habits for/during thirty minutes. Expressions:
(-) S + wasn’t / weren’t -Unreal Conditional - I studied French when I was - yesterday, ago, last
(?) Was / Were + S + …? sentence at present a child. (week, year, month),
- Did you use to play a musical in the past, the day
instrument when you were before, (today, this
young? morning, this
- If I had more money, I could afternoon)
/ would buy this house. - as if, as though (như
thể là), it’s time (đã
đến lúc), if only,
wish (ước gì), would
sooner/ rather (thích
hơn)
Past (+) S + was/were + Ving -Past actions at a - I was working at 10 p.m last Expressions:
continuous (-) S + was/were + not + particular moment. night. - when, while, at that
Ving -Two actions: long - She was watching TV when time, at that moment
(?) Was / Were + S + action (past you telephoned. …
Ving? continuous), short - The car exploded while I was
action (past simple) walking past.
that happens in the
middle of the long
action.
Present (+) S + have / has + V3/ed -Action happened at - She has worked for 3 Expressions:
perfect (-) + S + haven’t/hasn’t + an unspecified time different companies so far. - since, for
V3/ed before now. - Mary has loved chocolate - not … yet, just,
(?) Have / Has + S + V3/ed? -Duration from the since she was a little girl. already, lately,
past until now. - James hasn’t finished his recently, how long,
-Experience, change homework yet. for a long time, for
over time, multiple - Doctors have cured many ages, for so long, ever,
actions at different deadly diseases. never … before
times, - so far, up to now,
accomplishments, an until now, several
uncompleted action times, many times,
you are expecting. this is the first /
second / last time, this
is the + superlative (so
sánh nhất) …

2|Tense revision- Nguyễn Hoàng Anh

 Past (+) S + had + V3/ed
perfect (-) + S + hadn’t + V3/ed
(?) Had + S + V3/ed?
-Completed action - I had finished my homework Expressions:
before something in before I went to bed. - before, after, by the
the past. - I had never seen such a time, by then, when,
-Duration before beautiful beach before I went as if, as though, as
something in the past. to Kauai. soon as
- By the time Alex finished his - hardly …. when ….,
studies, he had been in scarcely ….. when
London for over eight years. …., no sooner ….
than …..

Near (+) S + am/is/are going to + - Intention (dự định có - Look at those black clouds! It Expressions:
future V dấu hiệu nhận biết) is going to rain. - tomorrow, next
(-) S + am/is/are not ging to week, next month,
+V tonight, soon, in 10
(?) Am/Is/Are + S + going minutes …
to + V?
Future (+) S + will/ shall + V -Prediction (tiên đoán, - It will rain heavily - tomorrow, next
simple (-) S + won’t / shan’t + V dự đoán) tomorrow. week, next month, in
(?) Will/ Shall + S + V? -Promise, instant - I promise I won’t do it again. 2025, in a few
decision (hứa, ước - I think we will win in the minutes …
muốn tạm thời) race.
-Polite requirement / - Will you close the door?
offer
Future (+) S + will/shall be + Ving -A longer action in the - Few people will be Expressions:
continuous (-) S + won’t / shan’t be + future will be eating pizza, and several - at this time / at this
Ving interrupted by a people will be drinking beer. moment + a particular
(?) Will/ Shall + S + be + shorter action in the They always do the same time in the future.
Ving? future. thing.
-Atmosphere in the - Tonight, they will be
future. eating dinner, discussing their
plans, and having a good time.
- At midnight tonight,
we will be driving through the
desert.
= We will be in the process of
driving through the desert.
Future (+) S + will/shall + have + -An event that is - I will have finished my Expressions:
perfect V3/ed + … expected or planned to report by the end of this month. - by this time, next
(-) S + will / shall + not + happen before a time - She will have learnt Chinese week, next month, by
have + V3/ed + … before she moves to China. that time, by then …
of reference in the
(?)Will / Shall + S + have * Note:
+V +…? future. - Mệnh đề trạng ngữ
3/ed
chỉ thời gian bắt đầu
bằng before, after,
when, whenever,
until, as soon as, …
không được sử dụng
thì tương lai.

3|Tense revision- Nguyễn Hoàng Anh

Practice:

S + haven’t / hasn’t + V3/ed + …. + since + mốc thời gian / for + khoảng thời gian.
➢ The last time + S + V2/ed + …. + was + in mốc thời gian / khoảng thời gian + ago.
➢ S + last + V2/ed + …. + in mốc thời gian / khoảng thời gian + ago.
➢ It’s + khoảng thời gian + since + S + last + V2/ed

1. We last saw Tom when he moved to Bristol.

➢ We haven’t ..............................................................................................................................................
➢ The last time ...........................................................................................................................................
2. The last time he played football was in 1970.
➢ He hasn’t .................................................................................................................................................
➢ He last .....................................................................................................................................................
3. I haven’t enjoyed myself for a long time.
➢ It’s ...........................................................................................................................................................
➢ The last time ...........................................................................................................................................
➢ I last ........................................................................................................................................................
4. I haven’t eaten this kind of food for 2 years.
➢ The last time ...........................................................................................................................................
➢ It’s ...........................................................................................................................................................
➢ I last ........................................................................................................................................................
5. I last visited the city museum in 2010.
➢ I haven’t ..................................................................................................................................................
➢ The last time ...........................................................................................................................................
6. My father hasn’t been to Hanoi for 3 years.
➢ The last time ...........................................................................................................................................
➢ My father last ..........................................................................................................................................
➢ It’s ...........................................................................................................................................................
7. The film was last shown on TV nearly 4 years ago.
➢ The film has .............................................................................................................................................
➢ The last time ...........................................................................................................................................
➢ It’s ...........................................................................................................................................................
8. She last wrote to me nearly 2 months ago.
➢ She has ....................................................................................................................................................
➢ The last time ...........................................................................................................................................
➢ It’s ...........................................................................................................................................................
9. He has not had his hair cut since July.
➢ The last time ...........................................................................................................................................
➢ He last .....................................................................................................................................................
10. She last swam in this river 3 months ago.
➢ The last time ...........................................................................................................................................
➢ It’s ...........................................................................................................................................................
➢ She has ....................................................................................................................................................

S + have / has never + V3/ed +… + before.

➢ This / It is the first time + S + have / has + V3/ed + …

11. My father has not driven a car before.

➢ This is the first time ................................................................................................................................
12. She has never been to the ballet before.
➢ This is the first time ................................................................................................................................
13. She hasn’t drunk Coke before.
➢ This is the first time ................................................................................................................................

4|Tense revision- Nguyễn Hoàng Anh

14. I have never seen snow before.
➢ This is the first time ................................................................................................................................
15. She has never read that book before.
➢ This is the first time ................................................................................................................................
16. I have never met such an intelligent student before.
➢ It is the first time .....................................................................................................................................
17. This is the first time my father has been to hospital.
➢ My father has ..........................................................................................................................................
18. This is the first time Betty has ridden to work.
➢ Betty has .................................................................................................................................................
19. It’s the first time He has travelled to Singapore.
➢ He has .....................................................................................................................................................
20. Mary hasn’t eaten this kind of food before.
➢ It’s the first time ......................................................................................................................................

S + started / began + to V / Ving + ….. + in + mốc thời gian / khoảng thời gian + ago.
➢ S + have / has been Ving + …. + since + mốc thời gian / for + khoảng thời gian.
➢ S + have / has + V3/ed + …. + since + mốc thời gian / for + khoảng thời gian.

21. John started to teach at this college in 1989.

➢ John has ..................................................................................................................................................
22. The Browns have been living in London for 20 years.
➢ The Browns started .................................................................................................................................
23. Tony has worked for this electronics firm since 2000.
➢ Tony began .............................................................................................................................................
24. She started working as a book-keeper for this company 5 years ago.
➢ She has been ...........................................................................................................................................
25. She started studying English 6 years ago.
➢ She has ....................................................................................................................................................
26. She has been working as a secretary for 2 years.
➢ She started ...............................................................................................................................................
27. When did she begin to do the research?
➢ How long ................................................................................................................................................ ?
28. This hospital started to use laser treatment 5 years ago.
➢ This hospital has been .............................................................................................................................
29. Jack and Jill have learned to drive for 2 weeks.
➢ Jack and Jill started .................................................................................................................................
30. I began cooking for the party 4 hours ago.
➢ I have ......................................................................................................................................................

It was not until + thời gian/ mệnh đề thời gian + that + S + V2/ed
Only when/ only after + thời gian/ mệnh đề thời gian, trợ động từ + S + V
Not until + thời gian/ mệnh đề thời gian, trợ động từ + S + V
No sooner + had + S + V3/ed + than + S + V2/ed
Hardly + had + S + V3/ed + when + S + V2/ed

31. I had only just put the phone down when the boss rang back.
➢ Hardly ...........................................................................................................................................................
32. They had to wait for twelve hours before their flight left.
➢ Only after a ...................................................................................................................................................
33. The truth only came out on the publication of the general’s personal diaries.
➢ Only when .....................................................................................................................................................

5|Tense revision- Nguyễn Hoàng Anh

34. She just had time to put up her umbrella before the rain came down in torrents.
➢ No sooner ......................................................................................................................................................
35. He didn’t finish his homework until his father came home.
➢ It was not until ..............................................................................................................................................
36. They didn’t surrender until they had no hope to win.
➢ Not until ........................................................................................................................................................
37. I only realized what I had missed when they told me about it later.
➢ Only when .....................................................................................................................................................
38. I had hardly begun to apologize when the door closed.
➢ Hardly ...........................................................................................................................................................
39. He forgot about the gun until he got home.
➢ Not until ........................................................................................................................................................
40. As soon as Patrick had finished the email, he sent it.
➢ No sooner ......................................................................................................................................................

Multiple choice:
1. She has worked as a doctor ______ she graduated from university.
A. until B. while C. before D. since
2. When I _____ Nick last week, he _______ he __________ smoking.
A. saw – said – had stopped B. was seeing – had said – stopped
C. had seen – said – were stopping D. saw – was saying – stopped
3. How _______ yesterday afternoon?
A. have you felt B. were you feeling C. did you feel D. had you felt
4. We ______ four tests so far this semester.
A. have had B. had C. were having D. will have
5. What are you going to order for dinner? Well, I _______ vegetarian pizza, so I think I’ll order that.
A. have never had B. never had C. was having D. will have
6. I _________ them three times but I still haven’t received a reply.
A. have written B. wrote
C. was writing D. have been writing
7. I __________ to this town more than 20 years ago.
A. had first gone B. first went C. was first going D. have first gone
8. “When is Mr. Brown planning to retire?” – “He ________ here for a long time.”
A. worked B. had been working C. has been working D. is working
9. When I last _______ my cousin Lucy, she _______ hard to prepare for her final exams.
A. saw – was working B. saw – worked
C. have seen – worked D. see – is working
10. She ______ the bell three times before he answered the door.
A. has rung B. had rung C. was ringing D. is ringing
11. We’ve been living in Montreal since we _______.
A. have graduated B. graduate C. have been graduating D. graduated
12. Come and see me whenever you ________ the town.
A. will visit B. visit C. had visited D. having visited
13. While her husband was in the army, Kane _______ to him twice a week.
A. was writing B. used to write C. has written D. writes
14. Since he ______, I have heard nothing from him.
A. has left B. left C. was leaving D. leaves
15. Up to now, I _______ such a big tree.
A. never saw B. was never seeing
C. have never seen D. have never been seen
16. As soon as he ______ his money next week, he’ll buy this book.
A. receive B. will receive C. has received D. receives
17. He has been selling motorcycles ________.
A. 10 years ago B. since ten years C. for ten years ago D. for 10 years

6|Tense revision- Nguyễn Hoàng Anh

18. When I _______ in New York, I ________ many museums.
A. was – visited B. was – was visiting
C. was being – was visiting D. was being – visited
19. While the guests ________, thieves ________ into the house.
A. danced – broke B. were dancing – broke
C. were dancing – were breaking D. danced – were breaking
20. When my brother _______, we will have a party.
A. arrive B. arrives C. will arrive D. arrived
21. By the year 2050, many people currently employed ______ their jobs.
A. have lost B. will be losing C. will have lost D. are losing
22. Susan ______ as a nurse for three years before her marriage.
A. has been working B. has worked C. worked D. is working
23. Since they had that big argument, he crosses the street whenever he ______ her.
A. saw B. sees C. will see D. is seeing
24. This time tomorrow I _____ in the swimming pool.
A. am relaxing B. relax C. will be relaxing D. relaxed
25. At the end of this month, we ______ here for ten years.
A. will have been living B. are living C. live D. will be living
26. The beach was so crowded the other day that we ______ difficulty finding an empty spot.
A. have B. have had
C. had D. have been having
27. Robert ______ for the company for very long before he was promoted.
A. hasn’t been working B. didn’t work C. hadn’t been working D. wasn’t working
28. ___________? Your eyes are red.
A. Have you been crying B. Have you been cried C. Were you crying D. Did you cry
29. He looked tired because he ________ for six hours.
A. ran B. was running
C. has been running D. had been running
30. In 1875, archeologists _______ the ruins of the Olympic Stadium in Greece.
A. discovered B. were discovering C. have discovered D. had discovered
31. We _____ very hard at the office lately as we are negotiating an important contract.
A. are working B. were working
C. have been working D. had been working
32. You can’t believe a word he says. He ________.
A. always lies B. is always lying C. has always lied D. will always lie
33. I often find things on the beach. I ______ this very old bottle yesterday.
A. found B. was finding
C. had found D. had been finding
34. They ______ the new bridge by the end of the year.
A. will complete B. will have completed
C. have completed D. had been completing
35. He said he ______ his homework since 7 o’clock.
A. did B. has done C. had been done D. had been doing
36. A taxi collided with his car ten minutes ago but the police ________ yet.
A. has not come B. have not come C. did not come D. had not come
37. At this moment tomorrow night I _______ on a ship.
A. sleep B. shall sleep
C. shall be slept D. shall be sleeping
38. Before leaving home in the morning, she _____ her mother she ______ in the factory that afternoon.
A. had told – would work B. told – would work
C. told – works D. had told – worked
39. Before you mentioned him, I ______ of that author.
A. never hear B. have never heard C. had never heard D. never heard
40. By the end of this year, Tom ______ English for three years.

7|Tense revision- Nguyễn Hoàng Anh

A. will be studying B. has studied
C. will have studied D. has been studying
41. The girl weeps whenever she _____ such a story.
A. hears B. has heard C. will hear D. heard
42. As soon as we _____ this new apartment, we ______.
A. are finding – will move B. found – moved
C. would find – move D. find – would move
43. My teacher arrived after we ______ for him for ten minutes.
A. was waiting B. have waited C. had waited D. waited
44. This is the first time I ______ to play badminton.
A. have tried B. am trying C. was trying D. would be trying
45. She ______ here but she doesn’t work here now.
A. has worked B. had worked C. used to work D. used to working
46. Jack went out, but he ______ anyone where he was going.
A. doesn’t tell B. not told C. wasn’t telling D. didn’t tell
47. London _____ the capital of the United Kingdom.
A. is B. was C. will be D. is being
48. Someone _____ at the door. Can you hear it?
A. knocks B. is knocking C. will knock D. was knocking
49. What are you cooking in that saucepan? It _______ good.
A. smells B. is smelling C. smelled D. has smelled
50. I used to swim in this river when I _______ young.
A. am B. was C. will be D. have been

8|Tense revision- Nguyễn Hoàng Anh