IPROC

ENGLISH I
TEACHER: FABIOLA MOLINA S.

ENGLISH TENSES

Present simple

Structure of present simple

I don't (do not) work in a

I work in a bank. Do you work in a bank?
bank.

He doesn't (does not) work in

He works in a bank. Does he work in a bank?
a bank.

Present simple - common mistakes

Common mistakes Correct version Why?

The gerund ing form is not

I working in London. I work in London.
used in the present simple.

The third person he, she, it

He work in London. He works in London.
adds the letter s.

He work in London? Does he work in London? Questions - third person:

does + subject + infinitive.
All other persons:
Work he in London? Does he work in London? do + subject + infinitive.

Negatives - third person:

subject + doesn't + infinitive.
He not work in London. He doesn't work in London.
All other persons:
subject + don't + infinitive.

FAMS/fams.
IPROC
ENGLISH I
TEACHER: FABIOLA MOLINA S.

Present continuous

Structure of present continuous

I'm (I am) reading a book. I'm (I am) not reading. Are you reading?

He is not (he's not/he isn't)

He's (he is) reading a book. Is he reading a book?
reading a book.

Present continuous - common mistakes

Common mistakes Correct version Why?

to form a continuous tense

They still waiting for you. They are still waiting for you.
we use be + -ing.

They are still waiting for you? Are they still waiting for you?

In questions the subject (they)

Do they still waiting for you? Are they still waiting for you? and the auxiliary verb (be)
change places.
Where they are waiting for Where are they waiting for
you? you?

To form the negative we put

She doesn't watching TV.
I'm believing you.
not after the verb be (am not,
She isn't watching TV.
is not = isn't, are not =
aren't).
Some verbs are not used in
continuous tenses - these are
I believe you. called stative verbs (e.g.
believe, come from, cost, depend,
exist, feel, hate, like).

FAMS/fams.
IPROC
ENGLISH I
TEACHER: FABIOLA MOLINA S.

Past simple

Structure of past simple

I didn't (did not) see him

I saw him yesterday. Did you see him?
yesterday.

Past simple - common mistakes

Common mistakes Correct version Why?

In positive sentences, a
I was work in London. I worked in London. helping verb such as 'was' or
'did' is not used.

The helping verb 'did' is used

He worked in London? Did he work in London?
in past simple questions.

The helping verb 'did' is used

Worked he in London? Did he work in London?
in past simple questions.

The main verb is used in the

Did he wrote a letter? Did he write a letter? infinitive form in questions
and negatives.

The main verb is used in the

He didn't wrote a letter. He didn't write a letter. infinitive form in questions
and negatives.

FAMS/fams.
IPROC
ENGLISH I
TEACHER: FABIOLA MOLINA S.

Past continuous

Structure of past continuos

I was reading a book. I wasn't (was not) reading. Was I reading?

You weren't (were not)

You were reading a book. Were you reading a book?
reading a book.

Past continuous - common mistakes

Common mistakes Correct version Why?

I waiting for him almost two

I was waiting for him almost
hours. two hours. To form the past continuous
we use was/were + ing.
What did he doing when you What was he doing when
saw him? you saw him?

We were playing tennis We played tennis every We use the past simple for
every morning. morning. repeated actions in the past.

We use the past continuous

when we want to say what
They watched TV when I They were watching TV
was happening (what was in
came. when I came.
progress) at a particular time
in the past.

FAMS/fams.
IPROC
ENGLISH I
TEACHER: FABIOLA MOLINA S.

Present perfect tense

Structure of present perfect

I've (I have) seen him. I haven't (have not) seen him. Have you seen him?

He's (he has) gone. He hasn't (has not) gone. Has he gone?

Present perfect simple - common mistakes

Common mistakes Correct version Why?

The past participle of the verb

Steven has wrote a new Steven has written a new must be used - wrote is past
book. book. simple, written is the past
participle.
The helping verb 'have' is
Did you have seen him used in the present perfect- it
Have you seen him before?
before? is inverted with the person
(you have becomes have you).

The helping verb 'have' is

I didn't have seen him used in the present perfect- to
I haven't seen him before.
before. make it negative we simply
add not (n't).

The present perfect is used to

I have been here since last show an action which
I am here since last week.
week. continues to the present (an
unfinished action).
Verbs such as know, want, like,
etc. (stative verbs) suggest
I've been knowing him for 5
I've known him for 5 years. permanent states, not actions,
years.
so are used in the simple
form, NOT the -ing form.

FAMS/fams.
IPROC
ENGLISH I
TEACHER: FABIOLA MOLINA S.

Present perfect continuous tense (present perfect progressive)

Structure of present perfect continuous

They've (They have) been They haven't (have not) been

Have they been living here
living in this flat for more living in this flat for very
for a long time?
than five years. long.

Present perfect continuous - common mistakes

Common mistakes Correct version Why?

The structure of present

It has been rain heavily all
day.
I have sat here for two hours.
It has been raining heavily all
perfect continuous is
day.
have/has been -ing.
Verbs such as sit, wait, speak,
etc. (non-stative verbs)
I have been sitting here for
suggest continuity and so are
two hours.
mostly used in the
continuous (-ing) form.

When BOTH the simple and

Which?
continuous form are possible,
I have worked here for five years.
native speakers prefer to use
I have been working here for 5 years.
the continuous.

FAMS/fams.
IPROC
ENGLISH I
TEACHER: FABIOLA MOLINA S.
I'd (I had) seen him.
Past perfect - common mistakes
Common mistakes
I didn't been to London.
When I saw him, I noticed
that he had a haircut.
He told me has been to He told me he had been to
London.
FAMS/fams.
Past perfect tense
Structure of past perfect
You hadn't (had not) seen
him.
Correct version
I hadn't been to London.
When I saw him I noticed
that he had had a haircut.
London.
Had you seen him?
Why?
The helping verb had / hadn't
is used in the past perfect.
The action (haircut) which
happened before another
past action must be put into
the past perfect to make the
time order clear to the
listener.
His original words were: ''I
have been to London.''
However, in reported speech
we move the tense back -
present perfect (have been)
becomes past perfect (had
been).
IPROC
ENGLISH I
TEACHER: FABIOLA MOLINA S.

Past perfect continuous tense

Structure of past perfect continuous

I hadn't (had not) been

I'd (I had) been working hard. Had you been working hard?
working hard.

Past perfect continuous - common mistakes

Common mistakes Correct version Why?

I had working hard, so I felt

very tired. The form of the past perfect
I had been working hard, so I
continuous is had + been +
felt very tired.
I had been worked hard, so I verb-ing.
felt very tired.

Some verbs are not normally

I had been hearing the song
many times before.
used in the continuous form,
I had heard the song many
e.g. stative verbs such as know,
times before.
like, understand, believe, hear,
etc.

FAMS/fams.
IPROC
ENGLISH I
TEACHER: FABIOLA MOLINA S.
I'll (I will) be there
tomorrow.
Future simple - common mistakes
Common mistakes
- The phone's ringing.
- OK, I'm going to answer it.
I'm sure he is going to help
you.
I promise I'm going to help.
I'll call you when I'll come to
my office.
If you will give me your
If you give me your address,
address, I'll send you a
postcard.
I can't see you next week. I
will return to Paris.
FAMS/fams.
Future simple tense
Structure of future simple
I won't (will not) be there
Will you be there tomorrow?
tomorrow.
Correct version Why?
If the action is decided at the
Ok -I'll answer it. moment of speaking, we use
will / will not (won't).
When we say what we think
I'm sure he will help you. or expect, we use will
(won't).
After promise we usually use
I promise I'll help.
will.
When we refer to the future
I'll call you when I come to in adverbial clauses, we
my office. normally use present simple
(after when, as soon as, until).
When we refer to the future
in conditional clauses, we
I'll send you a postcard. normally use the present
simple.
To show that the decision
I can't see you next week. I
was made in the past, we use
am returning/am going to
the present continuous or the
return to Paris.
'going to' future.
IPROC
ENGLISH I
TEACHER: FABIOLA MOLINA S.

Future simple continuous (progressive) tense

Structure of future simple continuous

I'll (I will) be waiting there at I won't (will not) be waiting Will you be waiting there at
five o'clock. there at five o'clock. five o'clock?

'Going to' future tense

Structure of 'going to' future

I'm (I am) going to take my I'm (I am) not going to take a Are you going to take a
holidays in August. holiday this year. holiday?

He's (he is) going to watch TV He isn't (is not) going to Is he going to watch TV this
this evening. watch TV this evening. evening?

'going to' for future- common mistakes

Common mistakes Correct version Why?

We use going to for a future

You know that I'll buy a new
car, don't you?
Look! You will drop your
books.
You know that I am going to
action that has been decided
buy a new car, don't you?
before the time of speaking.
We use going to if we see (and
Look! You are going to drop
are sure) that the action will
your books.
happen.

FAMS/fams.
IPROC
ENGLISH I
TEACHER: FABIOLA MOLINA S.

Present tenses used for the future

Present tenses used for the future

We use the present simple when we talk The train leaves at 12.00.
about timetables and programmes. What time does the film begin?

We use the present continuous when we talk I'm going to the cinema this evening.
about things we have already arranged to do. I'm not working tomorrow.

Future perfect simple tense

Structure of future perfect simple

The film will not (won't) have

The film will have started by Will the film have started by the
started by the time we get
the time we get there. time we get there?
there.

FAMS/fams.
IPROC
ENGLISH I
TEACHER: FABIOLA MOLINA S.
Future perfect continuous (progressive) tense
Structure of future perfect continuous
Next year I'll (I will) have
been working in the company
for 10 years
Future perfect continuous - common mistakes
Common mistakes
I will have working in the
company for 5 years next
month.
I will haven't been working
in the company for 5 years
next month.
Will have you been working
in the company for 5 years
next month?
I'll have been working in
three different positions at
the company by the end of
the year.
FAMS/fams.
Next year I won't (will not) Will you have been working
have been working in the in the company for 10 years
company for 10 years next year?
Correct version Why?
The form of the future perfect
I will have been working in
continuous is
the company for 5 years next
will+have+been+past
month.
participle.
I will not (won't) have been
See the form of the negative
working in the company for 5
above.
years next month.
Will you have been working
See the form of the question
in the company for 5 years
above.
next month?
I'll have worked in three
We use the simple form when
different positions at the
we talk about
company by the end of the
amount/number.
year.
IPROC
ENGLISH I
TEACHER: FABIOLA MOLINA S.

Structure of passive tenses

Structure of passive form

The office is cleaned two The office isn't (is not) Is the office cleaned two
times a week. cleaned two times a week. times a week?

The office was cleaned on The office wasn't (was not) Was the office cleaned on
Friday. cleaned on Friday. Friday?

The office is being cleaned at The office isn't (is not) being Is the office being cleaned at
the moment. cleaned at the moment. the moment?

The office has already been The office hasn't (has not)
Has the office been cleaned?
cleaned. been cleaned yet.

The office will be cleaned The office won't (will not) be Will the office be cleaned
next week. cleaned next week. next week?

The office can be cleaned. The office cannot be cleaned. Can the office be cleaned?

When we want to include the agent (who), we use the prepositional phrase with by:
The play An Ideal Husband was written by Oscar Wilde.

Passive forms - common mistakes

Common mistakes Correct version Why?

This problem will discussed This problem will be

next week. discussed next week. To make a passive form we
use be + past participle.
This problem will be discuss This problem will be
next week. discussed next week.

To make a passive form of a

My car is repairing at the My car is being repaired at
continuous tense we use be +
moment. the moment.
being + past participle.

To make a passive form of

the perfect tense we use
She has already be invited. She has already been invited.
have/has/had + been + past
participle.

FAMS/fams.
IPROC
ENGLISH I
TEACHER: FABIOLA MOLINA S.

Passive past tenses

Structures of past tense passives

past simple passive I was told about it yesterday.

present perfect passive He's (he has) been fired from the company.

past perfect passive I'd (I had) been given the money by a friend.

past continuous passive The room was being decorated.

Past passive forms - common mistakes

Common mistakes Correct version Why?

This problem solved last This problem was solved last

week. week. To make a past passive form
we use was/were + past
This problem was solve last This problem was solved last participle of the verb.
week. week.

To make a past passive form

My car was repairing at that My car was being repaired at of a continuous tense we use
time. that time. was/were + being + past
participle of the verb.

To make a passive form of

the perfect tense we use
She has already be invited. She has already been invited.
have/has/had + been + past
participle of the verb.

FAMS/fams.