INTRODUCTION

The word Tense is derived from

latin word “tempus” which
means time. A verb indicates
the time of an action, event or
condition by changing its form.
 DEFINITION
“a grammatical category of verbs
used to express distinctions of time”
or
“a form of a verb
that indicates the time of an action”
Present Perfect Tense

Present Perfect
Continuous Tense

Simple Past Tense

PRESENT
PERFECT
TENSE
 The Present Perfect
The present perfect is used to talk about
an event that began in the past and continues up
to the present.

He has lived in New York for two years.

(He began living in New York two years ago and he still
lives there.)
 The Present Perfect
The present perfect is also used to talk about an
event that was completed in the past, but the
specific time of the event is not important.

I have seen that movie before.

He has already visited Vietnam.
(Specific dates and times are not mentioned.)
 the present
perfect is also
used when . . .
The time period has not finished
I have seen three movies this week
(this week has not finished yet)

The time is not mentioned

Gerry has failed his exam again.
 The time is recent
Michael has just arrived in Victoria.

With for and since

Greg has lived here for 20 years.
Greg has lived here since 1978.
 The Present Perfect
• Structure
Affirmative • Singular: s + has + v3 + o
Sentences • Plural: s + have + v3 + o

• Structure
Negative • Singular: s + has not + v3 + o
Sentences • Plural: s + have not + v3 + o

• Structure
Interrogative • Singular: has + s + v3 + o
Sentences • Plural: have + s + v3 + o
She has broken her glasses

The flights have not

taken off

Have you done your

homework ?
 PRESENT
PERFECT
CONTINUOUS
TENSE
Present Perfect Continuous
This tense is used to describe the duration of an
action that began in the past and continues into
the present.

He has been studying grammar for an hour.

She has been cooking all day.
(He is still studying and she is still cooking.)
Present Perfect Continuous
This tense is also used to describe events that
have been in progress recently and are rather
temporary.

She has been living in Indonesia for the last two

months, but she plans to move soon.
 effect can be seen now
to refer to an event that may or may not be finished when its
Look! It has been snowing.
(it’s not necessarily snowing now, but you can see the
effect – the snow on the ground)

We can also use it WITHOUT a duration. Without the duration,

it has a more general meaning of “lately” or “recently”

Have you been exercising lately ?

Mary has been feeling a little depressed.
The structure of the present perfect
continuous tense is:
Subject
+
auxiliary verb
(have ; has)
+
auxiliary verb
(been)
+
main verb
(base + ing)
 Subject Aux verb Aux verb Main verb

+ I have been waiting for one hour

+ You have been talking too much

- It has not been raining

- We have not been playing football

? Have you been seeing her ?

? Has he been doing his homework ?

For and Since with Present Perfect Continuous Tense

for since
A period of time A point in past time
x
20 minutes 6.15 p.m
3 days Monday
6 months January
4 years 1994
2 centuries 1800
A long time I left school
Ever The beginning of time
Etc. Etc.
 IMPORTANT

• Remember that the Present Perfect Continuous

has the meaning of “lately” or “recently”.
• If you use the Present Perfect Continuous in a
question such as :
"Have you been feeling alright?"
(it can suggest that the person looks sick or unhealthy.)
"Have you been smoking?"
(it can suggest that you smell the smoke on the person.)
• Using this tense in a question suggests you can
see, smell, hear or feel the results of the
action. It is possible to insult someone by using
this tense incorrectly.
 REMEMBER Non-Continuous Verbs/ Mixed
Verbs

• It is important to remember that Non-Continuous

Verbs cannot be used in any continuous tenses.
• Also, certain non-continuous meanings for
Mixed Verbs cannot be used in continuous tenses.
• Instead of using Present Perfect Continuous with
these verbs, you must use Present Perfect.
• Examples:
a. Sam has been having his car for two years. Not
Correct
b. Sam has had his car for two years. Correct
SIMPLE
PAST
TENSE
 The Simple Past
We use the simple past to indicate exactly when
an action or event took place in the past.

I visited my sister yesterday.

We went out to dinner last night.
 The Simple Past
The simple past is used to describe actions
and/or events that are now completed and no
longer true in the present.

I attended JHS in 1998. (I no longer attend JHS.)

I saw a movie every weekend when I was a teenager.
(I don’t see movies very much anymore.)
the simple
Past is also
used for . . .
 the past
A series of completed actions in
I finished work, walked to the beach, and
found a nice place to swim.

Duration in past
I lived in Brazil for two years.
We talked on the phone for thirty minutes.
 Habits in the past
I studied French when I was a child.
She used to play softball when she was a
child.

Duration in past
I lived in Brazil for two years.
We talked on the phone for thirty minutes.
How do we make the Simple Past Tense?

To make the simple past tense, we use:

past form only

or
auxiliary did + base form
The structure of the simple past
NEGATIVE
QUESTION
subject
POSITIVE Auxiliary verb
+ (did)
subject Auxiliary verb +
(did)
+ subject
+
+
main verb not
(past) Main verb
+ (base)
Main verb
(base)
 subject aux verb main verb

+ I went to school

+ You worked very hard

- She did not go with me

- We did not work yesterday

? Did you go to London ?

? Did they work at home ?

• The auxiliary verb did is not conjugated.

• It is the same for all persons (I did, you did, he did etc).
• the base form and past form do not change.
 subject main verb
+ I, he/she/it was here

+ You, we, they were in London

- I, he/she/it was not there

- You, we, they were not happy

? Was I, he/she/it right ?

? Were you, we, they late ?

• Exception! The verb to be is different.

• We conjugate the verb to be (I was, you were, he/she/it was, we were,
they were);
• we do not use an auxiliary for negative and question sentences.
• To make a question, we exchange the subject and verb.
 Active / Passive Verb Forms
• Active Form
the thing doing the action is the subject.
the thing receiving the action is the object.
[Thing doing action] + [verb] + [thing receiving
action]
• Passive Form
the thing receiving the action is the subject.
the thing doing the action is optionally
included near the end of the sentence.
[Thing receiving action] + [be] + [past
participle of verb] + [by] + [thing doing action]
 active passive

Present perfect Many tourists have That castle has been

visited that castle. visited by many
tourists.

Present perfect Recently, John has Recently, the work

continuous been doing the work. has been being done
by John.

Simple Past Sam repaired the car. The car was repaired
by Sam.