ENGLISH GRAMMAR

Verb Tenses
part 1
PRESENT SIMPLE: Use

 We use present simple to talk about habits

and routines.

 With adverbs such as: always, every day,

usually, often, sometimes, rarely, barely,
hardly ever, never.

 With timetables: buses, planes,

underground,…
PRESENT SIMPLE: Form

 The present simple uses the same form

for all persons, except for the third
person.

 To form the negative, we add the

auxiliary verb do + not (don’t) before the
verb, except for the third person , when
we use does + not (doesn’t)
 PRESENT SIMPLE: Form
AFFIRMATIVE NEGATIVE INTERROGATIVE

I play I do not (don’t) play Do I play?

You play You do not play Do you play?

He/She/It plays He does not (doesn’t)play Does he/she/it play?

We play We do not play Do we play?

You play You do not play Do you play?

They play They do not play Do they play?

PRESENT CONTINUOUS: Use
 To talk about actions happening now, at the
moment of speaking. (I'm writing a letter)

 When you talk about something happening

now but not necessarily when you are
speaking. (I’m looking for a job at the
moment)

 To express future. (I'm meeting a friend this

evening)
 PRESENT CONTINUOUS: Form
 We form the present continuous with theverb TO
BE + …ing directly to the infinitive of the verb.
(DO – DOING)

 With verbs that end in “e”, omit the vowel and

add “ing”. (HAVE – HAVING)

 With verbs of one syllabe that end in a vowel + a

consonant, we double the final consonant and
add “ing”. (CUT – CUTTING)
 PRESENT CONTINUOUS: Form

AFFIRMATIVE NEGATIVE INTERROGATIVE

I’m playing I am not playing Am I playing?

You’re playing You are not play Are you playing?

He/She/It is playing He is not playing Is he/she/it playing?

We’re playing We are not playing Are we playing?

You’re playing You are not playing Are you playing?

They’re playing They are not playing Are they playing?

 PAST SIMPLE: Use
a.) Use the past simple when you talk about finished actions in the past.

 I bought this car last year

b.) To express indeterminate action in the past.

 They used pencils and paper

c.) To express habits and routines in the past.

 They never drank alcohol

d.) To express improbable condition.

 
 If I saw her, I should speak to her
 PAST SIMPLE:
 Add “ed “at the end of the regular verbs. (SAVE –SAVED)
 Verbs that end in “e”: add “d” only. (TRY-TRIED)
 Verbs that end in a consonant + “y”: change the “y” to “i”and
add “ed”. (ROB-ROBBED)
 One-syllable verbs ending in one vowel and one consonant:
double the final consonant and add “ed” (STOP-STOPPED)
 Verbs of two or more syllabes ending in one vowel and one
consonant: double the final consonant if the final syllabe is
stressed. (TRANSMIT-TRANSMITTED)
 Verbs that end in “L” , double the “L” (TRAVEL-TRAVELLED)
PAST SIMPLE: Form
AFFIRMATIVE NEGATIVE

I played I did not play

You did not play

You played
He did not play
He/She/It played
We did not play
We played
You did not play
You played
They did not play 
They played
SIMPLE PAST: Form
INTERROGATIVE INT.-NEGATIVE

Did I play? Didn't I play?

Did you play? Didn't you play?

Did he play?
Didn't he play?
Did we play?
Didn't we play?
Did you play?
Didn't you play?
Did they play?
Didn't  they play?
PAST CONTINUOUS: Use
a.) To express an action in progress in the past.

 It was raining

b.) To express two actions which were happening at the same time.

 I was reading the newspaper while I was walking home

c.) To express two actions happening in the past when one of

them started before the other.

 When I arrived John was talking on the phone

PAST CONTINUOUS. Form:

past of to be + verb in gerund (ing)

I was playing

I was not playing

Was I playing?
PRESENT PERFECT: Use
 To talk about past experiences when you don’t
say when it happened.
 With already, just, and yet.
 With superlatives and the first, second, last
time,etc.
 For finished actions (no time is specified) which
are connected in some way with the present.
 With How long? And for/since with non-action
verbs (=verbs not usually used in the
continuous form, e.g. be, have, know, like, etc.)
to say that something started in the past and is
still true now.
 TIME EXPRESSIONS Ever and never
 PRESENT PERFECT:
 I’ve passed my driving test!

 Have you seen the gorgeous new secretary?

 A terrorist has bombed a bus.

 With “since” and “for”

'We’ve had this computer for about six months.

We’ve had this car since January .
I’ve known Eric since 1989.
PRESENT PERFECT:
 With “Just ”

I’ve just made tea, would you like a cup?

 With “yet “ and “already”

Have you done your homework yet?

I’ve already finished my homework.

 PRESENT PERFECT: Form
We form the present perfect with to has/ and the past participle of the
verb.

I’ve lost my book. (I don’t have it now)

Have you seen the new Leonardo Di Caprio film?

Your sister has left the door open. (The door is open now )

Hasn’t Danny got married yet? (Is he still single?)

I’ve finally found a job . (I have a job now)

I’ve known her since I was a child.

She’s had the job for six months.

Have you ever eaten paella? I’ve never eaten paella.

PRESENT PERFECT: Form
AFFIRMATIVE:
NEGATIVE:

I have played
He has not played

You have played

INTERROGATIVE:
He has played

We have played Have you played?

You have played

They have played 

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS:Use

 With How long? And for/since with

action verbs to say that action started in
the past and is still happening now.

 For repeated actions, especially with a

time expression, e.g. all day, recently.

 For continuous actions which have just

finished (but which have present results)
PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS
PRESENT PERFECT (DIFFERENCES):

 The present perfect simple

emphasizes the completion of an action.
We’ve painted the kitchen. (=the painting
is finished).
 The present perfect continuous
emphasizes the continuation of an
action. We’ve been painting the kitchen.
(=the painting is probably not finished).
PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS:Form

SUBJECT + to have + been + gerund

I have been playing

He has been playing

I have not been playing

Have I been playing?

Haven't I been playing?

THE FUTURE (Will): Use

 We use will/won’t to talk about the

future.
 To make predictions.
 To make promises and fast
decisions.
 To make an offer.
 THE FUTURE (Will): Use
 PREDICTION: The weather will be worse
tomorrow.

 PROMISE: I promise I’ll come back early.

 FAST DECISION: I’ll do it immediately.

 OFFER: I’ll cook tonight.

THE FUTURE (Will): Form
 Affirmative clause
Subject + will + main verb--> I will eat

 Negative clause
Subject +will + not + main verb --> I will not eat

 Interrogative clause
Will + subject + main verb? -->Will I eat?

 Short forms
I'll, you'll, he'll, she'll... (affirmative)
I won't, you won't, she won't... (negative)
THE FUTURE (to be+going to):Use

 (1) Predictions: "be going to" can be used to make

predictions about the future.
Weather predictions are the easiest examples:

Take your umbrella. It's going to rain.

 (2) Prior Plans: "Be going to" is used to express plans

previously made for the future:

I'm going to meet my friends this weekend.

She's going to take a vacation this summer.
 THE FUTURE (to be+going to):Use

(3) Willingness: "Will" is used to describe willingness to do

something.

Examples:

A.Someone's at the door.

B.B. I'll get it.

A. I can't do this by myself.

B. I'll help you.
THE FUTURE (to be+going to):Form

 “to be” + “going to” + the infinitive form

of the verb:

I am going to see a film tonight.

 In short answers we use the verb to be.

Are they going to study? Yes, they are.

THE FUTURE (to be+going to):Form
 AFFIRMATIVE:
You are going to study.

 NEGATIVE:
You aren’t going to study.

 INTERROGATIVE:
Are you going to study?