Transcript An overview of English verb tenses

An overview of English
verb tenses
©2007 Mgr. Tereza Vogeltanzová
On how to cope with the English
grammar …
Present simple
1)to talk about activities or routines which
take place on a regular basis
e.g. He usually gets up at six o'clock.
2) to discuss future scheduled events
e.g. The course begins next Monday at 2
p.m.
Common present time
expressions
usually
always
often
sometimes
on Saturdays
at weekends (on weekends
in US English)
rarely
on occasion
never
seldom
…
IMPORTANT:
- an 's' in the base form of the
3rd person singular
- If the verb ends in -y preceded
by a consonant, change the -y
to -ies
- Question and negation:
do, does, don´t, doesn´t
Present continuous
1) to speak about what is happening at
the present moment in time.
For example, 'He's watching TV at the
moment.'
2) to speak about what is happening
AROUND the moment in time.
For example, if you are working on a project
for only two weeks, you say: ‘I am
working on the Smith account.’
Present continuous
3) Near future – planned, arranged actions
e.g. I´m leaving tomorrow.
Common present continuous time expressions
include:
 at the moment
 now, just now, right now
 today
 this week, this month
 tomorrow, next week (for future arrangements )
 currently
Past simple
1) To talk about activities or routines which take
place at a specified time in the past.
For example, He played tennis last weekend.
2) Finished, completed, definite actions
For exemple, He left an hour ago.
Regular verbs end in ‘-ed’.
IMPORTANT
Irregular verbs must be learned properly!
Past simple
Common past time expressions include:
 last (week, year, night…)
 yesterday
 ago
 in 1987, on 20th October 2007
 when I was a child, when I was small …
IMPORTANT:
DID, DID´T + present infinitive!!!
What did you study yesterday?
I studied …, I didn´t study …
Irregular verbs
A list of irregular verbs to be found on:
http://www.usingenglish.com/reference/irreg
ular-verbs
Past continuous
1) to express something that is happening at a precise
moment in the past.
For example, Jack was working on the report last night at
10.15.
2) to express an interrupted action expressed using
the past simple
For example, Janet was talking on the phone when I
arrived.
3) to express the background of an action in past simple
For example, When I woke up, the sun was shining, the
birds were singing …
Practice … put the following verbs
in the past simple
Thomas _______ (live) in the small town of Brington. Thomas
_______ (love) walking through the beautiful forest that surrounded
Brington. One evening, he ____ (take) his umbrella and _____ (go)
for a walk in the woods. He ______ (meet) an old man named
Frank. Frank _______ (tell) Thomas that, if he _____ (want) to
become rich, he should invest in a little known stock called
Microsoft. Thomas ______ (think) Frank _____ (be) foolish because
Microsoft ____ (be) a computer stock. Everybody _____ (know) that
computers _____ (be) just a passing fad. At any rate, Frank
_______ (insist) that Thomas _____ (be) wrong. Frank _______
(draw) a wonderful graph of future possibilities. Thomas ______
(begin) thinking that maybe Frank ______ (understand) stocks.
Thomas _______ (decide) to buy some of these stocks. The next
day, he ______ (go) to the stock broker's and _____ (buy) $1,000
worth of Microsoft stock. That _____ (be) in 1986, today that $1,000
worth of stock is worth more than $250,000!
Practice – part 2
The part about the Microsoft stock is true!!!
Insert the following past continuous fragments into the
above story:






As Frank was drawing the graph, ...
... while he was walking to work,
it was raining so...
While they were discussing the stock, ...
When he was returning from his walk, ...
As he was walking through the woods,
Were you successful? How many
points would you get?
Present perfect
1) to say what has happened recently and has an
effect on the present moment
For example, They haven't had lunch yet.
2)
an experience that has happened at an unspecified
point in time before the present
For example, They've seen the film twice.
3)
an action begins in the past and continues into the
present This use of the present perfect expresses
duration over time FROM the past moment TO the
present moment.
For example, Alice has lived in New York since 1997.
Present perfect
Common present perfect time expressions
include:
 for (with a period of time)
 since (with an exact point in time),
 ever
 never
 yet
 already
 this week (month, year) when it is still true
Present perfect or past simple?
Put each of the following verbs into either the past simple
or present perfect.
She (write) the email but doesn't know how to send it.
Hurry up! The concert (begin) and we are late.
Madonna (record) many albums and will probably make
many more.
Nat King Cole (record) many albums during his wonderful
career.
How many books (read) this year?
How many books (read) last year?
Present perfect continuous
 Like the present perfect simple expresses an action
which begins in the past and continues into the present.
For example, My parents have been travelling since early
this morning.
 The present perfect continuous describes the
duration of a current activity happening at the
moment.
For example, I've been reading this book since 10 this
morning.
 On the other hand, the present perfect is used to
describe states, more general activity or results.
For example, Jack has lived in California most of his life.
Where´s the difference?
PRESENT PERFECT
1) Indefinite time in the past (experience).
Emphasis is on the completed action at an indefinite time
in the past.
Example: Susan's written 3 books.
2) Emphasis on QUANTITY
Example: I've read 300 pages of Tom Smith's latest book.
3) Duration from past to present
Example: Peter has worked for that company for 5 years.
Where´s the difference?
1)
PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS
Recent activity: to emphasize the recency of a past activity. we
often use lately or recently Example: She's been working hard
recently
2)
Emphasis on the duration or length of an activity Example: Jack
has been painting for 4 hours.
3)
Recently finished activity with a present result Example: I've been
working in the garden, that's why my hands are so dirty.
4)
No difference in meaning. Often the present perfect progressive
and the present perfect can have the same meaning. This is often
the case with verbs of living, occupation or vocation) Example:
I've been living in Leghorn for 3 years. OR I've lived in Leghorn for
3 years
Test yourself …
1) Frank (fail) his driving test 4 times! Recently he
(practise) a lot and he should pass it the next time he
takes it!
2) Scotland yard (look for) the murder for two weeks
now. Unfortunately they (be able/find) any suspects.
3) I can't believe it! It (rain) all day.
4) He (do) his housework all day but he (finish) yet.
5) It smells like fish in here. - Well that's no surprise. I
(cook) fish stew.
6) George (play) golf since 9 o'clock this morning. He
(play) 18 holes.
7) Jack (just/go) to the bank. He should be back soon.
Past perfect
 to talk about an action that is finished
before another action in the past.
 useful for giving reasons for a decision
that was made in the past
For example, He didn't come because he
had caught the flu.
Sometimes not necessary.
Going to – future
(eq. to present continuous)
1) to speak about future intentions or
plans made before the present moment.
For example, He's going to visit his
grandmother next month.
2) to speak about something that is about
to happen, which you can see or feel .
For example, Look out! You're going to drop
those dishes!
Will - future
1) to make a future prediction
For example, George will get the job.
2) to express a decision about the future made at the
moment.
For example, Don't worry, I'll help you!
3) Used for promises
For example, I'll make you a sandwich.They'll help you if
you want.
4) Used in combination with time clauses (as soon as,
when, before, after) and conditional clauses – !!!in the
main clause only)
Which future form?
 As soon as she arrives in Dallas she (give) you





a call.
Look at those clouds on the horizon! It is (rain)
soon.
Who do you think (win) the next national
elections?
We are (fly) to Austin next week for a meeting
with the advisory board.
I promise you: I (finish) my homework on time
next week.
I'll take this letter to the post office when I (go)
into town this afternoon.
Future continuous
will be doing
 „present continuous for the future“
A:
If you see Sally, can you ask her to
phone me?
B:
Sure, I´ll be seeing her this evening, so
I´ll tell her then.
Future perfect
will have done
 To say that sth. will already be complete
 Sally always leaves for work at 8:30 in the
morning, so she won´t be at home at 9 o´clock.
For example, She´ll have gone to work.
 We´re late. The film will already have started by
the time we get to the cinema.
Thank you for your attention.
Next session will be held on 10th
November. (test 3,4 check)