Present Tenses o Present Continuous o Present Simple o Present Perfect o Present Perfect Continuous Past Tenses o Past Continuous

o Past Perfect o Past Perfect Continuous o Past Simple Future Tenses o Future Simple o Future Continuous o Future Perfect o Future Perfect Continuous

Present Tenses Present Simple ("I choose") Present Perfect ("I have chosen") Present Continuous ("I am choosing") Present Perfect Continuous ("I have been choosing") Present Continuous We use the Present Continuous (Present Progressive) when talking about actions that are happening at the moment (present or temporary action). For example, "Alex is writing a new book" can have one or two meanings, depending on the situation. 1. He is writing the book at this very moment. (present acitivity) 2. Alex is in the process of writing a new book. (Even though he is having a nap at this exact moment.) We may guess that: He probably spends a few hours a day working on it. He plans to finish the book or make a break soon. (temporary action). We also use the Present Continuous for actions that will be done in the future. (future arrangement) I'm flying to Rome next week.

Use 1. Present or temporary actions 2. Future (personal) arrangements 3. Irritation over something or somebody in the present
USE 2 (future arrangements) might seem a little confusing to an ESL learner because it's completely different from USE 1. Therefore, from my experience, ESL learners tend to make a lot of mistakes as they begin to use it. One mistake is to use the Future Simple to express future arrangements, while the correct tense would be the Present Continuous or the going to form.

I'm going to go to my grandma. I'm going abroad this summer (in both sentences the speaker is speaking about plans) I will go to my grandma (the speaker decided to go there in the moment of speaking) Form

Contracted forms (more) I + am = I'm is + not = isn't are + not = aren't he + is = he's she + is = she's it + is= it's

The Present Continuous requires:

the proper conjugation of the auxiliary verb "to be". Person Singular Plural Person Singular 1st person I am 2nd person You are 3rd person He / she / it is the "-ing" form of the verb (present participle)

Plural We are You are They are

Examples:

try + ing = trying go +ing = going

Read about exceptions.

Declarative sentences: Subject + Auxiliary verb I/a dog etc. is / are Examples He is getting married this month They are swimming in the sea I'm having my first driving lesson this week I'm studying to become lawyer one day I'm drinking hot coffee now She is always asking me stupid questions. + Verb + ing going / taking Use (Use 2) (Use 1) (Use 2) (Use 1) (Use 1) (Use 3)

Present Simple The Present Simple is the most basic and common tense in the English language. It is also an interesting tense because it can express both the present and the future. Use 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Facts and generalization Habits and routines Permanent situations State verbs (e.g. be, have, think, know) Fixed / official arrangement that we can't change

Apart from the above uses, this tense is also used in:

Zero Conditional - If it rains, I go play football. First Conditional - We won't get our pocket money, if we don't pass this exam. In sentences after "when", "before", "till", "after", "as soon as" ("Before you leave, please take the keys").

The PS is also used in narrations. For example, while telling a story or joke. For example.

A man goes to visit a friend and is amazed to find him playing chess with his dog. He watches the game in astonishment for a while [...] More examples
Chuck Norris bites frost (Use 2) OR Chuck Norris facts aren't funny anymore (Use 4)

Note: Some of the verbs used in the simple form can also be used in the continuous form. That's typically when they have an active meaning or emphasize change (Read more)
Form

Contracted forms (more)

do + not = don't does + not = doesn't

Forming a sentence in the PS is usually a two-step process: first ask yourself who or what performs the action (for example, you, I, they, a mouse, etc.). Next decide what the verb is and conjugate it. Let's conjugate the verb " to eat":

I eat you eat he eats

she eats it eats we eat you eat they eat

As you can see, only verbs used with the 3rd person singular conjugate differently. They will usually get an "s" but there are some exceptions: Read further about the third person singular. How to form questions and negative sentences When forming questions and negative sentences, you do NOT conjugate the verb. (More information below.) However, inversion takes place in interrogative sentences (questions). If you scroll down this page a bit, you'll find some examples. In negative sentences we add "not" to the auxiliary verb (does, do), so we end up with contracted forms like "doesn't" or "don't." Again, there are some nice examples below.
Declarative sentences: Subject I/a dog etc. Verb + work/go/mak e

Sharks have sharp teeth (Use 1) Examples Use A dog is an animal (Use 1) I learn English twice a week (Use 2) I have two eggs (Use 4) The course starts in April (Use 5) I come from Basil (Use 3) I'm having two eggs Present Simple is often used with the frequency adverbs. Adverbs of frequency

Adverbs of frequency say how often an activity happens. We can use one word or a phrase. Examples:

always never frequently/often usually

seldom/rarely nowadays every week/year sometimes/occasionally from time to time

Here are a few examples of how to use them in sentences:

I always go to church on Sundays. I never eat anything after 10 p.m. Read more... Questions: What is inversion?

Inversion involves swapping (inverting) the position of an auxiliary verb and subject in a sentence. The most common use of inversion is forming interrogative sentences (questions).
Sentence Earth is small compared to ther planets I am thirsty My name is Question Is Earth small compared to other planets? Am I thirsty? Is my name Mark?

If there is no auxiliary verb in the sentence, one needs to be added when you invert the word order.
Sentence Earth is small compared to ther planets I am thirsty My name is Andrew had problems with health It belongs to Emma She looked tired Question Is Earth small compared to other planets? Am I thirsty? Is my name Mark? Did Andrew have problems with health? Does it belong to Emma? Did she look tired?

Inversion is also used in emphasizing and in conditional sentences.

Read more...

Questions require the auxiliary verb "to do" or, in the 3rd person singular, "does". Keep in mind that when you ask a question you don't need an "s". Compare these examples: A:Does she like going to the mountains? B:Yes, she does

A:Does John have a dog? B:No, he doesn't. Speaker 1: Ronaldinho, do you like playing football? (Use 4) Ronaldinho: Yes, I do. Auxiliary Verb + do/does

Subject I/a dog etc.

Verb work/go/make

For the verb "to be", we do not use an auxiliary.

Is he tall? Does he be tall? Examples Does Mike often play tennis? Do you know who my friend is? Is China in Europe? What do you do? (what's your occupation?) Negative sentences: Subject + Auxiliary verb+not I/a dog etc. don't/doesn't/do not Examples They don't live in New York anymore I don't like winter They don't live in New York anymore He doesn't go to the cinema at all

Use (Use 2) (Use 3) (Use 1) (Use 3) + Verb work/go/make Use (Use 3) (Use 4) (Use 3) (Use 2)

Present Perfect he Present Perfect is used to express actions that happened at an indefinite time or that began in the past and continue in the present. This tense is also used when an activity has an effect on the present moment. Note: later in this article, Preset Perfect will be abbreviated as PP.
[ Marcus: I have been struck by a bolt of lightning! ]

Use 1. Actions which happened at an indefinite (unknown) time before now 2. Actions in the past which have an effect on the present moment 3. Actions which began in the past and continue in the present I've eaten 10 apples today!

Click to read about "for" and "since". Time expressions used with the Present Perfect

Since and for "Since" and "for" are very common time expressions used with the Present Perfect. We use for with a period of time, for example:

I have lived here for 20 years.

When talking about a starting point, we use "since" with a point in time.

I have lived here since 1960.

More about time expressions

Read more...

Oil prices have gone up recently. Present Perfect vs. Present Perfect Continuous

In most cases, both tenses are acceptable.

I have lived in Los Angeles since 1985. I have been living in Los Angeles since 1985.

There are some situations in which one of the tenses sounds better. To emphasize duration of an action, use the continuous form

I've been trading cars for 10 years.

To emphasize result of an action, use the simple form

He has just come back from work. I have finished my workout. I've bought a new car. Read more... Form

The structure of PP is not very easy because it requires some pratice to get used to it. To correctly form Present Perfect sentences, you should know these:

the proper conjugation of the verb "have" (=auxiliary verb) [1] Past Participle [2]

[1] We conjugate the auxialiary verb "to have" the same as we would conjugate the verb "to have".
Singular form I have Plural form We have You have You have He/she/it They has have

First person Second person Third person

As you can see, the third person singular (he/she/it has) is irregular. Examples:

She has never seen my brother Neither of my brothers has ever driven a truck

[2] To correctly form a sentence in the PP, we also need the past participle. You can read a nice article about the past participle here. In short it is the verb from that is used with the perfect tenses. Same as the past form, the past participle can be either regular or irregular.

The regular verbs are typically formed by adding -ed. Read an article about regular verbs.
Verb Past Participle talk talked explain explained use used deliver delivered include included achieve achieved The formation of the irregular verbs does not follow one rule. Therefore, they should be memorized. Read an article about the irregular verbs. Verb Past More Participle conjugation be been be become become become see seen see go gone go eat eaten eat grow grown grow Declarative sentences: Subject + Auxiliary verb I/a dog etc. has/have

Past participle slept/gone etc.

Examples We have already had breakfast I have bought new shades I have already been to Paris John has been a plumber for 2 years Someone has just taken my bag! Jane has never been so angry He has been our most serious partner for so long that I can assure you he's a very decent man Questions: What is inversion?

Use (Use 1) (Use 2) (Use 1) (Use 3) (Use 1,2) (Use 3) (Use 3)

Inversion involves swapping (inverting) the position of an auxiliary verb and subject in a sentence. The most common use of inversion is forming interrogative sentences (questions).
Sentence Earth is small compared to ther planets I am thirsty My name is Question Is Earth small compared to other planets? Am I thirsty? Is my name Mark?

If there is no auxiliary verb in the sentence, one needs to be added when you invert the word order.
Sentence Earth is small compared to ther planets I am thirsty My name is Andrew had problems with health It belongs to Emma She looked tired Question Is Earth small compared to other planets? Am I thirsty? Is my name Mark? Did Andrew have problems with health? Does it belong to Emma? Did she look tired?

Inversion is also used in emphasizing and in conditional sentences.

Read more... Auxiliary verb has/have + Subject I/a dog etc. + Past participle slept/gone etc.

Examples Have you ever seen this program? Where has she lived for the past 21 years? Have you found the telephone number? Have you ever been to France? Has anyone taken my bag?

Use (Use 1) (Use 3) (Use 1,2) (Use 1) (Use 1,2)

In sentences with adverbials such as ever, already and yet, Americans may use the Past Simple rather than the Present Perfect. So an American would say:

Did you go to the post office yet?

And a British man:

Have you gone to the post office yet?

Negative sentences: Subject I/a dog etc.

Auxiliary verb + not hasn't/haven't

Past participle slept/gone etc.

Examples He hasn't taken any drug for two years

Use (Use 3)

I haven't met my perfect partner yet They haven't contacted you, have they?

(Use 3) (Use 1)

Present Perfect Continuous

We use the Present Perfect Continuous (Progressive) to express actions that started in the past and continue in the present. This tense is also used to talk about actions which began in the past and have recently stopped. Use 1. Actions that started in the past and continue in the present 2. Actions that have recently stopped [ Mother: What have you been doing? ]

Click to read about "for" and "since". Time expressions used with the Present Perfect Continuous

Since and for "Since" and "for" are very common time expressions used with the Present Perfect Continuous. We use "for" with a period of time. Example:
Read more... Present Perfect vs. Present Perfect Continuous

In most cases, both tenses are acceptable.

I have lived in Los Angeles since 1985. I have been living in Los Angeles since 1985.

There are some situations in which one of the tenses sounds better. To emphasize duration of an action, use the continuous form

I've been trading cars for 10 years.

To emphasize result of an action, use the simple form

He has just come back from work. I have finished my workout. I've bought a new car. Read more... Form Declarative sentences: A sentence in the Present Perfect Continuous consists of:

A subject A verb in the -ing form (present participle)

Two auxiliary verbs ("been" and "have") Subject Auxiliary verb Auxiliary verb I/a dog etc. has/have been

Verb + ing swimming etc.

My friend has been sleeping for five hours (Use 2) (he is still sleeping or she has just woken up) Examples Use She's been crying in her room for half an hour now (Use 1) We've been waiting for a good offer to buy a car since March (Use 1) I've been waiting for you to come (but now you're back!) (Use 2) Questions: What is inversion?

Inversion involves swapping (inverting) the position of an auxiliary verb and subject in a sentence. The most common use of inversion is forming interrogative sentences (questions).
Sentence Earth is small compared to ther planets I am thirsty My name is Question Is Earth small compared to other planets? Am I thirsty? Is my name Mark?

If there is no auxiliary verb in the sentence, one needs to be added when you invert the word order.
Sentence Earth is small compared to ther planets I am thirsty My name is Andrew had problems with health It belongs to Emma She looked tired Question Is Earth small compared to other planets? Am I thirsty? Is my name Mark? Did Andrew have problems with health? Does it belong to Emma? Did she look tired?

Inversion is also used in emphasizing and in conditional sentences.

Read more... Auxiliary verb Subject has/have I/a dog/ a man etc. Examples Have you been running? Has Tom been walking the dog? How long have you been learning English? Q: What have you been doing there? A: I've been eating Auxiliary verb been Use (Use 2) (Use 2) (Use 1) (Use 1 or Use 2) Verb + ing swimming etc.

Negative sentences: Subject I/a dog, a woman, etc.

Auxiliary verb + not hasn't / haven't

Auxiliary verb been Use (Use 1) (Use 2) (Use 1)

Verb + ing swimming, going etc.

Examples I haven't been sleeping very well recently I haven't been waiting for 50 minutes John hasn't been using his A drive for a long time

Past Tenses The past tense is a verb tense expressing activity, action state or being in the past. In English, there are two types of past tense:

simple past (a) present tense (b)

a) Simple past include:

Past Progressive Past Simple Past Perfect Past Perfect Progressive

b)

Present Perfect Continuous Present Perfect

Present Perfect and Present Perfect Continuous (Progressive) refer both to the present and to the past.

I have just eaten my chocolate bar. Mike has never seen a car like this before.

Past Continuous
We use the Past Continuous to talk about past actions in progress. The actions can also be interrupted by something (for example: "I was eating my breakfast when the telephone rang"), but there are also several other uses. [ Peter: When I was jogging, someone stopped me and asked what time it was ] Use 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Actions in progress Interrupted actions in progress Actions in progress at the same time in the past. Irritation Timid / polite question (read more below)

Interrupted actions in progress Events that were in progress when another event happened. We often use "when" to link these two events. Because "when" is usually followed by a sentence in the Past Simple, the grammatical structure has this pattern: [Past Continuous] + When + [Past Simple] Below you can find lots of examples marked "Use 2" A rhinoceros was swatting flies with his tail when suddenly a fly bit him (Use 2) Timid / polite question

I was wondering if... I was thinking you might...

Although these sentences have the Past Continuous form, they apply to the present moment. Their meaning is similar to the "could you" sentences but they are more polite.

I was wondering if you could carry my bag. Form Declarative sentences: Subject I / a dog etc.

+ Auxiliary verb was / were

Verb + ing going / taking

At 3 p.m., I was having lunch (Use 1) (the lunch started earlier than 3 p.m.)

They were talking about her when she walked into the room. (Use 2) While Kenneth was cleaning the living room, Sam was washing the dishes. (Use 3) We were all thinking about our holidays. (Use 1) Shannon was filling in a questionnaire when the pen ran out of ink. (Use 2) Yesterday at this time Steven Seagal was riding a horse (Use 1) John was smoking a cigarette when he saw a spider (Use 2)

Questions: What is inversion?

Inversion involves swapping (inverting) the position of an auxiliary verb and subject in a sentence. The most common use of inversion is forming interrogative sentences (questions).
Sentence Earth is small compared to ther planets I am thirsty My name is Question Is Earth small compared to other planets? Am I thirsty? Is my name Mark?

If there is no auxiliary verb in the sentence, one needs to be added when you invert the word order.
Sentence Earth is small compared to ther planets I am thirsty My name is Andrew had problems with health It belongs to Emma She looked tired Question Is Earth small compared to other planets? Am I thirsty? Is my name Mark? Did Andrew have problems with health? Does it belong to Emma? Did she look tired?

Inversion is also used in emphasizing and in conditional sentences.

Read more... Auxiliary verb was/were

Subject I/a dog etc.

Verb + ing going/taking

Was she going to the theater when it started raining? (Use 2) What were the defenders doing when Kenneth struck the ball? (Use 2) Were you painting your house yesterday at 5 p.m.? (Use 1) Was Mary shopping when the mall was burning ? (Use 3) Negative sentences: Subject + Auxiliary verb + not + Verb + ing I/a dog etc. wasn't/weren't going/taking

He asked me why I wasn't having dinner at the hotel. (Use 1) We weren't playing football when the earthquake began. (Use 2) Remember that you can also use the Past Continuous to show your irritation over something or somebody in the past. E.g. She was always asking me stupid questions.

Past Perfect We use the Past Perfect it to show that one action in the past occurred before another action in the past. A complete list of uses below.
Use 1. A completed action before another activity in the past 2. Third conditional sentences (a) and reported speech (b) (read more at the bottom the page) 3. Dissatisfaction with the past [ Father: My son Julius had never seen a camel before we went together to the zoo in summer 1990. ] The Past Perfect is also used with expressions such as: "I wish", "as if/though" and "if only".

I wish I hadn't gone there. John looked as if he had done something terrible. Form

Contracted forms (more)

had + not = hadn't Declarative sentences: Subject Auxiliary verb I/a dog etc. had

Past participle eaten/given/gone

TYPICAL MISTAKES As soon as the film started, I realized I had seed it before. (the past participle of the verb "to see" is "seen", not "seed") By the time I had got to the station, my train HAD left. ("By the time" indicates that the train had left before the speaker got to the station, not the other way around!)

When we arrived, the concert had already finished. (Use 1) It had got/gotten worse before it got better. (Use 1) By the time I watched my favorite program, I had drunk a cup of beer. (Use 1) If I hadn't taken my keys from the drawer, I would be unable to get into my house. (Use 2a) My mum asked me whether I had visited grandma the previous day. (Use 2b) By the time I got to the market, most of the stalls had already been closed. (Use 1) I wish I had taken more food with me (Use 3)

Use 3 is the so-called hypothetical past. We're talking about things that never happened. I wish I had fixed my umberella. (but I didn't) If only I had known the answer to that question. (but I didn't)
Mr. Johnson had read the document carefully before he signed it.

Before I was born, my grandfather had gone to war.

You may find that people (especially native speakers) don't use the Past Perfect very often. For example, they might say:

After I washed my car, I went to fill up .

This is because "after" or "before" tell the listener which action happened first. Still, keep in mind that such sentences are usually used in conversations rather than other situations. Therefore, try to avoid them. (Especially in tests where you can lose points because of this.)
Questions: What is inversion?

Inversion involves swapping (inverting) the position of an auxiliary verb and subject in a sentence. The most common use of inversion is forming interrogative sentences (questions).
Sentence Earth is small compared to ther planets I am thirsty My name is Question Is Earth small compared to other planets? Am I thirsty? Is my name Mark?

If there is no auxiliary verb in the sentence, one needs to be added when you invert the word order.
Sentence Earth is small compared to ther planets I am thirsty My name is Andrew had problems with health It belongs to Emma She looked tired Question Is Earth small compared to other planets? Am I thirsty? Is my name Mark? Did Andrew have problems with health? Does it belong to Emma? Did she look tired?

Inversion is also used in emphasizing and in conditional sentences.

Read more...

Auxiliary verb had

Subject I/a dog etc.

Past participle eaten/given/gone

Had he known some words before he started learning English? Had they had any pet before they bought the giraffe?

Common time expressions (time adverbials) in the Past Perfect: after, before, already, as soon as, just, yet, until, till, by the time that.

Negative sentences:

Subject I/a dog etc.

+ Auxiliary verb + not hadn't/ had not

+ Past participle eaten/given/gone

I hadn't seen Berlin before I flew there in the summer. He said Mr. Johnson hadn't mowed the lawn (Use 2b) Brenda didn't call me before her plane had landed.

Past Perfect is used in reported speech (=saying someone else said):

Ann: I was in the US 12 months ago. George: Ann said she had been in the United States 12 months earlier.

OR

Ann: I have searched all the rooms. George: Ann said she had searched all the rooms.

So, the Past Simple and the Present Perfect are replaced with the Past Perfect.

Past Perfect Continuous The Past Perfect Continuous (Past Perfect Progressive) is used to talk about actions that began in the past and lasted up until another action in the past.
Use 1. Duration of a past action up to a certain point in the past 2. Third conditional sentences 3. Reported speech*

Note:Use 1 contains Use 3. This means that Use 1 is also valid in the sentences marked with Use 3. The PPC is involved when the original tense is the Present Perfect Continuous or the Past Continuous. "she has been crying" - she said she had been crying "she was crying" - she said she had been crying
Reported Speech

In the English language reported speech affects the sequence of tenses, if the main clause is in the past ("I said", "She asked"). It applies to some of the tenses.
Original tense Present Simple Present Continuous Present Perfect Present Perfect Continuous Past Continuous Past Simple will Reported tense Past Simple Past Continuous Past Perfect Past Perfect Continuous Past Perfect Continuous Past Perfect would Example "I work here" - He said he worked there "She is dancing" - He said he was dancing "I have never been to Alaska" - He said he had never been to Alaska "Jane has been driving for 8 hours" - He said that Jane had been driving for 8 hours "I was singing" - He said that he had been singing "I saw you in the mall" - She said that she had seen him in the mall "You will thank me" - She said that he would thank her

Changes in time and place words

Original word here this now Reported word there that then Example "I work here" - He said he worked there "What are you doing this weekend?" - He asked what she was doing that weekend "He's praying now" - She said he was praying then

yesterday tomorrow last week next week ago

the day before the day before the week before the week after before

"I saw you yesterday" - He said that he had seen him the day before "I will repair my bike tomorrow" - He said that he would repair her bike the day after

"I was born 30 years ago" - He said that he had been born 30 years before

Read more... Form Declarative sentences: Subject I/a dog etc.

Auxiliary verb had

Auxiliary verb been

Verb + ing eating/swimming, etc.

I had been running for an hour when it started raining. (Use 1) Mary said she had never been swimming so much in one day. (Use 3) Kathy put on weight because she had been eating too much sugar. (Use 1) Everything had been going well in my life until my world fell apart several months ago. (Use 1)

He said he had been training. (Use 3)

Questions: What is inversion?

Inversion involves swapping (inverting) the position of an auxiliary verb and subject in a sentence. The most common use of inversion is forming interrogative sentences (questions).
Sentence Earth is small compared to ther planets I am thirsty My name is Question Is Earth small compared to other planets? Am I thirsty? Is my name Mark?

If there is no auxiliary verb in the sentence, one needs to be added when you invert the word order.
Sentence Earth is small compared to ther planets I am thirsty My name is Andrew had problems with health It belongs to Emma She looked tired Question Is Earth small compared to other planets? Am I thirsty? Is my name Mark? Did Andrew have problems with health? Does it belong to Emma? Did she look tired?

Inversion is also used in emphasizing and in conditional sentences.

Read more... Auxiliary verb Had

+ Subject I/a dog etc.

+ Auxiliary verb been

+ Verb + ing eating/swimming, etc.

For how many hours had Fred been painting the house when the ladder fell? (Use 1) How long had the player been playing before he scored? (Use 1) The difference between the Present Perfect Continuous and Past Perfect Continuous The Past Perfect Continuous, in contrast to the Present Perfect Continuous, never expresses actions that continue up until now.

He has been playing for two hours. (He is still playing or he has just stopped.) He had been playing for two hours when I arrived. (He is not playing football now.) Negative sentences: Subject Auxiliary verb + not Auxiliary verb Verb + ing I/a dog /Mary, etc. hadn't been going/swimming, etc.

He said he wasn't tired because he hadn't been working that day. (Use 3) If it hadn't been raining, we would have played football. (Use 2) Had I not been studying all night, I would have problems with this test now. (Use 2)

Past Simple We use the Past Simple to talk about actions that happened at a specific time in the past. The actions can be short or long. There can also be a few actions happening one after another. Generally, there are two important facts to remember about this tense:

Irregular verbs Questions and negative sentences, unlike the positive ones, preserve the base form of the verb (Did you go there?) Use 1. Events in the past that are now finished (e.g. I went to school) 2. Situation in the past (they lived a normal life until they won a lottery) 3. A series of actions in the past Irregular Verbs The irregular verbs, in contrast to the regular ones, are those verbs whose conjugation falls outside the standard patterns of conjugation. Therefore, the irregular verbs have to be memorized by heart. It is absolutely necessary for you to know them to be able to form past tenses and perfect tenses. Form Declarative sentences: Subject + Verb + ed or an irregular form I/a dog etc. worked/went/saw

I saw two colorful fishes in the lake yesterday (Use 1)

He enter ed a room, lit a cigarette and smiled at the guests. (Use 3) Mary tried the soup but it was too hot to eat. (Use 1) I lived in New York for 10 years (I don't live there anymore) (Use 2) They saw us playing football. (Use 1) He married a woman who lived in the same village. (Use 1) Questions: What is inversion?

Inversion involves swapping (inverting) the position of an auxiliary verb and subject in a sentence. The most common use of inversion is forming interrogative sentences (questions). Sentence Earth is small compared to ther planets I am thirsty My name is Question Is Earth small compared to other planets? Am I thirsty? Is my name Mark?

If there is no auxiliary verb in the sentence, one needs to be added when you invert the word order. Sentence Earth is small compared to ther planets I am thirsty My name is Andrew had problems with health It belongs to Emma She looked tired Question Is Earth small compared to other planets? Am I thirsty? Is my name Mark? Did Andrew have problems with health? Does it belong to Emma? Did she look tired?

Inversion is also used in emphasizing and in conditional sentences. Read more... Auxiliary verb Subject Verb did I/a cat/my brother and I go/take

How long did he work there? (Use 2 or Use 1) Did the telephone ring? (Use 1) Did you see that? (Use 1)

Note: When the subject is unknown ("who", "what") we omit "did" Who cleaned up the mess yesterday? What bit you? Common time expressions (time adverbials) in the Past Simple: yesterday, the other day, just now, the day before yesterday. Negative sentences: Subject + Auxiliary verb + Verb I/a cat etc. didn't go/take

He didn't learn any Italian when he was in Italy two year ago. (Use 2) I wasn't at my grandma's when you came. (Use 1)

He didn't get any good grades when he attended school. (Use 3)

I met my old friend from school yesterday and she looked really weird.

Future Tenses Futurity in English is expressed either by using words that imply future action ("I go to Berlin next week.") or by employing an auxiliary construction combined with the main verb which represents the true action of the sentence (Source: Wikipedia). The most common auxiliary verbs used to express futurity are will, can,should, may, and must. May and might Of these, "will" is the most neutral and it is the most commonly used: Simple Future Future Continuous Future Perfect Future Perfect Continuous Apart from that there are several other constructions that can express futurity: Going to This might be a little confusing for English learners but we can also use some of the present tenses to talk about the future: Present Simple Present Continuous

Future Simple
Among all future tenses, the Future Simple is the most common. It is used in many situations such as when making promises or predictions.

Here goes a list to make it more readable.

Use 1. 2. 3. 4. Promises (Use 1) Unplanned actions (spontaneous decisions) (Use 2) Predictions based on experience or intuition * (Use 3) Habits (obstinate insistence, usually habitual) (Use 4)

* Use "going to form" to express predictions based on observing the present situation. ** You probably have encountered the word "gonna", which is an informal contraction of "going to". Keep in mind: Because "gonna" is informal you should avoid it in grammar tests, etc.!

My teacher's gonna be mad when he sees my composition!

Form

Contracted forms (more)

WILL = 'LL

Example: She'll dance = she will dance WILL + NOT = WON'T Example: She won't dance = she will not dance
Important: The Future Simple appears in two forms: "will" form and "going to" form but there are not always interchangable. Therefore, a separate article about "going to" form has been written. Declarative sentences: Subject + Auxiliary verb + Verb I/a dog etc. will go/take etc.

CAUTION Remember, you should never use will to say what somebody has already arrange or decided to do in the future:

 Mike is moving to New Jersey next month (not "Mike will move") More

I think he will regret his choice. (Use 3) I will come back at 10 p.m. (Use 1) If you will keep your watch half an hour slow it is hardly surprising that you are late for your appointments. (Use 4) John will keep dropping his towel on the floor after a bath. (Use 4)

When I'm 60 years old, I will be completely bald. (Use 3)

I will visit my grandma at hospital. (Use 1 or Use 2) Let's buy the snacks at the supermarket they will be cheaper. (Use 3) Questions: What is inversion?

Inversion involves swapping (inverting) the position of an auxiliary verb and subject in a sentence. The most common use of inversion is forming interrogative sentences (questions).
Sentence Earth is small compared to ther planets I am thirsty My name is Question Is Earth small compared to other planets? Am I thirsty? Is my name Mark?

If there is no auxiliary verb in the sentence, one needs to be added when you invert the word order.
Sentence Earth is small compared to ther planets I am thirsty My name is Andrew had problems with health It belongs to Emma She looked tired Question Is Earth small compared to other planets? Am I thirsty? Is my name Mark? Did Andrew have problems with health? Does it belong to Emma? Did she look tired?

Inversion is also used in emphasizing and in conditional sentences.

Read more... Auxiliary verb will + Subject I/a dog etc. + Verb go/take etc.

Remember We often use "will" with:

probably, most likely I think I'm sure I wonder (if, what, when, etc.) I expect I'll probably drop in on uncle. This gift is great. I think we'll love it. It's not going to be boring there. I'm sure there will be a lot of boys at your age It's a bit late. I wonder if he'll come. I haven't seen Matthew today. I expect he'll call today.

Will he be surprised when he sees me? (Use 3) Will Mark be able to do the shopping before 10 a.m.? (Use 3) Will there be plenty of people in church? (Use 3) Will you study harder? (Use 1) Negative sentences: Subject + Auxiliary verb + not + Verb I/a dog etc. will not/won't go/take etc.

I won't take any heavy equipment with me. (Use 2) I'm sorry I won't be able to help you with your English today. (Use 2) I expect that Sally will not clean up her room, unless you help her. (Use 3)

Check your understanding!

Future Tenses Quiz "Will" vs "going to" for predictions "Will" vs "going to" exercise "Be going to" form Future Simple and arrangements May and might Shall

Future Continuous We mainly use the Future Continuous (Future Progressive) to indicate that we will be in the middle of doing something in a specified time in the future.
A complete list of uses below: Use 1. Future actions in progress. 2. Guesses about the present or the future. 3. Polite questions about somebody's intentions*.

*Remember If you want to learn about somebody's intentions, you should never use the Future Simple. Using the Future Simple implies that you want to influence somebody's decision. Questions become much more objective if formed in the Future Continuous.

Will you come home? (= I want you to come home) Will you be coming home?

Form

Contracted forms (more) WILL = 'LL Example: She'll have been = she will have been WILL + NOT = WON'T Example: She won't have been = she will not have been
Important: The Future Continuous appears in two forms: "will" form and "going to" form which can be used interchangably. Example: "She will be dancing" means "she is going to be dancing" Declarative sentences: Subject Auxiliary verb Auxiliary verb Verb + ing I/you/we etc. will be sleeping/taking

She'll be having a bath when I'm back home. (Use 1) Tomorrow at nine, I will be hosing off (=washing with a hose) my car. (Use 1) This time next week, I am going to be throwing a party. (Use 1) I'll be watching TV when my mother arrives. (Use 1) They will be getting home just about now. (Use 2)

Remember

Like any of the Future Tenses, Future Continuous cannot be used in sentences beginning with: while, when, before, by the time, if, etc. By the time, you will be finishing your paiting.

Tomorrow at this time, I will be getting bored at school! (Use 1) Questions: What is inversion?

Inversion involves swapping (inverting) the position of an auxiliary verb and subject in a sentence. The most common use of inversion is forming interrogative sentences (questions).
Sentence Earth is small compared to ther planets I am thirsty My name is Question Is Earth small compared to other planets? Am I thirsty? Is my name Mark?

If there is no auxiliary verb in the sentence, one needs to be added when you invert the word order.
Sentence Earth is small compared to ther planets I am thirsty My name is Andrew had problems with health It belongs to Emma She looked tired Question Is Earth small compared to other planets? Am I thirsty? Is my name Mark? Did Andrew have problems with health? Does it belong to Emma? Did she look tired?

Inversion is also used in emphasizing and in conditional sentences.

Read more... Auxiliary verb will

Subject I/you/we etc.

Auxiliary verb be

Verb + ing dancing / taking

Is she going to be cooking when we knock at the door? (Use 1) Will Mark be playing football at 6 p.m.? (Use 1) Will you be using the screwdriver? (Use 3) Negative sentences: Subject Auxiliary verb Auxiliary verb I / you / we / etc. won't be

Verb + ing trying/taking

We won't be having supper tomorrow before 8 o'clock. (Use 1) I am not going to be learning English tomorrow at this time. (Use 1) John won't be sleeping now (= I think John isn't sleeping now) (Use 2)

Future Perfect We use this tense to express an action that will be finished before some point in the future.
Use 1. Actions that will be finished before some point in the future.

Common time expressions used in the Future Perfect:

Before By tomorrow/7 o'clock/next month Until/till

Form

Contracted forms (more)

WILL = 'LL

Example: She'll have finished = she will have finished WILL + NOT = WON'T Example: She won't have finished = she will not have finished
Important: The Future Perfect appears in two forms: "will" form and "going to" form which can be used interchangably. Example: "She will have finished" means "she is going to have finished" Declarative sentences: Subject + Auxiliary verb + Auxiliary verb + Past participle I/a dog etc. will have gone, seen, etc.

They will have graduated from from Cambridge by July 2009. I will have retired by the end of the year. I read 40 pages a day. If I keep up the pace, I will have read the book by Tuesday.

Questions: What is inversion?

Inversion involves swapping (inverting) the position of an auxiliary verb and subject in a sentence. The most common use of inversion is forming interrogative sentences (questions).
Sentence Earth is small compared to ther Question Is Earth small compared to other

planets I am thirsty My name is

planets? Am I thirsty? Is my name Mark?

If there is no auxiliary verb in the sentence, one needs to be added when you invert the word order.
Sentence Earth is small compared to ther planets I am thirsty My name is Andrew had problems with health It belongs to Emma She looked tired Question Is Earth small compared to other planets? Am I thirsty? Is my name Mark? Did Andrew have problems with health? Does it belong to Emma? Did she look tired?

Inversion is also used in emphasizing and in conditional sentences.

Read more... Auxiliary verb will Subject I/a dog etc. Auxiliary verb have Past participle gone, seen, etc.

Will they have graduated from Cambridge by July 2009? Will I have retired by the end of the year? Will you have bought a new processor by the end of this week? Negative sentences: Subject Auxiliary verb Auxiliary verb I/a dog etc. will not have

Past participle gone, seen, etc.

They won't have graduated from from Cambridge by July 2009. My uncle won't have retired by the end of the year.

Check your understanding!

Future Perfect questions Future Perfect affirmative sentences Future Perf vs Future Perf Continuous

Future Perfect Continuous We use this tense to express actions that will be happening at a definite moment in the future.
Use 1. Actions that will be in progress at a definite moment in the future.

By tomorrow I will have been saving money for a new house for 4 years.

Common time expressions used in the Future Perfect Continuous :

By tomorrow / 8 o'clock This year / month / week Next year / month / week

Form

Contracted forms (more) WILL = 'LL Example: She'll have been = she will have been WILL + NOT = WON'T Example: She won't have been = she will not have been
Example: "She will have been dancing" means "she is going to have been dancing" Declarative sentences: Subject Auxiliary verb Auxili Auxiliary verb Present participle ary verb I/a dog etc. will have been going, doing (verb + ing)

We will have been driving 6 hours by the time we get home. In the summer Mike will have been trying to find a new job for five months. Jane will be very tired when she comes home, because she will have been flying over 24 hours. My father and I will have been breeding sheep for 20 years tomorrow. By the year 2020, linguists will have been studying and defining the Indo-European language family for more than 200 years.

Note: If duration of an activity (since April, for three hours) is unknown then the Future Continuous should be used instead of the perfect form.

Negative sentences: Subject Auxiliary verb I/a dog won't etc.

Auxiliary verb have

Auxiliary verb been

Present participle going, doing (verb + ing)

She won't have been writing the book for four months by the end of October.

Negative sentences seem to sound somewhat unnatural. Probably because the answer to a question like, "Will she have been teaching for 30 years this year?", would simply be, "No, I don't think so".

Questions: What is inversion?

Inversion involves swapping (inverting) the position of an auxiliary verb and subject in a sentence. The most common use of inversion is forming interrogative sentences (questions).
Sentence Earth is small compared to ther planets I am thirsty My name is Question Is Earth small compared to other planets? Am I thirsty? Is my name Mark?

If there is no auxiliary verb in the sentence, one needs to be added when you invert the word order.
Sentence Earth is small compared to ther planets I am thirsty My name is Andrew had problems with health It belongs to Emma She looked tired Question Is Earth small compared to other planets? Am I thirsty? Is my name Mark? Did Andrew have problems with health? Does it belong to Emma? Did she look tired?

Inversion is also used in emphasizing and in conditional sentences.

Read more... Auxiliary verb Will etc.

Subject I/a dog

Auxiliary verb have

Auxiliary verb been ing)

Present participle going, doing (verb +

Will he have been writing the composition for a month by the end of February?

Questions beginning with "how long" are more common:

How long will you have been learning German this year? How long will you have been trying to get your driving license this week? I hope you'll finally make it!