TENSES

FORMS (Affirmative - A/Negative - N - Q)

A: I

Question

USE 1-to talk about general truth and permanent actions(facts):

The Earth rotates round its axis. It rains a lot in autumn. I speak English and French.

TIME PHRASES

INDEFINITE (SIMPLE)

PRESENT

He/she/it You/we/they
N: I

work. works. work.

do not (dont) work. He/she/it does not (doesnt) work_. You/we/they do not (dont) work. Does Do I work? he/she/it work_? you/we/they work?

2-to talk about repeated, customary actions:

He gets up at 8 oclock every morning. They never listen to their teacher.

Q: Do

always, every day/month/year never, often, normally, seldom, sometimes, usually, twice a week/day, all the time

3-to talk about a planned future action (a timetable or schedule )

The train leaves at 3 tomorrow.

PAST

Regular verbs + ed : worked, played, Irregular verbs II column: went, ate

A: I

1-to talk about actions performed in the past (with finished time expressions):
I met my friend yesterday. Did you go to the seaside last summer?

He/she/it You/we/they
N: I

worked /went. worked/went. worked/went .

2-to talk about a succession of past actions (stories):

He opened the door, switched on the light and fed his cat.

did not (didnt) work_/go. He/she/it did not (didnt) work_/go. You/we/they did not (didnt) work_/go. Did he/she/it Did you/we/they work_/go? work_/go? work_/go?

yesterday, 2 minutes/hours/ days/years ago, in 1970, the other day, last month/year/ week/ Sunday

Q: Did I

3- to talk about an action taking place in the middle of another action:

He fell asleep while the teacher was explaining new grammar rules.

FUTURE

1-to talk about future actions:

A: I/we

He/she/it You/they
N: I/we

shall*/ will will will

work. work. work.

Ill call you tomorrow. Mary will get a present next month.

shall not (shant) * work will not (wont) work. will not (wont) work. will not (wont) work.

He/she/it You/they
Q: Shall/will

2-to predict the future (with probably, I expect..., I'm sure..., (I) think..., don't think, I wonder..., perhaps)
I think it will rain tomorrow. Perhaps she'll be late. I don't think the exam will be very difficult.

I/we work? Will he/she/it work? Will you/they work? *NOTE!!! Shall is used mostly in the questions shall I?/shall we? In spoken English we normally use Ill and well.

3- to express intention at the moment of decision:

Do you like these shoes? - Yes, I'll buy them.

4-in the 1 st type of conditional sentences

If the weather is fine, we ll go to the country.

tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, one of these days, next week/month/ year etc., soon, in the near future, some day, in two days/five minutes/a month etc.

TENSES

FORMS (Affirmative - A/Negative - N Question - Q)

USE

TIME PHRASES

CONTINUOUS (progressive)

PRESENT

to be (am/is/are) + verb + -ing

A: I

He/she/is You/we/they
N: I

am (Im) working. is (hes) working. are (were) working.

1-to talk about actions that are happening now, at the moment of speaking: Look! The boys are playing football. Hurry up! The train is coming. 2- to talk about actions that are happening around now, but not exactly at the moment of speaking: We are studying very hard these days. We have to prepare for our exams. 3-to speak about what you have already arranged to do: -What are you doing on Saturday? -I am meeting my friend at the station. She is arriving at 8 pm. 1-to talk about a temporary action taking place at a given moment in the past: What were you doing at 6 oclock yesterday? 2-two or more actions happening at the same time in the past: She was cooking dinner and her kids were watching TV. 3- action interrupted by another shorter action in the past: I was working on computer when the telephone rang. 4- background information in a story: The sun was shining and the birds were singing

am not (Im not) working. He/she/it is not (isnt) working. You/we/they/ are not (arent) working. I he/she/we you/we/they working? working? working?

Q: Am

Is Are PAST

now, at the moment, at present; Look!, Listen! these days, this morning, today

to be(was/were) + verb + -ing

A: I

He/she/it You/we/they
N: I

was was were

working. working. working.

was not (wasnt) working. He/she/it was not (wasnt) working. You/we/they were not (werent) working. Was Were I he/she/it you/we/they working? working? working?

at 6 oclock yesterday, from 3 to 6 On Monday, when Mum came, while

Q: Was

FUTURE

shall/will + be + verb +ing

A: I/we

He/she/it You/they
N: I/we

shall*/will be working. will be working. will be working.

1- to talk about an action at a particular moment in the future. The action will start before that moment but it will not have finished at that moment:
I will be playing tennis at 10am tomorrow. This time on Sunday I'll be bathing in the sea. When you arrive, he will be waiting for you.

shall not (shant) *be working. will not (wont) be working. be working. be working.

at 5 oclock tomorrow, this time on Sunday, when I come

He/she/it will not (wont) You/they will not (wont)

Q: Shall/will

Will Will

*NOTE!!! Shall is used mostly in the questions shall I?/shall we? In spoken English we normally use Ill and well.

I/we be working? he/she/it be working? you/they be working?

TENSES

FORMS (Affirmative - A/Negative - N Question - Q)

have/has +participle II FORMS regular verbs +ed worked, (Affirmative - A/Negative - N asked Question - Q) -irregular verbs-III column A: I/we/you/they have worked/gone. gone, eaten He/she/it has worked/gone. N: I/we/you/they have not (havent) worked/gone. He/she/it not (hasnt) worked/gone. A: I we/you/they has have been working. He/she/it has been working. Q: Have I/we/you/they work ed/gone? he/she/it work ed/gone ? . N: Has I/we/you/they have not (havent) been working He/she/it has not (hasnt) been working. Q: Have Has I/we/you/they he/she/it been working? been working?

USE

TIME PHRASES

perfect

PRESENT

-is always connected with the

already, ever,

TENSES

Perfect continuous

present and the only thing which just, never, matters here is the result: the time not yet, so TIME when the action took place is of no USE far, till now, PHRASES importance: I have lost my keys. I cant open the up to now , of door. lately, 1-to say how long things have been late, for, since; 1-to talk about a completed action continuing up to now: recently; with How connected with the present: Ive been learning English for six for long? and since; I have seen this film and I can years. discuss it with you now. with This is Its been raining all day. 2-questions in the Present Perfect 2-to say how we have been filling never start with when: our time (up to now) When did you see this film? -Your hands are dirty. -Ive been painting the walls. 3-with this morning/evening, today this week, this year (when the time periods are not finished at the time of speaking): Have you called you mother today?

PRESENT

the first time this morning/ evening, today, this week, this year

PAST PAST

had +participle II - regular verbs +ed : worked, asked -irregular verbs-III column: gone, eaten A: I /we/you/they had been working. A: I/you/we/they had worked /gone .. He/she/it had been work ing He/she/it had worked/gone. N: I/we/you/they had not (hadnt) been working. N: He/she/it I/we/you/we/they had hadnot not(hadnt) (hadnt)been worked /gone . work ing. He/she it had not (hadnt) worked/gone. Q: Had I/we/you/they been working? Q: Had worked /gone ? Had I/you/we/they he/she/it been work ing ? Had he/she/it worked/gone?

+ A: I/we shall/will shall/will * have have been working. He/she/it will +participle II have been working. You/they will have been working.
A: I/we shall*/will have worked/gone. N:He/she/it I/we shall not (shant)* have been working. will have worked/gone.
not You/theywill will (wont) have worked/gone. will not (wont)* have have been working. N: He/she/it I/we shall not (shant) worked/gone. You/they will not (wont) have been working. will not (wont) will not Q:He/she/it Shall/will I/we(wont) have been working? You/they will he/she/it not (wont) have have been worked/gone. Will working? Will you/they have been working? I/we he/she/it you/they have worked/gone? have worked/gone? have worked/gone?

1-denotes an action completed when I before a certain moment in the entered, by 5 past; it is not used to denote a 1-denotes an action which began oclock since, for succession of actions (Past before a definite moment in the yesterday, Simple): past, continued up to that moment She has already finished her work (with the and was still going on at the when he came. same moment: But: When I wrote the letter, I We could not go out because it had adverbs as posted it.(Past Simple been raining for two hours. Present succession of actions) 2-denotes an action which was no By the time the police arrived ,he Perfect but in longer going on at a definite had already disappeared. moment in the past, but which had the past 2-with the been in progress not long before: context); no conjunctions(hardly/scarcely/ The babys face was red and wet. He sooner nearly/barely + when) had been crying. I had hardly done it when they than came. 1-denotes an action whichthan will begin for No sooner had they arrived it before definite moment in the started toa rain. future, will continue up to the moment and will be going on at that 1-denotes an action completed by this time moment: before a definite moment in the You will have been waiting for more tomorrow, by future: than two hours when her 2 oclock She will have finished thisplane work finally by arrives. tomorrow, 2 oclock tomorrow. In the I will have been studying The filmfall will have already started when you here for 2 we years. by the time come .Hurry up! He will be tired when he arrives. He come back will have been travelling for 24 *NOTE!!! hours. Shall is used mostly
in the questions shall I?/shall we? In spoken English we normally use Ill and well.

FUTUREFUTURE

Q: Shall/will Will Will

have/has + been + verb + -ing

NOTE!!! We dont use Present Perfect Cont. with be, know , have and other non-progressive verbs:

How long have you had your car? (Present Perfect)

had + been + verb + -ing

shall/will + have + been+ verb + -ing

*NOTE!!! Shall is used mostly in the questions shall I?/shall we? In spoken English we normally use Ill and well.