Verb tenses

Simple Present-He speaks.

Present Continuous: He is speaking.
Simple Past: He spoke.
Past Continuous: He was speaking.
Present Perfect Simple: He has spoken.
Present Perfect Continuous: He has been speaking.
Past Perfect Simple: He had spoken.
Past Perfect Continuous: He had been speaking.
Future Simple: He will/is going to speak.
Future Continuous: He will be speaking.
Future Perfect Simple : He will have spoken.
Future Perfect Continuous: He will have been speaking.
 Affirmative/Negative/
Tense Use Signal Words
Question

 action in the present taking always, every …, never,

Simple A: He speaks. place once, never or several normally, often, seldom,
Present N: He does not speak. times sometimes, usually
Q: Does he speak? if sentences type I (If
 facts
Italk, …)
 actions taking place one after
another
 action set by a timetable or
schedule
Present A: He is speaking.  action taking place in the at the moment, just, just
Progressive N: He is not speaking. moment of speaking now, Listen!, Look!, now,
Q: Is he speaking? right now
 action taking place only for a
limited period of time
 action arranged for the future
Simple A: He spoke.  action in the past taking yesterday, 2 minutes ago,
Past N: He did not speak. placeonce, never or several in 1990, the other day, last
Q: Did he speak? times Friday
if sentence type II (If
 actions taking place one after
Italked, …)
another
 action taking place in the
middle of another action
Past A: He was speaking.  action going on at a certain when, while, as long as
Progressive N: He was not time in the past
speaking.
 actions taking place at the
Q: Was he speaking?
same time
 action in the past that is
interrupted by another action
Present A: He has spoken.  putting emphasis on already, ever, just, never,
Perfect N: He has not spoken. the result not yet, so far, till now, up
Simple Q: Has he spoken? to now
 action that is still going on
 action that stopped recently
 finished action that has an
influence on the present
 action that has taken place
once, never or several times
before the moment of
speaking
Present A: He has been  putting emphasis on all day, for 4 years, since
Perfect speaking. the course or duration (not 1993, how long?, the whole
Progressive N: He has not been the result) week
speaking.
 action that recently stopped
Q: Has he been
or is still going on
speaking?
 finished action that influenced
the present
Past A: He had spoken.  action taking place before a already, just, never, not
Perfect N: He had not spoken. certain time in the past yet, once, until that day
Simple Q: Had he spoken? if sentence type III (If Ihad
 sometimes interchangeable
talked, …)
with past perfect progressive
 putting emphasis only on
thefact (not the duration)
Past A: He had been  action taking place before a for, since, the whole day,
Perfect speaking. certain time in the past all day
Progressive N: He had not been
 sometimes interchangeable
speaking.
with past perfect simple
Q: Had he been
speaking?  putting emphasis on
theduration or course of an
action
Future I A: He will speak.  action in the future that in a year, next …, tomorrow
Simple N: He will not speak. cannot be influenced If-Satz Typ I (If you ask her,
Q: Will he speak? she will help you.)
 spontaneous decision
assumption: I think,
 assumption with regard to the probably, perhaps
future
Future I A: He is going to speak.  decision made for the future in one year, next week,
Simple N: He is not going to tomorrow
 conclusion with regard to the
speak.
(going to) future
Q: Is he going to speak?
Future I A: He will be speaking.  action that is going on at a in one year, next week,
Progressive N: He will not be certain time in the future tomorrow
speaking.
 action that is sure to happen
Q: Will he be speaking?
in the near future
Future II A: He will have spoken.  action that will be finished at by Monday, in a week
Simple N: He will not have a certain time in the future
spoken.
Q: Will he have
spoken?
Future II A: He will have been  action taking place before a for …, the last couple of
Progressive speaking. certain time in the future hours, all day lon
N: He will not have
 putting emphasis on
been speaking.
the courseof an action
Q: Will he have been
speaking?
1.Regular and irregular verbs

Regular: verbs whose past tense and participles are formed by adding a “d” or “ed” to the verb

Ex. Roll-rolled-rolled

Irregular:

Ex: break-broke-broken

2.Troublesome verbs:

a) arise(=a apărea)-arouse(=a stârni)

-Several problems arose in the construction of the building.

-His tales aroused public’s sympathy.

b) lie (=a minți/ a sta, a fi așezat)- lay (a se oua)

-She has always lied to me./ The school lies north of the town.

-The poultry haven’t been laying too well lately.

c) find(a găsi)-found(fondat)

-I found the book.

-The book is founded on facts.

3.Present tense simple:

Form: I read a book every day

Usage:

a) general truth: The Sun rises in the morning

b) habitual action: I read a book everyday.
c) Immediate future: The plane arrives at 6.
d) Exclamations: Here comes the train!
e) To express future time in subordinate clauses of time(I’ll call you when i arrive)/of
condition(I’ll call you if i arrive)
f) Historic present: I sit quietly when this man enters without looking.

4.Present Continuous:

Form: am/are/is+ Ving

Usage:

a) action happening at the moment of speech: He is writing a book now.

b) Personal plan: I am meeting my mom at 6.
c) Annoying situations: He is always complaining.
 d) While+pres.cont: I am writing while he is listening.

5.Present Simple vs. Present continuous

-refers to an action happening in general (regularly,
often, never)
Colin plays football every Tuesday.
-present actions happening one after another
First Colin plays football, then he watches TV.
-refers to an action happening right now
Look! Colin is playing football now.
-also for several actions happening at the same
time
Colin is playing football and Anne is watching.

Signal words

 always  at the moment

 every ...  at this moment
 often  today
 normally  now
 usually
 sometimes
 seldom
 never
 first
 then
6.Past tense simple

Form: She was here yesterday.

Usage:

a) past ability : The little girl swam like a fish.

b) A completed action in the past : She went to school yesterday.
c) Past habit: When my grandmother went for a walk, she always wore gloves.
d) Conditional clauses with hypothetical meaning: If I were you, I wouldn’t do that.
e) Indirect speech- when the main clause has a verb in the past: d.s;I am here – i.s; She said
that she was there.

7.Past continuous

Form: She was always asking so many questions.

Usage:

a) Interrupted Action in the Past: I was watching TV when she called.

b) actions happening at the same time: While Ellen was reading, Tim was watching television.
c) Repeated habitual actions in the past: The child was always asking disturbing questions.
d) Gradual development: It was getting dark.
e) Polite enqueries: I was wondering if you could give me this pen.
f) Reference to future time in past: The contest was taking place the next day.

8.Past Simple vs. Past continuous

 Simple Past Past Continuous

action already in progress

new action
While I was sitting in a meeting, (my mobile suddenly
My mobile rang (when I was sitting in a meeting.) rang.)

9.Future Tense simple

Form: shall/will

Usage:

a) to Express a Prediction: Tomorrow’s weather will be cold

b) refers to events in the near future: Mary will be here soon.
c) Decisions taken on the spot: Someone’s at the door.I’ll open it.
d) To express determination: I will pass the exam.
e) Mai clauses of time clauses : I will be there when you arrive.
f) In main clauses of conditional clauses: I will do it if you shut up.
g) To make prophetic statements: In ten years time, the Central Park will be completely
changed.

10.Future Tense Continuous

Form: will be + Ving

Usage:

a) Action which will happen in the natural course of events: I will be turning 24 in April.
b) An action will last continuously from the moment of speaking until certain moment in
the future: I will be using the computer until supper time.

11. Be going to

Form: am/is/are + going to + Ving

Usage:

a) To express regret about a future action: I am going to have to report this to the
director.
b) To insist on something: I am going to sing this song even if you don’t like it.

* NO FUTURE IN TIME AND IF CLAUSES *

12. Be going to vs. Present continuous( with future meaning)

Be going to refers to future intentions that have been decided but have not been fully
planned: We're going to get married. (referring to a past decision).
The present continuous tense refers to fixed future events and emphasises that plans or
arrangements have already been made: We are getting married next month. (the wedding
has already been arranged)

13.Be going to vs. Future simple

Will (future simple) is used to express future intentions that are decided at the time of
speaking (spontaneous offers, promises and decisions): Come on, I'll help you with those
bags.

Be going to is used to express future intentions that have already been decided before the
time of speaking: I can't make it on Saturday. I'm going to help my parents around the
house.

14.Future simple vs. Future continuous

In the Simple Future, a specific time is used to show the time an action will begin or end. In
the Future Continuous, a specific time interrupts the action.

Examples:

-Tonight at 6 PM, I am going to eat dinner.

I am going to start eating at 6 PM.

-Tonight at 6 PM, I am going to be eating dinner.

I am going to start earlier and I will be in the process of eating dinner at 6 PM.

15.Other ways of expressing future time

a) present simple used for future meaning in official plans/timetables: The train leaves
at 5.
b) Present continuous used for future meaning in personal plans: I am taking an exam in
October.
c) Be to (used for future meaning) in formal arrangements: The representatives are to
meet in Paris.
d) Be about to( future meaning) to refer to immediate future: The show is about to
begin.
e) Be due to (future meaning) in timetables: The plane is due to land at 5.
f) Future in the past: be going to -> was/were going to
Be about to-> was about to
Be to -> was/were to
Be due to -> was/were due to

16.Present Perfect Simple:

Form: have/has + 3rd form of the verb

Usage:
 a) Indefinite past + adverbs of frequency(often, ever, never, rarely, sometimes) /
adverbs indicating unfinished periods of time(today, this month, this morning ): This
morning I’ve washed my clothes(It is still morning)
b) Past involving the present

->duration up to the present+for/since: I have known him for two years.

-> results persisting at the present: The taxi has arrived( you see the taxi)

c) to refer to the future only in clauses of time to express an activity finished before a
future moment of reference: We will have lunch as soon as we have visited the museum.

You CANNOT use the Present Perfect with specific time expressions such as: yesterday,
one year ago, last week, when I was a child, when I lived in Japan, at that moment, that
day, one day, etc. We CAN use the Present Perfect with unspecific expressions such as:
ever, never, once, many times, several times, before, so far, already, yet, etc.

17.Pres. perf. Simple showing duration up to the present :

->duration up to the present+for/since: I have known him for two years.

18. Pres. perf. Simple with resultative use :

-> results persisting at the present: The taxi has arrived( you see the taxi).

19. Pres. perf. Simple as indefinite past:

Indefinite past + adverbs of frequency(often, ever, never, rarely, sometimes) / adverbs

indicating unfinished periods of time(today, this month, this morning ): This morning I’ve
washed my clothes(It is still morning).

20.Pres.perf simple vs. past simple:

Pres. Perf. Simple shows an action leading up to the present(John has been punished many
times) and past simple shows an action finished in the past(Did you see the exhibition?=it’s
over)

With moments of the day:

Pres perf simple: any moment of the day that is finished : I’ve read a book this morning(it is
still morning)

Past simple: I read a book this morning.(morning is over)

21.Pres. perf. Continuous :

Form: has/have + been + Ving

Usage:
 a) Duration from the Past Until Now: She has been working at that
company for three years.
b) With verbs implying duration: sit, wait, stay, stand, study, learn, live,
rest): I’ve been waiting here all morning.
c) Long periods of time: The book has been laying here for decades.
d) Incompleteness: Who’s been drinking my beer? (I still have some)
e) Irritation, annoyance: You’ve been drinking again.
f) An activity that has recently stopped: I’ve just been reading an essay
about Shakespeare.

22.Pres. perf. Continuous vs. pres. Perf. Simple :

With event verbs : -> pres.perf.cont. : completeness ( Who has listened to my phone
call?=the call is over)

-> Pres.perf.simple: incompleteness(Who’s been listening to my phone

call?=I am still talking)

With reference to time:

->pres.perf.cont: permanent situations( Mary has worked at the school since her
graduation)

-> pres.perf.simple: temporary situations(Mary has been working at the school since her
graduation)

With a repeated action:

->the number of times the action is repeated is mentioned(I’ve read 6 of your articles)

-> the number of times the action is repeated is not mentioned( I’ve been reading articles
since lunchtime)

23.Past perf.simple:

Form: had + 3rd form of the verb

Usage:

a) Completed Action Before Something in the Past: I did not have any money because I
had lost my wallet.
b) Specific Times: She had visited her Japanese relatives once in 1993
c) Action that began before a past moment and continues in the past: I had been at
home for 2 hours when they ran up.
d) In stories/narratives: When they drove into the city, all the streets were empty and
they didn’t know how to get to the hotel Maria had told them about.
 24.Past perf. Simple vs. past simple:

Simple Past Past Perfect Simple

some time in the past before/up to a certain time in the past

Example: Jane got up at seven. She opened her Example:Before her sixth birthday, Jane had never been
birthday presents and then the whole family went to the zoo.
to the zoo.

Simple Past Past Perfect Simple

 first  already
 then  up to then
 before that day

25.Past perf. Continuous:

Form: had been + Ving

Usage:

a) something started in the past and continued up until another time in the past: They
had been talking for over an hour before Tony arrived.
b) Repeated action in the past: He had been trying to get her on the plane.
c) In reported speech: Tom told me Mary had been talking for 2 hours.

26.Past perf. Simple vs. Past perf. Continuous:

Past perf. Simple shows a single action (He had looked through the window) and past perf.
Continuous shows a repeated action (He had been trying to open the door for an hour).

Past perf. Simple shows a completed action(When i got home i found that Jack had painted
the room) and past perf. Cont. Shows an uncompleted action(When i got home i found that
Jack had been painting my room).

27.Future perfect simple:

Form: will+have+3rd form of the verb

Usage:

a) Completed Action Before Something in the Future: By next November, I will

have received my promotion.
b) In time clauses future perfect simple is replaced by present perfect : When I
have finished your book, I’ll lend it to you.
28.Future perfect continuous:

Form: will have been + Ving(present participle)

Usage:

a) To show an action will continue uninterruptedly until a particular time in the future:
They will have been talking for over an hour by the time he arrives.

*FOR ALL CONTINUOUS FORMS, THE PERIOD TIME MUST BE MENTIONED*

29.Verbs used in the continuous aspect:

a) activity verbs: drink, jump, play, eat, write

I am playing chess right now.

b)event verbs: arrive, land, leave, fall, stop

We’re arriving home tomorrow.

c)momentary verbs: hit, jump, knock, tap

You are always jumping around the house.It’s annoying.

30.Verbs never/seldom used in the continuous aspect:

a) verbs of perception: see/look/watch/notice/observe/hear/listen

to/taste/smell/touch/feel.

Ex. I’m thinking of moving to France.

b) verbs of emotion: love, like, hate

c) verbs of thinking/knowing: know, believe, think, understand, recognize, remember

d) auxiliary verbs: to be, to have, can, must, need, do