THE SIMPLE TENSES

Simple Present Tense

What is the simple present tense? This is the verb tense which looks the same as the basic verb form: I know her. The men sleep here. After he, she, it and other singular words we add s He knows her. The cat sleeps here. Common mistakes in forming the simple present Charles is drive a taxi. Charles drives a taxi. Jamils shop dont sells books. Jamils shop dont sell books. Do you liking fast food Do you like fast food ? Exercise : Underline the verb in each sentence. Add final s/-es to the verb if necessary. Do not change any other words. 1. My mother worry about me. My mother worries about me. 2. A student buy a lot of books at the beginning of each term. 3. Mr. Wong teach Chinese at the university. 4. Mrs. Taylor never cross the street in the middle of a block. She always walk to the corner and use the pedestrian walkway. 5. Many parts of the world enjoy four seasons : springs, summer, autumn, and winter. Each season last three months and bring changes in the weather.

Simple Past Tense

What is the simple past tense ? Simple past verbs consist of one word only. For normal regular verbs, add ed to the basic verb form. (In this tense, we do not use s after he, she, etc.). Irregular verbs have special simple past forms: e.g. the past of speak is spoke . Note: was and were are the simple past of is and are Common mistakes in forming the simple past Jalil is saw your cousin yesterday. Jalil saw your cousin yesterday. Jalil was see your cousin yesterday. Jalil saw your cousin yesterday.

Exercise : Complete each sentence with the correct simple past tense. Example : 1. Maria walked to school today. Rebecca _drove_ (drive) her car. Olga _rode_ (ride) her bicycle. Yoko _took_ (take) the bus 2. My husband gave me a painting for my birthday. I ______ (hang) it on a wall in my office. 3. When I introduced Pedro to Ming, they ______ (shake) hands and greeted each other. 4. Maria ______ (walk) into her new house and ______ (slump) into a large chair. 5. Ms. Manning ________ ( teach) chemistry at the local high school last year.

Simple Future Tense

What is the simple future tense ? The easiest, most general way to refer to the future is to use will. After will we must use the basic verb form. For example : The postman will come soon. Exercise : Complete the sentences with be going to or will 1. A: Why did you buy this flour ? B: I am going to make some bread. 2. A : Could someone get me a glass of water ? B : Certainly, I____ get you one. 3. A: What are your vacation plans ? B: We ________ spend two weeks on a Greek island. 4. A: Do you want to walk to the meeting together ? B : Okay. I ________ meet you by the elevator. Okay ? A: Okay. I ________ wait for you there. 5. A: Do you have a car ? B : Yes, but I ________ sell it. I do not need it now that I live in the city.

THE PROGRESSIVE TENSES

Present Progressive Tense
What is the present progressive tense ? The present progressive tense is used to refer to an activity which happens now. However, we do not use the present continuous with some verbs. The most common ones are: Verbs about thinking : agree, believe ,know, understand, forget ,remember . Verbs about feeling : want, wish, prefer, like, dislike, love, hate. Verbs about owning : belong to, own, possess. Common mistakes in forming the present continuous. Swee Ping working in the kitchen just now. Swee Ping is working in the kitchen just now. That man is ride his bicycle very badly. That man is riding his bicycle very badly. Where do you go now ? Where are you going now ? Exercise : Complete the sentences with the present progressive tense. Right now is sitting (sit) at his desk. He ___________(study) his grammar book. His roommate, Oscar, __________(sit) at his desk, but he ___________ (study, not). He ________ (stare) out the window.

Past Progressive Tense

What is the past progressive tense ? This tense is like the present continuous except that it refers to the past activity. Exercise : Write the correct past continuous form of the verbs in brackets. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. This time last week I was relaxing (relax) in Cameron Highlands. When we visited Mr Kwoks house, the children ___________ (play) outside. I recognized the thief because he __________ (carry) my car radio. The policeman stopped Megat because he _________ (not observe) the speed limit. I could not enter the function because __________ (not wear) a tie.

Future Progressive Tense

What is the future progressive tense ? This tense indicates continuing action, something that will be happening and going on at some point in the future. This tense is formed with will or shall + be + ing. Exercise: Complete these sentences using the future progressive tense. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. He will be listening (listen) to the radio if it rains tonight. We ____________ (catch) if the weather is fine next week. I ____________(leave) at that time tomorrow. Next week, she _________ (fly) to Japan. We _________ (prepare) for the event next month.

THE PERFECT TENSES

Present Perfect Tense
What is the present perfect tense ? This tense is used to refer to actions began in the past and continuing up to the present moment. Common mistakes in forming the present perfect I seen that film already. I have seen that film already. Jenny has went to the market. Jenny has gone to the market. Exercise : Complete these sentences using the present perfect tense. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. The security guard has spotted (spot) a suspicious character loitering around the lobby. Ivy is worried. She ________ (not hear) from her son recently. My mother is happy in this house. She _________ (live) here for twenty years. I ________(receive) your fax, and I am thinking about your proposal. John ______ (speak) to them.

Past Perfect Tense

What is the past perfect tense ? This tense is used to show a sequence of actions in the past and to describe an action that had finished by a certain time in the past.

Exercise : Complete these sentences using the past perfect tense. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. She told us that she had found (find) the answer. After we ______ (finish) our work, we went home. The Minister said that he ____________ (already issue) instructions. If you _________ (listen) to me, we would be all right now. We all knew that he _________ (not write) the letter.

Future Perfect Tense

What is the future perfect tense ? This tense is used to refer to something that will be completed at a definite time in the future. Exercise: Complete these sentences using the future perfect tense. 1. By the end of March they will have stayed (stay) here for two weeks. 2. Justin __________(read) the book by the end of the week. 3. You can call me at 10am. I __________ (arrive) at the office by 9am. 4. By 10pm tonight, I __________ (finish) this report. 5. By the year 2013, we __________ (move) to a larger office.