TENSES
Simple Present Tense
œ Present Tense expresses an unchanging, repeated / re – occurring action / situation that exist only now also known as widespread truth.
œ The Simple Present Tense is used to describe an action, an event or condition that is occurring in the present, at the moment of speaking or writing. It is used when the precise beginning or ending of a present action, event / condition is unknown or is unimportant to the meaning of the sentence.
œ There are two forms of the verb in the simple present tense base and s-form. Verbs in the base form are used in plural nouns / pronouns. While verbs in the s-form are used in singular nuns / pronouns.
œ Examples:
| Base Forms | S-Forms |
| I wait, you run | She waits, Abu runs |
œ There are 3 forms of the verb ‘be’....am, is and are.
œ Examples:
* I am happy.
* You are invited.
* Anne is beautiful.
Simple Past Tense
© The Simple Past Tense expresses an action or a condition completed in the past.
© The Simple Past is used to describe an action, an event / condition that occurred in the past, sometime before the moment of speaking / writing.
© Verbs divided 2 groups, depending on the way they form the past tense, the past participles. First is the regular verbs, they form their past tense by adding -ed / -d to the form of the present tense.
© Examples:
§ Claim – claimed
§ Boil – boiled
§ Announce – announced
© The other 1 is irregular verbs. They form their past tense by adding -n / -en or changing their spelling.
§ Become – became
§ Fly – flew
§ Grow – grew
§ Take – took
§ Run – ran
§ Do – did
Simple Future Tense
Ø The Simple Future Tense expresses an action that has not yet taken place.
Ø Is used to refer to actions that will take place after the act of speaking / writing.
Ø In forming the future tense of a verb, we use the auxiliary verbs shall / will with the base form of the verb. Will is used in all persons while shall is used instead of will in the 1st person.
Ø 3 ways 2 express future tense
· Future tense is formed by using: will / shall + verb base
· Examples: The classes will start at 8 am.
· Also be expressed by using: am / is / are + going to –verb base
· Examples: Michelle is going to attend a meeting next week.
Ø Maybe expressed using the simple present form of the verb with an adverb / adverbial phrase that shows future time: verb base / s-form + adverb of time
Ø Examples:
· The teacher gives quiz next meeting.
Present Perfect Tense
œ Is used for an action that began in the past continues into present.
œ Describes an action that happened at your indefinite time in the past / that began in the past and continues in the present. Formed by using: has / have + past participle of the main verb.
œ Has is always used in the 3rd persons singular.
œ Changing regular verbs into past participle, we add –d / -ed.
œ Examples:
· Jump – jumped
· Walk – walked
œ In charging irregular verbs into past participle, we add –n / -en or change spelling of the verb.
œ Example:
· Rise – risen
· Be – been
· Eat – eaten
Past Perfect Tense
Ø Also be used for an action that started in the past and has been completed at some indefinite time.
Ø Used to refer actions that took place and were completed in the past: had + past participle of the main verb
Ø Examples:
· The heat wave has lasted three weeks.
Future Perfect Tense
Ø Used for an action that began and end in the future before a particular time.
Ø Refer to an action. Formed by using: will + have + past participle of the main verb.
Ø Example:
§ The will have written their first exam by the time we get out of bed.
Present Continuous Tense
v Describes an ongoing action that is happening at the same time the statement is written. Formed by using: am / is / are + -ing form of the verb.
v Examples:
* I am hoping for a good grade.
Past Progressive Tense
ü Used to describe actions ongoing in the past.
ü Formed by combining the auxiliary verb with the present particular of verb ( -ing form): was / were + -ing form of the main verb
ü Example:
§ I was singing when you came.
Future Progressive Tense
§ Used to describe actions ongoing in the future. (Will + be + -ing form of the verb)
§ Example:
ª Lee will be working on the computer system for the next two weeks.
Present Perfect Progressive
œ Used to described an action, event or condition that has begun in the past and continues into the present. (has / have + been + -ing form of the main verb)
œ Example:
§ The dog has been barking for 3 hours.
Past Perfect Progressive
© Used to indicate that a continuing action in the past began before another past action begin or interrupted the 1st action. (had + been + -ing form of the main verb)
© Example:
· We had been talking about repainting the front room for three years.
Future Perfect Progressive
v Used to indicate a continuing action that will be completed at some specified time in the future. (will + have + been + -ing form of the main verb)
v Example:
· I will have been studying Greek for 3 years by the end of this term.
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