VERB TENSES
SIMPLE PRESENT
Events or situations that exist always, usually, habitually. They exist now, have existed in the past, and probably will exist in the future.
It expresses general statement of fact and timeless truths.
It expresses habitual or everyday activities.
It snows in Alaska.
SIMPLE PAST
Things that happened at one particular time in the past.
Something that began and ended in the past.
It snowed yesterday.
SIMPLE FUTURE
At one particular time I n the future, this will happen.
It will snow tomorrow.
PROGRESSIVE TENSES
They give the idea that the action is in progress during a particular time.
PRESENT PROGRESSIVE
The action is in progress at the present time, and probably will continue.
Something generally in progress this week, this month, this year.
Tom is sleeping right now.
PAST PROGRESSIVE
The action was in progress at a particular time in the past.
Tom was sleeping when I arrived.
FUTURE PROGRESSIVE
The action will begin before another action, and it will be in progress at a particular time-
Tom will be sleeping when we arrive.
PERFECT TENSES
They give the idea that one thing happens before another thing or event.
PRESENT PERFECT
Something that began in the past and continues in the present.
I have been here for two hours.
Something that happened in the past without mentioning when.
I have gone to Mexico.
Something that has happened several times.
I have seen that movie three times.
PAST PERFECT
An activity that began and was finished before another activity began in the past.
I had left when he arrived.
FUTURE PERFECT
An activity that will be completely finished before another time in the future.
Tom will have graduated by the year 2010.
PERFECT PROGRESSIVE TENSES
They give the idea that one event is in progress immediately before, up to, until another time or event. The tenses are used to express the duration of the first event.
PRESENT PERFECT PROGRESSIVE
Event that is in progress
Tom has been studying for two hours.
PAST PERFECT PROGRESSIVE
Event was in progress
Tom had been studying for two hours before his friend came.
FUTURE PERFECT PROGRESSIVE
Event will be in progress before another event in the future.
Tom will have been studying for two hours by the time his friend arrives.
SPELLING OF ING AND ED FORMS
1. verbs that end in a consonant and e:
Drop e and add ing.
Hope hopinghoped Date dating dated Injure injuring injured
ONE-SYLLABLE VERBS
1. consonant-vowel-consonant: double consonant
Stop stopping stopped Rob robbing robbed Beg begging begged
2ND SYLLABLE STRESSED
Begin beginning Prefer preferring preferred Control controlling controlled
VERBS THAT END IN Y
1. consonant-y: add ing, change to ied
Study studying studied Try trying tried Reply replying replied
2. vowel-y: add ing, add ed
Enjoy enjoying enjoyed Pray praying prayed
VERBS THAT END IN IE
Die dying died
Lie lying lied
STATIVE VERBS
They describe states, conditions or situations that exist. They are not used I n progressive tenses.
The food tastes good. Exception: The chef is tasting the food.
VERBS WITH STATIVE MEANING
Mental state: Know need Realize desire Understand Recognize Believe Feel Suppose
STATIVE AND PROGRESSIVE
Think Imagine Doubt Remember Forget Want Mean
EMOTIONAL STATE
love like appreciate please prefer hate dislike fear envy mind care astonish amaze surprise
POSSESSION
possess own belong
Exception: have
SENSE PERCEPTIONS
Hear
Both: taste smell feel see
OTHER EXISTING STATES
seem sound resemble look like owe equal exist matter consist of contain Both: look appear cost weigh be include
AM/IS/ARE BEING+ADJECTIVE
1. be+adjective: expresses stative meaning
Ann is sick
2. sometimes be+an adjective is used in progressive to describe a temporary, in-progress behavior
He is being foolish.
ADJECTIVES THAT CAN BE USED WITH AM/IS/ARE BEING
bad careful cruel fair foolish funny generous good illogical impolite irresponsible kind lazy logical loud nice noisy patient pleasant polite quiet responsible rude serious silly unfair unkind unpleasant
ADJECTIVES THAT CANNOT BE USED WITH AM/IS/ARE BEING
angry beautiful handsome happy healthy hungry lucky
nervous sick tall thirsty young old
PRONUNCIATION OF ED ENDINGS
1. /t/ for voiceless sounds k,p,s,ch,sh,f Looked Clapped Missed Watched Finished Laughed
2. /d/: voiced sounds l, v,n,b, all the vowels
Smelled Saved Cleaned Robbed Played
3. /ed/ t or d
Decided Needed Wanted Invited
TROUBLESOME VERBS
transitive
raised raised raised
set set set
lay laid laid
Intransitive
rise rose risen
sit sat sat
lie lay lain
SENTENCES IS SIMPLE PAST CONTAINING WHEN
If a sentence has when and has the simple past in both clauses, the action in the when clause happens first:
Rita stood under a tree when it began to rain.
When he heard the sound, he got up to investigate.
PAST PROGRESSIVE AND SIMPLE PAST
I was walking down the street when it began to rain.
The progressive action happened first.
PROGRESSIVE VERBS WITH ALWAYS TO COMPLAIN
He is always leaving his dirty clothes on the floor.
Expresses annoyance and anger
always, forever, constantly
USE OF AFTER AND BEFORE WITH PAST PERFECT
Past perfect is not necessary
Sam had left before Ann arrived. Sam left before Ann arrived.
After the guests had left, I went to bed. After the guests left, I when to bed.