Present Simple Tense
How
do we make the Present Simple Tense?
subject
|
+
|
auxiliary verb
|
+
|
main verb
|
|
|
do
|
|
base
|
There are three important exceptions:
- For positive sentences, we do not normally use the
auxiliary.
- For the 3rd person singular (he, she, it), we add s
to the main verb or es to the auxiliary.
- For the verb to be, we do not use an auxiliary,
even for questions and negatives.
Look at these examples with the main
verb like:
|
subject
|
auxiliary verb
|
|
main verb
|
|
+
|
I, you, we, they
|
|
|
like
|
coffee.
|
He, she, it
|
|
|
likes
|
coffee.
|
-
|
I, you, we, they
|
do
|
not
|
like
|
coffee.
|
He, she, it
|
does
|
not
|
like
|
coffee.
|
?
|
Do
|
I, you, we, they
|
|
like
|
coffee?
|
Does
|
he, she, it
|
|
like
|
coffee?
|
Look at these examples with the main
verb be. Notice that there is no auxiliary:
|
subject
|
main verb
|
|
|
+
|
I
|
am
|
|
French.
|
You, we, they
|
are
|
|
French.
|
He, she, it
|
is
|
|
French.
|
-
|
I
|
am
|
not
|
old.
|
You, we, they
|
are
|
not
|
old.
|
He, she, it
|
is
|
not
|
old.
|
?
|
Am
|
I
|
|
late?
|
Are
|
you, we, they
|
|
late?
|
Is
|
he, she, it
|
|
late?
|
How
do we use the Present Simple Tense?
We use the present simple tense
when:
- the action is general
- the action happens all the time, or habitually, in the
past, present and future
- the action is not only happening now
- the statement is always true
John
drives a taxi.
|
past
|
present
|
future
|
|
It
is John's job to drive a taxi. He does it every day. Past, present and
future.
|
Look at these examples:
- I live in New York.
- The Moon goes round the Earth.
- John drives a taxi.
- He does not drive a bus.
- We meet every Thursday.
- We do not work at night.
- Do you play football?
Note that with the verb to be,
we can also use the present simple tense for situations that are not general.
We can use the present simple tense to talk about now. Look at these
examples of the verb "to be" in the present simple tense - some of
them are general, some of them are now:
Am
I right?
Tara is not at home.
You are happy.
|
past
|
present
|
future
|
|
The
situation is now.
|
I
am not fat.
Why are you so beautiful?
Ram is tall.
|
past
|
present
|
future
|
|
The
situation is general. Past, present and future.
|
Simple Forms
Present
Tense
Present tense expresses an unchanging, repeated, or reoccurring action or
situation that exists only now. It can also represent a widespread truth.
Example
|
Meaning
|
The
mountains are tall and white.
|
Unchanging
action
|
Every
year, the school council elects new members.
|
Recurring
action
|
Pb is
the chemical symbol for lead.
|
Widespread
truth
|
Past Tense
Past tense expresses an action or situation that was started and finished in
the past. Most past tense verbs end in
-ed. The irregular verbs have
special
past tense forms which must be memorized.
Example
|
Form
|
W.W.II ended
in 1945.
|
Regular
-ed past
|
Ernest
Hemmingway wrote "The Old Man and the Sea."
|
Irregular
form
|
Future
Tense
Future tense expresses an action or situation that will occur in the future.
This tense is formed by using
will/
shall with the
simple form of
the verb.
The speaker of the House will finish her term in May
of 1998.
The future tense can also be expressed by using
am,
is, or
are
with
going to.
The surgeon is going to perform the first bypass in
Minnesota.
We can also use the
present tense form
with an adverb or
adverbial phrase to show future time.
The president speaks tomorrow. (Tomorrow is a future
time adverb.)
Progressive Forms
Present Progressive Tense
Present progressive tense describes an ongoing action that is happening at
the same time the statement is written. This tense is formed by using
am/
is/
are
with the verb form ending in
-ing.
The sociologist is examining the effects that racial
discrimination has on society.
Past Progressive Tense
Past progressive tense describes a past action which was happening when
another action occurred. This tense is formed by using
was/
were
with the verb form ending in
-ing.
The explorer was explaining the lastest discovery in
Egypt when protests began on the streets.
Future Progressive Tense
Future progressive tense describes an ongoing or continuous action that will
take place in the future. This tense is formed by using
will be or
shall
be with the verb form ending in
-ing.
Dr. Jones will be presenting ongoing research on
sexist language next week.
Perfect Forms
Present Perfect Tense
Present perfect tense describes an action that happened at an indefinite
time in the past or that began in the past and continues in the present.This
tense is formed by using
has/
have with the
past participle
of the verb. Most past participles end in
-ed. Irregular verbs have
special
past participles that must be memorized.
Example
|
Meaning
|
The
researchers have traveled to many countries in order to collect more
significant data.
|
At an
indefinite time
|
Women have
voted in presidential elections since 1921.
|
Continues
in the present
|
Past
Perfect Tense
Past perfect tense describes an action that took place in the past before
another past action. This tense is formed by using
had with the
past
participle of the verb.
By the time the troops arrived, the war had ended.
Future Perfect Tense
Future perfect tense describes an action that will occur in the future
before some other action. This tense is formed by using
will have with
the
past participle of the verb.
By the time the troops arrive, the combat group will have
spent several weeks waiting.
Perfect Progressive Forms
Present Perfect Progressive
Present perfect progressive tense describes an action that began in the
past, continues in the present, and may continue into the future. This tense is
formed by using
has/
have been and the
present
participle of the verb (the verb form ending in
-ing).
The CEO has been considering a transfer to the state
of Texas where profits would be larger.
Past Perfect Progressive
Past perfect progressive tense describes a past, ongoing action that was
completed before some other past action. This tense is formed by using
had
been and the
present perfect of the verb (the verb form ending in
-ing).
Before the budget cuts, the students had been
participating in many extracurricular activities.
Future Perfect Progressive
Future perfect progressive tense describes a future, ongoing action that
will occur before some specified future time. This tense is formed by using
will
have been and the
present participle of the verb (the verb form
ending in
-ing).
By the year 2020, linguists will have been studying
and defining the Indo-European language family for more than 200 years.
Past Perfect
FORM
[had + past participle]
Examples:
- You had studied English before
you moved to New York.
- Had you studied English before you
moved to New York?
- You had not studied English before you
moved to New York.
Complete
List of Past Perfect Forms
USE
1 Completed Action Before Something in the Past
The Past Perfect expresses the idea that something
occurred before another action in the past. It can also show that something
happened before a specific time in the past.
Examples:
- I had never seen such a beautiful
beach before I went to Kauai.
- I did not have any money
because I had
lost my wallet.
- Tony knew Istanbul so
well because he had
visited the city several times.
- Had Susan ever studied Thai before she
moved to Thailand?
- She only understood the
movie because she had
read the book.
- Kristine had never been to an opera before
last night.
- We were not able to get a
hotel room because we had
not booked in advance.
- A: Had you ever visited the U.S. before
your trip in 2006?
B: Yes, I
had
been to the U.S. once before.
USE
2 Duration Before Something in the Past (Non-Continuous Verbs)
With Non-Continuous Verbs
and some non-continuous uses of Mixed Verbs,
we use the Past Perfect to show that something started in the past and
continued up until another action in the past.
Examples:
- We had had that car for ten
years before it broke down.
- By the time Alex finished
his studies, he had
been in London for over eight years.
- They felt bad about
selling the house because they had
owned it for more than forty years.
Although the
above use of Past Perfect is normally limited to Non-Continuous Verbs and
non-continuous uses of Mixed Verbs, the words "live,"
"work," "teach," and "study" are sometimes used
in this way even though they are NOT Non-Continuous Verbs.
IMPORTANT
Specific Times with the Past Perfect
Unlike with the Present
Perfect, it is possible to use specific time words or phrases with
the Past Perfect. Although this is possible, it is usually not necessary.
Example:
- She had visited her Japanese
relatives once in 1993 before she moved in with them in 1996.
MOREOVER
If the Past Perfect action did occur at a specific
time, the Simple Past can be used instead of the Past Perfect when
"before" or "after" is used in the sentence. The words
"before" and "after" actually tell you what happens first,
so the Past Perfect is optional. For this reason, both sentences below are
correct.
Examples:
- She had visited her Japanese
relatives once in 1993 before she moved in with them in 1996.
- She visited her Japanese
relatives once in 1993 before she moved in with them in 1996.
HOWEVER
If the Past Perfect is not referring to an action at
a specific time, Past Perfect is not optional. Compare the examples below. Here
Past Perfect is referring to a lack of experience rather than an action at a
specific time. For this reason, Simple Past cannot be used.
Examples:
- She never saw a bear before she
moved to Alaska. Not
Correct
- She had never seen a bear before she
moved to Alaska. Correct
ADVERB
PLACEMENT
The examples below show the placement for grammar
adverbs such as: always, only, never, ever, still, just, etc.
Examples:
- You had previously studied English
before you moved to New York.
- Had you previously studied English
before you moved to New York?
ACTIVE
/ PASSIVE
Examples:
- George had repaired many cars
before he received his mechanic's license. Active
- Many cars had been repaired by
George before he received his mechanic's license. Passive
Future Perfect
Future Perfect has two different forms: "will
have done" and "be going to have done." Unlike Simple Future
forms, Future Perfect forms are usually interchangeable.
FORM
Future Perfect with "Will"
[will have + past participle]
Examples:
- You will have perfected your
English by the time you come back from the U.S.
- Will you have perfected your
English by the time you come back from the U.S.?
- You will not have perfected
your English by the time you come back from the U.S.
FORM
Future Perfect with "Be Going To"
[am/is/are + going to have + past participle]
Examples:
- You are going to have perfected
your English by the time you come back from the U.S.
- Are you going to have perfected
your English by the time you come back from the U.S.?
- You are not going to have perfected
your English by the time you come back from the U.S.
NOTE: It is possible to use either "will"
or "be going to" to create the Future Perfect with little or no
difference in meaning.
USE
1 Completed Action Before Something in the Future
The Future Perfect expresses the idea that something
will occur before another action in the future. It can also show that something
will happen before a specific time in the future.
Examples:
- By next November, I will have received my
promotion.
- By the time he gets home, she is going to have cleaned
the entire house.
- I am not going to have finished
this test by 3 o'clock.
- Will she have learned enough Chinese
to communicate before she moves
to Beijing?
- Sam is probably going to have completed
the proposal by the time he leaves
this afternoon.
- By the time I finish this course, I will have taken ten tests.
- How many countries are you going to have visited by
the time you turn
50?
Notice in the examples above that the reference
points (marked in italics) are in Simple Present
rather than Simple
Future. This is because the interruptions are in time clauses,
and you cannot use future tenses in time clauses.
USE
2 Duration Before Something in the Future (Non-Continuous Verbs)
With Non-Continuous Verbs
and some non-continuous uses of Mixed Verbs, we use
the Future Perfect to show that something will continue up until another action
in the future.
Examples:
- I will have been in London
for six months by the time I leave.
- By Monday, Susan is going to have had my
book for a week.
Although the above use of Future Perfect is normally
limited to Non-Continuous Verbs and non-continuous uses of Mixed Verbs, the
words "live," "work," "teach," and
"study" are sometimes used in this way even though they are NOT
Non-Continuous Verbs.
REMEMBER
No Future in Time Clauses
Like all future forms, the Future Perfect cannot be
used in clauses beginning with time expressions such as: when, while, before,
after, by the time, as soon as, if, unless, etc. Instead of Future Perfect, Present Perfect
is used.
Examples:
- I am going to see a movie
when I will have finished my
homework. Not Correct
- I am going to see a movie
when I have finished my homework.
Correct
ADVERB
PLACEMENT
The examples below show the placement for grammar adverbs
such as: always, only, never, ever, still, just, etc.
Examples:
- You will only have learned a few
words.
- Will you only have learned a few
words?
- You are only going to have learned
a few words.
- Are you only going to have learned
a few words?
ACTIVE
/ PASSIVE
Examples:
- They will have completed the
project before the deadline. Active
- The project will have been completed
before the deadline. Passive
- They are going to have completed
the project before the deadline. Active
- The project is going to have been completed
before the deadline. Passive
Future Perfect Continuous
Future Perfect Continuous has two different forms:
"will have been doing " and "be going to have been doing."
Unlike Simple
Future forms, Future Perfect Continuous forms are usually interchangeable.
FORM
Future Perfect Continuous with "Will"
[will have been + present participle]
Examples:
- You will have been waiting for
more than two hours when her plane finally arrives.
- Will you have been waiting for more
than two hours when her plane finally arrives?
- You will not have been waiting
for more than two hours when her plane finally arrives.
FORM
Future Perfect Continuous with "Be Going To"
[am/is/are + going to have been + present
participle]
Examples:
- You are going to have been waiting
for more than two hours when her plane finally arrives.
- Are you going to have been waiting
for more than two hours when her plane finally arrives?
- You are not going to have been waiting
for more than two hours when her plane finally arrives.
NOTE: It is possible to use either "will"
or "be going to" to create the Future Perfect Continuous with little
or no difference in meaning.
USE
1 Duration Before Something in the Future
We use the Future Perfect Continuous to show that
something will continue up until a particular event or time in the future.
"For five minutes," "for two weeks," and "since
Friday" are all durations which can be used with the Future Perfect
Continuous. Notice that this is related to the Present
Perfect Continuous and the Past
Perfect Continuous; however, with Future Perfect Continuous, the duration
stops at or before a reference point in the future.
Examples:
- They will have been talking for
over an hour by the time Thomas arrives.
- She is going to have been working
at that company for three years when it finally closes.
- James will have been teaching at
the university for more than a year by the time he leaves for Asia.
- How long will you have been studying when
you graduate?
- We are going to have been driving
for over three days straight when we get
to Anchorage.
- A: When you finish your English course, will you have been living in New
Zealand for over a year?
B: No, I
will
not have been living here that long.
Notice in the examples above that the reference
points (marked in italics) are in Simple Present
rather than Simple
Future. This is because these future events are in time clauses,
and you cannot use future tenses in time clauses.
USE
2 Cause of Something in the Future
Using the Future Perfect Continuous before another
action in the future is a good way to show cause and effect.
Examples:
- Jason will be tired when
he gets home because he will
have been jogging for over an hour.
- Claudia's English will be
perfect when she returns to Germany because she is going to have been studying
English in the United States for over two years.
Future
Continuous vs. Future Perfect Continuous
If you do not include a duration such as "for
five minutes," "for two weeks" or "since Friday," many
English speakers choose to use the Future Continuous rather than the Future
Perfect Continuous. Be careful because this can change the meaning of the
sentence. Future Continuous emphasizes interrupted actions, whereas Future
Perfect Continuous emphasizes a duration of time before something in the
future. Study the examples below to understand the difference.
Examples:
- He will be tired because
he will be exercising so
hard.
This sentence emphasizes that he will be
tired because he will be exercising at that exact moment in the future.
He will be tired because
he will have been exercising
so hard.
This sentence emphasizes that he will be
tired because he will have been exercising for a period of time. It is
possible that he will still be exercising at that moment OR that he will
just have finished.
REMEMBER
No Future in Time Clauses
Like all future forms, the Future Perfect Continuous
cannot be used in clauses beginning with time expressions such as: when, while,
before, after, by the time, as soon as, if, unless, etc. Instead of Future
Perfect Continuous, Present
Perfect Continuous is used.
Examples:
- You won't get a promotion
until you will
have been working here as long as Tim. Not Correct
- You won't get a promotion
until you have
been working here as long as Tim. Correct
AND
REMEMBER Non-Continuous Verbs / Mixed Verbs
It is important to remember that Non-Continuous Verbs
cannot be used in any continuous tenses. Also, certain non-continuous meanings
for Mixed Verbs
cannot be used in continuous tenses. Instead of using Future Perfect Continuous
with these verbs, you must use Future Perfect .
Examples:
- Ned will have been having his
driver's license for over two years. Not
Correct
- Ned will have had his driver's
license for over two years. Correct
ADVERB
PLACEMENT
The examples below show the placement for grammar
adverbs such as: always, only, never, ever, still, just, etc.
Examples:
- You will only have been waiting for
a few minutes when her plane arrives.
- Will you only have been waiting for
a few minutes when her plane arrives?
- You are only going to have been
waiting for a few minutes when her plane arrives.
- Are you only going to have been
waiting for a few minutes when her plane arrives?
ACTIVE
/ PASSIVE
Examples:
- The famous artist will have been painting
the mural for over six months by the time it is finished. Active
- The mural will have been being painted
by the famous artist for over six months by the time it is finished. Passive
- The famous artist is going to have been painting
the mural for over six months by the time it is finished. Active
- The mural is going to have been being painted
by the famous artist for over six months by the time it is finished. Passive
NOTE: Passive forms of the Future Perfect Continuous
are not common.
