Slide 1

English Verbs
A Review of the System

Slide 2

Three Types of English Verbs

1. to be 2. Auxiliary verbs
i) to do ii) to have iii) Modal auxiliaries (can, could, may, might, must, ought to, shall, should, will, would)

3. Main verbs

Slide 3

The verb to be
to be can function as an auxiliary or as a main verb, but even as a main verb, it behaves syntactically like an auxiliary, i.e.: It is directly negated with not: He is tall > He is not tall

It is inverted to form a question: He is tall > Is he tall?

Slide 4

Syntactic Properties of Auxiliary Verbs

directly negated with not: You would go > You would not go inverted to form a question: You would go > Would you go? cannot be used alone EXCEPT:
in tag questions in short answers and additions, to avoid repetition

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Auxiliaries used alone

Tag questions You can swim, cant you? You cant swim, can you? Short answers and additions Can you swim? Yes, I can. I can swim and so can my brother. I cant swim. Neither can I.

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Syntactic Properties of Main Verbs

cannot be directly negated with not: I like not action movies I dont like action movies

cannot be inverted to form a question: Like you action movies? Do you like action movies?

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The verb to do (1)

Is the hidden auxiliary of the present and past simple: You speak Portuguese, dont you? I studied English and so did my brother. Has to be used in those tenses to negate and form questions with main verbs: I dont speak Portuguese. Did you go to school today?

Slide 8

The verb to do (2)

Can be inserted for stress: I do speak some Portuguese, but not very well. I did study English at school, but Ive forgotten it all. With its main verb meaning, it has the syntactic properties of a main verb: What does she do for a living? What does she for a living? How did you do that? How did you that?

Slide 9

The verb to have (1)

Used as an auxiliary to form the perfect tenses: I hadnt been to Buenos Aires before. Have you read Harry Potter? With its main verb meaning, it has the syntactic properties of a main verb*: I dont have time right now. Did you have a good time last night?

Slide 10

The verb to have (2)

*Sometimes found with auxiliary syntax and main verb meaning - old-fashioned/formal: I havent time right now. Have you enough money to get home? In British English especially, have got is much more common in main verb meaning: I havent got time right now. Have you got enough money to get home?

Slide 11

The system of tenses and aspects

Tense
Present Past

Aspect
Simple vs. continuous Perfect (vs. non-perfect)

Slide 12

Tense and Aspect

Aspects of the present tense:
Present simple: I eat Present continuous: I am eating Present perfect: I have eaten Present perfect continuous: I have been eating

Aspects of the past tense:

Past simple: I ate Past continuous: I was eating Past perfect: I had eaten Past perfect continuous: I had been eating

Slide 13

Formation of Tenses
Simple tenses: basic verb forms, present and past: live lived, eat ate Continuous tenses: to be + -ing form Perfect tenses: to have + past participle

Slide 14

Overview of Tenses
Present tenses Simple Continuous Perfect simple English I speak I am speaking I have spoken Portuguese falo estou falando falei

Perfect continuous Simple

Continuous Perfect simple Perfect continuous

I have been speaking I spoke

I was speaking I had spoken I had been speaking

tenho falado falei / falava

estava falando / falava tinha falado / falei tinha falado / falava

Slide 15

Portuguese > English Equivalences (1)

falo > I speak estou falando > I am speaking Exception: Actions which started in the past and are still going on at the present time: Ive studied English for ten years/since 2001. How long have you been waiting here? Port: Present tense > Eng: Present perfect tense

Slide 16

Portuguese > English Equivalences (2)

eu falava > I spoke/I used to speak /I would speak eu estava falando > I was speaking Exception: Actions which started at an earlier time and are still going on at the moment in the past which is being described: I had studied English for two years before going to the States. How long had you been waiting for the bus? Port: Imperfect tense > Eng: Past perfect tense

Slide 17

Portuguese Imperfect
eu falava > I spoke I used to speak I would speak I was speaking = eu costumava falar/falava antes = eu falaria = eu costumava falar = eu estava falando

NB: used to also describes situations that are no longer true: This building used to be a movie theater. Paula used to have long hair. I used to think English was difficult.

Slide 18

Examples of past imperfect action

She spoke Italian with her grandmother. (ambiguous) She used to speak Italian with her grandmother. (habitual action or action that is no longer true) She would speak Italian with her grandmother. (habitual action)

She was speaking Italian with her grandmother. (ongoing action)

If she could, she would speak Italian with her grandmother. (conditional)

Slide 19

Portuguese Preterite
falei > I spoke reports a past action. Time of action is either specified or implied from context: Judy broke her arm and had to go to the hospital. I have spoken reports on the current situation. Time of action is irrelevant; what counts is the impact on the present: Judy has broken her arm. We have to take her to the hospital.

Slide 20

English Present Perfect Rules of Thumb (1)

More advanced Brazilian learners tend to overuse present perfect (where it is not appropriate). But some American native speakers hardly ever use the present perfect, so, if in doubt, use the simple past. The present perfect CANNOT be used if there is any reference, explicit or implied, to the time when the action happened EXCEPT:

Slide 21

English Present Perfect Rules of Thumb (2)

If the time reference is a period of time which has not yet ended at the time of speaking: Have you seen Bob this morning? (cf. Did you see Bob this morning?) If the time reference is introduced by for or since referring to action that started in the past and is still continuing: We have lived in Rio for seven years. (cf. We lived in Rio for seven years.)

Slide 22

Using the Present Perfect

The point in the past is irrelevant what counts is the impact on the present: Have you met my wife? (introduction) I havent been to Buenos Aires. Wheres Tim? Hes gone to the store. Youve given me the wrong change. (paying)

Slide 23

Using the Present Perfect (2)

Present perfect is often used to introduce a topic, emphasizing its relevance to the present. Details then follow in simple past: Have you met my wife? Yes, I met her earlier. Yes, I have been to Buenos Aires. I went there last year. Tims gone to the store. He went to buy milk. Youve given me the wrong change. I gave you a ten dollar bill. The prime-minister has resigned. He announced his resignation this morning.

Exercise 1
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Voc j esteve na Inglaterra? No comi nada hoje. Liguei o ar. Daqui a pouco vai refrescar aqui dentro. Voc j foi ao supermercado? A Sandra acabou de sair. Ela foi ao supermercado. Ela sempre quis ser cantora. Os convidados chegaram. Voc pode fazer as honras da casa? 8. No falei com o Tiago hoje. 9. No falei com o Tiago ontem. 10. Faz quanto tempo que voc estuda ingls?
Slide 24

Slide 25

Present Perfect Continuous

I have been doing = tenho feito, venho/ando fazendo (except together with for and since) You look fit. Yes, Ive been working out. Youre all dirty. What have you been doing? The business has been growing steadily over the last few years.

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Perfect Simple vs. Perfect Continuous (1)

The two tenses are often interchangeable, but simple implies completion while continuous implies continuation: Ive been reading a lot about UFOs. (Tenho lido) Ive read a lot about UFOs. (J li) The price of oil has been falling lately. (vem baixando) The price of oil has fallen to $50 a barrel. (baixou)

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Perfect Simple vs. Perfect Continuous (2)

Examples with for and since: Ive been living here for seven years. (Estou morando/Moro ) Ive lived here all my life. (Moro ) Shes been learning Portuguese since she moved to Brazil. (Ele aprende ...) Shes learnt Portuguese since she moved to Brazil. (Ela aprendeu ...) Your sons grown since I saw him last. (cresceu)

Slide 28

Perfect Simple vs. Perfect Continuous (3)

If the number of times is mentioned, or the adverbs always, never or ever > perfect simple only: Ive read this book three times. Weve always lived in the same house. Its the best movie Ive ever seen. Verb to be has no continuous tenses: Shes been very understanding. (tem sido)

Slide 29

Past Perfect Simple

had done = tinha feito He had forgotten his passport. (tinha esquecido) English often requires past perfect where Portuguese uses preterite: Bob realized hed forgotten his passport. The police asked her when she had last seen her husband. For lunch I ate the sandwiches I had brought from home.

Slide 30

Past Perfect Simple vs. Past Perfect Continuous (1)

Principles are the same as for present perfect simple vs. continuous, but point of reference is in the past rather than the present: Id been studying Portuguese for a number of years before I moved to Brazil. I had been to Brazil many times before I came here to live. He told me about a book he had been reading. (... que ele lia) He told me about a book he had read. (... que ele leu)

Slide 31

Past Perfect Simple vs. Past Perfect Continuous (2)

Examples with for and since (corresponds to imperfect in Portuguese): They had been living in So Paulo since 1974. (Eles moravam ...) How long had you been married when you had your first child? (...era...) He had grown since I had last seen him.

Slide 32

EXERCISE 2
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Faz tempo que voc est me esperando? O Brasil mudou muito desde a primeira vez que vim aqui em 1981. Acho que voc errou o caminho. melhor voltar. Voc tem acompanhado a novela? No tem sido fcil me adaptar vida aqui. Eu estava usando um chapu de palha que comprei o ano anterior. Ele casou com a mulher que namorava fazia oito anos. Perguntei Sandra quanto tempo ela trabalhava como professora. Quando fui a Londres, fiquei impressionado com o quanto mudou desde a ltima vez que estive l havia vinte anos. 10. O que que voc anda aprontando?

Slide 33

Talking about the future

English Connotation Portuguese

will + infinitive

I will see Ann on Monday.

Inevitability or spontaneous decision

Intention or inevitability

Vou ver/verei/ vejo...

going to + infinitive

I am going to see Ann on Monday.

Vou ver ...

present continuous
present simple

I am seeing Ann on Monday.

I see Ann on Monday.

Arrangement
Fixed schedule, list (or regular occurrence)

Vou ver ...

Vejo ...

Slide 34

Present simple with future meaning (1)

Scheduled events, more often with inanimate subject and always with time specified. Present tense also used in Portuguese: Tomorrow is Monday. () Its my birthday next week. (fao) The game starts at 9.00 p.m. (comea) My flight leaves at six in the morning. (sai) Classes resume on Thursday. (recomeam)

Slide 35

Present simple with future meaning (2)

With personal subject, connotation is that schedule is imposed: I leave on Monday. (no tenho escolha) He doesnt get off work till late tomorrow. Also used to list your schedule: On Friday I fly to So Paulo, return to Rio on Sunday and leave for London the day after. With personal subject, present continuous can always be used instead.

Slide 36

Present continuous with future meaning (1)

Arranged events with indication of time. Connotation is that the subject has a say in the arrangement. Portuguese mostly uses ir + infinitive: Jims having a wisdom tooth out tomorrow. (vai tirar) Im meeting Sara for lunch on Thursday. (vou me encontrar) Theyre getting married at the end of April. (vo casar)

Slide 37

Present continuous with future meaning (2)

Inanimate subject also possible, especially in passive: The old stadium is being imploded on Sunday. In other cases, present continuous implies a change to expected schedule: Tonights game is starting slightly later than usual. (cf. Tonights game starts at 9.00 p.m.)

Slide 38

going to + infinitive
Intended action, usually with animate subject. Connotes some premeditation. Portuguese uses ir + infinitive: Im going to buy a new computer. (vou comprar) Why are you going to study Chinese? (vai estudar) Theyre going to leave their car at our place. (vo deixar) Talking about the immediate future based on the present circumstances: It looks like Federer is going to lose this game. (vai perder) I think its going to rain. (vai chover) The river is going to burst its banks if it doesnt stop raining soon. (vai transbordar)

Slide 39

will + infinitive
Spontaneous (unpremeditated) statements about the future, usually in response to circumstances. Usually present in Portuguese: Ill see you tomorrow. (te vejo) Thats the phone. Ill get it. (eu atendo) Ill have a mineral water, please. (vou querer/quero) Ill drop you off at the station if you like. (te deixo) Well help with the cleaning. (a gente ajuda) Promises (ir + infinitive in Portuguese): Ill do my best. (vou fazer) Well never let you down. (nunca vamos)

Slide 40

will or going to
In other cases, will and going to are largely interchangeable, with a preference for going to in less formal language. Examples: I think Ill/Im going to make some tea. Dad will/is going to be furious when he finds out. Well/were going to have to find a solution sooner or later. Youll/Youre going to be late if you dont hurry. Im sure youll/youre going to have a good time. They said itll/its going to rain on Sunday. Ill/Im going to see Ann tomorrow.

Slide 41

Differences in emphasis
The company will open its Rio office in April. (news report, formal writing) The company is going to open its Rio office in April. (speech, less formal writing) The company is opening its Rio office in April. (emphasizes arrangements already made) The company opens its Rio office in April. (emphasizes firmness of plan, also journalese)

Slide 42

Some Practical Tips for Spoken English

Present simple and present continuous can always be replaced by going to (NB going to go is normally simplified to just going) EXCEPT in spontaneous statements about the future and promises, will can always be replaced by going to If in doubt, going to is safest option

Slide 43

Exercise 3
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Uma encomenda para mim? Vou descer. O ministro vai renunciar por conta do escndalo. Vai cair um tor a qualquer momento. A presidente se reunir amanh com o embaixador americano. No sei se vai dar tempo para ler tudo. No se preocupem, eu ajudo vocs. Quando eu receber meu salrio, vou comprar um computador novo. Quando eu precisar de ajuda, te aviso. O meu irmo vai pegar o voo das 22h45. A que horas termina o filme?

8. 9. 10.

Slide 44

Other future tenses

will/going to be doing (future continuous) This time next week Im going to be sitting on the beach. You go into the pharmacy, Ill be waiting outside. will have done (future perfect) Will you have finished the job by Friday? They will have been married 50 years in June. will have been doing (future perfect continuous) By the time we finish, well have been working 24 hours non-stop.

Slide 45

Future from a past perspective

would do Bob: Ill help > Bob said hed help. was going to do Sara: Im going to get a dog. > Sara said she was going to get a dog. was doing When are you leaving? > I asked him when he was leaving. did The movie starts at eight. > They told us the movie started at eight.

Slide 46

Other Conditional Tenses

would be doing (conditional continuous) They warned us theyd be arriving late. would have done (perfect conditional) He wasnt sure he would have finished all his work in time to make it to the party. would have been doing (perfect conditional continuous) He said he would have been traveling for 36 hours by the time he got home.

Slide 47

Exercise 4
1. Do you think the students will have done the homework you gave them? 2. Will you be needing a ride home? 3. She said she would have preferred to stay at home. 4. My husband was going to have painted the house in time for Christmas. 5. What time did you say your flight left tomorrow? 6. She told me she was meeting Trish this afternoon.