Verb Tenses

1.1. Present Simple

+ Subject + Verb (+ s/es in third person).

I walk.
He reads.

Subject + Do/Does (third person) + Not + Verb (infinitive).

I do not walk.
He does not read.
Do/Does (third person) + Subject + Verb (infinitive) ?
Do you walk?
Does he read?

The simple present tense is used:

- To express an action that happens repeatedly in the present time, but not necessarily at the
time of speaking; an utterance which is true in general:
I do microbiology research.
Nurses take care of patients after an angiography procedure.
A planned surgical procedure usually involves a surgical consultation, presurgical testing and
preparation, the surgery itself and recovery.
- To say how often we do things:
I begin to examine my patients at 8.00 every morning.
Dr. Stewart performs sonography two days a week.
How often do you go to an international conference on surgery?
- To express the idea of a permanent/long-lasting situation:
I work as a chiropractor in the rehabilitation program of our hospital.
Dr. Smith runs the cardiology department of the Memorial Hospital.
- To talk about scheduled events in the near future:
When does the conference start? It starts at 9 o'clock.
The simple present is often used with adverbs of frequency such as always, often, sometimes,
rarely, never, every week, twice a year etc.:
The nurses always work very hard.
We attend a neurology conference every month.
Some verbs are used only in simple tenses (verbs of thinking or mental activity, feeling,
possession, perception and reporting verbs). We often use can instead of the present tense
with verbs of perception:
I can understand now why the patient's condition worsened.
I feel a lump right under your navel.
Simple present is used, in academic writing:

- to describe processes, functions, mechanisms, diseases, treatments, established

facts etc.:
The posterior part of a vertebra forms a vertebral arch and this consists of two
pedicles, two laminae and seven processes.
The stomach secretes protein-digesting enzymes called proteases and strong
acids to aid in food digestion.
Tuberculosis typically attacks the lungs.
These powerful medications circulate in the bloodstream and directly damage
the cells that are actively growing.
- to describe the research paper itself:
This paper aims at describing the functions of the colecyst.
Table 2.1 shows the causes of rheumatic fever,

Simple Present is also used when taking a case history ( describing/asking

about the symptoms, about present illnesses, about habits etc.):
Do you have any other symptoms?
Do you have any breathing difficulty?
The pain lasts for ten-fifteen minutes each time.
Eating greasy food makes it worse.
Where does it hurt?
Do you smoke?

1.2. Present Continuous

+ Subject + To be (present) + Verb-ing.

I am walking.
He is reading.

Subject + To be (present) + Not + Verb-ing.

I am not walking.
He is not reading.
To be (present) + Subject + Verb-ing ?
Are you walking?
Is he reading?

Present continuous is used:

- To express the idea that something is/is not happening now, at this very moment of speaking.
Dr. Smith is driving to the hospital now.
Dr. Clive is operating on an acute appendicitis.
Dr. Stevens is examining his patient right now.
- To express an action/activity generally in progress (not necessarily at the moment, but an
activity which takes time to complete):
Jenny is a resident doctor and she is currently writing an article on coronary thrombosis.
- To describe an activity taking place for a limited period around the present (today, this
week):
They are working hard these days for the student research competition.

- To describe situations continuing only for a limited period of time:

I am replacing dr. Stewart until the end of June.
I am doing a rotation in the CCU this month.
- To express changing situations:
Her blood pressure is rising very fast due to the exertion.
The patient is getting worse with the new treatment.
The hemodynamic condition of the patient is getting better.
- To express irritation or anger:
The patient is continually complaining about everything!
- To show that something is planned and will be done in the near future:
Dr. Stewart is stenting a renal artery tomorrow.
We are meeting dr. Geller tonight.

1.3. Past Simple

nd
+ Subject + Verb-ed / II form of the irregular verbs.

I walked.
He went.

Subject + Did + Not + Verb (infinitive).

I did not walk.
He did not go.
Did + Subject + Verb (infinitive) ?
Did you walk?
Did he go?

Past simple is used:

- To talk about events in the past that are now finished:
He worked as a visiting resident in Paris in 2008.
He performed 137 coronary angioplasty procedures last year.
- To talk about situations in the past.
He worked as a hospital doctor for 10 years. (He doesn't work as a hospital doctor anymore).
- To describe a series of completed actions in the past:
Monday we had a tiring duty. We did coronary angiogram in six patients and then we
performed an embolectomy.
The doctor entered the ward, examined the patient and wrote a referral letter.
Past tense is used in academic writing:
- to describe historical events:
In 1979, John I. Pitt divided Penicillium into four subgenera.
- to express a state of affairs that existed or was completed in the past:
The patient had dyspnoea.

Smith demonstrated a connection between hypertension and OSA.

- do describe the approach, materials and methods used or the findings of the
research:
To do this, we inoculated BALB/c mice by the ocular route with two H7 viruses
which exhibit divergent phenotypes in this model.
Blood samples were collected at 60 and 120 minutes after the injection.
Our study demonstrated that the nucleotide transporter activity was involved in
the individual differences in the pharmacokinetics of X.
Past tense is used especially when taking a medical history, when
referring to childhood/adult diseases, previous hospitalization, the onset of
a symptom etc. It is used to ask or say when or what time something
happened:
When did you first notice the pain?
When did you last see a doctor for this condition?
Did you have any serious illness when you were a child?
Did you carry your child full term?

1.4. Past Continuous

+ Subject + Was/Were + Verb-ing.

I was walking.
You were reading.

Subject + Was/Were + Not + Verb-ing.

I was not walking.
You were not reading.
Was/Were + Subject + Verb (infinitive) ?
Were you walking?
Was he reading?

- It is used to describe an action taking place at a certain time in the past. The action or
situation had already started before this time but hadnt finished:
The doctor was writing an article on CTEV when I visited him.
I got a bad pain in my chest while I was jogging.
The nurse was preparing the patient for the surgery while the doctor was studying the X-ray.

1.5. Present Perfect

+ Subject + Have (present) + Past participle.

I have walked.
He has learnt.

Subject + Have (present) + Not + Past participle.

I have not walked.
He has not learnt.

Have (present) + Subject + Past Participle ?

Have you walked?
Has he learnt?

Present perfect is used:

- To express actions which took place at an indefinite time:
I have met dr. Watson.
- To express actions which began in the past and continue in the present:
Joan has worked as a registered nurse from 1997.
Dr. Smith has saved many lives since he started practicing medicine.
- To talk about something you have never done or something you have not done during a
period of time that continues up to the present:
I have never seen such symptoms of influenza.
I have not reported a case of Alpers syndrome since I was a resident.
- To talk about a past activity/event that has an effect in the present moment:
He has finished his report. (so he can send it)
Why are you limping? I have sprained my ankle.
- To talk about recent situations / activities:
Dr. Smith has just arrived at the hospital.
The patient has not woken up yet.
The physician has already finished his presentation.
- To talk about a period of time that continues up to the present (today, this morning, this
evening, this week, these days etc.):
The patient's condition has been stable these days.
- To talk about how many things we have done or how many times we have done something:
I have punctured that jugular vein twice.
Dr. Smith has performed 20 surgeries this week.
Present perfect is used to refer to (recent) discoveries/researches/ medical
procedures etc:
Studies have shown that the overall population levels of bacteria are
unchanged.
When taking a case history, Present perfect is used to ask about / describe the
onset of an illness or to about past medical history:
How long have you had this problem?
I haven't been able to sleep lately.
Have you ever been hospitalized?

1.6. Present Perfect Continuous

+ Subject + Have (present) + Been + V-ing.

I have been walking.
He has been learning.

Subject + Have (present) + Not + Been + V-ing.

I have not been walking.
He has not been learning.
Have (present) + Subject + Been + V-ing ?
Have you been walking?
Has he been learning?

Present perfect continuous is used:

- To talk about an action that began in the past and has recently stopped or just stopped:
You look a bit off colour. Have you been smoking?
No, I have been working all night on my presentation on percutaneous implantation of aortic
valve prostheses.
- To describe a situation which started in the past and is still happening or has just stopped.
I have been doing non-invasive cardiology for five years.
I have been performing cardiac ultrasound since 1994.
Where have you been? I have been waiting for you for 20 minutes!

1.7. Past Perfect

+ Subject + Had + Past participle.

I had walked.
He had learnt.

Subject + Had + Not + Past participle.

I had not walked.
He had not learnt.
Had + Subject + Past Participle ?
Had you walked?
Had he learnt?

Past perfect is used to express an action that happened in the past before another past
action/moment.
When the nurse arrived at the OR, the surgeon had already begun the atherectomy procedure.
1.8. Past Perfect Continuous

+ Subject + Had + Been + V-ing.

I had been walking.
He had been learning.

Subject + Had + Not + Been + V-ing.

I had not been walking.
He had not been learning.
Have (present) + Subject + Been + V-ing ?
Had you been walking?
Had he been learning?

Past perfect continuous shows an action that began in the past and continued up to another
past action / moment:
She had been working as a paediatric cardiologist for 40 years before she retired.
I had been writing a report for 30 minutes when the head nurse entered the ward.
1.9. Simple future
st
+ Subject + Shall (I person) / Will + Verb.

I shall go.
He will learn.

Subject + Shall (Ist person) / Will + Not + Verb.

I shall not go.
He will not learn.
Shall (Ist person) / Will + Subject + Verb ?
Will you go?
Will he learn?

Simple Future is used:

- To express a decision/promise/refusal to do something:
If you haven't finished writing the report, I will do it.
Do not worry, I will help you out with these cases.
Dont ask to perform the ultrasound examination by yourself. The consultant wont allow you
to.
Will you help me out with this EKG, please?
- To predict a future happening or a future situation (probably, I am sure, I bet, I think, I
suppose, I guess):
I think the patient will lose his right leg.
Chest MRI wont be the same in the next two decades.
I bet the patient will recover satisfactorily after the surgery.
I guess I will see you at the next annual meeting.
- To express actions that are yet to be performed:
We will investigate this disease in future experiments and tests.

1.10. Future Continuous

st
+ Subject + Shall (I person) / Will + Be + V-ing.

I shall be walking.
He will be learning.

Subject + Shall (Ist person) / Will + Not + Be + Verb-ing.

I shall not be walking.
He will not be learning.
Shall (Ist person) / Will + Subject + Be + V-ing ?
Will you be walking?
Will he be learning?

Future continuous is used:

- To describe an action in progress at a certain time in the future:
At this time tomorrow I will be performing my first dermatoplasty.
- To talk about things that are already planned or decided:
I can't see you tomorrow at 7. I will be working on the monthly reports.
- To make polite questions about peoples plans:
Will you be helping me correct the EKG reports this evening?
1.11. Future Perfect
st
+ Subject + Shall (I person) / Will + Have + Past participle.

I shall have walked.

He will have learnt.

Subject + Shall (Ist person) / Will + Not + Have + Past participle.

I shall not have walked.
He will not have learnt.
Shall (Ist person) / Will + Subject + Have + Past participle ?
Will you have walked?
Will he have learnt?

Future perfect is used to to talk about actions that will be finished before some point in the
future:
The physician will have arrived by the time we begin the stress test.
1.12. Going To - Future

+ Subject + To be (present) + Going to + Verb.

I am going to walk.
He is going to learn.

Subject + To be (present) + Not + Going to + Verb.

I am not going tp walk.
He is not going to learn.
To be (present) + Subject + Going to + Verb ?
Are you going to walk?
Is he going to learn?

Going to-future is used:

- To express planned actions/decisions/arrangements in the future:
She is going to attend the International Congress of Urology next year.
There is a radiology course in Paris next month. Are you going to attend it?
When are you going to begin the procedure?
- To make predictions based on the present situation/signs:
The injury looks bad. I think you are going to need surgery.
Going to-past is used:
- to express someone's past uncompleted intention:
He was going to prepare the patient for an X-ray, but the patient refused.
- to talk about past predictions:
The doctor thought that the patient was going to have an allergic reaction to the
medicine.