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VERB TENSES:
Simple Present, Present Continuous, Simple Past, Past
Continuous,
Present Perfect and Present Perfect Continuous
Simple Present
We use the Simple Present to:
- describe routines and regular/habitual actions or permanent states;
- express a present state or a truth (scientific actions or facts).
To form the affirmative form we use the infinitive without to (love)
and to form the 3rd person singular in the affirmative form we add s but:
Expressions used:
always
often
never
rarely
usually
sometimes
frequently
every
- vowel + y - add s
- consonant + y - i and add es
- o, ss, sh, ch, x - add es
In the negative and interrogative we use the auxiliary To do, in the Simple Present (do or does):
Affirmative
subject + main verb
I work
You work
He / She / It works
We work
You work
They work
Negative
subject + auxiliary (neg) + main verb
(don't / doesn't) (infinitive)
I don't work
You don't work
He / She / It doesn't work
We don't work
You don't work
They don't work
Interrogative
auxiliary verb + subject + main verb ?
(do / does)
(infinitive)
Do I work?
Do you work?
Does he / she / it work?
Do we work?
Do you work?
Do they work?
Present Continuous
We use the Present Continuous to:
- describe actions happening now (at the moment of speaking);
- describe repeated and annoying actions;
- express fixed arrangements in the near future (arranged previously).
Expressions used:
now
at the/this moment
this at present tomorrow
To form the affirmative, negative and interrogative forms we use the auxiliary To be, in the Simple
Present, and the gerund of the main verb (infinitive + ing):
Affirmative
Negative
Interrogative
subject + auxiliary + main verb subject + auxiliary (neg) + main verb auxiliary verb + subj. + main verb ?
(am/are/is) (gerund)
(am/are/is not) (gerund)
(am/are/is)
(gerund)
I am working
You are working
He / She / It is working
We are working
You are working
They are working
Am I working?
Are you working?
Is he / she / it working?
Are we working?
Are you working?
Are they working?
Simple Past
We use the Simple Past to:
- talk about past actions, finished at a definite time;
- describe regular actions in the past;
- express something that you think is unlikely to happen.
Expressions used:
yesterday
ago
last
To form the affirmative form we have to make a distinction between regular and irregular verbs:
Regular verbs:
Irregular verbs:
In the negative and interrogative forms we use the auxiliary To do, in the Simple Past (did), both for
regular and irregular verbs:
Affirmative
Negative
Interrogative
I worked / came
You worked
He / She / It worked
We worked
You worked
They worked
Past Continuous
Expressions used:
when
while
To form the affirmative, negative and interrogative forms we use the auxiliary To be, in the Simple
Past, and the gerund of the main verb (infinitive + ing):
Affirmative
Negative
Interrogative
I was working
You were working
He / She / It was working
We were working
You were working
They were working
Was I working?
Were you working?
Was he / she / it working?
Were we working?
Were you working?
Were they working?
I wasn't working
You weren't working
He / She / It wasn't working
We weren't working
You weren't working
They weren't working
Present Perfect
We use the Present Perfect to:
- describe actions which started in the past and continue to the present, with results in the present.
Ex: I have eaten eggs for breakfast since I was a child. Wheres the key? I dont know. Ive lost it. (I havent got it now.)
Expressions used:
already
since
yet
for
never
still
this
To form the affirmative, negative and interrogative forms we use the auxiliary To have, in the Simple
Present, and the past participle (3rd column (irregular verbs) or ed (regular verbs)):
Affirmative
Negative
Interrogative
subject + auxiliary + main verb subject + auxiliary (neg) + main verb auxiliary verb + subj. + main verb ?
(has/have) (p.p.)
(has/have not) (p.p.)
(has/have)
(p.p.)
I have worked
You have worked
He / She / It has worked
We have worked
You have worked
They have worked
I haven't worked
You haven't worked
He / She / It hasn't worked
We haven't worked
You haven't worked
They haven't worked
Have I worked?
Have you worked?
Has he / she / it worked?
Have we worked?
Have you worked?
Have they worked?
describe actions which started in the past and are still happening.
Ex: Where have you been? I have been looking for you for an hour.
It is raining now. It began raining two hours ago and it is still raining. It has been raining for two hours.
The Present Perfect Continuous is usually used with for and since to describe repeated actions, expressing anger or criticism.
Since(desde)
For (h)
two hours
a week
8 oclock
1977
20 minutes
50 years
Monday
Christmas
five days
a long time
12 May
lunchtime
six months
ages
April
he was at school
To form the affirmative, negative and interrogative forms we use the auxiliary To have, in the Simple
Present, plus the past participle of the verb To be (been) and the main verb in the gerund (-ing):
Affirmative
Negative
Interrogative