Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
SIMPLE TENSES
PROGRESSIVE TENSES
PERFECT TENSES
PERFECT PROGRESSIVE TENSES
Simple present
Construction:
Pos: Subj + verb (+ s/es in third person***)
Neg: Subj + aux (to do) in the present + not + verb
Quest: Aux (to do) in the present + subj + verb
Uses:
Repeated Actions
Facts or Generalizations
Scheduled Events in the Near Future
Now (Non-Continuous Verbs)
Simple past
Construction:
Pos: Subj + verb in ed (or 2nd column for irregular verbs)
Neg: Subj + aux (to do) in the past + not + verb (in the infinitive)
Quest: Aux (to do) in the past + subj + verb (in the infinitive)
Uses:
Completed Action in the Past
A Series of Completed Actions
Duration in Past
Habits in the Past
Past Facts or Generalizations
I finished work, walked to the beach, and found a nice place to swim.
He arrived from the airport at 8:00, checked into the hotel at 9:00, and met the others at 10:00.
Did you add flour, pour in the milk, and then add the eggs?
Duration in Past
People paid much more to make cell phone calls in the past.
Simple future
Construction:
Pos: Subj + will + verb (infinitive)
Neg: Subj + will + not + verb (infinitive)
Quest: will + subj + verb (infinitive)
(The same construction applies for the future with to be going to i.e.: I am going to play)
Uses:
"Will" to Express a Voluntary Action
"Will" to Express a Promise
"Be going to" to Express a Plan
"Will" or "Be Going to" to Express a Prediction
Present progressive
Construction:
Pos: Subj + to be (present) + verb in ing
Neg: Subj. + to be (present) + not + verb in ing
Quest: To be (present) + subj. + verb in ing
Uses:
Something happening now
Longer Actions in Progress Now
Near Future
Repetition and Irritation with "Always"
Past progressive
Construction:
Pos: Subj + to be (past) + verb in ing
Neg: Subj. + to be (past) + not + verb in ing
Quest: To be (past) + subj. + verb in ing
Uses:
Interrupted Action in the Past
Specific Time as an Interruption
Parallel Actions
Atmosphere
Repetition and Irritation with "Always"
Future progressive
Construction:
Pos: Subj + to be (future -will) + verb in ing
Neg: Subj. + will + not + be + verb in ing
Quest: will + subj. + be + verb in ing
Uses:
Interrupted Action in the Future
Specific Time as an Interruption in the Future
Parallel Actions in the Future
Atmosphere in the Future
Present perfect
Construction:
Pos: Subj + to have (present) + past participle (ed or 3rd column)
Neg: Subj. + to have (present) + not + past participle (ed or 3rd column)
Quest: To have (present) + subj. + past participle (ed or 3rd column)
Uses:
Event in the past (unspecified time) related to now
Unspecified Time Before Now:
Experience
Change Over Time
Accomplishments
An Uncompleted Action You Are Expecting
Multiple Actions at Different Times
Past perfect
Construction:
Pos: Subj + to have (past) + past participle (ed or 3rd column)
Neg: Subj. + to have (past) + not + past participle (ed or 3rd column)
Quest: To have (past) + subj. + past participle (ed or 3rd column)
Uses:
Completed Action Before Something in the Past
Duration Before Something in the Past (Non-Continuous
Verbs)
Tony knew Istanbul so well because he had visited the city several
times.
Future perfect
Construction:
Pos: Subj + to have (future with will) + past participle (ed or 3rd column)
Neg: Subj. + will + not + have + past participle (ed or 3rd column)
Quest: Will + subj. + to have + past participle (ed or 3rd column)
Uses:
Completed Action Before Something in the Future
Duration Before Something in the Future (Non-Continuous Verbs)
moves to Beijing?
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?
Construction:
Pos: Subj + to have (present) + been + verb in ing
Neg: Subj. + to have (present) + not + been + verb in ing
Quest: To have (present) + subj. + been + verb in ing
Uses:
Duration from the Past Until Now
Recently, Lately
Recently, Lately
Recently, I have been feeling really tired.
She has been watching too much television lately.
Have you been exercising lately?
Uses:
Duration Before Something in the Past
Cause of Something in the Past
of business.
How long had you been waiting to get on the bus?
Mike wanted to sit down because he had been standing all day at work.
James had been teaching at the university for more than a year before he
left for Asia.
A: How long had you been studying Turkish before you moved to Ankara?
B: I had not been studying Turkish very long.
Uses:
Duration Before Something in the Future
Cause of Something in the Future
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.