The Main Forms of the Verb

Summarized by: Saeed Samir

Present Forms
:Present Simple

Affirmative:

I/you/we/they + v (inf)
she/he/it + v (s, es, ies)
Negative:

I/you/we/they dont + v (inf)

she/he/it doesn't + v (inf)
Interrogative:
?...(wh) does/do + subject + v (inf)
:Uses
Permanent situations or states.
.E.g., He lives in a caravan

-1

2- Permanent truths or laws of nature.

E.g., Water boils at 100oc.
Repeated/habitual actions (especially with frequency adverbs: often, -3
.usually, always etc.)
E.g., He always does his homework
4- Reviews/sports commentaries/dramatic narrative.
.E.g., Pavarotti sings wonderfully in this opera
5- Timetables/programmes (future meanings).
E.g., The race starts at 3:00
6- In exclamatory sentences.
E.g., Here comes the bride!
Time expressions:
Every day/week/month/year, usually, sometimes, always, rarely, never,
often, in the morning/evening/afternoon,
:Present continuous

Affirmative:

I am + v(ing)
you/we/they are + v (ing)
she/he/it is + v (ing)
1

Negative:

I am not + v(ing)
you/we/they are not + v (ing)
she/he/it is not + v (ing)
Interrogative:
? . (wh) am/is/are + subj. + v(ing)
:Uses
Temporary situations. -1
.E.g., She is working in Paris this week
.Changing or developing situations -2
.E.g., Mary is putting in weight
Frequently repeated actions with always, constantly, continually -3
.expressing annoyance or criticism
.E.g., He is always asking stupid questions
.Actions happening at or around the moment of speaking -4
.E.g., The baby is sleeping at the moment
.Fixed arrangement in the near future -5
.E.g., I am seeing Rachel tonight
Time expressions:
Now, at the moment, at present, nowadays, today, tonight, always, still
etc.

:Present perfect

Affirmative:
I/you/we/they have + v (p.p.)
She/he/it has + v (p.p.)
Negative:
I/you/we/they have not + v (p.p.)
She/he/it hasnt + v (p.p.)
Interrogative:
? have /has + subject +v (p.p.)
:Uses
1-Recently completed actions.
.E.g., He has cut the grass (The grass is now cut. evidence in the present)
2-Complete past actions connected to the present with stated or unstated
time reference.
.E.g., He has sold his car. (Now he has no car)
2

.E.g., He has just bought a bike. (stated time reference)

3-Personal experiences/ changes which have happened.
.E.g., I have learnt a lot this year
4-Emphasis on number.
.E.g., He has read three novels this week
.E.g., She has interviewed seven students this morning
:Present Perfect Continuous

Affirmative:
have/has been + v (ing)
Negative:
have/has not been + v (ing)
Interrogative:
?..have /has been + subject +v(ing)
:Uses
.Actions started in the past and continuing up to the present -1
.E.g., He has been washing his bike for an hour
Past actions of certain duration having visible results or effects in the -2
.present
.E.g., He has been fighting thats why hes got a black eye
.To express anger, irritation, annoyance, explanation or criticism -3
.E.g., someone has been lying to me
.Emphasis on duration with since, for, how long -4
.E.g., she has been waiting since 4 oclock

Past Forms
:Past Simple

Affirmative:

Subject + v regular (d, ed, ied)

Subject + v irregular (must be learnt by heart)
Negative:

subject + didnt + v (inf)

Interrogative:
?...(wh) did + subject + v (inf)
:Uses
.Past actions which happened one immediately after the other -1
.E.g., He got in the car, started the engine and drove off
2- Past habit or states.
E.g., He waked to work every day.
.Complete action or event which happened at a stated past time -3
.E.g., she passed her exam last week
4- Complete past actions not connected to the present with a stated or
implied time reference.
.E.g., Elvis Presley made lots of records
Time expressions:
Yesterday, last week etc. , ago, then, just now, when, in 1992 etc.
:Past continuous

Affirmative:

Subject + was/were + v(ing)

Negative:

Subject + wasnt/werent + v(ing)

Interrogative:

? . (wh) was/were + subj. + v(ing)

:Uses
Action in the middle of happening at a stated past time. -1
.E.g., I was living in Spain this time last year
.Past action in progress interrupted by another past action -2
.E.g., I was playing football when I broke my ankle
.Two or more simultaneous past actions of certain duration -3
.E.g., He was cooking while she was sleeping
.Background description -4
.E.g., They were travelling to Swansea
4

Time expressions:
While, when, as, the moment that etc.
:Past perfect

Affirmative:

Subject + had + v (P.P)

Negative:

subject + hadnt + v (P.P)

Interrogative:
?...(wh) had + subject + v (P.P)
:Uses
Past action which occurred before (another action or a stated past time) -1
.E.g., He had spent all his money by the end of the month
.Complete past action, which had visible results in the past -2
.E.g., He was delighted because he had found a new job
3- The past perfect is the past equivalent of the present perfect.
.E.g., There was no pudding left, he had eaten it all
Time expressions:
For, since, already, after, just, never, yet, before, by, by the time etc.
:Past perfect continuous

Affirmative:

Subject + had been + v(ing)

Negative:

Subject + hadnt been + v(ing)

Interrogative:

? . (wh) had + subj. + been + v(ing)

:Uses
.Action continuing over a period up to a specific time in the past -1
.E.g., she had been trying to get a visa for months before she gave up
.Past action of certain duration, which had visible results in the past -2
.E.g., Her fingers hurt because she had been playing the guitar all day
5

3- The past perfect cont. is the past equivalent of the present perfect cont.
E.g., He stayed in bed that day because he had been feeling ill all
.week
Time expressions:
For, since

Future Forms
:Affirmative
Future simple: will + v (inf.)
Be going to: am/is/are + going to + v (inf.)
Future continuous: will + be + v (ing.)
Future perfect: will + have + v (p.p.)
Future perfect cont.: will + have + been + v (ing.)
Time expressions:
Future simple & Be going to: tomorrow, tonight, next, in, the day after
tomorrow
6

.Future perfect: before, by, by then, by the time and until

Future perfect cont.: byfor
:Future Simple

:Uses
Future Simple - 1
Actions or predictions, which may
.(not) happen in the future
.E.g., Shell probably win

Be going to - 2
Evidence that something will
.definitely happen in the near future
E.g., the plane is going to take off
.now
E.g., I think Im going to be sick

Things we are not yet sure about or

we havent decided to do yet.
.E.g., Maybe Ill buy a car

Things we are sure about or we

have already decided to do in the
.near future
E.g., They are going to offer the job
to ann. (It has been decided)

Actions, which we cannot control

and will inevitably happen.
E.g., The baby will be born
.after Christmas

.Planned actions or intentions

E.g., Now that she is rich, she is
.going to travel round the world

Decisions taken at the moment of

speaking. E.g., Its cold in here. Ill
.turn on the heating

Actions intended to be performed in

the near future.
E.g., I am going to buy some new
.clothes next week

Hopes,
fears,
threats,
offers,
promises, warnings, predictions,
requests, comments, etc., esp. with:
expect, hope, believe, Im sure, Im
afraid, probably etc.
E.g., I hope hell like his birthday
present.

:Future Continuous

:Use
Actions in progress at a stated future time
.E.g., Ill be skiing in the Alps this Christmas

:Future Perfect

:Use
.Actions finished before a stated future time
.E.g., They will have finished building their house by May

:Future Perfect Continuous

:Use
.Duration of an action up to a certain time the future
E.g., By this time next month he will have been studying the piano for 2
.years