English Grammar ---- Tenses

Instruction: When teaching verb tenses, the tutor may ask the student to make one sentence for each part during the session and assign the same to be completed as homework.

1.
A.

Simple Present
The simple present says that something was true in the past, is true in the present, and will be true in the future. We use the present simple to talk about things in general. We are not thinking only about now. We use it to say that something happens all the time or repeatedly, or that something is true in general. It is not important whether the action is happening at the time of speaking:

Sample Sentences: Water consists of hydrogen and oxygen. The average person breathes 21,600 times a day. The world is round. Exercise 01: Make sentences using the tense as the above sentences. B. The simple present is used to express habitual or everyday activities.

Sample Sentences: I study for two hours every night. I get up at seven every morning. He always eats a sandwich for lunch. Alex is a bus driver, but now he is in bed asleep. So: He is not driving a bus. (He is asleep.) (but) He drives a bus. (He is a bus driver.) Exercise 02: Make sentences using the tense as the above sentences. C. The simple present with a future meaning. We use the present simple when we talk about timetables, programmes etc. (for example, for public transport, cinemas etc.)

Sample Sentences: The train leaves Plymouth at 11.30 and arrives in London at 14.45. What time does the film begin? I start my new job on Monday. Exercise 03: Make sentences using the tense as the above sentences. Reminder: A present tense is sometimes used in the main clause to talk about changes. Note also the structure It is ..since She looks quite different since her illness. It a long time since lunch. s Exercise 04: Make sentences using the tense as the above sentences.

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2.
A.

Present Progressive
The present progressive expresses an activity that is in progress at the moment of speaking. It is a temporary activity that began in the past, is continuing at present, and will probably end at some point in the future.

Sample Sentences: John is sleeping right now. I need an umbrella because it is raining. Ann is in her car. She is on her way to work. She is driving to work. Please don make so much noise. Im working. t Exercise 05: Make sentences using the tense as the above sentences. B. Often the activity is of a general nature: something generally in progress this week, this month, this year.

Sample Sentences: Susan is writing another book this year. I am taking five courses this semester. Im reading an interesting book at the moment. Ive finished it

Ill lend it to you when

Catherine wants to work in Italy, so she is learning Italian.

Reminder : The first sentence means that writing a book is a general activity Susan is engaged in at present, but it does not mean that at the moment of speaking she is sitting at her desk with pen in hand. Exercise 06: Make sentences using the tense as the above sentences. C. We use the present continuous when we talk about changes happening around now. Sample Sentences: The population of the world is rising very fast. Is your English getting better? Exercise 07: Make sentences using the tense as the above sentences.

Notes :
Compare these sentences. (A1) The water is boiling. Can you turn it off? (A2) Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius. (B1) Im going to bed now. Goodnight! (B2) I always go to bed before midnight. (C1) Im living with some friends until I find an apartment.

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(temporary situation) (C2) My parents live in London. (permanent situation) They have lived there all their lives.

3.
A.

Present Perfect
The present perfect expresses the idea that something happened (or never happened) before now, at an unspecified time in the past. The exact time it happened is not important. If there is a specific mention of time, the simple past is used:

They moved into a new apartment last month. Notice in the examples: the adverbs ever, never, already, yet, still, before, recently and just are frequently used with the present perfect. Sample Sentences: They have moved into a new apartment. Have you ever visited Mexico? I have never seen snow. I have already seen that movie. Jack hasnt seen it yet. Ann started a letter to her parents last week, but she still hasnt finished it. Alex feels bad. He has just heard some bad news. Have you seen Rob recently? Youve been here Exercise 08: Make sentences using the tense as the above sentences. B. The present perfect also expresses the repetition of an activity before now. The exact time of each repetition is not important. The speakers are talking about a period that continues until now. Notice: so far is frequently used with the present perfect. Sample Sentences: We have had four tests so far this semester. (up to now) Have you heard from George recently? (up to now) I have written my wife a letter every other day for the last two weeks. (up to now) I have met many people since I came here in June. (up to now) I have flown on an airplane many times. (up to now) Exercise 09: Make sentences using the tense as the above sentences. C. The present perfect, when used with for or since, also expresses a situation that began in the past and continues to the present. In the examples, notice the difference between since and for: since + a particular time (since 1998) for + a duration of time (for two days)

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Sample Sentences: I have been here since seven oclock. I have linked cowboy movies ever since I was a child. We have been here for two weeks. I have had this same pair of shoes for three years. Exercise 10: Make one sentence using present perfect and since and another sentence using present perfect and for. D. We often use the present perfect to give new information or to announce a recent happening. Sample Sentences: The road is closed. There has been an accident. A light passenger plane has crashed in Surrey. The police have arrested two men in connection with the robbery. (from the news) Exercise 11: Make sentences using the tense as the above sentences. E. We use the present perfect with today/this morning/ this evening etc. when these periods are not finished at the time of speaking. Sample Sentences: I ve drunk four cups of coffee today. (perhaps Ill drink more before today is finished) I havent seen Tom this morning, have you? Exercise 12: Make sentences using the tense as the above sentences.

F. It the first (second, third, only, best, worst .) time something + present s perfect Sample Sentences: It the first time he has driven a car. (= He has never driven a car before.) s This is a lovely meal. It the best meal Ive had this year. s Exercise 13: Make sentences using the tense as the above sentences. Reminder: Tom is looking for his key. He cant find it. He has lost his key. (= He lost it and he still hasnt got it.)

Tom lost his key. (We dont know whether he has it now or not. We only know that he lost it at some time in the past.)

Notes:
(A1) Jim is away on holiday. He has gone to Spain. (= he is there now or on his way there) (A2) Jane is back home from holiday now. She has been to Italy.

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(= she has now come back from Italy) (B1) How long have you been here for? (= Since when .?) (B2) How long are you here for? (=Until when ?)

4.
A.

Present Perfect Progressive

This tense is used to indicate the duration of an activity that began in the past and continues to the present. When the tense has this meaning, it is used with time

words, such as for, since, all morning, all day, all week. Sample Sentences: I have been sitting here since seven oclock. (Right now I am sitting at my desk.)

I have been sitting here for two hours. (Right now I am sitting at my desk.)

Exercise 14: Make one sentence using present perfect progressive and since and another sentence using present perfect progressive and for. Notes: Compare these sentences (A1) It is raining now. It began raining two hours ago and it is still raining. (A2) A: How long has it been raining? B: It has been raining for two hours. How long is it raining? (incorrect) Reminder: Verbs with stative meanings are not used in the progressive. The present perfect, not the present perfect progressive, is used with stative verbs to describe the duration of a state (rather than an activity) that began in the past and continues to the present. Common verbs that have stative meanings (not action verbs): know, believe, feel, need, understand, suppose, desire, recognize, love, hate like, dislike, care, appreciate, fear, envy, prefer, possess, own, belong, hear, seem, owe, exist, contain, sound, equal, want, remember, resemble Sample Sentences: I have known Alex since he was a child. (Incorrect): I have been knowing Alex since he was a child. Exercise 15: Make sentences using the tense as the above sentences. B. When the tense is used without any specific mention of time, it expresses a general activity in progress recently, lately. Sample Sentences: I have been thinking about changing my major. All of the students have been studying hard. Final exams start next week.

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My back hurts, so I have been sleeping on the floor lately. soft.

The bed is too

Exercise 16: Make sentences using the tense as the above sentences. C. You can use the present perfect continuous for actions repeated over a period of time. She s been playing since she was Theyve been going there for

Sample Sentences: Debbie is a very good tennis player. eight.

Every morning they meet in the same caf. years.

Exercise 17: Make sentences using the tense as the above sentences. D. We can also use the present perfect progressive to talk about long or repeated actions that have finished recently, and which have present results.

Sample Sentences: You look hot. Yes, Ive been running. Exercise 18: Make sentences using the tense as the above sentences. Reminder 1: With certain verbs (most notably live, work, teach), there is little or no difference in meaning between the two tenses when since or for is used. I have lived here since 1995. (= I have been living here since 1995) Reminder 2: (A1) Ann clothes are covered in paint. She has been painting the ceiling. s (We are interested in the activity. It does not matter whether something has been finished or not. In this example, the activity (painting the ceiling) has not been finished.

(A2) The ceiling was white. Now it is blue. She has painted the ceiling. (Here, the important thing is that something has been finished. Has painted is a completed action. We are interested in the result of the activity (the painted ceiling), not in the activity itself.

(B1) My hands are very dirty. Ive been repairing the car. (B2) The car is OK again now. Ive repaired it. Exercise 19: Make sentences using the tense as the above sentences.

Reminder 3: We prefer the simple present perfect to talk about permanent or very long-lasting situations. Compare: He been living in Taipei for the last few months. s Ive lived here all my life.

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Exercise 20: Make sentences using the tense as the above sentences.

Notes:
Compare these sentences. (A1) We need an umbrella. It raining. s (A2) The ground is wet. It been raining. s (B1) How long have you been reading that book? (for an activity that is still happening) (B2) How many pages of that book have you read? (completed actions) (C1) Mary is still writing letters. Shes been writing letters all day. (C2) Mary has written ten letters today. (D1) They are married. (D2) How long have they been married? How long are they married? (incorrect) (D3) They have been married for 20 years. They are married for 20 years. (incorrect) (E1) When did it start raining? It started raining an hour ago. (E2) How long has it been raining? Its been raining for an hour / since 1 oclock

5.

Simple Past

A. The simple past indicates that an activity or situation began and ended at a particular time in the past. Sample Sentences: I walked to school yesterday. John lived in Paris for ten years, but now he lives in Rome. I bought a new car three days ago. Mozart was an Austrian musician and composer. Exercise 21: Complete a sentence in past tense using each of the following sets of words (3 sentences in total). sleep last night eat . this morning lose two months ago

B. If a sentence contains when and has the simple past in both clauses, the action in the when clause happens first.

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Sample Sentences: Rita stood under a tree when it began to rain. When Mrs. Chu heard a strange noise, she got up to investigate. When I dropped my cup, the coffee spilled on my lap. Exercise 22: Make one sentence using when and simple past tense in both clauses as above.

Notes:
Compare these sentences. (A1) Shakespeare wrote many plays. (A2) My sister is a writer. She has written many books. (She still writes books) (B1) When did they arrive? (B2) When have they arrived? (incorrect) (C1) Have you seen Ann this morning? (it is still morning) (C2) Did you see Ann this morning? (it is now afternoon or evening) (D1) Ian lives in London. He has lived there for seven years. (D2) Ian lived in Scotland for ten years. Now he lives in London. C. Past tenses can make requests, questions and suggestions more polite. (They sound less direct than present tenses.)

Sample Sentences: I wondered if you were free this evening. How much did you want to spend, sir? Past progressives can make requests less direct, and so more polite. I was wondering if I might use your phone. Present progressives can sound casual and friendly.

Were hoping youll come and stay with us soon. Another way of making requests less direct is to use a future verb form.

Ill have to ask you to wait a minute. Exercise 23: Make sentences using the tense as the above sentences.

D. Note that we use the simple past to talk about the origin of something present. Sample Sentences: Who wrote that? Whose idea was it to come here on holiday?. Exercise 24: Make sentences using the tense as the above sentences.

6.

Past Progressive
I was having dinner

A. 1st :

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(Past progressive: longer background action or situation) 2nd : The phone rang (Simple past: shorter action that interrupted it or happened in the middle.) Both actions occurred at the same time, but one action began earlier and was in progress when the other action occurred. Sample Sentences: The phone rang while I was having dinner. I was walking down the street when it began to rain. While I was walking down the street, it began to rain. Rita was standing under a tree when it began to rain. Tom burnt his hand when he was cooking the dinner. Exercise 25: Make sentences using the tense as the above sentences.

Notes :
Compare these sentences. (A1) I was walking home when I met Dave. (= in the middle of walking home) (A2) I walked home after the party last night. (= all the way, completely) ( B1) When Karen arrived, we were having dinner. (= We had already started dinner before Karen arrived.) (B2) When Karen arrived, we had dinner. (= First Karen arrived and then we had dinner.) B. My studying began before 8:00, was in progress at that time, and probably continued.

Sample Sentences: At eight oclock last night, I was studying. Last year at this time, I was attending school. Exercise 26: Make sentences using the tense as the above sentences. C. Sometimes the past progressive is used in both parts of a sentence when two actions are in progress simultaneously.

Sample Sentences: While I was studying in one room of our apartment, my roommate was having a party in the other room. Exercise 27: Make sentences using the tense as the above sentence. D. Progressive forms are used mostly for temporary actions and situations. For longer, more permanent situations we prefer the simple past. Compare:

Sample Sentences: When I walked in I found that water was running down the walls. Explorers believed that the river ran into the Atlantic. Exercise 28: Make sentences using the tense as the above sentence.

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7.

Past Perfect

The past perfect expresses an activity that was completed before another activity or time in the past. Sample Sentences: Sam had already left by the time Ann got there. The thief simply walked in. Someone had forgotten to lock the door. Karen didn want to come to the cinema with us because she had already t seen the film. Reminder: If either before or after is used in the sentence, the past perfect is often not necessary because the time relationship is already clear. The simple past may be used.

Sam had left before Ann got there. (= Sam left before Ann got there.) After the guests had left, I went to bed (= After the guests left, I went to bed.)

Exercise 29: Make sentences using the tense as the above sentences.

Note:
Compare these sentences (A1) Ann wasn at home when I phoned. She was in London. t (A2) Ann had just got home when I phoned. She had been in London.

8.

Past Perfect Progressive

A. The past perfect progressive emphasizes the duration of an activity that was in progress before another activity or time in the past. Sample Sentences: The police had been looking for the criminal for two years before they caught him. Eric finally came at six oclock. I had been waiting for him since four-thirty. All the roads were blocked; it had been snowing all night long. Exercise 30: Make sentences using the tense as the above sentences. B. The past perfect progressive also may express an activity in progress close in time to another activity or time in the past. Sample Sentences: When Judy got home, her hair was still wet because she had been swimming. I went to Jane house after the funeral. Her eyes were red because she s had been crying. Exercise 31: Make sentences using the tense as the above sentences.

Notes:
Compare these sentences

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(A1) I hope the bus comes soon. Ive been waiting for 20 minutes. (before now) (A2) At last the bus came. Id been waiting for 20 minutes. (before the bus came) (B1) It wasn raining when we went out. The sun was shining. But it had been t raining, so the ground was wet.

9.

Simple Future
In speech, going to is often

Will or be going to is used to express future time. pronounced gonna

Sample Sentences: Jack will finish his work tomorrow. Jack is going to finish his work tomorrow. Anna will not (= won be here tomorrow. t) Reminder 1: 1. To express a prediction: Use either will or be going to. According to the weather report, it will be cloudy tomorrow. (= According to the weather report, it is going to be cloudy tomorrow.) 2. To express a prior plan: Use only be going to. A: Why did you buy this paint? B: Im going to paint my bedroom. 3.

To express willingness: Use only will A: The phone ringing. s B: Ill get it.

Exercise 32: Make one sentence using will another one using be going to. Reminder 2: A time clause begins with such words as when, before, after, as soon as, until, while and includes a subject and a verb. Will or be going to is not used in a time clause. The meaning of the clause is future, but the simple present tense is used.

Bob will come soon. When Bob comes, we will see him. Linda is going to leave soon. Before she leaves, she is going to finish her work. The taxi will arrive soon. leave for the airport. As soon as it arrives, well be able to

They are going to come soon. Ill wait here until they come. Exercise 33: Make sentences using the tense as the above sentences.

Reminder 3: Sometimes the present progressive is used in a time clause to express an

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activity that will be in progress in the future. Sample Sentences: While I am traveling in Europe next year, Im going to save money by staying in youth hostels. Exercise 34: Make sentences using the tense as the above sentences. Reminder 4: Occasionally, the present perfect is used in a time clause. The present perfect in the time clause emphasizes the completion of the act before the other act occurs in the future. Sample Sentences: I will go to bed after I finish my work. (= I will go to bed after I have finished my work.) Exercise 35: Make sentences using the tense as the above sentences. Reminder 5: The present progressive may be used to express future time when the idea of the sentence concerns a planned event or definite intention. A future meaning for the present progressive tense is indicated either by future time words in the sentence or by the context. Sample Sentences: My wife has an appointment with a doctor. North next Tuesday.

She is seeing Dr.

Sam has already made his plans. He is leaving at noon tomorrow. What are you doing this evening? Im washing my hair.

Exercise 36: Make sentences using the tense as the above sentences. Reminder 6: The simple present can also be used to express future time in a sentence concerning events that are on a definite schedule or timetable. These sentences usually contain future time words. Only a few verbs are used in this way: e.g., open, close, begin, end, start, finish, arrive, leave, come, return. Sample Sentences: He museum opens at ten tomorrow morning. Classes begin next week. John plane arrives at 6:05 P.M. next Monday. s Exercise 37: Make sentences using the tense as the above sentences. Reminder 7: We can talk about the future by saying that something is to happen. We often use this structure to talk about official plans and fixed personal

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arrangements. Sample Sentences: The President is to visit Scotland in September. We are to get a wage rise. Exercise 38: Make sentences using the tense as the above sentences. Reminder 8: After if and when, we normally use present tenses to talk about the future. Sample Sentences: If I am there tomorrow, Ill phone you. When it ready Ill give it to you. s Exercise 39: Make sentences using the tense as the above sentences.

10.

Future Progressive

The future progressive expresses an activity that will be in progress at a time in the future. Sample Sentences: I will begin to study at seven. when you come.

You will come at eight.

I will be studying

Right now I am sitting in class. At this same time tomorrow, I will be sitting in class. Exercise 40: Make sentences using the tense as the above sentences. Reminder 1: The progressive form of be going to: be going to + be+ ing Sample Sentences: Don call me at nine because I wont be home. I am going to be studying at the t library. Exercise 41: Make sentences using the tense as the above sentences. Reminder 2: Sometimes there is little or no difference between the future progressive and the simple future, especially when the future event will occur at an indefinite time in the future. Sample Sentences: Don get impatient. t She will be coming soon. (= She will come soon.)

Exercise 42: Make sentences using the tense as the above sentences.

11.

Future Perfect

The future perfect expresses an activity that will be completed before another time

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or event in the future. Sample Sentences: I will graduate in June. I will see you in July. By the time I see you, I will have graduated. I will have finished my homework by the time I go out on a date tonight. (Note: by the time introduces a time clause; the simple present is used in a time clause.) Exercise 43: Make sentences using the tense as the above sentences.

12.

Future Perfect Progressive

The future perfect progressive emphasizes the duration of an activity that will be in progress before another time or event in the future. Sample Sentences: I will go to bed at ten P.M. will be sleeping. gets home. Ed will get home at midnight. At midnight I

I will have been sleeping for two hours by the time Ed

Exercise 44: Make sentences using the tense as the above sentences. Reminder : Sometimes the future perfect and the future perfect progressive have the same meaning. Also, notice that the activity expressed by either of these two tenses may begin in the past. Sample Sentences: When Professor Johns retires next month, he will have taught for 45 years. (= When Professor Johns retires next month, he will have been teaching for 45 years.) Exercise 45: Make sentences using the tense as the above sentence.

Reference:
l l l Understanding and Using English Grammar, (for advanced level) by Betty Schrampfer Azar English Grammar In Use (for intermediate students of English) by Raymond Murphy, Cambridge university press How English Works by Michael Swan & Catherine Walter, OXFORD

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