The Present Tenses

Present Simple

Present Progressive

Present Perfect

Present Perfect Progressive


Present Simple/ Present Progressive
HABITUAL ACTIONS
(always, usually, often,
occasionally, sometimes,
seldom, rarely, hardly ever,
never)
Ex: I never watch football.
GENERAL FACTS
Ex: - Water boils at 100oC.
- James works for an
insurance company.
PERMANENT
SITUATIONS
Ex: - My uncle lives in
Tay Nguyen.
ACTIONS AROUND NOW
(now, right now, at the moment,
while, as, when, etc.)
Ex: - Jack is having a talk to
his professor right now.
CHANGING SITUATIONS
Ex: - Its getting colder and
colder.
- The worlds population is
increasing very fast.
TEMPORARY SITUATIONS
Ex: - My uncle is living in
Tay Nguyen now; he
has a business trip
there.
Present simple (cont.)
TO EXPRESS AN EVENT THAT IS ON A
DEFINITE SCHEDULE OR TIME TABLE
Ex: - The train to Melbourne leaves at 9 oclock tonight.
SOME COMMON
NON-PROGRESSIVE VERBS
Mental & emotional states
- admire, adore, appreciate, care, detest, (dis)like, doubt, envy,
fear, prefer, hate, hope, love, regret, respect, trust.
- (dis)agree, believe, consider, desire, estimate, expect,
imagine, know, need, realize, recognize, remember, see
(=understand), suppose, think (=have an opinion), want,
wish.
Senses
appear, hear, look (=seem), sound, smell, taste, see, seem.
Possessions
belong, have, own, possess,
Others
consist, contain, include, lack, owe, weigh, astonish, deny,
impress, please, surprise, satisfy.

PRESENT PERFECT
PRESENT PERFECTPROGRESSIVE
Time is not mentioned
Ex: - Have you seen Pride
and prejudice?
Finished events connected
with the present
Ex: I havent seen John
this week.
Recently, already, just, up
to now, until now, yet, so
far, etc.
Repetition& continuation
to now.
Ex: - I have read 5 novels
this month.
Continuous activities/
continuous changes or
developments
Ex: - Phil has been doing
very well recently.
- It has been raining
heavily since yesterday.
Ex: - I have been doing a
lot of reading this month.
SOME STRUCTURES USED WITH
PRESENT PERFECT
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME
Ex: This is the first time I have talked to her.
IT IS THE MOST .
Ex: It is the worst tennis match I have ever watched.
.. SINCE.
Ex: We havent stayed in touch since 2006.

PRESENT PERFECT
SIMPLE PAST
INDEFINITE PAST
TIME
Ex: Jack has done a lot to
help us.

DEFINITE PAST TIME
Ex: Jack did a lot to
help us when he
was alive.
THE PAST TENSES
SIMPLE PAST

PAST CONTINUOUS

PAST PERFFECT

PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS
SIMPLE PAST/
PAST CONTINUOUS
WITH DEFINITE PAST
TIME
Ex: - His companys
profits doubled last
year.
Used with: last . ,
.ago, previous .,
etc.
AT THE EXACT TIME
IN THE PAST
Ex: -Noah was writing a
report at 5 p.m.yesterday.
THE PROGRESSIVE
ACTIONS DURING THE
PAST TIME.
Ex: When he came, Jill was
playing chess.
SIMPLE PAST/
PAST PERFECT
SIMPLE PAST
Ex: - Liz told me about the
memo last week.
PAST PERFECT
For an action that had
happened before another
past action
Ex: - I realized that Liz
had told me about
the memo.
Ex: - By the time you
came to my house
yesterday, the fire
had ruined all the
area.
FUTURE TENSES
FUTURE SIMPLE
FUTURE CONTINUOUS
FUTURE PERFECT
FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS
BE-GOING TO
SIMPLE PRESENT FOR FUTURE ACTIONS

FUTURE SIMPLE
To predict future events
Ex: I shall probably be home late tonight.
An offer to do something
Ex:- Shall I carry your bag?
-A: I cant operate this computer.
B: Ill help you do it.
An instant decision-making.
Ex: - A: Who can help me with the housework this
afternoon?
B: Ill do it.
FUTURE CONTINUOUS
An event will be going on at certain time in
the future.
Ex: - By this time tomorrow, Ill be presenting
the thesis.
FUTURE PERFECT
An event that will have happened by certain
time in the future.
Ex: - By the time you come here tomorrow,
Eddie will have left home.
BE GOING TO/ FUTURE SIMPLE/
PRESENT CONTINUOUS
A prediction based on evidence/ objective
opinion.
Ex: - Look at the boy on the roof of the house. Hes
going to fall off.
A prediction based on personal opinions/
subjective opinion.
Ex: - It will rain tomorrow.
- Shes never late; shell be here in a couple of
minutes.
An arrangement, or a plan.
Ex: - Im talking to John tonight.

SEQUENCE OF TENSES
Main clause (Present Perfect) + SINCE + clause
(Simple past)
Ex: -Jack and Jill have worked in the lab since 7a.m.
-Phil has lectured since I came here at 8 a.m.
Time clause (as, while, when, etc) present tenses+
Main clause (future time)
Ex: - When you see Jim at 6 tonight, Ill be doing my
test.
- By the time you arrive home at 10 tonight, the
children will have been in bed.
- I will visit Ben when I come to New York.
SEQUENCE OF TENSES (cont.)
Time clause (as, while, when, etc) Past tenses+
Main clause (past perfect)
Ex: - When I called you at 9 this morning, you were having a
meeting with your client.
- When Harry phoned, Fred had gone away.
MODAL VERBS
Must mustnt
have to dont have to
had to didnt have to
ought to not ought to
had better had better not
be supposed to
should should not
need do not need to need not
can cannot
could could not
shall shall not


ABILITY
CAN
EX: He can speak German fluently.
COULD
Ex: He could speak German fluently when
he was young.
BE ABLE TO
Ex: After looking at his notes again, he was
able to complete the exercise.
POSSIBILITY
CAN
EX: A full description can be found in the reference
book. (present fact)
COULD
Ex: The two parties could reach an agreement
tomorrow.
MAY
Ex: Agreement between management and unions may
be reached tomorrow. (future fact)
MIGHT
Ex: The two parties may reach an agreement
tomorrow.
POSSIBILITY (cont)
CANNOT (IMPOSSIBLE )
EX: That cant be true.
COULD NOT (NOT POSSIBLE)
Ex: - They could not reach an agreement tomorrow.
MAY/ MIGHT NOT (POSSIBLE NOT)
Ex: - They may/might not reach an agreement
tomorrow.
PERMISSIONS or REQUESTS
CAN
Ex: - You can/may speak to the patient for just a
few minutes. (FORMAL)
Ex: - Can I borrow your pen? (INFORMAL)

COULD
May
Could I speak to you for a moment?
Might
can
MAY (POLITE)
EX: You can/may speak to the patient for just a
few minutes.

MIGHT
May
Could I speak to you for a moment?
Might
can
PERMISSIONS or REQUESTS
WILL (POLITE)
EX: Will you pass the salt?
WOULD (POLITE)
EX: Would you please pass the salt?

SUGGESTIONS
COULD
Ex: A: I need help in math.
B: You could talk to your teacher.
SHALL
Ex: Shall I open the window?
ADVICE
SHOULD
Ex: I should study tonight.
OUGHT TO
EX: You ought to read that book.
HAD BETTER (NOT) +bare inf.
Ex: Youd better see a doctor.
Ex: Youd better not make a mistake next time.
Hadnt you better ?
OBLIGATION/ NECESSITY
MUST (from the speaker himself)
Ex: I must go to class today.
Ex: Candidates must attempt all the questions.

HAVE TO (Obligation from another person/ or a
rule.)
Ex: - You have to answer all the questions
Ex: - I have to tell you what happened. ( Ive been
told to do so.)
NOT HAVE TO (lack of obligation)
Ex: - I dont have to go to class today.

MUST NOT (PROHIBITION)
Ex: - You must not open that door.

CERTAINTY
WILL
Ex: - He will be here a 6:00.
MUST
Ex: - Mary isnt in class. She must be sick.
OUGHT TO
Ex: - She ought to do well on the test.
SHOULD
Ex: - She should do well on the test. (future)
CERTAINTY
COULD
Ex: - John could be at home.
MAY
Ex: - Jack must be in the library.
MIGHT
Ex: - He might be in the garden.

MODALS+PERFECT INFINITIVES
MUST + HAVE +P.P

SHOULD + HAVE + P.P

CAN + HAVE + P.P

COULD + HAVE + P.P

MAY + HAVE +P.P
MIGHT
MUST HAVE + V (p.p.):
Conclusion about the past
Ex: - We went to Rome last month.
That must have been nice.
- A woman phoned while you were out.
It must have been Kate.

Note: To express the conclusion that sth is
certain or highly probable in the present:
Ex: Mary must have a problem. She kept crying.
SHOULD HAVE + V (p.p)
To express situations that are different from
what actually happened.

Ex: - If wed known you were coming, we
should have taken the day off.
- Its funny that she doesnt like him. I
should have thought that theyd
get on terribly well.
MAY/MAY HAVE + V (PP)
A. To express sth that possibly happened or was
true in the past/ or present.

Ex: - Polly is very late. She may have
missed the train. (Its possible that she
missed the train.)

- You were stupid to try to climb up
there. You might have killed
yourself.

- Ill try phoning him now, but he
might have gone out now.
CAN / COULD HAVE + V (pp)
To guess what has happened whether things
happened.

Ex: Where can she have gone? She cant have
gone to school its Saturday.

To say that sth was possible, but did not happen.

Ex: That was a bad place to go skiing you could
have broken your leg.
VERB PATTERNS
Bare Infinitives
To-Infinitives
Gerunds
Present Participles- Past participles

BARE INFINITIVES
- AFTER MODALS:
- let, make, hear, see, feel, watch, notice +
Obj+ bare-infinitive
Ex: - They made me run 5 kilometers each day.
Ex: - I watched them play the piano.
Ex: - I heard him say he was leaving.
BUT: Jack was let to do what ever he wanted to.
We were seen to break the camera.
In Imperatives
Ex: - Be quiet!
- Never let her go there alone.
BARE INFINITIVES
AFTER had better/ would rather
Ex: - Youd better talk to John about your problems
immediately.
- Id rather take the subway than ask him a ride.
AFTER and, or, but, than, as, than, except
Ex:- Id like to sit down and listen to a piece of music.
- The children are ready to do anything but go to
bed.

TO-INFINITIVES
Afford determine offer
agree endeavor prepare
aim fail pretend
appear guarantee proceed
arrange happen promise
bother hasten propose
care hesitate prove
claim learn refuse
decide long resolve
demand manage seek
tend threaten volunteer
Ex: - We cant afford to buy an apartment.
TO-INFINITIVES
VERB+ Obj.+ to-infinitive
aid appoint cause challenge
direct enable encourage force
inspire instruct invite lead
oblige order persuade remind
require stimulate tell
ask beg choose dare
desire expect help mean
want wish
advise allow attempt intend
permit
Ex: - Jack enables us to drive his car.

TO INFINITIVES
Its + adj. + (for sb) +to-infinitive
Ex: - Its nice to talk to them.
Ex: - It was a good chance for us to experience
such a good time.
Enough + noun + to-inf.
Adj/Adv + Enough + to-infinitives
Ex: - Hes old enough to possess a car.
- Hes speaking slowly enough for us to
understand.
It takes (sb) + (time) + to-infinitive
Ex: - It took us about 4 hours to finish that
test.
Subj + is + the first/ second//last + to-
inf.
Ex:- Phil was the first to come here.
Its time + to-inf.
Ex: It was time to stop them from smoking.

TO-INFINITIVES
Too + adj/adv + to-inf.
Ex: Shes too young to take that position as a manager.

- To- infinitive of purpose
- in order to + infinitive
- so as to + inf
Ex: - Lilly phoned us to inform/ in order to inform of
her wedding.

ask
decide + where/ when/ how/ who/ what, etc. + to-
inf
explain
know
tell

Ex: Betty asked me where to go the following Sunday.
CAUSATIVE FORMS
Have sb do sth
Get sb to do sth
Ex: - Jane had her brother type the
assignment.
- Jane got her brother to type the
assignment.
Have/Get sth done
Ex: - Jane got / had her assignment typed.
SUBJUNCTIVES (Chapter 8)
S+ request + that-CLAUSE ( S+ Verb-bare)
demand
advise
suggest
propose
recommend
urge
order
insist
It is imperative/ important/ necessary/ essential/
vital + that-CLAUSE (S+ V-bare)
Ex: It was important that everything be ready by that
time.
GERUNDS
Subj. (gerund) + Verb (singular) + .
(= it is + adj. + to-inf)
Ex: -Reading isnt my favorite.
- Sky diving is dangerous.
( It is dangerous to sky dive.)
Preposition + Gerund
Ex: Are you afraid of talking to your boss about your
payrise?
- I decided to give up smoking
Its no good
have difficulty.
have problem
Its (not) worth
Its no use
Ex: - Its no good quarreling with them.
- Bill said he had some difficulties dealing with that
problem.
GERUNDS
Verb + gerunds
admit appreciate avoid consider
delay deny detest dislike
endure enjoy excuse fancy
finish feel like forgive cant help
imagine involve mention mind
miss postpone practice resent
resist cant stand risk suggest

Ex: - We couldnt stand hearing their complaints.
- Joe admitted using his fathers car without any
permission.


GERUNDS
Remember/ forget/ regret
Ex: - Harry didnt remember to phone me last night.
- Harry said he didnt remember phoning me last night,
but Im sure he did.
Stop
Ex: - Stop smoking in class.
- Pat was driving along the beach, and she stopped to
take some pictures for the sunset was so beautiful.
Need
Ex: - Your car needs maintaining.
- Your car needs to be maintained.
Allow/ advise
Ex: - Jim advised taking those children to the park.
PARTICIPLES
Present Participles
1. As an adjective.
Ex: - It was amazing to witness such fantastic
fireworks performances.
- It was such a time-consuming task.
- They are keeping such frightening dogs.
PRESENT PARTICIPLES
2. As an ing-phrase (or participle phrases)
Ex: - Jane was cooking. She was singing.
While cooking, Jane was singing.
- Having discussed the proposal for over 2 hours,
the board of directors came to the final decision.
(= The board of directors had discussed the
proposal for over 2 hours. They came to the final
decision)
- Do you know Mr. Peters composing this song?
(Do you know Mr. Peters who composed this
song?)

PARTICIPLES
Past participles
1. As an adjective
Ex:- We all felt excited about the game; our team
won in the end.
- Hearing the thunder, the frightened child ran
into her mothers room.
2. As a compound adjective
Ex: - They all wished to have such a
beautifully-decorated Christmas tree at home.
- It was such a well-written article.

Past Participles
3. As a past participle phrase.
Ex: - This is a memo written by Ms. Jones.
(This is a memo which was written by Ms. Jones.)
- Have you received the message sent by Harry?
(Have you received the message which was sent
by Harry?


PARTICIPLES
Ex: - Used (The pen had been used) for many times, the
pen was broken.
(The pen had been used for many times. The pen was
broken.)
- Repaired by a good mechanic, the car now is good to
use.
(The car was repaired by a good mechanic, the car now
is good to use.)

NOTES: When the subjects of the clauses are not the
same, Present / Past Participles cannot be used.
Ex: - Looking out of the window, the garden was a mass of
color. (wrong)

Being taken care of very carefully, the tree is growing well.