Verb tenses

VERB TENSES

SIMPLE PRESENT

Events or situations that exist always, usually, habitually. They exist now, have existed in the past, and probably will exist in the future.

It expresses general statement of fact and timeless truths.

It expresses habitual or everyday activities.

It snows in Alaska.

SIMPLE PAST

Things that happened at one particular time in the past.

Something that began and ended in the past.

It snowed yesterday.

SIMPLE FUTURE

At one particular time I n the future, this will happen.

It will snow tomorrow.

PROGRESSIVE TENSES

They give the idea that the action is in progress during a particular time.

PRESENT PROGRESSIVE

The action is in progress at the present time, and probably will continue.

Something generally in progress this week, this month, this year.

Tom is sleeping right now.

PAST PROGRESSIVE

The action was in progress at a particular time in the past.

Tom was sleeping when I arrived.

FUTURE PROGRESSIVE

The action will begin before another action, and it will be in progress at a particular time-

Tom will be sleeping when we arrive.

PERFECT TENSES

They give the idea that one thing happens before another thing or event.

PRESENT PERFECT

Something that began in the past and continues in the present.

I have been here for two hours.

Something that happened in the past without mentioning when.

I have gone to Mexico.

Something that has happened several times.

I have seen that movie three times.

PAST PERFECT

An activity that began and was finished before another activity began in the past.

I had left when he arrived.

FUTURE PERFECT

An activity that will be completely finished before another time in the future.

Tom will have graduated by the year 2010.

PERFECT PROGRESSIVE TENSES

They give the idea that one event is in progress immediately before, up to, until another time or event. The tenses are used to express the duration of the first event.

PRESENT PERFECT PROGRESSIVE

Event that is in progress

Tom has been studying for two hours.

PAST PERFECT PROGRESSIVE

Event was in progress

Tom had been studying for two hours before his friend came.

FUTURE PERFECT PROGRESSIVE

Event will be in progress before another event in the future.

Tom will have been studying for two hours by the time his friend arrives.

SPELLING OF ING AND ED FORMS

1. verbs that end in a consonant and e:

Drop e and add ing.

Hope hopinghoped Date dating dated Injure injuring injured

ONE-SYLLABLE VERBS

1. consonant-vowel-consonant: double consonant

Stop stopping stopped Rob robbing robbed Beg begging begged

2ND SYLLABLE STRESSED

Begin beginning Prefer preferring preferred Control controlling controlled

VERBS THAT END IN Y

1. consonant-y: add ing, change to ied

Study studying studied Try trying tried Reply replying replied

2. vowel-y: add ing, add ed

Enjoy enjoying enjoyed Pray praying prayed

VERBS THAT END IN IE

Die dying died

Lie lying lied

STATIVE VERBS

They describe states, conditions or situations that exist. They are not used I n progressive tenses.

The food tastes good. Exception: The chef is tasting the food.

VERBS WITH STATIVE MEANING

Mental state: Know need Realize desire Understand Recognize Believe Feel Suppose

STATIVE AND PROGRESSIVE

Think Imagine Doubt Remember Forget Want Mean

EMOTIONAL STATE

love like appreciate please prefer hate dislike fear envy mind care astonish amaze surprise

POSSESSION

possess own belong

Exception: have

SENSE PERCEPTIONS

Hear

Both: taste smell feel see

OTHER EXISTING STATES

seem sound resemble look like owe equal exist matter consist of contain Both: look appear cost weigh be include

AM/IS/ARE BEING+ADJECTIVE

1. be+adjective: expresses stative meaning

Ann is sick

2. sometimes be+an adjective is used in progressive to describe a temporary, in-progress behavior

He is being foolish.

ADJECTIVES THAT CAN BE USED WITH AM/IS/ARE BEING

bad careful cruel fair foolish funny generous good illogical impolite irresponsible kind lazy logical loud nice noisy patient pleasant polite quiet responsible rude serious silly unfair unkind unpleasant

ADJECTIVES THAT CANNOT BE USED WITH AM/IS/ARE BEING

angry beautiful handsome happy healthy hungry lucky

nervous sick tall thirsty young old

PRONUNCIATION OF ED ENDINGS

1. /t/ for voiceless sounds k,p,s,ch,sh,f Looked Clapped Missed Watched Finished Laughed

2. /d/: voiced sounds l, v,n,b, all the vowels

Smelled Saved Cleaned Robbed Played

3. /ed/ t or d

Decided Needed Wanted Invited

TROUBLESOME VERBS

transitive

raised raised raised

set set set

lay laid laid

Intransitive

rise rose risen

sit sat sat

lie lay lain

SENTENCES IS SIMPLE PAST CONTAINING WHEN

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

Rita stood under a tree when it began to rain.

When he heard the sound, he got up to investigate.

PAST PROGRESSIVE AND SIMPLE PAST

I was walking down the street when it began to rain.

The progressive action happened first.

PROGRESSIVE VERBS WITH ALWAYS TO COMPLAIN

He is always leaving his dirty clothes on the floor.

Expresses annoyance and anger

always, forever, constantly

USE OF AFTER AND BEFORE WITH PAST PERFECT

Past perfect is not necessary

Sam had left before Ann arrived. Sam left before Ann arrived.

After the guests had left, I went to bed. After the guests left, I when to bed.