Verb tenses - How to distinguish different verb tenses

Verb tensesVerb tensesBy Arundathie AbeysingheBy Arundathie Abeysinghe

Lecturer in English Lecturer in English

International Aviation AcademyInternational Aviation Academy

SriLankan AirlinesSriLankan Airlines

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Verb tenses…Verb tenses…

Events that can happen in theEvents that can happen in the

PastPast

PresentPresent

FutureFuture

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Present SimplePresent Simple Where do we use Present Simple Tense?Where do we use Present Simple Tense? To describe To describe a habit a habit e.g. She gets up at 6.00 a.m.e.g. She gets up at 6.00 a.m. To describe To describe a fact which is always truea fact which is always true e.g. He comes from Australia. e.g. He comes from Australia. To describe To describe a fact which is true for a long timea fact which is true for a long time e.g. I live in Boston.e.g. I live in Boston. He works in a hospitalHe works in a hospital


Present ProgressivePresent Progressive Where do we use the present continuous form?Where do we use the present continuous form? To describe To describe an activity happening nowan activity happening now e.g. She is swimming in the hotel pool.e.g. She is swimming in the hotel pool. To describe To describe an activity happening around nowan activity happening around now, but , but

perhaps perhaps not at the moment of speakingnot at the moment of speaking e.g. Aditya is studying engineering at universitye.g. Aditya is studying engineering at university To describe To describe a planned future arrangementa planned future arrangement e.g. I am meeting Mr. and Mrs. Smith this eveninge.g. I am meeting Mr. and Mrs. Smith this evening


Present perfect….Present perfect…. There are three uses of the present perfect tense:There are three uses of the present perfect tense:

ExperienceExperience e.g. They have lived in Sydney.e.g. They have lived in Sydney. He has never eaten pizza.He has never eaten pizza.

Change or new informationChange or new information e.g. I have bought a computer. (Last month I didn’t have a e.g. I have bought a computer. (Last month I didn’t have a

computer)computer)

Continuing situationContinuing situation e.g. She has lived here since January.e.g. She has lived here since January.


Past simplePast simple

Where do we use past simple?Where do we use past simple? To describe To describe a past action that has finisheda past action that has finished e.g. She visited her parents last week.e.g. She visited her parents last week. She worked in France from 2009 to 2009.She worked in France from 2009 to 2009.


Time expressions - past simpleTime expressions - past simple

There are time expressions used with the past There are time expressions used with the past simplesimple

She did it last weekShe did it last week last monthlast month last weeklast week ten years agoten years ago in 2009in 2009


Past continuousPast continuous Where do we use the past continuous? Where do we use the past continuous? To describe To describe a past activity that has durationa past activity that has duration e.g. She met her husband while she was studying in e.g. She met her husband while she was studying in

Australia.Australia. To describe To describe an activity that began before the action an activity that began before the action

expressed by the past simpleexpressed by the past simple e.g. He was watching TV when we arrived.e.g. He was watching TV when we arrived. To describe To describe an activity in progress before or afteran activity in progress before or after e.g. When she woke up this morning, it was raining.e.g. When she woke up this morning, it was raining. Was she studying at 8.oo a.m.? Was she studying at 8.oo a.m.?


Past perfectPast perfect

Describes Describes an action in the an action in the pastpast before before another action in the pastanother action in the past

e.g. e.g. The plane The plane leftleft at 6.30 a.m. I at 6.30 a.m. I arrivedarrived at at 6.45a.m. When I arrived, the plane 6.45a.m. When I arrived, the plane had lefthad left..


Future SimpleFuture Simple

Where do we use future tense?Where do we use future tense? PredictionsPredictions IntentionsIntentions


PredictionsPredictions Auxiliary verb Auxiliary verb willwill is used in making is used in making

predictions or simple statements of fact about predictions or simple statements of fact about the futurethe future

e.g. Will it rain tomorrow?e.g. Will it rain tomorrow? Do you think he will pass the exam?Do you think he will pass the exam?


IntentionsIntentions Auxiliary verb Auxiliary verb going togoing to is used in talking about is used in talking about

intentionsintentions e.g. I am going to watch TV when I have e.g. I am going to watch TV when I have

finished my homeworkfinished my homework What are you going to have for dinner today? What are you going to have for dinner today?


Future progressiveFuture progressive To describe To describe an on-going action that will an on-going action that will

occur in the futureoccur in the futuree.g. She will be working at SriLankan Airlines e.g. She will be working at SriLankan Airlines from next month.from next month.


Future PerfectFuture Perfect Describes an action in the future Describes an action in the future beforebefore

another action in the future - another action in the future - about the about the past in past in the future the future

e.g. The plane e.g. The plane will leave will leave the airport at 6.30 the airport at 6.30 a.m. You a.m. You will arrive will arrive at the airport at 6.45a.m. at the airport at 6.45a.m. When you arrive at the airport, the plane When you arrive at the airport, the plane will will have lefthave left..


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Verb tenses - How to distinguish different verb tenses