Verb forms English tenses Present Continuous * Examples He is sleeping. I am visiting grandpa in the afternoon. You are always coming late for the meetings! The Present Continuous is mainly used to express the idea that something is happening at the moment of speaking. The Present Continuous also describes activities generally in progress (this means that they don't have to take place right now). Another use of the tense is to talk about temporary actions or future plans. * USES • Present actions • Temporary actions • Longer actions in progress • Future (personal) arrangements and plans • Tendencies and trends (xu hướng, khuynh hướng và chiều hướng) • Irritation (sự chọc tức; tình trạng bị làm phát cáu, tình trạng bị chọc tức- phàn nàn) USE 1: Present Actions Most often, we use the Present Continuous tense to talk about actions happening at the moment of speaking. Examples: He is eating a dinner. Mary is talking with her friends. They are swimming in the pool. Stative (State) Verbs There is a certain group of verbs that usually does not appear in the Continuous form. They are called Stative (State) Verbs, and if used in the Continuous form, they have a different meaning. Examples: I think you look pretty today! meaning: Opinion I'm thinking of moving to San Francisco! meaning: Act of thinking USE 2: Temporary Actions This tense is also used for activities continuing only for a limited period of time. Examples: - I'm riding a bike to get to work because my car is broken. Temporary Action (His car will soon be repaired) - They are not talking with each other after the last argument. Temporary Action (They will soon make up) - Mary is working at McDonald's. Temporary Action (She is working there only during the summer holidays) USE 3: Longer Actions in Progress Lê Thị Thanh Huyền We also use the Present Continuous when we are in the middle of doing something time- consuming (i.e. something that takes time to complete). An example of such an activity is writing a book, saving money or studying for an exam. Examples: -They are working hard to earn money. -I am training to become a professional footballer. -Mike is studying hard to become a doctor. -Elizabeth is currently writing a children's book titled I am the World. USE 4: Future (Personal) Arrangements and Plans Sometimes we use the Present Continuous to show that something is planned and will be done in the near future. Examples: -I'm meeting Katie in the evening. -He's flying to Rome in September. -We're not going anywhere tomorrow. USE 5: Tendencies and Trends This tense is also used for expressing tendencies or trends. Examples: -Our country is getting richer. -The Internet is becoming less of a novelty. -The Universe is expanding . USE 6: Irritation or Anger And the last use of this tense is to express irritation or anger over somebody or something in the present with adverbs such as: always, continually or contantly. Examples: -She is continually complaining about everything! -Johny is always asking stupid questions! -My boss is contantly critising me! Present Simple * Examples -John lives in New York. -We play football every day. -You are really kind. -The meeting starts at 3 PM The Present Simple is the most basic and common tense in the English language. Because of its easy form, it is the best tense to start learning/teaching English tenses. It is also an interesting tense because it can express both the present and the future. In the below list, there are 7 uses of this tense. It's a lot, but don't worry: most of them are easy to understand. *USE • Facts, generalizations and universal truths (tổng quát, khái quát) • Habits and routines • Permanent situations • Events that are certain to happen • Arrangements that we can't change (e.g. timetables, official meetings) • State verbs (e.g. be, have, suppose, know) Lê Thị Thanh Huyền • Narrations (e.g. telling a joke), instructions or commentaries *Note Apart from the above uses, this tense is also used in: Zero Conditional — If it rains, I go play football. First Conditional — We won't get our pocket money, if we don't pass this exam. In sentences after when, before, till, after, as soon as. ("Before you leave, please take the keys") USE 1: Facts, Generalizations and Univeral Truths We use the Present Simple to talk about universal truths (for example, laws of nature) or things we believe are, or are not, true. It's also use it to generalize about something or somebody. Examples: -Water boils at 100 degrees Celcius. Universal Truths -It is a big house. Facts -The Earth goes around the Sun. Universal Truths, Facts -Dogs are better than cats. Generalization -Berlin is the capital city of Germany. Facts -The Elephant doesn't fly. Facts -London is the capital city of France. Facts (REMEMBER: the sentence does not have to be true) USE 2: Habits and Routines We also used this tense to describe actions that happen frequently. For example: habits, routines, tendencies. Examples: -We leave for work at 7:30 AM every morning. Routine -My husband watches the TV in the evening. Habit, Routine -Susan often meets with her friends after school. Habit, Routine -They usually play football on Sunday. Habit, Routine -Mark rarely visits his sick grandmother. Tendency -Pinocchio usually told lies. Tendency Adverbs of Frequency The Present Simple is often used with the frequency adverbs: always frequently/often usually seldom/rarely nowadays never every week/year sometimes/occasionally from time to time every now and then A few examples how to use them in sentences: -I always go to church on Sundays. -I never eat anything after 10 PM. USE 3: Pernament Situations Use the Present Simple to talk about situations in life that last a relatively long time. Examples: Lê Thị Thanh Huyền -I live in Boston -He works as a fireman. -Margaret drives a Volkswagen. -Jerry doesn't teach maths at highschool. USE 4: Events Certain to Happen Use the Present Simple when an event is certain to happen in the future. Examples: -My grandmother turns 100 this July. -Winter starts on 21 December. USE 5: State Verbs You should use the Present Simple with state verbs. Examples: -I like swimming. -We know this man. *Note Some of the verbs used in the simple form can also appear in the continuous form. This is typically when they have an active meaning or emphasize change. Examples: -I'm thinking of moving to San Francisco -I'm loving your new hairdo! USE 6: Future Arrangements Use the Present Simple to talk about events that we can't change (for example, an official meeting or a train departure). Examples: -The meeting starts at 4 PM. -The train leaves at the noon. -When does the plane take off? -Jerry doesn't teach maths at high school. USE 7: Narrations, Instructions or commentaries The Present Simple is also used in narrations (e.g. to tell a story or a joke), instructions (e.g. cooking) or commentaries (especially sport commentaries). Examples: A man goes to visit a friend and is amazed to find him playing chess with his dog. He watches the game in astonishment for a while [ ] FORM Forming a sentence in the Present Simple is easy. To form a declarative sentence, all you need is the subject of the sentence (e.g. I, you, he, a dog) and the verb (e.g. be, talk, swim). Questions and negative sentences are only a little more difficult, because they require an auxiliary verb. Simple Present – Present Progressive • Form Simple Present Present Progressive infinitive (3rd person singular: infinitive + 's') I speak you speak he / she / it speaks form of 'be' and verb + ing I am speaking you are speaking he / she / it is speaking Lê Thị Thanh Huyền we speak they speak we are speaking they are speaking Exceptions Exceptions when adding 's' : For can, may, might, must, do not add s. Example: he can, she may, it must After o, ch, sh or s, add es. Example: do - he does, wash - she washes After a consonant, the final consonant y becomes ie. (but: not after a vowel) Example: worry - he worries but: play - he plays Exceptions when adding 'ing' : Silent e is dropped. (but: does not apply for -ee) Example: come - coming but: agree - agreeing After a short, stressed vowel, the final consonant is doubled. Example: sit - sitting After a vowel, the final consonant l is doubled in British English (but not in American English). Example: travel - travelling (British English) but: traveling (American English) Final ie becomes y. Example: lie - lying • Use In general or right now? Do you want to express that something happens in general or that something is happening right now? Simple Present Present Progressive in general (regularly, often, never) Colin plays football every Tuesday. present actions happening one after another First Colin plays football, then he watches TV. right now Look! Colin is playing football now. also for several actions happening at the same time Colin is playing football and Anne is watching. Signal words always every often normally usually sometimes seldom never first then at the moment at this moment today now right now Listen! Look! Note: The following verbs are usually only used in Simple Present: be, have, hear, know, like, love, see, smell, think, want Timetable / Schedule or arrangement? Do you want to express that something is arranged for the near future? Or do you refer to a time set by a timetable or schedule? Simple Present Present Progressive Lê Thị Thanh Huyền action set by a timetable or schedule The film starts at 8 pm. arrangement for the near future I am going to the cinema tonight. Daily routine or just for a limited period of time? Do you want to talk about a daily routine? Or do you want to emphasis that something is only going on for a limited (rather short) period of time? Simple Present Present Progressive daily routine Bob works in a restaurant. only for a limited period of time (does not have to happen directly at the moment of speaking) Jenny is working in a restaurant this week. Certain Verbs The following verbs are usually only used in Simple Present (not in the progressive form). state: be, cost, fit, mean, suit Example: We are on holiday. possession: belong, have Example: Sam has a cat. senses: feel, hear, see, smell, taste, touch Example: He feels the cold. feelings: hate, hope, like, love, prefer, regret, want, wish Example: Jane loves pizza. brain work: believe, know, think, understand Example: I believe you. Introductory clauses for direct speech: answer, ask, reply, say Example: “I am watching TV,“ he says. Present Perfect *Examples -I have read this book. -The man has gone away. -John has worked as a teacher for over 25 years. The Present Perfect is used to express actions that happened at an indefinite time or that began in the past and continue in the present. This tense is also used when an activity has an effect on the present moment. *USE • Actions which happened at an indefinite (unknown) time before now • Actions in the past which have an effect on the present moment • Actions which began in the past and continue in the present USE 1: Indefinite time before now Use the Present Perfect to talk about actions that happened at some point in the past. It does not matter when exactly they happened. Examples: -I have already had a breakfast. -He has been to England. Remember You should not use this tense with time expressions like yesterday, a week ago, last year, etc. USE 2: Effect on the present moment We also use this tense to when an activity has an effect on the present moment. Lê Thị Thanh Huyền Examples: -He has finished his work. (so he can now rest) -I have already eaten the dinner. (so I'm not hungry) -He has had a car accident. (that's why he is in the hospital) USE 3: Continuation in the present We often use the Present Perfect when we want to emphasize that an event continues in the present. Examples: - has worked as a teacher for over 25 years. -Patrick has achieved a lot in his life. For and Since Since and For are very common time expressions used with the Present Perfect. We use For with a period of time, for example: I have lived here for 20 years. When talking about a starting point, we use Since, for example: I have lived here since 1960. *FORM To form a sentence in the Present Perfect, you need: The proper conjugation of the auxiliary verb "to have". The Past Participle of your verb. 1. Auxiliary Verb "to have" We conjugate the auxiliary verb "to have" the same way we would conjugate the normal verb "to have". Person Singular Plural First I have We have Second You have You have Third He/she/it has They have As you can see, the third person singular is irregular. More examples: She has never seen my brother. Neither of my brothers has ever driven a truck. 2. The Past Participle The past participle of a verb is a verb form that appears with the perfect tenses. The past participle can be either regular or irregular. The regular verbs are formed by adding -ed to the verb: Verb Past Participle talk talked explain explained use used Lê Thị Thanh Huyền Verb Past Participle deliver delivered include included achieve achieved The formation of the irregular verbs does not follow one rule. Therefore, they should be memorized. Verb Past Participle Learn more be been be become become become see seen see go gone go eat eaten eat grow grown grow Declarative Sentences Subject + Auxiliary verb + Past participle e.g. I/a dogetc. has/have e.g. slept/taken/goneetc. Examples Use We have already had breakfast (Use 1) I have bought new shades (Use 2) I have already been to Paris (Use 1) John has been a plumber for 2 years (Use 3) Someone has just taken my bag! (Use 1,2) Jane has never been so angry (Use 3) He has been our most serious partner for so long that I can assure you he's a very decent man (Use 3) Lê Thị Thanh Huyền Questions Auxiliary verb + Subject + Past participle has/have e.g. I/a dogetc. e.g. slept/taken/goneetc. Examples Use Have you ever seen this program? (Use 1) Where has she lived for the past 21 years? (Use 3) Have you found the telephone number? (Use 1,2) Have you ever been to France? (Use 1) Has anyone taken my bag? (Use 1,2) Present perfect continuous Form of Present Perfect Progressive Positive Negative Question I / you / we / they I have been speaking. I have not been speaking. Have I been speaking? he / she / it He has been speaking. He has not been speaking. Has he been speaking? Exceptions in Spelling Exceptions in spelling when adding ing Example final e is dropped (but: ee is not changed) come – coming (but: agree – agreeing) after a short, stressed vowel, the final consonant is doubled sit – sitting l as final consonant after a vowel is doubled (in British English) travel – travelling final ie becomes y lie – lying Use of Present Perfect Progressive • puts emphasis on the duration or course of an action (not the result) Example: She has been writing for two hours. • action that recently stopped or is still going on Example: I have been living here since 2001. • finished action that influenced the present Example: I have been working all afternoon. Signal Words of Present Perfect Progressive all day, for 4 years, since 1993, how long?, the whole week Present Perfect Simple – Present Perfect Progressive *Form Present Perfect Simple Present Perfect Progressive irregular verbs: form of 'have' + 3rd column of irregular verbs form of 'have' + been + verb + ing Lê Thị Thanh Huyền Example: I / you / we / they have spoken he / she / it has spoken regular verbs: form of 'have' + infinitive + ed Example: I / you / we / they have worked he / she / it has worked Example: I / you / we / they have been speaking he / she / it has been speaking Exceptions Exceptions when adding 'ed' : when the final letter is e, only add d Example: love - loved after a short, stressed vowel, the final consonant is doubled Example: admit - admitted final l is always doubled in British English (not in American English) Example: travel - travelled after a consonant, final y becomes i (but: not after a vowel) Example: worry - worried but: play - played Exceptions when adding 'ing' : silent e is dropped. (but: does not apply for -ee) Example: come - coming aber: agree - agreeing after a short, stressed vowel, the final consonant is doubled Example: sit - sitting after a vowel, the final consonant l is doubled in British English (but not in American English). Example: travel - travelling final ie becomes y. Example: lie - lying *Use Both tenses are used to express that an action began in the past and is still going on or has just finished. In many cases, both forms are correct, but there is often a difference in meaning: We use the Present Perfect Simple mainly to express that an action is completed or to emphasise the result. We use the Present Perfect Progressive to emphasise the duration or continuous course of an action. • Result or duration? Do you want to express what has happened so far or how long an action has been going on yet? Present Perfect Simple Present Perfect Progressive Result (what / how much / how often) I have written 5 letters. / I have been to London twice. Duration (how long) I have been writing for an hour. • Certain verbs The following verbs are usually only used in Present Perfect Simple (not in the progressive form). state: be, have (for possession only) Example: We have been on holiday for two weeks. senses: feel, hear, see, smell, taste, touch Example: He has touched the painting. brain work: believe, know, think, understand Example: I have known him for 3 years. • Emphasis on completion or duration? Lê Thị Thanh Huyền [...]... the result (a past action's consequence in the present)? Simple Past Present Perfect Simple Emphasis on action Emphasis on result Lê Thị Thanh Huyền Example: I bought a new bike (just telling what I did in the past.) 3 Signal Words Simple Past yesterday ago in 199 0 the other day last Example: I have bought a new bike (With this sentence I actually want to express that I have a new bike now.) Present... having breakfast, the phone suddenly rang • if sentences type II (If I talked, …) Example: If I had a lot of money, I would share it with you Signal Words of Simple Past yesterday, 2 minutes ago, in 199 0, the other day, last Friday If-Satz Typ II (If I talked, …) Past Progressive (Past Continuous) The past progressive puts emphasis on the course of an action in the past Form Positive Negative Question... the Future Continuous to make polite enquiries, when Lê Thị Thanh Huyền we wish to know what somebody's plans are: Examples: 1 Will you be coming with me to the concert tonight? 2 Will you be going to the next meeting in December? Remarks: ………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………… Date:………………………………… Lê Thị Thanh Huyền ... another at the same time She came home, switched on the computer Simon was playing on the computer while his and checked her e-mails brother was watching TV 2 New action or already in progress? Lê Thị Thanh Huyền If you want to express that a new action happened in the middle of another action, you need both tenses: Simple Past the new action and Past Progressive for the action already in progress Simple... irregular verbs Example: Example: I spoke I / you / we / they have spoken he / she / it has spoken regular verbs: infinitive + ed Example: regular verbs: form of 'have' + infinitive + ed Example: Lê Thị Thanh Huyền I worked I / you / we / they have worked he / she / it has worked Exceptions Exceptions when adding 'ed': when the final letter is e, only add d Example: love - loved after a short, stressed... Maybe he is an exchange student and only here for one or two years.) Signal words Present Perfect Simple Present Perfect Progressive how often how long times since for Simple Past (Past Simple) Lê Thị Thanh Huyền The simple past expresses an action in the past taking place once, never, several times It can also be used for actions taking place one after another or in the middle of another action Form... list of irregular verbs, 3rd column) For regular verbs, just add ed Exceptions in Spelling when Adding ed Exceptions in Spelling when Adding ed after final e, only add d Example love – loved Lê Thị Thanh Huyền final consonant after a short, stressed vowel admit – admitted or l as final consonant after a vowel is doubled travel – travelled final y after a consonant becomes i hurry – hurried 2 Use of... d Example: love - loved after a short, stressed vowel, the final consonant is doubled Example: admit - admitted final l is always doubled in British English (not in American English) Example: Lê Thị Thanh Huyền  travel - travelled after a consonant, final y becomes i (but: not after a vowel) Example: worry - worried but: play - played 2 Use We use Simple Past if we give past events in the order in... followed by object + subject + verb, the verb belongs to the new action and is therefore in Simple Past Example: After her visit to the zoo, Jane was exhausted More exceptions with signal words Lê Thị Thanh Huyền When Depending on the situation, "when" can be used with Simple Past or Past Perfect Compare the following examples: Example: When Jane saw the elephants, she was amazed (at the same time) When... The future simple tense is composed of two parts: will/shall + base verb Will and shall are often contracted to 'll Examples 1 I will finish my report later today 2 The sun will rise at 6:03 am Lê Thị Thanh Huyền We use the Future Simple Tense: to say that something will happen in the future Adverbs of time that will indicate such tense may include, tomorrow, today, 3 I'll go to the market tomorrow 4 . and trends (xu hướng, khuynh hướng và chiều hướng) • Irritation (sự chọc tức; tình trạng bị làm phát cáu, tình trạng bị chọc tức- phàn nàn) USE 1: Present Actions Most often, we use the Present. working all afternoon. Signal Words of Present Perfect Progressive all day, for 4 years, since 199 3, how long?, the whole week Present Perfect Simple – Present Perfect Progressive *Form Present. of money, I would share it with you. Signal Words of Simple Past yesterday, 2 minutes ago, in 199 0, the other day, last Friday If-Satz Typ II (If I talked, …) Past Progressive (Past Continuous) The