Verb Tenses
Verb Tenses
Verb Tenses
VERB TENSES
E-BOOK
Table of Contents
1. Simple Present
2. Present Progressive
3. Simple Past
4. Past Continuous
5. Simple Future
6. (Be) Going to Future
7. Future Continuous
8. Present Perfect
9. Past Perfect
10. Past Perfect Continuous
11. Future Perfect
12. Future Perfect Continuous
SUBJECTS
AFFIRMATIVE (+)
NEGATIVE (-)
QUESTION (?)
I know.
Do I know?
YOU
You know.
Do you know?
WE
We know.
Do we know?
THEY
They know.
Do they know?
HE/SHE/IT
He knows.
Does he know?
Main Use:
We use simple present tense to talk about
things that we always do or situations that
occur in general.
Some Grammar:
RULE 1:
In affirmative form add s to the verbs after the subjects he/she/it.
Examples:
Celine loves me.
He manages well.
My sister reads a lot.
RULE 2:
In affirmative form add es to the verbs ending in sh, -ch, -ss, -o, -x after the
subjects he/she/it.
Examples:
John washes his face.
Sarah watches TV.
The little kid kisses her mother.
He goes to the cinema.
RULE 3:
In affirmative form remove y and add -ies to the verbs ending in consonant +
y after the subjects he/she/it.
Examples:
Daniel studies English. (the verb study ends in d which is a consonant + y)
That baby cries a lot. (the verb cry ends in r which is a consonant + y)
COPYRIGHT GRAMMARBANK.COM 2013 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
www.grammarbank.com
Note: in question and negative forms, we dont use the three rules above, instead;
we just use the bare forms of the verbs.
Examples:
He doesnt go to school. (not he doesnt goes)
Does Tom miss his family? (not does Tom misses)
often
normally
generally
sometimes
occasionally
hardly
hardly ever
scarcely
Barely
rarely
Everyday/week/month seldom
never
Note: the adverbs with negative meanings turn the sentences into negative:
Examples:
I hardly ever visit my uncle. ( I dont visit my uncle.)
The cheetah rarely likes to hunt. (they dont hunt)
Examples:
Seldom does she visit her uncle. (she seldom visits her uncle).
Barely did she work with us. (she barely worked with us.)
After time clauses when, while, after, before, as soon as, as, until, by the time,
etc. we use simple present instead of future tense.
Example:
When I see him tomorrow Ill talk to him.
will see
am going to see
would see
We use the present simple rather than the present continuous with stative
verbs:
I agree with you. (not I am agreeing with you)
I like this hamburger. (not I am liking this hamburger)
Agree
Like
Believe
Look
Understand
Own
Cost
Prefer
Disagree
Dislike
Promise
Realize
Feel
Recognize
Forget
Regret
Forgive
Resemble
Love
See
Suppose
Know
Want
Notice
Wish
Hate
Hope
I promise you. (I am promising you)
I love you. (I am loving you)
I want a cupcake. (I am wanting a cupcake)
Attention:
Some of these words are used with present progressive tense, but they have
different meanings.
SUBJECTS
AFFIRMATIVE (+)
NEGATIVE (-)
QUESTION (?)
I am eating.
I am not eating.
am I eating?
YOU
WE
We are eating.
are we eating?
THEY
HE/SHE/IT
It is eating.
Is it eating?
Main Use:
When talking about actions or events that
happen at the time of speaking:
Examples:
I am sleeping now.
Are you waiting for me here?
They are watching TV at the moment.
Look! She is coming back.
Rule:
We use verb to be + Verb-ing
Spelling rule:
When we dont pronounce the last e of a verb (when its not strong), we drop it.
Example:
I am writing an e-mail right now. (the last letter e is not pronounced.)
COPYRIGHT GRAMMARBANK.COM 2013 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
www.grammarbank.com
right now
at the moment
at present
currently
today
tonight
this week
Note: sometimes the action may not be going on at the time of speaking.
I am reading a novel by John Steinback. (not right now, but can be nowadays)
AFFIRMATIVE (+)
NEGATIVE (-)
QUESTION (?)
I walked.
did I walk?
YOU
You walked.
WE
We walked.
Did we walk?
THEY
They walked.
HE/SHE/IT
He walked.
Did he walk?
Main Use:
We use simple past tense when talking
about an action or an event that started
and ended at a specific time in the past.
Examples:
I saw the English teacher a few hours ago.
I was born in 1981.
When I got into the room, I found Jessy crying.
Some Grammar:
We use the second form of the verbs (V2) with the past simple.
Rule 1:
In affirmative form add ed to the verb.
Examples:
They walked across the bridge carefully.
The class started three hours ago.
He fixed the fences.
COPYRIGHT GRAMMARBANK.COM 2013 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
www.grammarbank.com
Rule 2:
In affirmative form add only d to the verbs ending in e.
Examples:
He liked playing soccer.
They decided to join us.
I recognized him.
Rule 3:
In affirmative form remove y and add -ied to the verbs ending in consonant+y
Example:
They carried all the boxes. (carry)
Roberto studied a lot to pass his exam. (study)
Rule 4:
Irregular verbs (the verbs that are exceptions to the above rules)
Examples:
We saw the thief stealing the money.
They broke the window.
Jessica took my pen.
My brother won the golden medal.
You can find a comprehensive list of irregular verbs at:
http://www.grammarbank.com/irregular-verbs.html
Note: in question and negative forms, we dont use the four rules above, instead; we
just use the bare forms of the verbs.
Examples:
I didnt give it.
(not didnt gave)
Did you buy that?
(not did you bought)
We didnt pay for it. (not didnt paid)
last week / month / year / summer / winter / May / June / Monday ...
Examples:
They found the lost box yesterday morning.
He left five minutes ago.
They got divorced five months ago.
I ran into Ted last week.
We went to Egypt for a vacation in 1988.
We can also use the past simple for situations that existed for a long time in
the past.
Examples:
When I was in London, I smoked. (used to smoke)
Our teacher at high school was so strict that he severely punished any
misbehaving students. (would punish)
Note: we should pay attention to tense agreement in sentences with time clauses
such as when, while, after, before, as, by the time, etc.
Example:
He always shouted at me before he listened to me. (not has listened or listens)
COPYRIGHT GRAMMARBANK.COM 2013 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
www.grammarbank.com
We can use for with simple past tense as well if the action finished in the
past.
I stayed at a hotel in Paris for six months. ( I am no longer staying there)
I played volleyball for 3 years at high school. (I am no longer playing)
Examples:
Its time you went to bed. (it's your bed time, go to bed.)
Its about time you went to bed.
Its about time you grew up and became realistic.
Attention:
It was time you had started (start) studying.
If Clause
Second conditional if clauses - we use the simple past with a present meaning.
Examples:
If I went shopping, I would buy some cheese.
Even if I knew your phone number, I wouldn't call you.
Examples:
I wish you worked with us. (but you dont)
I wish we were in Miami lying on the beach.
I would rather you smoked less.
I wish you smoked less.
Examples:
She speaks as if she was an expert.(she is not)
I feel as though the world turned round me.(it doesnt)
She speaks as if she is an expert.(I believe she is) (present tense)
SUBJECTS
AFFIRMATIVE (+)
NEGATIVE (-)
QUESTION (?)
I was walking.
Was I walking?
YOU
WE
We were walking.
Were we walking?
THEY
HE/SHE/IT
He was walking.
Was he walking?
Main Use:
We use past continuous when we talk
about actions or events that was going on
(for a while) at a particular time in the past:
Examples:
What were you doing from 10 to 11 yesterday?
I was waiting for the bus this time yesterday.
They were cleaning the attic last week this time.
Rule:
We use the past form of the verb to be - was / were + Verb-ing
Spelling rule:
When we dont pronounce the last e of a verb (when its not strong), we drop it.
I was hiding behind the tree when my brother caught me. (the last letter e is
not pronounced.)
COPYRIGHT GRAMMARBANK.COM 2013 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
www.grammarbank.com
When two actions or events existed simultaneously we can use the past
continuous for both:
Christina was tidying her room while her mother was washing up.
Melissa was taking a shower while I was watching TV.
Note: we can use the past simple in the same way.
Melissa took a shower while I watched TV.
Attention!
We dont use the past continuous for a long-term situation.
Examples:
When I was younger, I played basketball so well. (not I was playing)
My uncle worked in a phone factory for ten years. (not my uncle was
working)
Attention!
We dont use the past continuous or any continuous tense with repeated
actions or events.
Examples:
I traveled to U.S. three times last year. (not I was traveling...)
I called you five times yesterday. (not I was calling...)
We use the past simple when we talk about two or more consecutively
completed events or actions.
Examples:
Teacher came into the class, greeted the students and started the lesson.
Clara dressed up, put on her shoes, went out for shopping.
FUTURE TENSES
Simple Future (Will)
SUBJECTS
AFFIRMATIVE (+)
NEGATIVE (-)
QUESTION (?)
I will come.
Will I come?
YOU
WE
We will come.
Will we come?
THEY
HE/SHE/IT
He will come.
Will he come?
Examples:
I will see you tomorrow.
They will visit us soon.
I will pick up the phone.
It looks like it will rain tomorrow.
Will future is also known as simple future and it is used for unplanned future. You are
having a conversation with friends and they tell you about a party the next day which
you didn't know about until then and you suddenly say Oh, I will come to the party
tomorrow too. You just decided at that moment.
And they say We will see you at the party.
COPYRIGHT GRAMMARBANK.COM 2013 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
www.grammarbank.com
SUBJECTS
AFFIRMATIVE (+)
NEGATIVE (-)
QUESTION (?)
I am going to do.
Am I going to do?
YOU
WE
THEY
HE/SHE/IT
He is going to do.
Is he going to do?
Examples:
I am going to drive to L.A.
We arent going to participate in this race.
Are they going to swim with us?
Main Uses:
Both will future and going to future talk about future. However we prefer be
going to rather than will when we have some evidence.
Whats the matter with your daughter. She looks so pale.
She looks like she is going to faint.
Look at all those dark clouds, it is going to rain.
COPYRIGHT GRAMMARBANK.COM 2013 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
www.grammarbank.com
Examples:
A: I have a severe headache.
B: Dont worry Ill get you an aspirin.
A: The phone is ringing.
B: OK. I will answer it.
Examples:
Im seeing my dentist tomorrow at 7. (more organized)
Im going to see my dentist tomorrow.(theres a certain plan)
I will see my dentist tomorrow. (there is not much certainty)
We use simple present instead of future tenses after time clauses such as:
when / while / after / before / as / as soon as / by the time / just as / etc.
Example:
When you arrive , Ill call him and let him know.
are going to arrive
will arrive
We can use shall or shant instead of will or wont with the pronouns I we to be more polite in formal English.
Future Continuous
SUBJECTS
AFFIRMATIVE (+)
NEGATIVE (-)
QUESTION (?)
I will be going.
Will I be going?
YOU
WE
We will be going.
Will we be going?
THEY
HE/SHE/IT
He will be going.
Will he be going?
Main Use:
We use will+be+V-ing when we talk about an
action or an event which shows a duration at a
particular time in the future.
Examples:
I will be bicycling from 10:00 to 11:00 tonight.
Next Saturday, our manager will be celebrating ten years in management.
After the graduation, I won't be doing anything for a while.
My grandparents will be coming to our house again for Christmas.(they always
do)
At this time tomorrow, Ill be lying on the beach.
When you arrive at the airport tonight, well be waiting for you.
Example:
We will be landing / are landing for Venice at 7.00 in the morning.
I will be driving / am driving tomorrow early in the morning.
Note: when we talk about unexpected events, we use the present continuous.
Example:
A: Have you talked to Mr. Anderson?
B: No, why?
A: He is leaving in an hour! (not ...will be leaving)
PERFECT TENSES
All perfect tenses talk about a specific moment before another.
----------Past Perfect----------past----------now----------future
=> Everything will have been prepared by the time we set sail
tomorrow.
----------Past----------now----------Future Perfect----------future
SUBJECTS
AFFIRMATIVE (+)
NEGATIVE (-)
QUESTION (?)
I have seen.
Have I grown?
YOU
WE
We have seen.
Have we grown?
THEY
HE/SHE/IT
He has seen.
Has he grown?
Main Use:
The Present Perfect Tense expresses actions or
events that began in the past and are still true or
appropriate in the present time, or just finished.
Present Perfect is also used for something that
happened in the past but the exact time of the
action isnt known or is not important.
Examples:
My brother has dedicated all his life to helping the poor.
Daniel has successfully managed to pass his class.
Ive learned the truth.
Examples:
They have walked across the bridge carefully.
The class has started.
He has fixed the fences.
Events or activities that happened in the past but the effects are still present.
Examples:
Ive broken the window.( it is still broken)
My brothers lost his car keys.(he cant find them)
I've found the glasses you were looking for. (they are here)
for
ever
never
lately
recently
so far
by now
up until now
up to now
up to present
until now
these days
Just
We use just to say that something has finished or happened very recently.
Examples:
The new manager walks through the door and one says:
The new manager has just arrived.
My brother has just graduated from college.
Yet
We use yet to say that something is expected to happen.
Examples:
Have you finished your homework yet?
No, I havent finished it yet.
Yet is usually used in negatives and questions, though, you will see the following
usage also.
I have yet to learn verb tenses. (I haven't learned verb tenses yet.)
COPYRIGHT GRAMMARBANK.COM 2013 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
www.grammarbank.com
For vs Since
For: the amount of time passed
Since: a specific of time, starting point / date / clause
For two years
Since two years ago
Since I saw him
For a week
for ages
since yesterday
since you came
for a month
Examples:
Ive worked as an English teacher for the past 5 years. (indicates a duration)
Ive worked as an English teacher since 2004. (indicates the starting point)
She has changed a lot since she moved to downtown. (followed by a clause)
Present Perfect
This is the
Present Perfect
superlative
the most
Examples:
Been vs Gone
Been (to/in)
We use been to say that somebody went somewhere and came back.
Examples:
Gerard has been to Paris. ( hes not there any more, maybe here)
I have been to that caf before. (I am here in front of the listener.)
A: Where have you been?
B: Oh, I have been to the supermarket.
A: have your ever been to Vegas? (did you go and come back?)
B: No, but my cousin has been there. And now she says she wants to go there again.
Gone
We use gone to say that somebody went somewhere and hasnt come back
yet.
Examples:
Peter has gone to the florist. (he is still there)
A: Is James in his office?
B: No. Hes gone out. And I dont know when hell be back. (he is still out)
SUBJECTS
AFFIRMATIVE (+)
NEGATIVE (-)
QUESTION (?)
YOU
WE
THEY
HE/SHE/IT
Main Use:
We use present perfect progressive tense
when talking about a situation that started
in the past and still going on now since
then.
Examples:
He has been staring at me for 2 hours.
Ive been living in England for over two years.
A: Whats wrong? Why are you out of breath?
B: Because I have been running for over an hour.
He has visited seven countries this year so far. (not has been visiting)
AFFIRMATIVE (+)
NEGATIVE (-)
QUESTION (?)
I had fixed.
Had I fixed?
YOU
WE
We had fixed.
Had we fixed?
THEY
HE/SHE/IT
He had fixed.
Had he fixed?
Main Use:
We use the past perfect to talk about a past
event or situation that was before another
past event.
Examples:
They had eaten dinner when I arrived.
I had attended several English courses before I traveled to U.S.
They hadnt met before the school started.
Jack went out after he had finished his homework.
We had never tried sushi until we visited Japan.
9:30
now
future
The movie had already started by the time I arrived at the cinema.
Example 2:
1. They called the car dealer.
2. Their favorite car was sold.
We put the events in order and then decide which one to use the past perfect with.
/ they called
now
future
(Both past)
Their favorite car had already been sold when they called the car dealer.
1st event
2nd event
SUBJECTS
AFFIRMATIVE (+)
NEGATIVE (-)
QUESTION (?)
YOU
WE
THEY
HE/SHE/IT
Main Use:
We use past perfect continuous when we talk
about actions or events that went on for a while
before another past event.
Examples:
She had been working non-stop for two hours in front of the computer so her
eyes hurt a lot yesterday.
I was exhausted as I had been studying for the exam for many years.
My brother had been sleeping for two hours when you called us.
I had been playing computer games when the lights went out.
Examples:
When I entered the room he was reading a book.
When I entered the room he had been reading a book for hours.
In the first one we just have the information of what was happening.
In the second one we also have the information of how long the event had been
going.
SUBJECTS
AFFIRMATIVE (+)
NEGATIVE (-)
QUESTION (?)
YOU
WE
THEY
HE/SHE/IT
Main Use:
We use the future perfect tense to show that
an action will take place, or will be completed
before another action or time in the future.
Examples:
By + a future time reference - tomorrow / then / the year 2025 / the end of this year.
Examples:
I will have graduated by 2016
by tomorrow
by the end of this month
SUBJECTS
AFFIRMATIVE (+)
NEGATIVE (-)
QUESTION (?)
YOU
WE
THEY
HE/SHE/IT
Main Use:
Future perfect continuous tense is used to
emphasize the duration of an event or an
activity that will be going on for a while in
the future:
Examples:
We will have been studying for 2 hours when you join us.
Next year, I will have been teaching English for fifteen years.
By the end of this month I will have been attending in this course for five weeks.
In June, I will have been babysitting for 2 years and 6 months.
Useful Links:
1. Verb Tenses Chart
2. Verb Tenses Online Exercises
3. Printable Exercises