VERB TENSES REVISION

REVIEW OF VERB TENSES

1. Match the verb forms in the sentences with these tenses:

• Present simple
• Present continuous
• Present perfect simple

• Past simple
• Past continuous
• Future simple

Which tense is it?

• I’ve learnt to drive since I moved here, .

present perfect simple

(the speaker has finished learning and can now drive - result)

Which tense is it?

• Carla’s playing the guitar very well.

present cont.

(Carla is playing the guitar at the time of speaking)

Which tense is it?

• Carla plays the guitar very well.

present simple

(the action is a general truth)

Which tense is it?

• It started raining when I left the house.

past simple

(It started raining at the same time as I left the house-past action)

Which tense is it?

• I’ll get the dinner ready when you arrive.

future simple

(the speaker will prepare the meal after the other one arrives)

Which tense is it?

• When you got to her house, she cried.

past simple

(the person cried at the moment when the other arrived at the house)

Which tense is it?

• My brother always tells me what to do.

Present simple

(the speaker is referring to something that is always true)

Which tense is it?

• We were having a party when my sister announced her engagement.

past continuous

(the party was already happening-in progress- when she made the announcement.)

Which tense is it?

• We had a party after my sister announced her engagement.

past simple

(they had a party as a result of the announcement.)

Verb Tense Review

The Importance of Time

Verb tense expresses the time of an event or action. Time and how it is expressed in writing is very important to English readers. The English language has twelve different tenses. In this lesson, we will review the meaning of six of them.

The Simple Present Tense

Expresses a habit or often repeated action. Adverbs of frequency such as, always, often, sometimes, never, etc. are used with this tense.

She goes to work everyday. They always eat lunch together.

The Simple Present Tense

This tense also expresses general truths or facts that are always true.

Snow falls in December in Minnesota. Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.

The Present Progressive

This tense is used to describe an action that is occurring right now (at this moment, today, this year, etc.). The action has begun and is still in progress.

She is typing a paper for her class. He can’t talk. He is fixing the sink right now.

The Present Progressive

The present progressive can also be used to describe an action that is occurring in the present, but is temporary.

John is living in Mallorca, but he might move soon.

The Simple Past

We use the simple past to indicate exactly when an action or event took place in the past.

I visited my sister yesterday. We went out to dinner last night.

The Simple Past

The simple past is used to describe actions and/or events that are now completed and no longer true in the present.

I went to England in 1998. (the action started and finished in 1998) I saw a movie every weekend when I was a teenager. (I don’t see movies so often anymore.)

The Past Progressive

The past progressive is used to talk about an activity that was in progress at a specific point of time in the past. The emphasis is on the duration of the activity in the past.

I was studying for an exam while my mother was cooking. We were walking in the park around 7 p.m. last night.

The Past Progressive

The past progressive is often used with the simple past to show that one action was in progress when another action occurred.

I was taking a bath when the phone rang. They were eating dinner when the neighbors stopped by for a visit.

The Present Perfect

The present perfect is used to talk about an event that began in the past and continues up to the present.

He has lived in Ibiza for two years. (He began living in Ibiza two years ago and he still lives there.)

The Present Perfect

The present perfect is also used to talk about an event that was completed in the past, but the specific time of the event is not important.

I have seen that movie before. He has already visited Vietnam. (Specific dates and times are not mentioned.)

The Future

Will is often used to describe future actions. Will + infinitive is used for: - spontaneous decisions - predictions with no evidence - offers.

I’ll get the dinner ready. The world will be a better place soon.

The Future

Be + going + to is also used to describe future actions. - plans - predictions based on evidence

Maria is going to go to Mexico next week. Look at those clouds. It’s going to rain soon.

The Future

The present continuous is also used to express future arrangements - plans that are organized and fixed.

She is meeting a new client at eleven o’clock. Bob is leaving at 6:00 a.m. tomorrow.

Grammar bank, p. 223

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WELL DONE!