Summary of Verb Tenses in
English
SUMMARY OF VERB TENSES
Present tenses
Past tenses
Perfect tenses
Present
Perfect: I have lived here since 1987.
Present perfect continuous: I have been living here for years.
Past perfect: We had been to see her several times before she visited us.
Past perfect continuous: He had been watching her for some time when she turned and smiled.
Future perfect: We will have arrived in the States by the time you get this letter.
Future perfect continuous: By the end of your course, you will have been studying for five years.
Present perfect continuous: I have been living here for years.
Past perfect: We had been to see her several times before she visited us.
Past perfect continuous: He had been watching her for some time when she turned and smiled.
Future perfect: We will have arrived in the States by the time you get this letter.
Future perfect continuous: By the end of your course, you will have been studying for five years.
Future tenses
Conditional tenses
Present conditional: If he had the money he would go
Present continuous conditional: He would be getting up now if he was in Australia.
Perfect conditional: She would have visited me if she had had time.
Perfect continuous conditional: I would have been playing tennis if I hadn't broken my arm.
Present continuous conditional: He would be getting up now if he was in Australia.
Perfect conditional: She would have visited me if she had had time.
Perfect continuous conditional: I would have been playing tennis if I hadn't broken my arm.
Verb Tenses: Simple Present
SIMPLE PRESENT
(See
also Verbs -'Regular verbs in the simple present')
Simple present, third
person singular
Note:
1. he,
she, it: in the
third person singular the verb always
ends in -s:
he wants, she needs, he gives, she thinks.
he wants, she needs, he gives, she thinks.
2. Negative
and question forms use DOES (=the third person of the auxiliary'DO') +the infinitive of the verb.
He wants. Does he want? He does not want.
He wants. Does he want? He does not want.
3. Verbs
ending in -y : the third person changes the -y to -ies:
fly
flies, cry
cries
Exception: if there is a vowel before the -y:
play
plays, pray
prays
fly
Exception: if there is a vowel before the -y:
play
4. Add -es to verbs ending in:-ss, -x, -sh,
-ch:
he passes, she catches, he fixes, it pushes
he passes, she catches, he fixes, it pushes
See also Verbs -'Regular
verbs in the simple present', and 'Be, do & have'
Examples:
1. Third person
singular with s or -es
·
He
goes to
school every morning.
·
She
understands English.
·
It mixes the sand and the water.
·
He tries very hard.
·
She enjoys playing the piano.
2. Simple present, form
Example: to think, present simple
|
Affirmative
|
Interrogative
|
Negative
|
|
I think
|
Do I think ?
|
I do not think.
|
|
You think
|
Do you think?
|
You don't think.
|
|
he, she, it thinks
|
Does he, she, it think?
|
He, she, it doesn't think.
|
|
we think
|
Do we think?
|
We don't think.
|
|
you think
|
Do you think?
|
You don't think.
|
The simple present is
used:
1. to
express habits, general truths, repeated actions or unchanging situations,
emotions and wishes:
I smoke (habit); I work in London (unchanging situation); London is a large city (general truth)
I smoke (habit); I work in London (unchanging situation); London is a large city (general truth)
2. to
give instructions or directions:
You walk for two hundred metres, then you turn left.
You walk for two hundred metres, then you turn left.
3. to
express fixed arrangements, present or future:
Your exam starts at 09.00
Your exam starts at 09.00
4. to
express future time, after some conjunctions: after,
when, before, as soon as, until:
He'll give it to you when you come next Saturday.
He'll give it to you when you come next Saturday.
BE CAREFUL! The simple present is not used to express actions
happening now. See
Present Continuous.
Examples:
1. For
habits
He drinks tea at breakfast.
She only eats fish.
They watch television regularly.
He drinks tea at breakfast.
She only eats fish.
They watch television regularly.
2. For
repeated actions or events
We catch the bus every morning.
It rains every afternoon in the hot season.
They drive to Monaco every summer.
We catch the bus every morning.
It rains every afternoon in the hot season.
They drive to Monaco every summer.
3. For
general truths
Water freezes at zero degrees.
The Earth revolves around the Sun.
Her mother is Peruvian.
Water freezes at zero degrees.
The Earth revolves around the Sun.
Her mother is Peruvian.
4. For
instructions or directions
Open the packet and pour the contents into hot water.
You take the No.6 bus to Watney and then the No.10 to Bedford.
Open the packet and pour the contents into hot water.
You take the No.6 bus to Watney and then the No.10 to Bedford.
5. For
fixed arrangements
His mother arrives tomorrow.
Our holiday starts on the 26th March
His mother arrives tomorrow.
Our holiday starts on the 26th March
6. With
future constructions
She'll see you before she leaves.
We'll give it to her when she arrives.
She'll see you before she leaves.
We'll give it to her when she arrives.
Present Continuous or Present
Progressive
Present Continuous or Present Progressive Verb Form
1. Present continuous,
form
The present continuous of any
verb is composed of two parts - the
present tense of the verb to be + the present participle of the main verb.
(The form of the present
participle is: base+ing,
e.g. talking, playing, moving, smiling)
|
Affirmative
|
||
|
Subject
|
+ to
be
|
+ base+ing
|
|
she
|
is
|
talking
|
|
|
|
|
|
Negative
|
||
|
Subject
|
+ to be + not
|
+ base+ing
|
|
she
|
is not (isn't)
|
talking
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interrogative
|
||
|
to be
|
+ subject
|
+ base+ing
|
|
is
|
she
|
talking?
|
Example: to go, present continuous
|
Affirmative
|
Negative
|
Interrogative
|
|
I am going
|
I am not going
|
Am I going?
|
|
You are going
|
You aren't going.
|
Are you going?
|
|
He, she, it is going
|
He, she, it isn't going
|
Is he, she, it going?
|
|
We are going
|
We aren't going
|
Are we going?
|
|
You are going
|
You aren't going
|
Are you going?
|
|
They are going
|
They aren't going
|
Are they going?
|
Note:
alternative negative contractions: I'm
not going, you're not going, he's not going etc.
2. Present Continuous,
function
As with all tenses in English,
the speaker's
attitude is as
important as the time of the action or event. When someone uses the present
continuous, they are thinking about something that is unfinished or incomplete.
The
present continuous is used:
·
to
describe an action that is going on at this moment e.g.
You are using the Internet. You are studying English grammar.
You are using the Internet. You are studying English grammar.
·
to describe an action that is going on during this period of
time or a trend, e.g.
Are you still working for the same company? More and more people are becomingvegetarian.
Are you still working for the same company? More and more people are becomingvegetarian.
·
to describe an action or event in the future, which has already
been planned or prepared (See also 'Ways of expressing the future) e.g.
We're going on holiday tomorrow. I'm meeting my boyfriend tonight. Are they visitingyou next winter?
We're going on holiday tomorrow. I'm meeting my boyfriend tonight. Are they visitingyou next winter?
·
to describe a temporary event or situation, e.g.
He usually plays the drums, but he's playing bass guitar tonight. The weather forecast was good, but it's raining at the moment.
He usually plays the drums, but he's playing bass guitar tonight. The weather forecast was good, but it's raining at the moment.
·
with 'always, forever, constantly', to describe and emphasise a
continuing series of repeated actions, e.g.
Harry and Sally are always arguing! You're forever complaining about your mother-in-law!
Harry and Sally are always arguing! You're forever complaining about your mother-in-law!
BE CAREFUL! Some verbs are not used in the continuous
form - see below.
The verbs in the list below
are normally used in the simple form, because they refer tostates,
rather than actions or processes:
List
of common verbs normally used in simple form:
|
Senses / Perception
|
|
feel*, hear, see*, smell, taste
|
|
Opinion
|
|
assume, believe, consider, doubt, feel (= think), find (=
consider), suppose, think*
|
|
Mental states
|
|
forget, imagine, know, mean, notice, recognise, remember,
understand
|
|
Emotions / desires
|
|
envy, fear, dislike, hate, hope, like, love, mind, prefer,
regret, want, wish
|
|
Measurement
|
|
contain, cost, hold, measure, weigh
|
|
Others
|
|
look (=resemble), seem, be (in most cases), have (when it means to possess)*
|
Notes:
·
'Perception'
verbs (see, hear, feel, taste, smell) are often used with 'can': e.g.
I can see...
I can see...
·
* These verbs may be used in the continuous form but
with a different meaning, compare:
·
This
coat feels nice and warm. (= your perception of
the coat's qualities)
·
John's
feeling much
better now (= his health is improving)
·
She has three dogs and a cat. (=possession)
·
She's
having supper.
(= She's eating)
·
I can see Anthony in the garden (= perception)
·
I'm
seeing Anthony
later (= We are planning to meet)
Examples
·
I wish I was in Greece now.
·
She wants to see him now.
·
I don't understand why he is shouting.
·
I feel we are making a mistake.
·
This glass holds half a litre.
Present Perfect Verb Tense
PRESENT PERFECT
1. Present Perfect -
Form
The present perfect of any
verb is composed of two elements : the appropriate form of the auxiliary verb to have (present
tense), plus the past participle of the main verb. The past participle of a
regular verb is base+ed, e.g. played, arrived, looked. For
irregular verbs, see the Table
of irregular verbs in the
section called 'Verbs'.
|
Affirmative
|
||
|
Subject
|
to have
|
past participle
|
|
She
|
has
|
visited
|
|
Negative
|
||
|
Subject
|
to have + not
|
past participle
|
|
She
|
hasn't
|
visited
|
|
Interrogative
|
||
|
to have
|
subject
|
past participle
|
|
Has
|
she
|
visited..?
|
|
Interrogative negative
|
||
|
to have + not
|
subject
|
past participle
|
|
Hasn't
|
she
|
visited...?
|
Example: to walk, present perfect
|
Affirmative
|
Negative
|
Interrogative
|
|
I have walked
|
I haven't walked
|
Have I walked?
|
|
You have walked
|
You haven't walked
|
Have you walked?
|
|
He, she, it has walked
|
He, she, it hasn't walked
|
Has he,she,it walked
|
|
We have walked
|
We haven't walked
|
Have we walked?
|
|
You have walked
|
You haven't walked
|
Have you walked?
|
|
They have walked
|
They haven't walked
|
Have they walked?
|
2. Present perfect,
function
The Present Perfect is used
to indicate a link between the present and the past. The time of the action is before now but not specified, and
we are often more interested in the resultthan
in the action itself.
BE CAREFUL! There may be a verb tense in your
language with a similar form, but the meaning is probably NOT the same.
The
Present Perfect is used to describe:
1. An
action or situation that started in the past and continues in the present.
Example: I have lived in
Bristol since 1984 (= and I
still do.)
2. An action performed during a period that
has not yet finished. Example: Shehas been to the cinema twice this week (= and the week isn't over
yet.)
3. A repeated action in an unspecified
period between the past and now. Example: We have
visited Portugal
several times.
4. An action that was completed in the very recent past, (expressed by 'just'). Example: I have just finished my work.
5. An action when the time is not important.
Example: He has read 'War and Peace'. (the result of his reading is important)
Note: When we want to give or ask details about when, where, who, we
use the simple
past. Example:
He read 'War and Peace' last week.
Examples:
1. Actions started in
the past and continuing in the present.
·
They haven't lived here for years.
·
She has worked in the bank for five years.
·
We have had the same car for ten years.
·
Have you played the piano since you were a child?
2. When the time period
referred to has not finished.
·
I have worked hard this
week.
·
It has rained a lot this year.
·
We haven't seen her today.
3. Actions repeated in
an unspecified period between the past and now.
·
They have seen that film six times.
·
It has happened several times already.
·
She has visited them frequently.
·
We have eaten at that restaurant many times.
4. Actions completed in the very
recent past (+just).
·
Have you just finished work?
·
I have just eaten.
·
We have just seen her.
·
Has he just left?
5. When the precise time of the
action is not important or not known.
·
Someone has eaten my soup!
·
Have you seen 'Gone with the Wind'?
·
She's studied Japanese, Russian and English.
Present perfect +
ever,never,already,yet
PRESENT PERFECT + ever,
never, already, yet
The
adverbs ever and never express the idea of an unidentified
time before now e.g. Have
youever visited Berlin?
'Ever' is used
·
in
questions. e.g.
Have you ever been to England?
Has she ever met the Prime Minister?
Have you ever been to England?
Has she ever met the Prime Minister?
·
in negative questions e.g.
Haven't they ever been to Europe?
Haven't you ever eaten Chinese food?
Haven't they ever been to Europe?
Haven't you ever eaten Chinese food?
·
and in
negative statements using the pattern nothing.......ever,nobody.......ever e.g.
Nobody has ever said that to me before.
Nothing like this has ever happened to us.
Nobody has ever said that to me before.
Nothing like this has ever happened to us.
·
'Ever' is also used with 'The first time.... e.g.
It's the first time (that) I've ever eaten snails.
This is the first time I've ever been to England.
It's the first time (that) I've ever eaten snails.
This is the first time I've ever been to England.
'Never' means at no time before now, and is the same
asnot ..... ever:
·
I have never visited Berlin
BE CAREFUL!You must not use never and not together:
·
I haven't never been to Italy.
·
I have never been to Italy.
Position
'Ever' and 'never' are always placed before the main verb (past
participle).
Already and yet
Already
refers to an
action that has happened at an unspecified time before now. It suggests that
there is no need for repetition, e.g.
a. I've already drunk three coffees this morning. (and you're offering me another one!)
b. Don't write to John, I've already done it.
a. I've already drunk three coffees this morning. (and you're offering me another one!)
b. Don't write to John, I've already done it.
It is also used in questions:
·
Have you already written to John?
·
Has she finished her homework already?
Position
already can be placed before the main verb (past
participle) or at the end of the sentence:
·
I have already been to Tokyo.
·
I have
been to Tokyo already.
Yet
is used in negative
statements and questions, to mean (not)
in the period of time between before now and now, (not) up to and including the
present. e.g.
·
Have
you met Judy yet?
·
I
haven't visited the Tate Gallery yet.
·
Has he
arrived yet?
·
They
haven't eaten yet.
Position
Yet is usually placed at the end of the
sentence.
Present Perfect of Simple
Past?
How to choose between
the Present Perfect and Simple Past Tenses
·
Always use the Present
Perfect when the time is not
important, or not specified.
·
Always
use the Simple Past when details about the time or place
are specified or asked for.
Compare:
|
Present Perfect
|
Simple Past
|
|
I have
lived in Lyon.
|
I lived in Lyon in 1989.
|
|
They have
eaten Thai food.
|
They ate Thai food last night.
|
|
Have you seen 'Othello'?.
|
Where did
you see 'Othello'?
|
|
We have
been to Ireland.
|
When did
you go to Ireland?
|
There is also a difference of attitude that is often more important than the
time factor.
·
"What did you do at school
today?" is a
question about activities,
and considers the school day as finished.
·
"What have you done at school
today?" is a
question about results - "show me", and regards the
time of speaking as a continuation of the school day.
Present Perfect + for and
since
PRESENT PERFECT + for,
since
Using
the present perfect, we can define a period of time before now by considering
its duration,with for + a period of time, or by considering its starting point, with since + a point in time.
For + a period of time
·
for six years, for a week, for a month, for hours, for two hours.
·
I have
worked here for five years.
Since + a point in time
·
since this morning, since last week, since yesterday,
·
since I was a child, since Wednesday, since 2 o'clock.
·
I have
worked here since 1990.
present perfect with for
·
She
has lived here for twenty years.
·
We
have taught at this school for a long time.
·
Alice
has been married for three months.
·
They
have been at the hotel for a week.
present perfect with since
·
She
has lived here since 1980.
·
We
have taught at this school since 1965
·
Alice
has been married since March 2nd.
·
They
have been at the hotel since last Tuesday.
Note:
·
For and since can both be used with the past
perfect.
·
Since can only be used with perfect tenses, for can also be used with the simple past.
Present Perfect Continuous
PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS
Present Perfect
Continuous, Form
The present perfect
continuous is made up of two elements:
1. the present perfect of the verb 'to be' (have/has been), and
2. the present participle of the main verb
(base+ing).
|
Subject
|
has/have been
|
base+ing
|
|
She
|
has been
|
swimming
|
|
Affirmative
|
|
|
She has been / She's been
|
running
|
|
Negative
|
|
|
She hasn't been
|
running
|
|
Interrogative
|
|
|
Has she been
|
running?
|
|
Interrogative negative
|
|
|
Hasn't she been
|
running?
|
Example: to live, present perfect continuous
|
Affirmative
|
Negative
|
Interrogative
|
|
I have been living
|
I haven't been living
|
Have I been living?
|
|
You have been living
|
You haven't been living
|
Have you been living?
|
|
He, she, it has been living
|
He hasn't been living
|
Has she been living?
|
|
We have been living
|
We haven't been living
|
Have we been living?
|
|
You have been living
|
You haven't been living
|
Have you been living?
|
|
They have been living
|
They haven't been living
|
Have they been living?
|
Present perfect
continuous, function
The present perfect
continuous refers to an unspecified
time between
'before now' and 'now'. The speaker is thinking about something that started
but perhaps did not finish in that period of time. He/she is interested in the process as well as the result, and this process may still be going on,
or may have just finished.
Examples
1. Actions that started
in the past and continue in the present.
·
She has been waiting for you all day (=and she's still
waiting now).
·
I've
been working on
this report since eight o'clock this morning (=and I still haven't finished
it).
·
They
have been travelling since
last October (=and they're not home yet).
2. Actions that have just
finished, but we are interested in the results:
·
She
has been cooking since
last night (=and the food on the table looks delicious).
·
It's
been raining (= and
the streets are still wet).
·
Someone's been eating my chips (= half of them have gone).
Verbs without continuous
forms
With verbs not normally used
in the continuous form, use the present perfect simple. See list of these verbs
under 'Present Continuous':
·
I've wanted to visit China for years.
·
She's known Robert since she was a child.
·
I've hated that music since I first heard it.
·
I've heard a lot about you recently.
·
We've understood everything we've heard this morning.
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