SIMPLE PAST When do we need to use the past simple tense in English? Remember, this is the basic past tense. We use it whenever we want to talk about the past and we don't have any special situation that means we should use the past perfect, present perfect, past continuous etc. Click here for information on how to MAKE this tense How to choose between the present perfect and past simple
Here's when we use it:
1
Finished events in the past with no connection to the present: Leonardo painted the Mona Lisa. The Vikings invaded Britain.
2
With a finished time word (yesterday, last week, at 2 o'clock, in 2003): I went to the cinema yesterday. We visited Japan in 2007.
3
For stories / lists of events: He went to a café, sat down and lit a cigarette. Yesterday I went to the library, met a friend for lunch, and playedtennis.
4
Details of news: I've hurt my leg. I fell off a ladder when I was painting my bedroom. I've been on holiday. I went to Spain and Portugal.
5
As part of the second conditional: If I won the lottery, I would buy a house in Chelsea. If she knew his number, she would call him.
Use of the Simple Past 1.1. actions finished in the past I visited Berlin last week.
1.2. series of completed actions in the past First I got up, then I had breakfast.
1.3. together with the Past Progressive/Continuous The Simple Past interrupted an action which was in progress in the past. They were playing cards, when the telephone rang. 1st action → Past Progressive → were playing 2nd action → Simple Past → rang
2. Signal words
yesterday
last week
a month ago
in 2010
3. Form regular verbs → infinitive + ed irregular verbs → 2nd column of the table of the irregular verbs
4. Examples 4.1. Affirmative sentences in the Simple Past – regular verbs Long forms
Contracted forms
I cleaned my room.
You cleaned your room.
not possible
He cleaned his room.
4.2. Affirmative sentences in the Simple Past – irregular verbs Long forms
Contracted forms
I went home.
not possible
Long forms
Contracted forms
You went home.
He went home.
4.3. Negative sentences in the Simple Past Do not negate a main verb in English. Always use the auxiliary did (Simple Past of to do) and the infinitive of the verb for negations. There is no difference between regular and irregular verbs in negative sentences.
Long forms
Contracted forms
I did not clean the room.
I didn't clean the room.
You did not clean the room.
You didn't clean the room.
He did not clean the room.
He didn't clean the room.
4.4. Questions in the Simple Past You need the auxiliary did and the infinitive of the verb.
Long forms
Contracted forms
Did I play football?
Did you play football?
not possible
Did he play football?
SIMPLE PRESENT The present tense is the base form of the verb: I work in London. But the third person (she/he/it) adds an -s: She works in London.
Use We use the present tense to talk about:
something that is true in the present: I’m nineteen years old. He lives in London. I’m a student.
something that happens again and again in the present: I play football every weekend. We use words like sometimes, often. always, and never (adverbs of frequency) with the present tense: I sometimes go to the cinema. She never plays football.
something that is always true: The adult human body contains 206 bones. Light travels at almost 300,000 kilometres per second.
something that is fixed in the future. The school term starts next week. The train leaves at 1945 this evening. We fly to Paris next week.
Questions and negatives Look at these questions: Do you play the piano? Where do you live? Does Jack play football? Where does he come from? Do Rita and Angela live in Manchester? Where do they work?
With the present tense, we use do and does to make questions. We use does for the third person (she/he/it) and we use do for the others.
We use do and does with question words like where, what and why:
But look at these questions with who: Who lives in London? Who plays football at the weekend? Who works at Liverpool City Hospital? Look at these sentences: I like tennis, but I don’t like football. (don’t = do not) I don’t live in London now. I don’t play the piano, but I play the guitar. They don’t work at the weekend.
John doesn’t live in Manchester. (doesn’t = does not) Angela doesn’t drive to work. She goes by bus.
With the present tense we use do and does to make negatives. We use does not (doesn’t) for the third person (she/he/it) and we use do not (don’t) for the others.
FUTURE Affirmative Sentences (Frases afirmativas) Sujeto + “will” + verbo principal. Ejemplos: I will [I’ll] call you tonight. (Te llamaré esta noche.) She will [She’ll] arrive late. (Llegará tarde.) They will [They’ll] be happy to see you. (Estarán felices de verte.) 2. Negative Sentences (Frases negativas) Sujeto + “will” + “not” + verbo principal. Ejemplos: I will not [won’t] call you tonight. (No te llamaré esta noche.) She will not [won’t] arrive late. (No llegará tarde.) They will not [won’t] be happy to see you. (No estarán felices de verte.) 3. Interrogative Sentences (Frases interrogativas) “Will” + sujeto + verbo principal. Ejemplos: Will you call me tonight? (¿Me llamarás esta noche?) Will she arrive late? (¿Llegará tarde?)
Will they be happy to see you? (¿Estarán felices de verte.) Future: “Going to” “Going to” equivale a “ir a” en español. Structure (Estructura) 1. Affirmative Sentences (Frases afirmativas) Sujeto + verbo auxiliar (to be) + “going to” + verbo principal. Ejemplos: I am going to call you tonight. (Voy a llamarte esta noche.) She is going to arrive late. (Va a llegar tarde.) They are going to be happy to see you. (Van a estar felices de verte.)
2. Negative Sentences (Frases negativas) Sujeto + verbo auxiliar (to be) + “not” + “going to” + verbo principal. Ejemplos: I am not going to call you tonight. (No voy a llamarte esta noche.) She is not going to arrive late. (No va a llegar tarde.) They are not going to be happy to see you. (No van a estar felices de verte.)
3. Interrogative Sentences (Frases interrogativas) Verbo auxiliar (to be) + sujeto + “going to” + verbo principal. Ejemplos: Are you going to call me tonight? (¿Vas a llamarme esta noche?) Is she going to arrive late? (¿Va a llegar tarde?) Are they going to be happy to see you? (¿Van a estar felices de verte?)
Nota: Para acciones o eventos inminentes, podemos decir “about to” (a punto de). La estructura es la misma de “going to”. Ejemplos: I am about to leave. (Estoy a punto de irme.) The concert is about to begin. (El concierto está a punto de comenzar.) Uses (Usos) Las formas “will” y “going to” se utilizan para expresar el futuro. La diferencia entre “going to” y “will” es el sentido de planificación y probabilidad de que suceda una acción. En general, se usa “going to” para planes concretos, cuando tenemos la seguridad de que algo va a suceder. 1. Se usa “will” con acciones voluntarias. Ejemplos: Will you help me move? (¿Me ayudarás a mudarme?) They will clean their rooms. (Limpiarán sus habitaciones.) She won’t work with Paul. (No trabajará con Paul.) 2. Se utiliza “will” para expresar una promesa. Ejemplos: When I am president, I will lower taxes. (Cuando sea presidente, bajaré los impuestos.) He promises he will call when he arrives. (Le prometió llamar cuando llegue.) 3. Se usa “going to” para planes. Se indica la intención de hacer algo. Ejemplos: We are going to have a party tonight. (Vamos a dar una fiesta esta noche.) Richard is going to take an English class. (Richard va a realizar un clase de inglés.)
Are Peter and David going to play football later? (¿Vas a jugar a fútbol luego?) 4. Se puede usar “will” o “going to” para predicciones porque el hablante no tiene control sobre el futuro. Ejemplos: It will be a great party. / It is going to be a great party. (Será una fiesta genial.) It won’t rain. / It is not going to rain. (No va a llover.) Nota: Existen algunas situaciones en las que usamos el presente continuo o el presente simple para expresar acciones en el futuro. 1. Se puede usar el presente continuo para acciones en el futuro cercano. Ejemplos: Sarah is arriving tonight. (Sarah llega esta noche.) I am going to the doctor this afternoon. (Voy al médico esta tarde.)
2. Se usa el presente simple para eventos programados en un futuro próximo. Ejemplos: The party starts at 9pm. (La fiesta empieza a las 21h.) The train leaves at 10am. (El tren sale a las 10h.)