A verb indicates the time of an action, event or condition by changing its form. Through the use of a sequence of tenses in a sentence or in a paragraph, it is possible to indicate the complex temporal relationship of actions, events, and conditions. There are many ways of categorizing the twelve possible verb tenses. The verb tenses may be categorized according to the time frame: past tenses, present tenses, and future tenses.
The simple present is used to describe an action, an event, or condition that is occurring in the present, at the moment of speaking or writing. STRUCTURE: Affirmative form: Subject + base form of verb or base form of the verb + -s to the third person in singular+ complement. Negative form: subject + don´t/doesn´t + base form of the verb + complement. Interrogative form: Do/Does + subject + base form of the verb + complement Use for: A present state of affairs A general fact Habitual actions Future timetables EXAMPLES: He washes his car He doesn´t wash his car Does he wash his car?
We go to the beach We don´t go to the beach Do we go to the beach?
3. Present perfect The present perfect tense is used to describe action that began in the past and continues into the present or has just been completed at the moment of utterance. The present perfect is often used to suggest that a past action still has an effect upon something happening in the present. ESTRUCTURE Affirmative form: Subject + have/has + past participle + complement Negative form: Subject + have/has not + past participle + complement Interrogative form: Have/has + subject + past participle + complement Use for: An action that has happened at an unspecified time. An action that has recently occurred. An action that began in the past and continurs up to the present (often used with ¨for¨ or ¨since¨. An action that happened repeatedly before now. EXAMPLES: She has never traveled to Europe I have been here since Sunday. He has not worked today. Have you ever visited New York?
This tense is used for repeated or continuos actions that are incomplete.
ESTRUCTURE Affirmative: Subject + have/has + present participle (verb + -ing) + complement. Negative: Subject + have/has not + present participle (verb + -ing) + complement. Interrogative: Have/has + subject + present participle (verb + -ing) + Complement Used for: An action that began in the past and has just recently ended. An action that began in the past and continues in the present. An action repeated over a period of time in the present. A general action recently in progress (no particular time is mentioned). EXAMPLES I have been working for two hours. He has been looking for a new job. Have you been waiting for me? I have not sleeping well.
The simple past is used to describe an action, an event, or condition that occurred in the past, sometime before the moment of speaking or writing. ESTRUCTURE Affirmative: Subject + verb –ed or irregular verb form + complement Negative: Subject + did not + verb –ed or irregular form + complement Interrogative: Did + subject + verb –ed or irregular form + complement Used for: An action that began and ended at a particular time in the past. An action that occurred over a period of time but was completed in the past. An activity that took place regularly in the past. EXAMPLES • I played soccer yesterday • I did not go to class today. • Did you do the homework?
The past continuos tense is used to described actions ongoing in the past. These actions often take place within a specific time frame. The on-going actions took place and were completed at some point well before the time of speaking or writing. ESTRUCTURE Affirmative: Subject + was/were + present participle (verb + -ing) + complement Negative: Subject + was/were not + present participle (verb + -ing ) + complement Interrogative: Was/were + subject + Present participle (verb +-ing) + complement Used for: An interrupted action A continuous state or repeated action in the past Events panned in the past EXAMPLES I was sleeping when you called me. We were not talking about you. Was he waiting for me?
The past perfect tense is used to refer to actions that took place and were completed in the past. The past perfect is often used to emphasize that one action, event or condition ended before another past action, event, or condition began. ESTRUCTURE Affirmative: subject + had + past participle + complement Negative: subject + had not + past participle + complement Interrogative: had + subject + past participle + complement Used for: A past action that occurred before another past action. An action that was expected to occur in the past EXAMPLES • Tom had left hours before we got there. • I had hoped to know about the job before now. • Had you worked in this project?
The past perfect continuous is used to indicate that a continuing action in the past began before another past action began or interrupted the first action. ESTRUCTURE Affirmative: subject + had + been + present participle (verb+ ing) + complement Negative: subject + had not + been + present participle (verb + -ing) + complement Interrogative: had + subject + been + present participle (verb + -ing) + complement Used for: An action that occurred before another past action An action that was expected to occur in the past EXAMPLES They had been playing tennis before the storm broke. I had not been expecting his change in attitude. Had you been smoking in your office?
The simple future is used to refer to actions that will take place after the act of speaking or writing. ESTRUCTURE Affirmative: subject + will + base verb + complement Negative: subject + will not + base verb + complement Interrogative: Will + subject + base verb + complement
Used for: Going to Expresing a future intent based on a decision made in the past Predicting an event that is likely to happen in the future. Predicting an event that is likely to happen based on the present conditions. Will Making a decision at the time of speaking Predicting an event that is lakely to happen in the future Indicating willingness to do something EXAMPLES • Jim is going to bring his sister tonight. • I´ll call you after lunch • Will you pass the test?
The future progressive tense is used to describe actions ongoing in the future. The future progressive is used to refer to continuing action that will occur in the future.
ESTRUCTURE Affirmative: subject + will + be + present participle (verb + ing) + complement Negative: subject + will not + be + present participle (verb + ing) + complement Interrogative: Will + subject + be + present participle (verb + ing) + complement Used for: An action the will be ongoing at a particular time in the future Future actions which have already been decided EXAMPLES At noon tomorrow, I will be taking the children to their piano lessons I will not be waiting more than five minutes Will you be sleepig all night to wait for her call.
The future perfect is used to refer to an action that will be completed sometime in the future before another action takes place. ESTRUCTURE Affirmative: subject + will + have + past participle + complement Negative: subject + will not + have + past participle + complement Interrogative: Will + subject + have + past participle + complement Used for: An action that will be completed before a particular time in the future EXAMPLES By next May, my husband and I will have been married for fifty years. I will not have been studying in that company by next week Will you have been learning English?
The future perfect continuous tense is used to indicate a continuing action that will be completed at some specified time in the future. This tense is rarely used. ESTRUCTURE Affirmative: Subject + will + have been + present participle (verb + ing) Negative: Subject + will not + have been + present participle (verb +-ing) Interrogative: Will + subject + have been + present participle (verb + -ing) Used for: Emphasizing the length of time that has occurred before a specific time in the future.
EXAMPLES • She will have been sleeping for eight hours by six o´clock. • I will not have been waiting for you five minutes by next weekend • Will you have been working for two years by next week?
The modal auxiliary can is used To express ability (in the sense of being able to do something or knowing how to do something): He can speak Spanish but he can't write it very well. To expression permission (in the sense of being allowed or permitted to do something): Can I talk to my friends in the library waiting room? (Note that can is less formal than may. Also, some writers will object to the use of canin this context.)
To express theoretical possibility: American automobile makers can make better cars if they think there's a profit in it.
MODAL AUXILIARY COULD The modal auxiliary could is used To express an ability in the past: I could always beat you at tennis when we were kids. To express past or future permission: Could I bury my cat in your back yard? To express present possibility: We could always spend the afternoon just sitting around talking. To express possibility or ability in contingent circumstances: If he studied harder, he could pass this course.
MODAL AUXILIARIES MAY AND MIGHT
Two of the more trouble some modal auxiliaries are may and might. When used in the context of granting or seeking permission, might is the past tense of may. Might is considerably more tentative than may. May I leave class early? If I've finished all my work and I'm really quiet, might I leave early? In the context of expressing possibility, may and might are interchangeable present and future forms and might + have + past participle is the past form: She might be my advisor next semester. She may be my advisor next semester. She might have advised me not to take biology.
ď ą Avoid confusing the sense of possibility in may with the implication of might, that a hypothetical situation has not in fact occurred. For instance, let's say there's been a helicopter crash at the airport. In his initial report, before all the facts are gathered, a newscaster could say that the pilot "may have been injured." After we discover that the pilot is in fact all right, the newscaster can now say that the pilot "might have been injured" because it is a hypothetical situation that has not occurred. ď ą Another example: a body had been identified after much work by a detective. It was reported that "without this painstaking work, the body may have remained unidentified." Since the body was, in fact, identified, might is clearly called for.
MODAL AUXILIARIES WILL AND WOULD In certain contexts, will and would are virtually interchangeable, but there are differences. Notice that the contracted form 'll is very frequently used for will.
WILL Can be used to express willingness: I'll wash the dishes if you dry. We're going to the movies. Will you join us? It can also express intention (especially in the first person): I'll do my exercises later on. Prediction: Specific: The meeting will be over soon. Timeless: Humidity will ruin my hairdo. Habitual: The river will overflow its banks every spring.
WOULD Can also be used to express willingness: Would you please take off your hat?
It can also express insistence (rather rare, and with a strong stress on the word "would"): Now you've ruined everything. You would act that way. Characteristic activity: • Customary: After work, he would walk to his home in West Hartford. • Typical (casual): She would cause the whole family to be late, every time. In a main clause, would can express a hypothetical meaning: My cocker spaniel would weigh a ton if I let her eat what she wants. Finally, would can express a sense of probability: I hear a whistle. That would be the five o'clock train.
MODAL AUXILIARY SHALL Shall is often used in formal situations (legal or legalistic documents, minutes to meetings, etc.) to express obligation, even with third-person and second-person constructions: The board of directors shall be responsible for payment to stockholders. The college president shall report financial shortfalls to the executive director each semester.“
Shall is a form of will, used mostly in the first person. Its use, however, is decreasing, and in any case in spoken English it would be contracted to "ll" and be indistinguishable from will. The only time you do need to use it is in questions, when: • Making offers Shall I fetch you another glass of wine? • Making suggestions Shall we go to the cinema tonight?
Must is often used to indicate 'personal' obligation; what you think you yourself or other people/things must do. If the obligation comes from outside (eg a rule or law), then have to is often (but not always) preferred: I really must get some exercise. People must try to be more tolerant of each other. You musn't look - promise? If you own a car, you have to pay an annual road tax. Strong advice and invitations I think you really must make more of an effort. You must go and see the film - it's brilliant. You must come and see me next time you're in town. Saying you think something is certain This must be the place - there's a white car parked outside. You must be mad. What a suntan! You must have had great weather. The negative is expressed by can't: You're going to sell your guitar! You can't be serious! She didn't wave - she can't have seen me.
MODAL AUXILIARY OUGH TO "Ought to" is used to advise or make recommendations. "Ought to" also expresses assumption or expectation as well as strong probability, often with the idea that something is deserved. "Ought not" (without "to") is used to advise against doing something, although Americans prefer the less formal forms "should not" or "had better not.“ Examples: You ought to stop smoking. RECOMMENDATION Jim ought to get the promotion. IT IS EXPECTED BECAUSE HE DESERVES IT. This stock ought to increase in value. PROBABILITY Mark ought not drink so much. ADVICE AGAINST SOMETHING (NOTICE THERE IS NO "TO") Notice "Ought not" Remember that "ought to" loses the "to" in the negative. Instead of "ought not to," we say "ought not." "Ought not" is more commonly used in British English. Americans prefer "should not." Examples: You ought not smoke so much. She ought not take such risks while skiing. They ought not carry so much cash while traveling.
MODAL AUXILIARY USED TO The auxiliary verb construction used to is used to express an action that took place in the past, perhaps customarily, but now that action no longer customarily takes place: We used to take long vacation trips with the whole family. The spelling of this verb is a problem for some people because the "-ed" ending quite naturally disappears in speaking: "We used to take long trips." But it ought not to disappear in writing. There are exceptions, though. When the auxiliary is combined with another auxiliary, did, the past tense is carried by the new auxiliary and the "-ed" ending is dropped. This will often happen in the interrogative: Didn't you use to go jogging every morning before breakfast? It didn't use to be that way. Used to can also be used to convey the sense of being accustomed to or familiar with something: The tire factory down the road really stinks, but we're used to it by now. I like these old sneakers; I'm used to them. Used to is best reserved for colloquial usage; it has no place in formal or academic text.
MODAL AUXILIARY HAVE TO Have to expresses impersonal obligation. The subject of have to is obliged or forced to act by a separate, external power (for example, the Law or school rules). Have to is objective. Look at these examples: In France, you have to drive on the right. In England, most schoolchildren have to wear a uniform. John has to wear a tie at work.
MODAL AUXILIARY HAD BETTER
"Had better" is most commonly used to make recommendations. It can also be used to express desperate hope as well as warn people.
Examples: You had better take your umbrella with you today. RECOMMENDATION That bus had better get here soon! DESPERATE HOPE You had better watch the way you talk to me in the future! WARNING