Tense and modals

VERB TENSES AND MODAL AUXILIARIES

VERB TENSES SIMPLE PRESENT • We use the present simple to describe things that are always true, or situations that exist now and, as far as we know.

• We use the present simple to talk about habits or things that happen on a regular basis.

STRUCTURE: Affirmative: Subject + verb (-s/-es) + complement We add -s or –es to the verb, when we talked about third person (He, She, It), but there is an exception with the verb have in third person, it changes its structure “HAS”.

Examples:

1.

My mom cooks delicious.

2.

They try to study.

3.

My alarm rings at 4:30 am.

4.

I take the bus everyday

5. She has a beautiful dress.

STRUCTURE: Negative: Subject + do not / does not + verb + complement

We use “does not” with third person (He, She, It) and we don’t add –s or –es to the verb.

Examples: 1. She doesn’t feel good.

2. I don’t workout.

3. My dog doesn’t have a toy.

4. We don’t eat junk food.

STRUCTURE: Interrogative:

Do/Does + subject + verb + complement In the interrogative way, we just switch the subject and the auxiliary. Do and Does work as auxiliaries not verbs.

Examples: 1. Do you know the Pope Francisco? Yes, I do 2. Does she work at the library? No, she doesn’t 3. Do we go to party? Yes, we do.

4. Do they teach at the University? No, they don’t.

Do not forget the interrogative mark (?) at the end of the question.

PRESENT CONTINUOS • We use the present continuous to talk about particular actions or events that have begun but have not ended at the time of speaking. •

When we describe repeated actions or events that are happening at or around the time of speaking, we use the present continuous.

TO BE (Present) I

am

She is

You are

It

is

He is

We are

They are

STRUCTURE: Affirmative: Subject + am / is / are + V-ing + complement

We can use the verb to be in a contract way –I’m, -She’s, -You’re Examples: 1. I am writing an email.

2. You are studying History.

3. She’s tapping her fingers.

4. They’re playing Baseball.

STRUCTURE: Negative: Subject + am not/is not/ are not + V-ing + complement.

Contract way: I’m not , She isn’t , You aren’t.

Examples: 1. I’m not writing an email.

2. You aren’t studying History.

3. She is not tipping her fingers.

4. They are not playing Baseball.

STRUCTURE: Interrogative: Am / is / are + subject + V-ing + complement In the same way, we just switch the verb to be with the subject.

Examples:

1. Am I writing an e-mail?

2. Are you studying History? Yes, I am 3. Is Claudia tipping her fingers? No, she isn’t 4. Are they playing Baseball? No, they aren’t

SIMPLE PAST • The simple past indicates that an activity or situation began and ended in a particular time in the past. • If a sentence contains when and has the simple past in both clauses, the action in the when happens first. • We use the past simple for situations that existed for a period of time in the past, but not now.

STRUCTURE: Affirmative:

Subject + V (regular/ irregular) + complement Examples: 1. Jim decided to continue the course.

2. Diana died ten years ago.

3. Doris went to the mall yesterday.

4. Last year, I spent time with my grandma.

5. They built a house.

STRUCTURE: Negative: Subject + did not + V (regular/irregular) + complement Examples:

1. He didn’t walk to the school 2. Marian didn’t drink her coke.

3. The kitchen didn’t have oven.

4. The kids didn’t catch the ball.

STRUCTURE: Interrogative Auxiliary DID + subject + V (regular/irregular) + complement

Examples: 1. When did you arrive in Britain?

2. Did you surf the last vacations?

3. Did he begin the homework?

4. Did they give you the money?

PAST CONTINUOUS • We use the past continuous to talk about a temporary situation that existed at or around a particular time in the past.

• When we talk about two past actions or events that went on over the same period of time, we can often use it, too.

• Both actions that occurred at the same time, but one began earlier and was in progress when the other action occurred.

STRUCTURE: Affirmative: Subject + was/were + V-ing + complement Examples: 1. I didn’t go to the zoo because it was raining.

2. Roberto was waiting Claudia when started rain.

3. Luis and Sofia were watching TV when their mom arrived, 4. You didn’t pay attention while the teacher was explaining the exercises.

STRUCTURE: Negative: Subject + was not/were not + V-ing + complement Examples: 1. I wasn’t looking for my keys when I listened a shot.

2. You weren’t taking a shower because Lorena called you.

3. While the police asked him, he wasn’t forcing the door.

4. We weren’t doing our homework when the concert was on TV.

STRUCTURE: Interrogative: was/were + Subject + V-ing + complement Example: 1. Was Roberto waiting Claudia when started rain?.

2. Was the grammar teacher explaining the exercises, while you didn’t pay attention?

3. Wasn’t he forcing the door?.

4. Were you waiting Gabriela when it started raining?

FUTURE (GOING TO AND WILL) • Will or be going to is used to express future time.

• In speech going to is often pronounce “gonna” • When the speaker is making a prediction, we can use will and be going to.

• When the speaker is expressing a prior plan, only be going to is used.

• To express willingness, we just used will.

STRUCTURE: Affirmative:

Subject + am/is/are + going to + Verb Subject + will+ Verb + complement Examples: 1. I’m going to paint my bedroom tomorrow.

2. She’ll help you (willingness)

3. It is going to be cloudy tomorrow.

4. She is going be here on Tuesday.

STRUCTURE: Negative: Subject + am not/isn’t/aren’t + going to + Verb Subject + will not/won’t+ Verb + complement Examples: 1. She won’t be here tomorrow.

2. It isn’t going to rain.

3. According what the teacher said, they won’t go to the trip.

4. I won’t call you after lunch, I’m busy.

STRUCTURE: Interrogative: am/is/are + Subject +going to + Verb Will + Subject + Verb + complement

Examples: 1. Is he going to buy a car?

2. Will be ok if I call you later?

3. Will it hurt?

4. Are we going to wash the car?

FUTURE CONTINUOUS • The future continuous express an activity that will be in progress at a time in the future.

• We also use the future continuous when the future activity or event is the result of a previous decision or arrangement.

• We can often use either the future continuous when we talk about planned activities or events in the future.

STRUCTURE: Affirmative:

Subject + will be + V-ing + complement Subject + be going to + be + V-ing + complement Examples: 1. At night o’clock, I’m going to be studying at the library.

2. Tomorrow at this time, I’ll be attending class.

3. When I arrive to the airport, my whole family going to be waiting for me.

4. Don’t get impatient, she’ll be coming soon.

STRUCTURE: Negative: Subject + won’t be + V-ing + complement Examples: 1. At night o’clock, I’m not going to be studying at the library.

2. Tomorrow at this time, I won’t be attending class.

3. When I arrive to the airport, my whole family aren’t going to be waiting for me.

4. She won’t be coming soon.

STRUCTURE: Interrogative: Will + Subject + be + V-ing + complement Examples: 1. Will you be coming to the concert?

2. Will you be wearing this little black dress?

3. Are you going to be pushing the car?

4. Is she going to be looking for you at the mall?

PRESENT PERFECT • We used the present perfect when we talk about something that happened in the past, but we don't specify precisely when it happened.

STRUCTURE: Affirmative: Subject + have/has + V-participle (regular/irregular) + complement Examples: 1. They have moved into a new apartment

2. I have already seen that movie.

3. Carlos has done the assignment.

4. I have written a letter to my son.

STRUCTURE: Negative: Subject + have not/has not + V-participle (regular/irregular) + complement Examples: 1. I haven’t been in Peru.

2. You haven’t cooked lasagna.

3. She hasn’t worked in her life.

4. We haven’t done our homework.

STRUCTURE: Interrogative: Have/has + subject + V-participle + complement Examples: 1. Have you ever seen snow?

2. Have you been overseas?

3. Has she had a pet?

4. Have they drunk too much?

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS • We used present perfect continuous when express an action that began in the past and has just recently ended.

• Actions that began in the past and continues in the present.

• When repeated over and over a period of the time in the past and continuing in the present.

STRUCTURE: Affirmative: Subject + have/has + been + V-ing + complement

Examples: 1. Laura has been studying for two hours.

2. I’ve been sitting here since seven o’clock.

3. It’s been raining all day.

4. They’ve been traveling since they were 5 years-old.

STRUCTURE: Negative: Subject + haven’t/hasn’t + been + V-ing + complement Examples: 1. Laura has not been studying for two hours.

2. I’ve not been sitting here since seven o’clock.

3. It hasn’t been raining all day.

4. They haven’t been traveling since they were 5 years-old

STRUCTURE: Interrogative:

have/has + Subject + been + V-ing + complement Examples: 1. Has Laura been studying for two hours?.

2. Have I been sitting here since seven o’clock?.

3. Has it been raining all day?.

4. Have they been traveling since they were 5 years-old?.

PAST PERFECT • The past perfect expresses an activity that was completed before another activity or time in the past. • Express an action that was expected to occur in the past.

STRUCTURE: Affirmative: Subject + had + V-participle (regular/irregular) + complement Examples: 1. Tom had left hours before we got there.

2. I had wanted to visit the gallery before I left Florence, 3. The film had already begun by the time we got to the cinema.

4. She had just stepped into her office when the telephone rang.

STRUCTURE: Negative: Subject + hadn’t + V-participle (regular/irregular) + complement Examples: 1. I hadn’t gone to bed when the phone rang.

2. The agricultural reforms hadn’t begun a few months earlier.

3. After Ivan hadn’t finished reading, he put out the light.

STRUCTURE: Interrogative: had + Subject + V-participle (regular/irregular) + complement Examples:

1. Had Tom left hours before we got there?.

2. Had I wanted to visit the gallery before I left Florence?.

3. Had The film already begun by the time we got to the cinema?.

4. Had She just stepped into her office when the telephone rang?.

PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS • We use the past perfect continuous when we talk about a situation or activity that happened over a period up to a particular past time, or until shortly before it.

• We use the past perfect continuous when we talk about the continuity or duration of a situation or activity.

STRUCTURE: Affirmative:

Subject + had been + V-ing + complement Exercises: 1. She had been suffering from flu when she was interviewed.

2. I'd been finishing some work in the garden and hadn't seen Sue come home.

3. Bill had been saving since Christmas to buy a new bike.

4. I'd been working hard, so I felt that I deserved a vacations.

STRUCTURE: Negative:

Subject + hadn’t + been + V-ing + complement Examples: 1. She hadn’t been suffering from flu when she was interviewed.

2. I hadn’t been finishing some work in the garden and hadn't seen Sue come home.

3. Bill hadn’t been saving since Christmas to buy a new bike.

4. I'd not been working hard, so I felt that I deserved a vacations.

STRUCTURE: Interrogative: had + Subject + been + V-ing + complement Examples:

1. Had they been waiting for Nancy two hours?

2. Had you been talking with Henry since yesterday?

3. Had he been looking for Luisa five hours ago?

4. Had Betty been playing basketball?

FUTURE PERFECT • The future perfect expresses an activity that will be completed before another time or event in the future.

STRUCTURE: Affirmative: Subject + will have + V-participle + complement Examples: 1. We hope when we’ll arrive to the beach, they will have finished to cook.

2. I will have doing my test, at this time tomorrow.

3. By the next year, Laura will have graduated in the University.

STRUCTURE: Negative: Subject + won’t have + V-participle + complement Examples:

1. We hope when we’ll arrive to the beach, they will not have finished to cook.

2. I will not have done my test, at this time tomorrow.

3. By the next year, Laura won’t have been graduated in the University.

STRUCTURE: Interrogative: will have + Subject + V-participle + complement Examples: 1. Will have you been participated after the soccer game?

2. Will have they forgotten his attitude soon?

3. Will have she gone, when Luis arrived?

FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS • We can use the future perfect continuous to emphasize how long something has been going on by a particular point in the future

STRUCTURE: Affirmative: Subject + will have been + V-ing + complement

Examples: 1. On Saturday, we will have been living in this house for a year.

2. Next year I will have been working in the company for 30 years.

3. I will have been sleeping for two hours by the time Diana gets home.

STRUCTURE: Negative: Subject + won’t have been + V-ing + complement Examples: 1. On Saturday, we will not have been living in this house for a year.

2. Next year I won’t have been working in the company for 30 years.

3. I will not have been sleeping for two hours by the time Diana gets home.

STRUCTURE: Interrogative: will have been + Subject + V-ing + complement Examples:

1. On Saturday, will we have been living in this house for a year.?

2. Next year will I have been working in the company for 30 years?.

3. Will I have been sleeping for two hours by the time Diana gets home?.

MODAL AUXILIARIES The modal auxiliaries in English are can, could, had better, may, might, must ought (to), shall, should, will, would.

Modal auxiliaries generally express speakers’ attitudes. For example, modals can express that a speaker feels something is necessary, admissible, permissible, possible or probable; and, in addition, they can convey the strength of those attitudes.

Each modal auxiliary has more than one different meaning or use.

BASIC MODALS Modals do not take a final –s , even when the subject he, she or it.

Correct: She can do it.

Incorrect: She cans do it.

Modals are followed immediately by the simple form of verb.

Correct: She can do it.

Incorrect: She can to do it / She can does it / she can did it The only exception is ought, which is followed by an infinitive (to + simple form of verb) Correct: He ought to go to the meeting.

MAY I, COULD I, CAN I May I and Could I are used to request permission. They are equally polite.

Can I is used informally to request permission, especially if the speaker is talking to someone she or he knows fairly well. Can I is considered unless polite than May I and Could I.

May I use the bathroom?

Can you leave me alone?

Might I is quite formal and polite, and is used much frequently than May I and Could I.

WOULD YOU AND WILL YOU The meaning of would you and will you in polite request is the same. Would you is more common and is often considered more polite. The degree of politeness, however, is often determined by the speakers’ tone of voice.

Will you marry me?

Would you be my valentine?

MUST AND HAVE TO Must and have to, both express necessity.

In everyday statement of necessity, have to is used more commonly than must.

Must is usually stronger than have to and can indicate urgency.

Have to = hafta (pronunciation)

Has to = hasta (pronunciation) Negative: Do not have to = lack of necessity

Must not = prohibition

I have to have it.

I must dance

SHOULD, OUGHT, HAD BETTER • Should and Ought to have the same meaning, they express advisability.

• In meaning had better is close to should and ought to, but had better is usually stronger.

Often had better implies a warning or a threat of possible bad consequences.

• Negative form: • Should = shouldn’t • Had better= had better not.

I had better stop drinking

GRAMMAR 01 Hernandez Jovel, Tatiana Elizabeth #31-2279-2012