REVIEW TENSES

Simple present Simple past

For S + V(s/es) S + V2/ED
m S + don’t/ doesn’t + V0 S + didn’t + V0
Do/ does + S + V0…? Did + S + V0…?
Use - Facts that are always true - Completed actions/ events
The Sun rises in the east. We went to bed late last night.
- Permanent situations She lived in Rome for a long time.
My brother works in a bank. - Past habits
- Things that happen regularly, When my father was young, he played
repeatedly or all the time football every week.
It always rains here in July.
I sometimes go to the movie.
- ‘Timetabled’ future events
The next train leaves at 11.00.
- In time clauses that refer to the future
When he comes to London next
month, he will visit us.
Note - Pronunciation of ending –S/ES - Pronunciation of ending –ED
s

- Adverbs of frequency:
always, usually, normally, often, - S.O didn’t do s.t until …
It was not until … that S.O did s.t
sometimes, occasionally, seldom, rarely, - Other structures to express past habits:
hardly, never Used to +V0 / would + V0
once in a while = occasionally When my father was young, he used
once in a blue moon = rarely to / would play football every week.
at times = sometimes - Used to & no longer
at all times = always Mary no longer goes to school by bus.
Mary doesn’t go to school by bus any
hardly ever = almost never
more/ longer.
- Hard & hardly Mary used to go to school by bus.
work hard, study hard… - Used to & be/ get used to
hardly + V He used to smoke but now he doesn’t.
She hardly goes out at night. He wasn’t used to wearing glasses.
She hardly ever visits me. I’m now used to the new class.
can/ could hardly do something

Present progressive Past progressive

For S + am/is/are (not) + VING S + was/were (not) + VING
m Am/is/are + S + VING …? Were/ was + S + VING …?
Use - Temporary actions and situations that - Actions in progress around a particular
are going on now or ‘around now’ past time
My sister is watching her favorite cartoon What were you doing at 8.00 last
at the moment. night? – I was watching TV.
We are studying English now. - Actions in progress interrupted by
At the present, the children are taking a events
He suddenly came in when we were
nap in their classroom.
talking about him.
- Future actions or events (personal While we were lying on the beach,
arrangements, fixed plans + the time someone broke into our hotel room.
and place have been decided) - Complaints about annoying past habits
Tom and Kate are getting married this When Tom was a boy, he was always/
weekend. constantly/ continually making noise
- Complaints about annoying habits in class.
You are always/ constantly/
continually making noise in class.
Note - Some verbs are never or hardly ever used in progressive forms.
s believe, imagine, know, prefer, realize, understand, want, like, love, hate…
agree, promise, include, consist, finish…

Present perfect
For S + have/ has + (not) + V3/ED
m Have/ has + S + V3/ED…?
Use - Recently completed actions
My sister has just come back from New York.
 - Indefinite events happening at an unknown time in the past
I think I have met your brother before.
- Indefinite past events with obvious results in the present
I can’t go on holiday because I have broken my leg.
- Actions beginning in the past and continuing past the time of speaking in the present
We have learnt English for 7 years/ since 2008.
- To express the idea of completion or achievement
They have finished their homework. He has written 3 novels so far.
Note - Adverbs used with present perfect:
s since, for, just, already, yet, so far, lately, recently, up to now, ever, never, before
- Sentence patterns relating to present perfect tense:
S.O has done S.T since …/ for …
S.O began/ started doing S.T in/ at/ on/ when …/ … ago
S.O last did S.T in/ at/ on …/ … ago.
The last time S.O did S.T was …
S.O hasn’t done S.T since … / for…
S.O has never done S.T before.
This is the fist time S.O has done S.T.
S + has/ have never V3/ED + such a(n) adj N + before.
This is the most adj N + S + has/ have ever V3/ED

Present perfect progressive

For S + have/ has + (not) + been + VING
m
Use We use present perfect progressive instead of present perfect tense to talk about
actions beginning in the past and continuing past the time of speaking in the present,
emphasizing the length of time.
I feel really tired as I have been working in the garden the whole morning.

Past perfect
For S + had + (not) + V3/ED
m Had + S + V3/ED…?
Use An earlier past time
The boy watched TV after he had done all his homework.
Someone had broken into our office before we got there.
By the time I got to the station, the train had left.
Note Sentence patterns relating to past perfect tense:
s It was the fist time S.O had done S.T.
 By yesterday/ By the time S + V2 , S had V3
S + had + hardly/ scarcely + V3 when S + V2
no sooner than
Hardly/ Scarcely had S V3 when S + V2
No sooner than

Simple Future
For S + will/ won’t + V0 (I/We + shall + V0)
m Will + S + V0…?
Use - To give information about the future
Karen will start work some time next week.
- To make predictions of future events
It will be cold tomorrow.
- To make requests, orders, promises
Don’t worry. I’ll help you.
Make me a cup of coffee, will you?
- to offer services or ask for instructions and decisions (only shall is used in this way)
Shall I carry your bag?
Shall I open a window?
What time shall we come and see you?
Note This tense is not used in subordinate clauses of time.
s Other structures can be used to talk about the future:
- S + V(s/es) : ‘Timetabled’ future events
- S + am/is/are + VING : personal arrangements, fixed plans with the time and place
have been decided
- S + am/is/are + going to V0 : plans, intentions
- S + am/is/are + going to V0 : predictions (we can see evidence in the present)
It is cloudy. It is going to rain soon.
- be about to do S.T
- be on the point of doing S.T
- be due to do S.T

Future progressive
For S + will (not) be + VING
m
Use Events in progress (going on) at a particular moment in the future
This time tomorrow I will be lying on the beach.

Future perfect
For S + will (not) have + V3/ED
m Will + S + have V3/ED…?
Use Something will be finished or complete by a time in the future
All the candles will have been lit by the time the first guest arrives.