English gramar

OVERVIEW OF VERB TENSES



Past
Present
Future

Simple


Past Simple
Present Simple
Future Simple

Continuous


Past Continuous
Present Continuous
Future Continuous

Perfect


Past Perfect
Present Perfect
Future Perfect

Perfect Contionuous

Past Perfect Continuous
Present Perfect Continuous
Future Perfect Continuous






















From the table above, it’s obvious to understand why we’ve got 12 tenses totally. Despite these verb tenses probably make us confused, I turn such a complicated grammar point into something which might be easier to understand. Therefore, you could review all things you’ve already learned in order to make them clearer. Do remember these are basic points of most tenses. Let’s read it with fun! (

Sài Gòn, October 2009
Kienngot









1. SIMPLE TENSES



TENSE
EXAMPLE
MEANING

Present Simple






(a) It often rains in Saigon.
(b) Anne goes to school everyday.
In general, the present simple expresses events or situations which exist always, usually, habitually; they exist now, have existed in the past, and probably will exist in the future.

Past Simple







(c) It didn’t rain yesterday.
(d) Anne watched TV last night.
At one definite time in the past, it happened. It began and ended in the past.

Future Simple







(e) It will rain tomorrow./ It’s going to rain tomorrow.
(f) Anne will go to school tomorrow./ Anne is going to go to school tomorrow.
At one definite time in the future, it will happen.





































EXERCISE 1: Answer these questions.

1. Can you think of a “general truth”? What are some other general truths?
2. What are some of the things you do everyday or almost everyday? Name three activities.
3. What did you do yesterday? Name three seperated activities.
4. What are you going to do tomorrow? What will you do next Saturday?


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2. CONTINUOUS TENSES


Form: be + V – ing (present participle)
Meaning: The continuous tenses give the idea that an action is in progress during a particular time, that is: an action begins before, is in progress during and continues after.


TENSE
EXAMPLE
MEANING

Present Continuous





(a) Anne is studying at school right now.
It’s now 2 pm. Anne began studying at 1 pm, and she’s still studying until 5 pm.

Past Continuous






(b) Anne was studying when I came.
Today is Sunday. Anne began studying at 5.30 pm yesterday. I came at 5.40 pm. Her action began before I came, was in progress at a definite time in the past (5.40 pm) and continued after that.

Future Continuous






(c) Anne will be studying when I come.
Today is Friday. Anne will begin studying at 5.30 pm tomorrow. I will come at 5.40 pm. Her action will begin before I come, will be in progress at a definite time in the future (5.40 pm) and will continue after that.

































EXERCISE 2: Answer these questions.

1. What are you doing right now? What is your close friend doing right now? What is happening outside right now?
2. Where were you at 2 pm yesterday? What were you doing at that time?
3. Where will you be at 2 pm tomorrow? What will you be doing at that time?


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3. PERFECT TENSES

Form: have + past participle
Meaning: The perfect tenses all give the idea that one thing happened before another time or event.

TENSE
EXAMPLE
MEANING

Present Perfect






(a) Anne has already studied her lesson.
Anne finished studying somtime before now. The exact time is not important.

Past Perfect






(b) Anne had already studied her lesson when her friends arrived.
First Anne finished studying. Later her friends arrived. Her studying was completely finished before another time in the past.