TIEMPOS VERBALES Y SUS USOS

PRESENTE SIMPLE:
Forma: I/you/we/they live. He/she/it lives.
Do you live here? Does he live here?
I don't live here. She doesn't live here.
Uso:
1.- Para un estado de cosas, no limitado por el tiempo.
She lives in Chelsea.
He knows a lot about cars.
2.- Para una rutina, o hbito.
They get up every morning at eight.
He always comes late.
3.- Para cosas que son siempre verdad.
Water freezes at zero degrees centigrade.
Adverbios de Frecuencia: Nos dicen con cuanta frecuencia sucede algo. Los ms frecuentes son: always
(siempre), usually (normalmente), often (a menudo), sometimes (algunas veces), rarely (raramente),
seldom (apenas), never (nunca).
Se colocan delante del verbo de una oracin. Cuando el tiempo verbal tiene un auxiliar, se coloca entre el
auxiliar y el verbo principal.
We always have steak for dinner on Friday./ I have never seen a poisonous snake.
Se colocan detrs del verbo to be.
He is usually here at this time.
Usually, often y sometimes se pueden poner tambin al principio y al final de la oracin.
Sometimes I wonder why I talk to you at all!
PRESENTE CONTINUO:
Forma: You/we/they are waiting. He/she/it is waiting. I am waiting.
Are they waiting? Is she waiting? Am I waiting?
She isn't waiting. They aren't waiting. I am not waiting.
Uso:
1.- Para algo que est ocurriendo en momento en que se habla.
I'm reading a book now.
2.- Para un estado de cosas al que se le da la idea de que es slo temporal.
He is living with relatives at the moment.
3.- Para algo que ocurrir en el futuro, sobre todo si es algo planeado de antemano, algo
que se pueda escribir en una agenda, por ejemplo. Se usa con frecuencia con verbos de
movimiento como come y go. A menudo se emplea una expresin de tiempo para dejar
claro el sentido. Para este uso tambin se usa la forma GOING TO (ver ms abajo).
What are you doing on Saturday?
I'm going to France this summer.
VERBOS QUE NO SE USAN NORMALMENTE EN TIEMPOS CONTINUOS:
Algunos verbos que normalmente no pueden usarse en tiempos continuos, sino solamente en sus formas
simples, son:
1.- Know, understand, believe, think y verbos con significados similares.
2.- Own, cost, belong to, contain, depend y verbos similares.
3.- Verbos de percepcin fsica tales como see, hear y smell, se usan a menudo con can y could.
PASADO SIMPLE:
Forma: Regular
I/you/he/she/it/we/they decided.
Did he decide? They didn't decide.
Irregular
I/you/he/she/it/we/they left.
Did she leave? We didn't leave.
Uso:
1.- Para un suceso terminado en el pasado.
I bought a new bike last week.
2.- Cuando se est narrando algo en el pasado o alguna historia.
We left New York and flew to Chicago.
3.- Para expresar hbitos en el pasado.
I usually went to the cinema every Saturday.
PASADO CONTINUO:
Forma: I/he/she/it was eating. We/you/they were eating.

Was he eating? Were they eating?

I wasn't eating. We weren't eating.
Uso:
1.- Para una accin larga y no terminada, en contraste con una repentina y terminada,
que ira en pasado simple. Esta ltima supone muchas veces una interrupcin de la que
va en pasado continuo.
While I was cooking the dinner, the phone rang.
2.- Para la accin de fondo mientras se est contando una historia, en contraste con los
hechos ms importantes de sta, que iran en pasado simple.
A lot of people were standing outside, shouting. Some of them were waving banners. I
parked the car and watched.
Nota: NO se usa para describir hbitos en el pasado.
USED TO:
Forma: I/you/he/she/it/we/they used to play tennis.
Did you use to play? Used you to play?
I didn't use to play I usedn't to play.
Uso:
1.- Used to se refiere al pasado y NO tiene forma de presente.
2.- Describe una accin habitual en el pasado que en el presente suele estar terminada.
I used to play tennis, but I don't have the time now.
I didn't use to like jazz, but now I do.
PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE:
Forma: I/you/we/they have decided. He/she/it has decided.
Have you decided? Has she decided?
I haven't decided. She hasn't decided.
Uso:
1.- Para un estado de cosas que empez en el pasado y contina hasta el presente.
How long have you known him?
I've known him for twenty years.
I've known him since 1987.
Nota: for + periodo de tiempo.
since + principio del periodo.
2.- Para un suceso en el pasado que no se dice cuando tuvo lugar.
I've visited Rome twice.
3.- Para un suceso indefinido que creemos que es muy reciente.
The shop on the corner has closed.
4.- Cuando el resultado de un suceso est todava presente.
The electricity has gone off. = The lights are still out.
PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUO:
Forma: I/you/we/they have been working. He/she/it has been working.
Have you been working? Has she been working?
He hasn't been working. They haven't been working.
Uso:
1.- Para sugerir que una accin que empez en el pasado slo acaba de terminar o puede
que contine.
I've been cleaning the house all day. I'm still holding the broom.
2.- Para mostrar la duracin de la accin que empez en el pasado.
I've been waiting for you for hours.
3.- Para mostrar que algo no se ha completado. Comparad:
I've been reading that book you lent me. (no acabado).
I've read that book you lent me. (acabado)
4.- Para mostrar una actividad repetida.
I've been going to the theatre a lot lately.
PAST PERFECT SIMPLE:
Forma: I/you/he/she/it/we/they had worked.
Had he worked?
He hadn't worked.
Uso: Para una accin que sucedi en el pasado anterior a otra accin tambin en el pasado.
I asked her to do the shopping, but she had done it already.
He told several jokes, but I had heard them all before.
She went downstairs to get the post, but it hadn't arrived yet.
PAST PERFECT CONTINUO:

Forma: I/You/he/she/it/we/they had been driving for six months.

Had he been driving for six months?
He hadn't been driving for six months.
Uso:
1.- Sustituye al Present Perfect continuo cuando las acciones se refieren slo al pasado.
Arthur is tired because he has been studying very hard.
Arthur was tired because he had been studying very hard.
2.- En proposiciones subordinadas de tiempo.
After Arthur had been driving for six months, he found it quite easy.
3.- En estilo indirecto (para contar lo que alguien nos dijo).
'Have you been studying long?', he asked me.
He asked me if I had been studying long.
FORMAS DE EXPRESAR TIEMPO FUTURO
WILL:
Forma: I/you/he/she/it/we/they will stay.
Will she stay?
He will not stay.
Contracciones:
'll = will won't = will not.
Nota: Shall puede usarse con I y we, pero no es muy usual para referirse al tiempo futuro. Se suele usar
ms para hacer ofertas y sugerencias.
Shall I write the letter for you? (oferta)
Shall we go to the cinema? (sugerencia)
Uso:
1.- Para hacer una prediccin.
I think it will rain tomorrow.
Soon there won't be any oil left.
Otros usos (no necesariamente sobre el futuro):
2.- Para tomar una decisin sobre el presente.
I'll take this one. (Por ejemplo cuando uno decide comprar algo en una tienda)
3.- Para hacer una promesa.
I'll pay you back the money on tuesday.
4.- Para expresar un determinado acuerdo.
I'll see you tomorrow.
5.- Para preguntar a alguien si quiere hacer algo.
Mary, will you marry me?
GOING TO:
Forma: I am going to drink a glass of water.
You/we/they are going to drink a glass of water.
He/she/it is going to drink a glass of water.
Am I going to drink a glass of water?
Are you/we/they going to drink a glass of water?
Is he/she/it going to drink a glass of water?
I'm not going to drink a glass of water.
You/we/they aren't going to drink a glass of water.
He/she/it isn't going to drink a glass of water.
Uso:
1.- Para expresar un plan o una intencin.
They're going to buy a house in Leeds.
2.- Para hacer una prediccin basada en el principio o causa del suceso.
Look at that crazy driver! He is going to crash!
FUTURO CONTINUO:
Forma: I/you/he/she/it/we/they will be leaving.
I/we shall be leaving.
I won't be leaving.
Will she be leaving?
Uso: Para una accin temporal (como en el presente continuo) pero referida a un momento del futuro.
At the moment I am working in my office. (presente)
This time next week I'll be lying on the beach. (futuro)

PRESENTE CONTINUO: Ver ltimo uso de este tiempo cuando se vio antes.

Verbos modales:
Estos verbos se caracterizan por ir seguidos directamente por otro verbo en la forma base (sin to) y por no
necesitar ni admitir otros auxiliares para la interrogativa y negativa. No llevan -s en la 3 persona del
singular. Estos verbos son:
CAN: Poder, saber (hacer algo). Indica habilidad. Tambin puede usarse para hacer
preguntas educadas.

He can lift a hundred kilos. (habilidad)

He can't speak English. (habilidad)
Can you tell me the time, please? (pregunta educada).

COULD: Pasado (pude, poda, supe, saba) y condicional (podra, sabra) de CAN.
Indica habilidad. Tambin puede usarse para hacer preguntas educadas. Tambin para
expresar posibilidad (como MAY y MIGHT. Ver ms abajo).

I could speak Italian when I lived in Italy but I can't now. (habilidad)
I tried to pass my exam, but I couldn't. (habilidad)
Could you tell me the time, please? (pregunta educada)
He could be the man of your life. (posibilidad)
Una alternativa a CAN y COULD cuando expresan habilidad es BE ABLE TO en el
tiempo correspondiente, y adems es la forma que se usa en los tiempos en que CAN y
COULD no pueden usarse, pues estos solo tienen presente (CAN) o pasado o
condicional (COULD).
I havent been able to pass the exam (no he podido aprobar el examen).
MAY:

Poder, puede que (para indicar posibilidad o pedir permiso).

The forecast says it may rain tomorrow, but it's not sure. (posibilidad)
He isn't at the party. He may not have received the invitation. (posibilidad)
May I speak to you, sir? (permiso)

MIGHT:

Pasado y condicional de MAY. Cuando no se refiere al pasado, la

posibilidad es menor que la de MAY. Comparad:

It may rain tomorrow > Puede que llueva maana.

It might rain tomorrow, but I don't think it will.
Podra llover maana, pero no creo que lo haga.

LET'S:

Para hacer sugerencias en las que se incluye el que las hace.

Let's go to the cinema = Vayamos al cine.

Alternativas a Lets:
Why don't we go to the cinema?
What about going to the cinema?
How about going to the cinema?
Shall we go to the cinema?

MUST: Deber. Indica obligacin o deduccin en afirmativas e interrogativas. Indica

obligacin negativa o prohibicin en negativas.

It's two o'clock. I must go now. (obligacin)

His clothes are wet. It must be raining. (deduccin)
You mustn't drive on the right in England. (prohibicin)

Alternativa a MUST cuando indica obligacin (solo en afirmativas y preguntas): HAVE

TO: Tener que (en oraciones negativas indica ausencia de obligacin, por lo cual no es
equivalente a MUSTNT, que indica obligacin de no hacer algo o prohibicin). Necesita
auxiliares para las formas interrogativa y negativa. Otra alternativa es have got to
(suele usarse solo en presente), que significa lo mismo que have to, pero no necesita
auxiliares para la interrogativa o negativa.

I have (got) to get up at seven o'clock every day. (obligacin)

Did you have to go with your father? (obligacin)
I dont have to get up early every day (ausencia de obligacin).
I havent got to get up early every day. (ausencia de obligacin)

NEEDN'T:

No tener que, no hacer falta que (ausencia de obligacin).

I needn't go to school tomorrow. It's Sunday.

Alternativas a neednt: have to en negativa (ver ultimo ejemplo de have to) y need to en
negativa.

I dont need to work. Im rich.

OUGHT TO:

Debera. (obligacin no tan fuerte como MUST o HAVE TO: implica

consejo o deber).

I think you ought to work harder.

Ought we to invite him to the party? Yes, we ought.
You oughtn't to be so rude.

SHOULD:

Debera. Igual que OUGHT TO:

I think you should work harder.

WOULD:
Aparte de ser el auxiliar para el modo condicional, se puede usar
tambin para indicar cosas que se hacan en el pasado que ya no se hacen. En este
sentido, solo se puede usar con verbos de accin, no de estado.
When I was younger, I would get up late (cuando era ms joven, me
levantaba tarde).
Alternativa a would en este sentido: used to, aunque este ltimo tambin se puede usar
con verbos de estado.
When I was younger, I used to get up late.
When I was younger, I didnt use to like football (cuando era ms joven,
no me gustaba el ftbol). Aqu no se puede usar would, pues like (gustar) no es un verbo
de accin (no indica que se hace nada), sino de estado.

Verbos modales seguidos de infinitivo perfecto (have + participio

pasado)
MUST HAVE + participio pasado: expresa una deduccin, una certeza de que algo ocurri.
His life must have been really boring (Su vida debi ser / debe haber sido muy
aburrida).
SHOULD HAVE + participio pasado o OUGHT TO HAVE + participio pasado: expresan una
crtica de algo que ocurri en el pasado.
He should have gone out more. (debera haber salido ms)
He ought to have gone out more. (debera haber salido ms)
CANT HAVE + participio pasado: expresa una deduccin de que algo no ocurri en el pasado,
una imposibilidad de que algo ocurriera.
They cant have won the match. They are very sad. (No pueden haber ganado el
partido. Estn muy tristes).
COULDNT HAVE + participio pasado tambin puede usarse, sobre todo cuando la deduccin
de que algo no ocurri la hicimos en el pasado:
I knew he couldnt have won the lottery. He was always borrowing money from me.
MAY HAVE + participio pasado o MIGHT HAVE + participio pasado: expresan una posibilidad
de que algo ocurriera en el pasado:
He may/might have won the lottery. Hes bought a new car (puede que le tocara la
lotera. Ha comprado un coche nuevo).
Solo puede usarse MIGHT HAVE + participio pasado si esa posibilidad de que
ocurriera algo con anterioridad no la expresamos ahora sino en el pasado:
I said that he might have won the lottery. He had bought a new car.
COULD HAVE + participio pasado:
a) Sugiere una alternativa a algo que se hizo u ocurri en el pasado, algo que podra
haberse hecho o podra haber ocurrido pero no se hizo o no ocurri.
He could have worked harder, but he didnt (podra haber trabajado ms, pero no lo
hizo).
I was so tired. I could have slept for a week (estaba muy cansado. Podra haber
dormido durante una semana).