VERB TENSES

PRESENT CONTINUOUS = I am doing Situation that is happening in the present (time of speaking) ex: Please, turn down the volume, I'm studying! Something that is happening around the time of speaking, but not necessarily in the time of speaking ex: Ann is studying in an excellent school. To talk about a period of time around the present (this week, this season, this year) ex: Tom isn't playing baseball this season, he's busy with his studies. To talk about changing situations ex: The grain prices are rising quickly. In future tenses, to talk about things that are already arranged (more natural than I'm going to...) ex: This Thursday I'm having dinner with my parents. SIMPLE PRESENT = I do Situation that happens in general, all the time, repeatedly, things generally assumed as true ex: The earth goes around the sun. To say how often we do things ex: I go to the gym twice a week. In future tenses, to talk about timetables, schedules, etc. (but not personal arrangements) ex: The train leaves the station at 3:00PM. FUTURE = I am going to do To talk about something we already decided to do, or what we intend to do in the future ex: I've heard she's going to travel around the world this year. Was/were going to do to say something that we intended to do in the past, but didn't do ex: We were going to travel to Europe that year, but then Joan got pregnant. To predict the future in a logical way (following solid evidence in the present time) ex: Look at those black clouds! It's going to rain! FUTURE = I will do When we decide to do something in the time of speaking ex: I'll have some coffee, please. When we are offering, refusing, agreeing and promising to do something, or when we are asking someone to do something ex: I promise I'll call you as soon as I arrive. To predict the future based on intuition, or not based on solid evidence from the imediate future ex: When you come home you'll notice a lot of changes. FUTURE CONTINUOUS = I will be doing Used when we are going to be in the middle of some action in the future ex: The game starts at 7:15 and ends at 9:30, so at 8:30 Tom will be watching the game. Used for things that we already planned or decided (similar to I am doing as a future tense) ex: I'll be going downtown later. Used to ask about people's plans ex: Will you be using your bycicle this afternoon? FUTURE PERFECT = I will have done

 Used for something that will already have ended before a certain time in the future ex: I guess the movie will have already ended when we get there. SIMPLE PAST = I did Used for something that we did in the past, or that happened in the past and is finished ex: Yesterday rained all day. PAST CONTINUOUS = I was doing Used to say that we were in the middle of something in a certain time, and that that action had already started but hadn't finished ex: This time last year I was living in Brazil. Used with the Simple Past tense to say that something happened in the middle of another action ex: Dan was cooking when he got burned. PRESENT PERFECT = I have done Is used to give an statement about something that happened in the past but has a connection with the present ex: I've lost my keys. (which means that I lost my keys possibly a short while ago, and I don't have them now, in the present) Is used to give new information or announce a recent happening ex: Did you hear about Jim? He's gone to Canada. When we talk about a period of time that continues up to the present (especially when we have done something for the first time or when we have never done something) ex: Carlos has lived in Argentina all his life. Is used when we want to say that we hadn't done something for a certain period of time that continues up to the present ex: I haven't smoked for three years. Is used for something that happened (especially a short while ago) and isn't changed in the present (is still true in the present) ex: Tom has been sick a lot in the past few years. Is used with unfinished time (this week, season, month, day, hour, etc.) ex: I've had five cups of coffee today. Is used for situations that exist for a long time and still exist now ex: John has always lived in Caracas. PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS = I have been doing To talk about situations that started in the past and recently stopped or just stopped ex: He's out of breath. He has been running. To ask or say how long something has been happening ex: I've been watching television since 2:00. Is used for actions repeated over a period of time ex: She has been playing tennis since she was eight. PAST PERFECT = I had done Is used when we talk about a past situation that happened before another past situation had taken place ex: When I got home, I found that someone had broken into my apartment and had stolen my fur coat. The Past Perfect tense is the past of the Present Perfect tense ex: I wasn't hungry. I'd just had lunch.

PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS = I had been doing Is used to say how long something had been happening before something else happened ex: Ken had been smoking for 30 years before he finally gave it up. The Past Perfect Continuous tense is the past of the Present Perfect Continuous tense ex: How long had you been waiting when the bus finally came?

MODAL VERBS
SUBJUNCTIVE You can use Subjunctive after the verbs to suggest, to propose, to recommend, to insist and to demand; the verb that follows will be always on the base form ex: I suggest (that) you take a vacation. ex: They insisted (that) we have dinner with them. ex: I insisted (that) he have dinner with me. ex: He demanded (that) she apologize to him. ex: The doctor recommended (that) I rest for a few days. The Subjunctive can be used for the present, past and future ex: I insist (that) you come with us. ex: They insisted (that) I go with them. Note the Subjunctive be (usually passive) ex: I insisted (that) something be done about the problem. ex: The chairperson proposed (that) the plans be changed. CAN To say that something is possible ex: You can see the ocean from our bedroom window. (= it is possible for you to see) To say that someone has the ability to do something (equivalent to be able to) ex: He can speak five foreign languages. (= he has the ability to speak) To ask for something we use can I have...? ex: Can I have one of these postcards? Is used to ask or give permission ex: You can smoke if you like. Is used when we offer to do things ex: Can I get you a cup of coffee? The negative is can't (cannot) ex: You can't park there. Is used in the negative when we think something is impossible ex: You've just had dinner. You can't be hungry already!