ENGLISH TENSES

PRESENT SIMPLE

Affirmative form : identical to the infinitive form for all persons except the 3
rd
person singular.For
he/she we add es or s to the infinitive form.
I work, you work, he/she works, we work, you work, they work
I do, you do, he/she does, we do, you do, they do
Interrogative form: do/does + subject + infinitive
Do you work? Does she work?
Negative form: subject + dont/doesnt + infinitive
I dont work. He doesnt work.

Uses:
General truths
The Earth is round
Bucharest is the capital of Romania.
Habitual actions
I go to work every day
I visit my French friend every summer.
States (afirmatii)
I dont eat meat.
He lives in Boston.
Schedules and itineraries
He leaves in the afternoon, arrives in Paris the next day, checks in at the hotel

* In case of habitual actions the verb usually co-occurs with frequency adverbs: every day, once a year,
once a week, each winter, every month etc.


PRESENT CONTINUOUS

Affirmative Form: to be + ing form
I am working, you are reading, he/she is sleeping, we are cooking, they are running.
Interrogative form: to be + subject + ing form
Are you reading? Is he sleeping?
Negative form : negative form of to be + ing form
Im not working, you are not (arent) reading, she is not (isnt) sleeping.

Uses:
Referring to actions in progress at the moment of speech.
Im making coffee, would you like some?
Actions in progress but not actually happening at the moment of speech.
Im taking English lessons. Im learning to drive.
Temporary actions
My car is broken, so Im going to work by bus this week. (only this week )
Complaints about bad habits or annoying activities
Tom is always yelling at his colleagues.
* There is a specific class of verbs that do not take -ing form. These verbs are called state verbs (verbe de
stare) and describe mental or emotional activities, physical states: believe, doubt, know, love, hate, prefer,
understand, want, wish, depend, to be tall, be fat/slim etc.

PAST SIMPLE

Affirmative Form: for regular verbs: infinitive + -ed or -d
Irregular verbs, have a special form for the past. This form is the second one of their paradigm.
I worked, he/she travelled
We ate the entire pizza. They ran for the train.
Interrogative form: did + subject + infinitive
Did you finish your report? Did he write the memo?
Negative form : subject + did not (didnt) + infinitive
I didnt eat the pizza. They didnt run for the train.

Uses

Referring to completed actions.
I walked to him, asked him a question about the project and retuned to my office.
We visited our friends last week-end.
Habits in the past. (usually with frequency adverbs)
She went swimming every summer, when she was little.
States
My dog was very happy, living in the country side.

* when past simple occurs with time adverbs such as: yesterday, last week, once, a few days ago, it is
translated Romanian using perfect compus or perfect simplu (for 3
rd
person, in stories).
* when past simple refers to habits in the past and occurs with frequency adverbs it is translated into
Romanian using imperfect.


PAST CONTINOUOS

Affirmative Form: subject + was/were + ing form
I/he/she was reading. We/you/they were making (dinner).
Interrogative form: was/were + subject + ing form
Were they making dinner? Were you reading?
Negative form : subject + was not (wasnt)/were not (werent) + ing form
They werent making dinner. I wasnt reading.

Uses
Actions in progress (usually interrupted by events)
He was painting, when the phone rang.
Changing states
His health was getting worse.
Complaints about bad habits or annoying activities (in the past)
Tom was always yelling at his colleagues.

* past continuous is translated Romanian using imperfect.








PAST PERFECT SIMPLE

Affirmative Form : subject + had + 3
rd
form of the verb (for irregular verbs)/ -ed form
I had crossed the street. You had drunk all the wine.
Interrogative form : had + subject + 3
rd
form of the verb)/ -ed form
Had you crossed the street? Had he drunk all the wine?
Negative form : subject + had not (hadnt) + 3
rd
form of the verb)/ -ed form
He hadnt drunk all the wine. I hadnt crossed the street.

Uses
Referring to a past action that takes place before another past action
The train had left before I got to the train station.
I realized at the restaurant that I had forgotten my wallet.


PAST PERFECT COTINUOUS

Affirmative Form subject + had been + ing form
I had been living in a smaller house up to that time.
Negative form: subject + hadnt been + ing form
I hadnt been paying attention to that problem.

Uses

Actions in progress finished before another past action (which is closer to the moment of
speech)
He left the library where he had been reading for some time
She had been writing for 2 hours when her sister came in the room.



PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE

Affirmative Form : subject + have/has + 3
rd
form of the verb (for irregular verbs)/ -ed form
I have learned the news. She has got a new car.
Interrogative form: have/has + subject + 3
rd
form of the verb (for irregular verbs)/ -ed form
Has she learned the news?
Negative form: subject + havent/hasnt + 3
rd
form of the verb (for irregular verbs)/ -ed form
She hasnt learned the news.

Uses

Very recent events
He has just arrived at the office.
Indefinite events, which happened at an unknown time in the past.
I have been in London before. They have travelled all over the world. He has had 3 car accidents.
*in these situations, present perfect is translated into Romanian using perfectul compus
Events that have a result in the present.
Weve had an argument and we are not speaking to each other.
States which last up to the present moment.
I have lived in Bucharest for the last 5 months. (Im still here)
*in these situations, present perfect is translated into Romanian using prezentul

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

Affirmative Form: subject + have/has been + ing form
Ive been waiting for you.
Interrogative form : have/has + subject + been + ing form
Have you been waiting for long?
Negative form :subject + havent/hasnt been + ing form
She hasnt been working that much lately.

Uses

A state which lasts to the present moment
Ive been waiting for you for 1 hour.
An incomplete activity
They have been shooting this movie for 1 year.
To emphasize duration
We have been moving furniture all morning.
A repeated action.
Ive been taking English lessons this year.


Observations

1. The main difference between past simple and present perfect is that past simple is used with
expression which refer to definite times, present perfect is about indefinite time:
I bought a new car last week. (definite)
I have bought a new car. (indefinite)

2. Past simple refers to a complete activity; with present perfect simple/continuous the activity is not
completed.
I worked for Coca Cola company for 2 years (I dont work there anymore)
Ive worked for Coca Cola company for 2 years (I still work for them)
Ive been working for Coca Cola company for 2 years (I still work for them)

3. Time adverbials that usually occur with present perfect: up till now, at present, so far, yet, lately,
sine., before now, never, just, before, for . (eg. For 3 years).


















The meaning
is the same

FUTURE


1. will
Affirmative Form : subject + will + infinitive
I will visit my friends tomorrow.
Interrogative form :will + subject + infinitive
Will she leave tomorrow?
Negative form: subject + will not (wont) + infinitive
They wont buy a new car.

Uses
Future with will usually expresses prediction (something we suppose is true)
The company will make more profit this year.
Immediate decision
I will take this book.

Future continuous :Subject + will + ing form (affirmative); subject + wont + ing form (negative)

Expressing events which will happen at a future point
Come round tomorrow, Ill be painting the kitchen / I wont be painting the kitchen.
Expressing fixed arrangements
The band will be playing at Toms jazz club tonight.

2. be going to
Describing intentions, plan (that have already been made)
I am going to make a trip to the country side this week end.
Describing an event whose cause is evident
You are going to get killed if you keep driving like this.

3. be about to, be on the point of - used to refer to the next moment
The play is about to start. Shes on the point of having a breakdown.

4. be due to - used to refer to scheduled times
Marys flight is due at noon.


FUTURE PERFECT SIMPLE & CONTINUOUS (VIITOR ANTERIOR)

Affirmative form: subject + will have + 3
rd
form/past simple form
She will have finished her work by next week ( ea va fi terminat)
Negative form: subject + wont have + 3
rd
form/past simple form
She wont finished her work by next week (nu va fi terminat)

B. Uses
Referring to time which we look back at from a future point
In 2 years time well have built the house.
By the end of the month, I will have been working for this firm for 2 years.
Expressing assumptions
You wont have heard the news, I suppose.
* in these cases the future perfect is translated into Romanian using present: Nu ai aflat noutatile,
banuiesc.