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The document discusses English tenses and provides lessons on 12 basic tenses: present, present continuous, present perfect, present perfect continuous, past, past continuous, past perfect, past perfect continuous, future, future continuous, future perfect, and future perfect continuous. It explains the structure and use of each tense and provides examples. It focuses on helping English learners properly understand and use tenses without worrying too much about technical terms.
The document discusses English tenses and provides lessons on 12 basic tenses: present, present continuous, present perfect, present perfect continuous, past, past continuous, past perfect, past perfect continuous, future, future continuous, future perfect, and future perfect continuous. It explains the structure and use of each tense and provides examples. It focuses on helping English learners properly understand and use tenses without worrying too much about technical terms.
The document discusses English tenses and provides lessons on 12 basic tenses: present, present continuous, present perfect, present perfect continuous, past, past continuous, past perfect, past perfect continuous, future, future continuous, future perfect, and future perfect continuous. It explains the structure and use of each tense and provides examples. It focuses on helping English learners properly understand and use tenses without worrying too much about technical terms.
the street and asked them about tense, one of them might give you an intelligent answerif you were lucky. he other !! would know little about terms like "past perfect" or "present continuous". #nd they would know nothing about aspect, voice or mood. $ut they can all speak fluent English and communicate effectively. Be like those native speakers! Speak naturally! Tenses T h e E n g lis h T e n s e S y s t em Below are to lessons for each of the 12 basic tenses. In each lesson we look at two aspects of the tense: Structure: How do we make the tense? Use: When and why do we use the tense? Some lessons look at additional aspects and most of them finish with a !ui" to check your understandin#. P r e s e n t T e n se I do P r e s e n t C o n t in u o us T e n se I am doin# I am doin# tomorrow P r e s e n t P e r f ec t T e n se I ha$e done P r e s e n t P e r f ec t C o n t in u o us T e n se I ha$e been doin# P a s t T e n se I did P a s t C o n t in u o us T e n se I was doin# P a s t P e r f e c t T e n se I had done P a s t P e r f e c t C o n t in u o us T e n se I had been doin# F u t u r e T e n se I will do F u t u r e C o n t in u o us T e n se I will be doin# F u t u r e P e r f ec t T e n se I will ha$e done F u t u r e P e r f ec t C o n t in u o us T e n se I will ha$e been doin# Simple Present Tense I sing How do we make the Simple Present Tense? sub%ect & au'iliary $erb & main $erb do base (here are three important eceptions: 1. )or positi$e sentences !e "o not normally use the auiliary. 2. )or the *rd person sin#ular +he she it, we add s to the main $erb or es to the au'iliary. *. )or the $erb to #e we do not use an au'iliary e$en for !uestions and ne#ati$es. -ook at these e'amples with the main $erb like: su#$ect auiliary ver# main ver# & I you we they like coffee. He she it likes coffee. . I you we they do not like coffee. He she it does not like coffee. ? /o I you we they like coffee? /oes he she it like coffee? -ook at these e'amples with the main $erb be. 0otice that there is no au'iliary: su#$ect main ver# & I am )rench. 1ou we they are )rench. He she it is )rench. . I am not old. 1ou we they are not old. He she it is not old. ? 2m I late? 2re you we they late? Is he she it late? How do we use the Simple Present Tense? We use the simple present tense when: the action is #eneral the action happens all the time or habitually in the past present and future the action is not only happenin# now the statement is always true 3ohn dri$es a ta'i. past present future It is 3ohn4s %ob to dri$e a ta'i. He does it e$ery day. 5ast present and future. -ook at these e'amples: I li$e in 0ew 1ork. (he 6oon #oes round the 7arth. 3ohn dri$es a ta'i. He does not dri$e a bus. We do not work at ni#ht. /o you play football? 0ote that with the $erb to #e we can also use the simple present tense for situations that are not #eneral. We can use the simple present tense to talk about no!. -ook at these e'amples of the $erb 8to be8 in the simple present tense9some of them are general some of them are no!: 2m I ri#ht? (ara is not at home. 1ou are happy. past present future (he situation is now. his page shows the use of the simple present tense to talk about general events. $ut note that there are some other uses for the simple present tense, for e%ample in conditional or if sentences, or to talk about the future. &ou will learn about those later. I am not fat. Why are you so beautiful? :am is tall. past present future (he situation is #eneral. 5ast present and future. Present Continuous Tense I am singing We often use the present continuous tense in 7n#lish. It is $ery different from the simple present tense both in structure and in use. In this lesson we look the structure and use of the present continuous tense followed by a !ui" to check your understandin#: Structure: how do we make the present continuous tense? ;se: when and why do we use the present continuous tense? Spellin#: how do we spell $erbs with .in# for the present continuous tense? 5resent <ontinuous (ense =ui" Continuous tenses are also called progressive tenses. So the present pro#ressi$e tense is the same as the present continuous tense. %o! "o !e make the Present Continuous Tense& (he structure of the present continuous tense is: sub%ect & au'iliary $erb & main $erb be base & in# -ook at these e'amples: su#$ect auiliary ver# main ver# & I am speakin# to you. & 1ou are readin# this. . She is not stayin# in -ondon. . We are not playin# football. ? Is he watchin# (>? ? 2re they waitin# for 3ohn? %o! "o !e use the Present Continuous Tense& We use the present continuous tense to talk about: action happenin# now action in the future Present continuous tense for action happening now a, for action happenin# eactly no! I am eatin# my lunch. past present future (he action is happenin# now. -ook at these e'amples. :i#ht now you are lookin# at this screen and at the same time... ...the pa#es are turnin#. ...the candle is burnin#. ...the numbers are spinnin#. b, for action happenin# aroun" no! (he action may not be happenin# e'actly now but it is happenin# %ust before and %ust after now and it is not permanent or habitual. 3ohn is #oin# out with 6ary. past present future (he action is happenin# around now. -ook at these e'amples: 6uriel is learning to dri$e. I am living with my sister until I find an apartment. Basic rule 3ust add 'ing to the base $erb: work ? workin# play ? playin# assist ? assistin# see ? seein# be ? bein# Eception ( If the base $erb ends in consonant ) stresse" vo!el ) consonant double the last letter: Present continuous tense for the future We can also use the present continuous tense to talk about the future9if we add a future !or"@@ We must add +or understand from the conte't, a future word. 8)uture words8 include for e'ample tomorro! net year in *une at Christmas etc. We only use the present continuous tense to talk about the future when we ha$e planned to do somethin# before we speak. We ha$e already ma"e a "ecision an" a plan before speakin#. I am takin# my e'am ne't month. past present future @@@ 2 firm plan or pro#ramme e'ists now. (he action is in the future. -ook at these e'amples: We+re eating in a restaurant toni#ht. We4$e already booked the table.. (hey can play tennis with you tomorrow. (hey+re not !orking. When are you starting your new %ob? In these e'amples we ha$e a firm plan or programme #efore speaking. (he decision and plan were made #efore speakin#. %o! "o !e spell the Present Continuous Tense& We make the present continuous tense by addin# .in# to the base $erb. 0ormally it4s simple9we %ust add .in#. But sometimes we ha$e to chan#e the word a little. 5erhaps we double the last letter or we drop a letter. Here are the rules to help you know how to spell the present continuous tense. consonant stressed consonant $owel +$owels A a e i o u, sto p ? stoppin# run ? runnin# be#in ? be#innin# 'ote that this e%ception does not apply when the last syllable of the base verb is not stressed( o pen ? openin# Eception , If the base $erb ends in ie chan#e the ie to y: lie ? lyin# die ? dyin# Eception - If the base $erb ends in vo!el ) consonant ) e omit the e: come ? comin# mistake ? mistakin# Present Perfect Tense I have sung (he present perfect tense is a rather important tense in 7n#lish but it #i$es speakers of some lan#ua#es a difficult time. (hat is because it uses concepts or ideas that do not e'ist in those lan#ua#es. In fact the structure of the present perfect tense is $ery simple. (he problems come with the use of the tense. In addition there are some differences in usa#e between British and 2merican 7n#lish. In this lesson we look at the structure and use of the present perfect followed by a !ui" to check your understandin#: Structure: how to make the present perfect tense ;se: when and why to use the present perfect tense )or and Since with the present perfect tense. What4s the difference? 5resent 5erfect =ui" he present perfect tense is really a very interesting tense, and a very useful one. ry not to translate the present perfect tense into your language. )ust try to accept the concepts of this tense and learn to "think" present perfect* &ou will soon learn to like the present perfect tense* I ha$e I4$e 1ou ha$e 1ou4$e He has She has It has 3ohn has (he car has He4s She4s It4s 3ohn4s (he car4s We ha$e We4$e (hey ha$e (hey4$e %o! "o !e make the Present Perfect Tense& (he structure of the present perfect tense is: sub%ect & au'iliary $erb & main $erb ha$e past participle Here are some e'amples of the present perfect tense: su#$ect auiliary ver# main ver# & I ha$e seen 7(. & 1ou ha$e eaten mine. . She has not been to :ome. . We ha$e not played football. ? Ha$e you finished? ? Ha$e they done it? Contractions with the present perfect tense When we use the present perfect tense in speakin# we usually contract the sub%ect and au'iliary $erb. We also sometimes do this when we write. %e+s or he+s??? Be careful@ (he +s contraction is used for the au'iliary $erbs have and be. )or e'ample 8It4s eaten8 can mean: It has eaten. Bpresent perfect tense acti$e $oiceC It is eaten. Bpresent tense passi$e $oiceC It is usually clear from the conte't. %o! "o !e use the Present Perfect Tense& (his tense is called the present perfect tense. (here is always a connection with the past and with the present. (here are basically three uses for the present perfect tense: 1. e'perience 2. chan#e *. continuin# situation 1. Present perfect tense for experience We often use the present perfect tense to talk about eperience from the past. We are not interested in !hen you did somethin#. We only want to know if you did it: I ha$e seen 7(. He has li$ed in Ban#kok. Ha$e you been there? We ha$e ne$er eaten ca$iar. past present future @@@ (he action or state was in the past. In my head I ha$e a memory now. Connection !ith past: the e$ent was in the past. Connection !ith present: in my head no! I ha$e a memory of the e$entD I kno! somethin# about the e$entD I ha$e eperience of it. 2. Present perfect tense for change We also use the present perfect tense to talk about a change or ne! information: I ha$e bou#ht a car. past present future . & -ast week I didn4t ha$e a car. 0ow I ha$e a car. 3ohn has broken his le#. past present future & . 1esterday 3ohn had a #ood le#. 0ow he has a bad le#. Has the price #one up? past present future & . Was the price :s.EFG. yesterday? Is the price :s.HEG. today? (he police ha$e arrested the killer. past present future . & 1esterday the killer was free. 0ow he is in prison. Connection !ith past: the past is the opposite of the present. Connection !ith present: the present is the opposite of the past. #mericans do not use the present perfect tense so much as $ritish speakers. #mericans often use the past tense instead. #n #merican might say "+id you have lunch,", where a $ritish person would say "-ave you had lunch," 3. Present perfect tense for continuing situation We often use the present perfect tense to talk about a continuing situation. (his is a state that started in the past and continues in the present +and will probably continue into the future,. (his is a state +not an action,. We usually use for or since with this structure. I ha$e worked here since 3une. He has been ill for 2 days. How lon# ha$e you known (ara? past present future (he situation started in the past. It continues up to now. +It will probably continue into the future., Connection !ith past: the situation started in the past. Connection !ith present: the situation continues in the present. For . Since !ith Present Perfect Tense We often use for and since with the present perfect tense. We use for to talk about a perio" of time9E minutes 2 weeks I years. We use since to talk about a point in past time9J o4clock 1st 3anuary 6onday. for since a perio" of time a point in past time '''''''''''' 2F minutes I.1Epm three days 6onday I months 3anuary K years 1JJK 2 centuries 1LFF a lon# time I left school e$er the be#innin# of time etc etc Here are some e'amples: I ha$e been here for 2F minutes. I ha$e been here since J o4clock. 3ohn hasn4t called for I months. 3ohn hasn4t called since )ebruary. He has worked in 0ew 1ork for a lon# time. He has worked in 0ew 1ork since he left school. For can be used with all tenses. Since is usually used with perfect tenses only. Present Perfect Continuous Tense I have been singing How do we make the Present Perfect Continuous Tense? (he structure of the present perfect continuous tense is: sub%ect & au'iliary $erb & au'iliary $erb & main $erb ha$e has been base & in# Here are some e'amples of the present perfect continuous tense: su#$ect auiliary ver# auiliary ver# main ver# & I ha$e been waitin# for one hour. & 1ou ha$e been talkin# too much. . It has not been rainin#. . We ha$e not been playin# football. ? Ha$e you been seein# her? ? Ha$e they been doin# their homework? Contractions When we use the present perfect continuous tense in speakin# we often contract the sub%ect and the first au'iliary. We also sometimes do this in informal writin#. I ha$e been I4$e been 1ou ha$e been 1ou4$e been He has been She has been It has been 3ohn has been (he car has been He4s been She4s been It4s been 3ohn4s been (he car4s been We ha$e been We4$e been (hey ha$e been (hey4$e been Here are some e'amples: I4$e been readin#. (he car4s been #i$in# trouble. We4$e been playin# tennis for two hours. How do we use the Present Perfect Continuous Tense? (his tense is called the present perfect continuous tense. (here is usually a connection with the present or now. (here are basically two uses for the present perfect continuous tense: 1. An action that has just stopped or recently stopped We use the present perfect continuous tense to talk about an action that started in the past and stopped recently. (here is usually a result no!. I4m tired because I4$e been runnin#. past present future @@@ :ecent action. :esult now. I4m tired BnowC because I+ve #een running. Why is the #rass wet BnowC ? %as it #een raining? 1ou don4t understand BnowC because you haven4t #een listening. 2. An action continuing up to now We use the present perfect continuous tense to talk about an action that started in the past and is continuin# no!. (his is often used with for or since. I ha$e been readin# for 2 hours. past present future 2ction started in past. 2ction is continuin# now. I have #een rea"ing for 2 hours. BI am still readin# now.C We+ve #een stu"ying since J o4clock. BWe4re still studyin# now.C How lon# have you #een learning 7n#lish? B1ou are still learnin# now.C We have not #een smoking. B2nd we are not smokin# now.C or and Since with Present Perfect Continuous Tense We often use for and since with the present perfect tense. We use for to talk about a perio" of time9E minutes 2 weeks I years. We use since to talk about a point in past time9J o4clock 1st 3anuary 6onday. for since a perio" of time a point in past time 2F minutes I.1Epm three days 6onday I months 3anuary K years 1JJK 2 centuries 1LFF a lon# time I left school e$er the be#innin# of time etc etc Here are some e'amples: I ha$e been studyin# for * hours. I ha$e been watchin# (> since Hpm. (ara hasn4t been feelin# well for 2 weeks. (ara hasn4t been $isitin# us since 6arch. He has been playin# football for a lon# time. He has been li$in# in Ban#kok since he left school. For can be used with all tenses. Since is usually used with perfect tenses only. Simple Past Tense I sang (he simple past tense is sometimes called the preterit tense. We can use se$eral tenses to talk about the past but the simple past tense is the one we use most often. In this lesson we look at the structure and use of the simple past tense followed by a !ui" to check your understandin#: %o! "o !e make the Simple Past Tense& (o make the simple past tense we use: past form only or au'iliary "i" ) #ase form Here you can see e'amples of the past form and #ase form for irre#ular $erbs and re#ular $erbs: /( #ase /, past /- past participle re#ular $erb !ork eplo"e like !orke" eplo"e" like" worked e'ploded liked (he past form for all re#ular $erbs ends in .ed. irre#ular $erb go see sing !ent sa! sang #one seen sun# (he past form for irre#ular $erbs is $ariable. 1ou need to learn it by heart. 1ou do not need the past participle form to make the simple past tense. It is shown here for completeness only. (he structure for positive sentences in the simple past tense is: sub%ect & main $erb past (he structure for negative sentences in the simple past tense is: sub%ect & au'iliary $erb & not & main $erb did base (he structure for 0uestion sentences in the simple past tense is: au'iliary $erb & sub%ect & main $erb did base (he au'iliary $erb "i" is not con%u#ated. It is the same for all persons +I did you did he did etc,. 2nd the base form and past form do not chan#e. -ook at these e'amples with the main $erbs go and !ork: su#$ect auiliary ver# main ver# & I went to school. 1ou worked $ery hard. . She did not #o with me. We did not work yesterday. ? /id you #o to -ondon? /id they work at home? Eception! (he $erb to #e is different. We con%u#ate the $erb to be +I was you were heGsheGit was we were they were,D and we do not use an au'iliary for ne#ati$e and !uestion sentences. (o make a !uestion we e'chan#e the sub%ect and $erb. -ook at these e'amples: su#$ect main ver# & I heGsheGit was here. 1ou we they were in -ondon. . I heGsheGit was not there. 1ou we they were not happy. ? Was I heGsheGit ri#ht? Were you we they late? %o! "o !e use the Simple Past Tense& We use the simple past tense to talk about an action or a situation9an e$ent9in the past. (he e$ent can be short or long. Here are some short e$ents with the simple past tense: (he car e'ploded at J.*Fam yesterday. She went to the door. We did not hear the telephone. /id you see that car? past present future (he action is in the past. Here are some long e$ents with the simple past tense: I li$ed in Ban#kok for 1F years. (he 3urassic period lasted about I2 million years. We did not sin# at the concert. /id you watch (> last ni#ht? past present future (he action is in the past. 0otice that it does not matter how lon# a#o the e$ent is: it can be a few minutes or seconds in the past or millions of years in the past. 2lso it does not matter how lon# the e$ent is. It can be a few milliseconds +car e'plosion, or millions of years +3urassic period,. We use the simple past tense when: the e$ent is in the past the e$ent is completely finishe" we say +or understand, the time andGor place of the e$ent In general, if we say the time or place of the event, we must use the simple past tense. we cannot use the present perfect. Here are some more e'amples: I live" in that house when I was youn#. He "i"n4t like the mo$ie. What "i" you eat for dinner? 3ohn "rove to -ondon on 6onday. 6ary "i" not go to work yesterday. 1i" you play tennis last week? I !as at work yesterday. We !ere not late +for the train,. 2ere you an#ry? 0ote that when we tell a story we usually use the simple past tense. We may use the past continuous tense to 8set the scene8 but we almost always use the simple past tense for the action. -ook at this e'ample of the be#innin# of a story: 8(he wind was howlin# around the hotel and the rain was pourin# down. It !as cold. (he door opene" and 3ames Bond entere". He took off his coat which !as $ery wet and or"ere" a drink at the bar. He sat "o!n in the corner of the loun#e and !uietly "rank his...8 his page shows the use of the simple past tense to talk about past events. $ut note that there are some other uses for the simple past tense, for e%ample in conditional or if sentences. Past Continuous Tense I was singing (he past continuous tense is an important tense in 7n#lish. We use it to say what we were in the middle of doin# at a particular moment in the past. In this lesson we look at the structure and the use of the past continuous tense followed by a !ui" to check your understandin#: %o! "o !e make the Past Continuous Tense& (he structure of the past continuous tense is: sub%ect & au'iliary $erb B7 & main $erb con%u#ated in simple past tense present participle !as !ere #ase ) ing )or ne#ati$e sentences in the past continuous tense we insert not between the au'iliary $erb and main $erb. )or !uestion sentences we e'chan#e the su#$ect and auiliary ver#. -ook at these e'ample sentences with the past continuous tense: su#$ect auiliary ver# main ver# & I was watchin# (>. & 1ou were workin# hard. . He she it was not helpin# 6ary. . We were not %okin#. ? Were you bein# silly? ? Were they playin# football? (he s p e ll in# r u le s for addin# ing to make the past continuous tense are the same as for the present continuous tense. %o! "o !e use the Past Continuous Tense& (he past continuous tense e'presses action at a particular moment in the past. (he action started before that moment but has not finished at that moment. )or e'ample yesterday I watched a film on (>. (he film started at Hpm and finished at Jpm. 2t Lpm yesterday I was watchin# (>. past present future Lpm 2t Lpm I was in the middle of watchin# (>. When we use the past continuous tense our listener usually knows or understands what time we are talkin# about. -ook at these e'amples: I !as !orking at 1Fpm last ni#ht. (hey !ere not playing football at Jam this mornin#. What !ere you "oing at 1Fpm last ni#ht? What !ere you "oing when he arri$ed? She !as cooking when I telephoned her. We !ere having dinner when it started to rain. :am went home early because it !as sno!ing. /ome verbs cannot be used in continuous0progressive tenses. We often use the past continuous tense to 8set the scene8 in stories. We use it to describe the back#round situation at the moment when the action be#ins. Mften the story starts with the past continuous tense and then mo$es into the simple past tense. Here is an e'ample: 8 3ames Bond !as "riving throu#h town. It !as raining. (he wind !as #lo!ing hard. 0obody !as !alking in the streets. Suddenly Bond saw the killer in a telephone bo'...8 Past Continuous Tense ) Simple Past Tense We often use the past continuous tense with the simple past tense. We use the past continuous tense to e'press a long action. 2nd we use the simple past tense to e'press a short action that happens in the mi""le of the lon# action. We can %oin the two ideas with !hen or !hile. In the followin# e'ample we ha$e two actions: 1. lon# action +watchin# (>, e'pressed with past continuous tense 2. short action +telephoned, e'pressed with simple past tense past present future -on# action. I was watchin# (> at Lpm. Lpm 1ou telephoned at Lpm. Short action. We can %oin these two actions with !hen: I was watchin# (> !hen you telephoned. +0otice that 8when you telephoned8 is also a way of definin# the time BLpmC., We use: !hen & short action +simple past tense, !hile & long action +past continuous tense, (here are four basic combinations: I was walkin# past the car !hen it e'ploded. 2hen the car e'ploded I was walkin# past it. (he car e'ploded !hile I was walkin# past it. 2hile I was walkin# past the car it e'ploded. 0otice that the long action and short action are relati$e. 8Watchin# (>8 took a few hours. 8(elephoned8 took a few seconds. 8Walkin# past the car8 took a few seconds. 87'ploded8 took a few milliseconds. Past Perfect Tense I had sung (he past perfect tense is !uite an easy tense to understand and to use. (his tense talks about the 8past in the past8. In this lesson we look at: %o! "o !e make the Past Perfect Tense& (he structure of the past perfect tense is: sub%ect & au'iliary $erb H2>7 & main $erb con%u#ated in simple past tense past participle ha" /- )or ne#ati$e sentences in the past perfect tense we insert not between the au'iliary $erb and main $erb. )or !uestion sentences we e'chan#e the su#$ect and auiliary ver#. -ook at these e'ample sentences with the past perfect tense: su#$ect auiliary ver# main ver# & I had finished my work. & 1ou had stopped before me. . She had not #one to school. . We had not left. ? Had you arri$ed? ? Had they eaten dinner? When speakin# with the past perfect tense we often contract the sub%ect and au'iliary $erb: I had I4d you had you4d he had she had it had he4d she4d it4d we had we4d they had they4d (he +" contraction is also used for the au'iliary $erb !oul". )or e'ample !e+" can mean: We ha" or We !oul" But usually the main $erb is in a different form for e'ample: We had arrive" +past participle, We would arrive +base, It is always clear from the conte't. %o! "o !e use the Past Perfect Tense& (he past perfect tense e'presses action in the past before another action in the past. (his is the past in the past. )or e'ample: (he train left at Jam. We arri$ed at J.1Eam. When we arri$ed the train ha" left. N (he train ha" left when !e arrive". past present future (rain lea$es in past at Jam. We arri$e in past at J.1Eam. -ook at some more e'amples: I wasn4t hun#ry. I ha" %ust eaten. (hey were hun#ry. (hey ha" not eaten for fi$e hours. I didn4t know who he was. I ha" ne$er seen him before. 86ary wasn4t at home when I arri$ed.8 8:eally? Where ha" she gone?8 1ou can sometimes think of the past perfect tense like the present perfect tense but instead of the time bein# no! the time is past. past perfect tense present perfect tense had O ha$e O done O ? O done O ? O past no! future past no! future )or e'ample ima#ine that you arri$e at the station at J.1Eam. (he stationmaster says to you: 81ou are too late. (he train has left.8 -ater you tell your friends: 8We !ere too late. (he train ha" left.8 We often use the past perfect tense in reported speech after $erbs like sai"3 tol"3 aske"3 thought3 !on"ere": -ook at these e'amples: He told us that the train ha" left. I thou#ht I ha" met her before but I was wron#. He e'plained that he ha" close" the window because of the rain. I wondered if I ha" #een there before. I asked them why they ha" not finishe". Past Perfect Continuous Tense I had been singing How do we make the Past Perfect Continuous Tense? (he structure of the past perfect continuous tense is: sub%ect & au'iliary $erb H2>7 & au'iliary $erb B7 & main $erb con%u#ated in simple past tense past participle present participle ha" #een #ase ) ing )or ne#ati$e sentences in the past perfect continuous tense we insert not after the first au'iliary $erb. )or !uestion sentences we e'chan#e the su#$ect and first auiliary ver#. -ook at these e'ample sentences with the past perfect continuous tense: su#$ect auiliary ver# auiliary ver# main ver# & I had been workin#. & 1ou had been playin# tennis. . It had not been workin# well. . We had not been e'pectin# her. ? Had you been drinkin#? ? Had they been waitin# lon#? When speakin# with the past perfect continuous tense we often contract the sub%ect and first au'iliary $erb: I had been I4d been you had been you4d been he had she had been he4d been she4d been it had been it4d been we had been we4d been they had been they4d been How do we use the Past Perfect Continuous Tense? (he past perfect continuous tense is like the past perfect tense but it e'presses lon#er actions in the past before another action in the past. )or e'ample: :am started waitin# at Jam. I arri$ed at 11am. When I arri$ed :am ha" #een !aiting for two hours. :am ha" #een !aiting for two hours when I arrive". past present future :am starts waitin# in past at Jam. J 11 I arri$e in past at 11am. Here are some more e'amples: 3ohn was $ery tired. He ha" #een running. I could smell ci#arettes. Somebody ha" #een smoking. Suddenly my car broke down. I was not surprised. It ha" not #een running well for a lon# time. %a" the pilot #een "rinking before the crash? 1ou can sometimes think of the past perfect continuous tense like the present perfect continuous tense but instead of the time bein# no! the time is past. past perfect continuous tense present perfect continuous tense had O O O ha$e O been O doin# O O O O O been O doin# O ???? O O O ???? O past no! future past no! future )or e'ample ima#ine that you meet :am at 11am. :am says to you: 8I am an#ry. I have #een !aiting for two hours.8 -ater you tell your friends: 8:am !as an#ry. He ha" #een !aiting for two hours.8 Simple Future Tense I will sing (he simple future tense is often called !ill because we make the simple future tense with the modal au'iliary !ill. How do we make the Simple uture Tense? (he structure of the simple future tense is: sub%ect & au'iliary $erb WI-- & main $erb in$ariable base !ill /( )or ne#ati$e sentences in the simple future tense we insert not between the au'iliary $erb and main $erb. )or !uestion sentences we e'chan#e the su#$ect and auiliary ver#. -ook at these e'ample sentences with the simple future tense: su#$ect auiliary ver# main ver# & I will open the door. & 1ou will finish before me. . She will not be at school tomorrow. . We will not lea$e yet. ? Will you arri$e on time? ? Will they want dinner? When we use the simple future tense in speakin# we often contract the sub%ect and au'iliary $erb: I will I4ll you will you4ll he will she will it will he4ll she4ll it4ll we will we4ll they will they4ll )or ne#ati$e sentences in the simple future tense we contract with !on+t like this: I will not I won4t you will not you won4t he will not she will not it will not he won4t she won4t it won4t we will not we won4t they will not they won4t How do we use the Simple uture Tense? No Plan We use the simple future tense when there is no plan or decision to do somethin# before we speak. We make the decision spontaneously at the time of speakin#. -ook at these e'amples: Hold on. I+ll get a pen. We !ill see what we can do to help you. 6aybe we+ll stay in and !atch tele$ision toni#ht. In these e'amples we had no firm plan before speakin#. (he decision is made at the time of speaking. We often use the simple future tense with the $erb to think before it: I think I4ll #o to the #ym tomorrow. I think I will ha$e a holiday ne't year. I don4t think I4ll buy that car. Prediction We often use the simple future tense to make a prediction about the future. 2#ain there is no firm plan. We are sayin# !hat !e think !ill happen. Here are some e'amples: It !ill rain tomorrow. 5eople !on+t go to 3upiter before the 22nd century. Who do you think !ill get the %ob? Be When the main $erb is #e we can use the simple future tense e$en if we ha$e a firm plan or decision before speakin#. 7'amples: I+ll #e in -ondon tomorrow. I4m #oin# shoppin#. I !on+t #e $ery lon#. 2ill you #e at work tomorrow? 0ote that when we ha$e a plan or intention to do somethin# in the future we usually use other tenses or e'pressions such as the present continuous tense or going to. Future Continuous Tense I will be singing How do we make the uture Continuous Tense? (he structure of the future continuous tense is: sub%ect & au'iliary $erb WI-- & au'iliary $erb B7 & main $erb in$ariable in$ariable present participle !ill #e #ase ) ing )or ne#ati$e sentences in the future continuous tense we insert not between !ill and #e. )or !uestion sentences we e'chan#e the su#$ect and !ill. -ook at these e'ample sentences with the future continuous tense: su#$ect auiliary ver# auiliary ver# main ver# & I will be workin# at 1Fam. & 1ou will be lyin# on a beach tomorrow. . She will not be usin# the car. . We will not be ha$in# dinner at home. ? Will you be playin# football? ? Will they be watchin# (>? When we use the future continuous tense in speakin# we often contract the sub%ect and will: I will I4ll you will you4ll he will she will it will he4ll she4ll it4ll we will we4ll they will they4ll )or spoken ne#ati$e sentences in the future continuous tense we contract with !on+t like this: I will not I won4t you will not you won4t he will not she will not it will not he won4t she won4t it won4t we will not we won4t they will not they won4t We sometimes use shall instead of !ill especially for I and we. How do we use the uture Continuous Tense? (he future continuous tense e'presses action at a particular moment in the future. (he action will start before that moment but it will not ha$e finished at that moment. )or e'ample tomorrow I will start work at 2pm and stop work at Ipm: 2t Kpm tomorrow I will be workin#. past present future Kpm I will be in the middle of workin#. When we use the future continuous tense our listener usually knows or understands what time we are talkin# about. -ook at these e'amples: I !ill #e playing tennis at 1Fam tomorrow. (hey !on+t #e !atching (> at Jpm toni#ht. What !ill you #e "oing at 1Fpm toni#ht? What !ill you #e "oing when I arri$e? She !ill not #e sleeping when you telephone her. We +ll #e having dinner when the film starts. (ake your umbrella. It !ill #e raining when you return. Future Perfect Tense I will have sung (he future perfect tense is !uite an easy tense to understand and use. (he future perfect tense talks about the past in the future. How do we make the uture Perfect Tense? (he structure of the future perfect tense is: sub%ect & au'iliary $erb WI-- & au'iliary $erb H2>7 & main $erb in$ariable in$ariable past participle !ill have /- -ook at these e'ample sentences in the future perfect tense: su#$ect auiliary ver# auiliary ver# main ver# & I will ha$e finished by 1Fam. & 1ou will ha$e for#otten me by then. . She will not ha$e #one to school. . We will not ha$e left. ? Will you ha$e arri$ed? ? Will they ha$e recei$ed it? In speakin# with the future perfect tense we often contract the su#$ect and !ill. Sometimes we contract the su#$ect !ill and have all to#ether: I will ha$e I4ll ha$e I4ll4$e you will ha$e you4ll ha$e you4ll4$e he will ha$e he4ll ha$e he4ll4$e she will ha$e it will ha$e she4ll ha$e it4ll ha$e she4ll4$e it4ll4$e we will ha$e we4ll ha$e we4ll4$e they will ha$e they4ll ha$e they4ll4$e We sometimes use shall instead of !ill especially for I and we. How do we use the uture Perfect Tense? (he future perfect tense e'presses action in the future #efore another action in the future. (his is the past in the future. )or e'ample: (he train will lea$e the station at Jam. 1ou will arri$e at the station at J.1Eam. When you arri$e the train !ill have left. (he train !ill have left when you arrive. past present future (rain lea$es in future at Jam. J J.1E 1ou arri$e in future at J.1Eam. -ook at some more e'amples: 1ou can call me at work at Lam. I !ill have arrive" at the office by L. (hey will be tired when they arri$e. (hey !ill not have slept for a lon# time. 86ary won4t be at home when you arri$e.8 8:eally? Where !ill she have gone?8 1ou can sometimes think of the future perfect tense like the present perfect tense but instead of your $iewpoint bein# in the present it is in the future: present perfect tense future perfect tense O ha$e O done O ? O past no! future past no! future will O ha$e O done O ? O ENGLISH GRAMMAR, TENSES Future Perfect Continuous Tense I will have been singing How do we make the uture Perfect Continuous Tense? (he structure of the future perfect continuous tense is: sub%ect & au'iliary $erb WI-- & au'iliary $erb H2>7 & au'iliary $erb B7 & main $erb in$ariable in$ariable past participle present participle !ill have #een #ase ) ing )or ne#ati$e sentences in the future perfect continuous tense we insert not between !ill and have. )or !uestion sentences we e'chan#e the su#$ect and !ill. -ook at these e'ample sentences with the future perfect continuous tense: su#$ect auiliary ver# auiliary ver# auiliary ver# main ver# & I will ha$e been workin# for four hours. & 1ou will ha$e been tra$ellin# for two days. . She will not ha$e been usin# the car. . We will not ha$e been waitin# lon#. ? Will you ha$e been playin# football? ? Will they ha$e been watchin# (>? When we use the future perfect continuous tense in speakin# we often contract the sub%ect and au'iliary $erb: ENGLISH GRAMMAR, TENSES I will I4ll you will you4ll he will she will he4ll she4ll it will it4ll we will we4ll they will they4ll )or ne#ati$e sentences in the future perfect continuous tense we contract with !on+t like this: I will not I won4t you will not you won4t he will not she will not it will not he won4t she won4t it won4t we will not we won4t they will not they won4t How do we use the uture Perfect Continuous Tense? We use the future perfect continuous tense to talk about a lon# action before some point in the future. -ook at these e'amples: I !ill have #een !orking here for ten years ne't week. He will be tired when he arri$es. He !ill have #een traveling for 2K hours.