REVISION OF THE TENSES PRESENT TENSES 1) Present Simple: to talk about repeated action or things in general such as habits, facts, sports events, matches, film reviews, timetables and scheduled events. 2) Pres. Cont.: to talk about what’s happening now, around now (temporary actions), and complaints. 3) Pres. Perf. Simple: to talk about recent events, or things which happened in the past and they are connected, related to the present time. (Remember this tense is the only tense that connects past and present!!!) So, here we usually don’t know the “exact” time or we aren’t interested in time. (recently, so far (only with pres. perf. simple), lately, this week/month etc., all day/night/year, in the last/past decade, over the past/last years, decades etc.) (The result/effect is always in the present) Also we use this tense to talk about: a- experiences (I’ve seen that film) b- changes (I’ve had a hair cut.) c- repeated actions (I’ve met many people since I came here) d- negative duration with “for” and “since” (I haven’t seen her for years/She hasn’t danced since she left school.) e- with state verbs 4) Pres. Perf. Cont.: to talk about recent activities (recently, lately, all day/night/year etc.) and activities that started in the past and are still continuing. a. an action started in the past and finished very recently so the result of it is in present. (there is evidence) b. an action started in the past and is still going on. Past perf. Pres. perf. X PAST TENSES present t present 1) Past Simple: to talk about past events or states and for telling the main events of a story (narration) 2) Past Cont.: to talk about the background of a story, to describe the scene and the setting of a story. 3) Past Perf. Simple: to go back from the past to events that had happened “earlier.” It shows chronological order. The relation between past simple and past perfect is similar to the relation between present simple/continuous to the present perfect. (By / By the time) By 1990, the Internet had already been used in the US. By the time I phoned her, she had already left the house. Prepared by G. Sezi Coşkuner 4) Past Perf. Cont.: Action continuing over a period up to a specific time in the past Example: She had been saving for a whale year before she bought her ticket to Australia. Past action of certain duration which had visible result in the past Example: He had been shouting so loudly that he had a sore throat. The past perfect continuous is the past equivalent of the present perfect continuous. Example: The party was a great success because he had been preparing for it all week. Example: The party is a great success because he has been preparing for it all week. FUTURE STRUCTURES 1) Will: a- spontaneous/sudden decisions (decision taken at the time of speaking) b- to make predictions and to talk about future event and states. c- to make promises d- in offers NOTE: I think they’ll win / I don’t think they’ll win. I will probably go out tonight. / I probably won’t go out tonight. 2) Will have done (fut. perf.): to make predictions and to talk about things that will already be complete at or before a point of time in the future. (by this time next week etc. …, by the time SVO, by 2055 etc.…) 3) Will have been doing (fut.perf.cont) to talk about how long smt. will have been going on/in progress up to a certain time in the future. 4) Will be doing (fut. cont.): to make predictions and to talk about things which will be in progress at a particular time in the future. (At this time next year, etc.…) 5) Simple Present: to talk about the future events which are a part of a program or timetable. (schedules) 6) Pres. Cont.: to talk about things which are already “arranged” for the future. (arrangements) 7) Going to + V1: a- to talk about future plans and intentions. (decision already taken) b- to make predictions based on evidence. Prepared by G. Sezi Coşkuner VERB TENSE REVIEW A) PRESENT SIMPLE 1) Permanent situations or states Example: She works in a bank. 2) Permanent truths or laws of nature Example: The sun rises in the East. 3) Repeated / habitual actions especially with frequency adverbs Example: He always goes to bed late. 4) Timetables / programmes (future reference) Example: The train leaves at 8:00. B) PRESENT CONTINUOUS 1) Temporary situations Example: He is spending the week with his mother. 2) Changing or developing situations Example: She is getting more and more important. 3) Frequently repeated actions Example: The sun is shining now. 4) Actions happening at or around the moment of speaking Example: He is studying for the exams. 5) Fixed arrangements in the near future Example: I'm going to the theatre this evening. C) PRESENT PERFECT 1) Recently completed actions Example: She has dyed her hair black. 2) Complete past actions connected to the present with or without time reference Example: He has just returned from Paris. 3) Personal experiences / changes which have happened Example: I have lost weight recently 4) Emphasis on number Example: I have read two books so far. Prepared by G. Sezi Coşkuner D) TIME EXPRESSIONS Simple Present everyday, week, month, year, usually, rarely, never, always, in the morning / evening / afternoon, at nights, or Mondays etc. Present Continuous Present Perfect and Continuous now, at the moment, at present, nowadays, today, tonight, always, still just, ever, never, already, yet, always, how long, so far (only with pres. perf. simple) , recently, since, for, in/over the last/past years/decades, lately, to date etc. * when for & since are used with present perfect and continuous, they emphasize duration of action. E) SIMPLE PAST 1) Past actions which happened immediately after the other Example: She woke up, got out of bed and made a cup of tea. 2) Past habit or state Example: He rode his bike to school everyday when he was a child. 3) Complete action or event which happened at a stated past time Example: She sold her car last week. 4) Complete past actions not connected to the present with a state or implied time references Example: Shakespeare wrote at least 36 plays. F) PAST CONTINUOUS 1) Action in the middle of happening at a stated past time Example: This time last week I was traveling across Africa. 2) Past action in progress interrupted by another past action. The longer action is in the past continuous the shorter action in the simple past. Example: I was taking a shower when I heard the telephone ring. 3) Two or more simultaneous actions of certain duration Example: I was washing up while he was drying the dishes 4) Background description to events in a story / narration Example: I was walking along … G) PAST PERFECT 1) Past action which occurred before another action or before that stated past time. Example: By his second day of camp he had made several friends. 2) Complete past action which had visible results in the past Example: She felt much better after she had locked all the doors. 3) The past perfect is the past equivalent of the present perfect Example: The room was empty, everyone had gone out. Example: The room is empty, everyone had gone out. Prepared by G. Sezi Coşkuner H) PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS 1) Action continuing over a period up to a specific time in the past Example: She had been saving for a whale year before she bought her ticket to Australia. 2) Past action of certain duration which had visible result in the past Example: He had been shouting so loudly that he had a sore throat. 3) The past perfect continuous is the past equivalent of the present perfect continuous. Example: The party was a great success because he had been preparing for it all week. Example: The party is a great success because he has been preparing for it all week. I) COMMON TIME EXPRESSIONS Simple Past Past Continuous Past Perfect Past Perfect Continuous ago, yesterday, last week/month/etc., then, just now, when, in 1972 while, when, as, the moment that for, since, already, after, just, never, yet, before, by, by the time + SVO for, since Prepared by G. Sezi Coşkuner
