Tenses

Tenses

• 
• Content:
• 1. Simple present tense
• 2. Present continuous tense (am / is / are + present participle)
• 3. Present perfect tense (has / have + past participle)
• 4. Present perfect continuous tense (has / have + been + present participle)
• 5. Simple past tense
• 6. Past continuous tense (was / were + present participle)
• 7. Past perfect tense (had + past participle)
• 8. Past perfect continuous tense (had + been + present participle)
• 9. Future time (will / shall + base form; am / is / are + going to + base form; will / shall + be + present participle; am / is / are + about to + base form; present continuous tense; simple present tense)
• 10. Present conditional (if ... simple present tense ... , ... will / shall + base form; ... will / shall + base form ... if ... simple present tense)
• 11. Hypothetical conditional (if ... simple past tense ... , ... would + base form of verb; ... would + base form of verb ... if ... simple past tense)
• 12. Past perfect conditional (if ... past perfect tense ... , ... could / would / might + have + past participle; ... could / would / might + have + past participle ... if ... past perfect tense)

Slide 2

• The simple present tense is used when we talk about a statement that is always true.
• For example: The sun rises from the east and sets in the west.
• The simple present tense is used when we talk about habits.
• For example: I borrow a non-fiction book from the library fortnightly.
• The simple present tense is used when we talk about a fact that is true and will be true for some time, but may change in the future.
• For example: I am twelve years old this year.
• The simple present tense is used when we talk about an event or action that happens in the present.
• For example: The crowd cheers as the bride and groom walk down the aisle together.
• The simple present tense is used when we talk about an event or action that has been planned for the future.
• For example: The new Harry Potter movie opens in theatres next week.

Slide 3

• The present continuous tense is formed in the following way:
• am / is / are + present participle (-ing form of the verb)
• The present continuous tense is used when we talk about an action which is going on at the moment of speaking. We often use it with words such as now, at present or at the moment.
• For example: Leena is shopping at the newly opened supermarket now.
• The present continuous tense is used when we talk about a temporary action or situation that is currently true or taking place, although not necessarily at the time of speaking.
• For example: I am attending remedial lessons at the tuition centre.
• The present continuous tense is used when we talk about a habit or something we often do. It is used with adverbs of frequency.
• For example: Alice is always walking around with a book in her hand.
• The present continuous tense is used when we talk about an event or activity that is planned for the future. It is often used with adverbs of time.
• For example: The singer is embarking on a series of concerts next month.

Slide 4

• The present perfect tense is formed in the following way:
• has / have + past participle
• The present perfect tense is used when we talk about an action which began in the past and has continued up to the present.
• For example: Michael has been unwell for three days without any signs of recovery.
• The present perfect tense is used when we talk about a past event with results that can still be observed or felt.
• For example: Sheena has lost her purse and she is extremely upset now.
• The present perfect tense is used when we talk about an experience.
• For example: I have been to Spain and I recommend that you visit it too.
• The present perfect tense is used when we talk about a change that has happened over a period of time.
• For example: The Ministry of Education has become more interested in engaging students in the Arts.
• ​​​​​​​The present perfect tense is used when we talk about an action that occurred at an unknown time.
• ​​​​​​​ For example: The tree has fallen. It is causing a major traffic jam.
• The present perfect tense is used when we talk about an action or event that has occurred several times and may occur again.
• For example: The volcano has erupted twice this year.
• The following are some words that are often used together with the present perfect tense:
• Since: Edlyn has been a social worker since 2000.
• For: Huimin has gone to Beijing for a month.
• Just: Siti has just finished her homework.
• Before: My brother has skydived before.
• Ever: Have you ever eaten blue cheese?
• Never: I have never played truant.
• Recently / lately: I have not seen Amanda lately. I wonder what she is up to recently.
• So far / up to now: It has been a few days but Melissa is still doing her word search up to now.
• Yet: Veronica has not finished her breakfast yet.
• Already: I have already tidied up my room.
• Really: My command of the English language has really improved since I moved to Australia.

Slide 5

• The present perfect continuous tense is formed in the following way:
• has / have + been + present participle (-ing form of the verb)
• The present perfect continuous tense is used when we talk about a past action that has just stopped. It usually results in an effect on the present.
• For example: Cain is perspiring profusely because he has been running.
• The present perfect continuous tense is used when we talk about a past action that is still continuing.
• For example: They have been arguing for an hour and are still unable to resolve their conflict.
• ​​​​​​​

Slide 6

• The simple past tense is used when we talk about a past action or event.
• For example: I watched a horror movie last night and regretted it.
• The simple past tense is used when we talk about a past habit or something that was often done.
• For example: When we were young, my sister and I fought all the time.
• The simple past tense is used after the verb 'wish' when expressing regret.
• For example: I wish you were here to view the magnificent sunset with me.

Slide 7

• The past continuous tense is formed in the following way:
• was / were + present participle (-ing form of the verb)
• The past continuous tense is used when we talk about an action that was going on in the past.
• For example: The children were swimming in the pool earlier this afternoon.
• The past continuous tense is used when we talk about a past action that was still going on when a second action took place. The second action is expressed in the simple past tense. We usually use words like 'while' and 'when' in these sentences.
• For example: When the avalanche began, many people were skiing down the mountain.

Slide 8

• The past perfect tense is formed in the following way:
• had + past participle
• The past perfect tense is used when we talk about a past action that was completed before a second past action took place. the second past action is expressed in the simple past tense.
• For example: Salim had bought some popcorn before he entered the cinema.

Slide 9

• The past perfect continuous tense is formed in the following way:
• had + been + present participle (verb in -ing form)
• The past perfect continuous tense is used when we talk about an action that began in the past and continued up until a second action took place in the past. The second action is expressed in the simple past tense.
• For example: I had been waiting for two hours before Nina finally arrived.

Slide 10

• The future time is used to refer to actions and events that have not happened yet but will probably take place in the future. We can express the future time using the simple future tense to talk about something that would happen soon. The simple future tense is formed in the following way:
• will / shall + base form of verb
• For example: He will retire from his post next month and we wish him all the best.
• We can express the future time using the expression 'going to' to talk about an intended action. It is formed in the following way:
• am / is / are + going to + base form of verb
• For example: I am going to further my studies in Canada this June.
• We can express the future time using the future continuous tense when we plan to do something. The future continuous tense is formed in the following way:
• will / shall + be + present participle (verb in -ing) form
• For example: I will be speaking to Jim about this serious matter.
• We can express the future time using the expression 'about to' to talk about an action that will take place in the very near future. It is formed in the following way:
• am / is / are + about to + base form of verb
• For example: Miss Tay is about to scold us for the mischief that we had caused.
• We can express the future time using the present continuous tense to talk about things that we have planned or arranged to do in the future.
• For example: The scientists are launching the test rocket tomorrow morning.
• We can express the future ime using the simple present tense to talk about an unalterable event or plan.
• For example: The plane leaves punctually at seven o'clock in the morning.

Slide 11

• The present conditional is used in conditional sentences which express what one would do or the consequences in a situation that is likely to happen. The present conditional is formed in the following way:
• If ... simple present tense ... , ... will / shall + base form of verb
• For example: If I cannot catch the bus, I will take a taxi.
• The present conditional is also formed in the following way:
• ... will / shall + base form of verb ... if ... simple present tense
• For example: You will recover faster if you rest more at home.

Slide 12

• The hypothetical condition is used in conditional sentences which express what one would do in an imaginary situation that is unlikely to happen. The hypothetical condition is formed in the following way:
• If ... simple past tense ... , ... would + base form of verb
• For example: If Gerald had a choice, he would choose to stay at home.
• The hypothetical condition is also formed in the following way:
• ... would + base form of verb ... if ... simple past tense
• For example: Geralf would go for the audition too if he were able to sing as well as you.

Slide 13

• The past perfect conditional is used in conditional sentences to talk about an imagined past situation that could have happened but did not take place. The past perfect conditional is formed in the following way:
• If ... past perfect tense ... , ... could / would / might + have + past participle
• For example: If Rebekah had learnt ballet from young, she could have become a world-class ballerina.
• The past perfect conditional is also formed in the following way:​​​​​​​
• ... could / would / might + have + past participle ... if ... past perfect tense
• For example: Clarence might not have misunderstood you if you had spoken more clearly.