PAST PERFECT
Form of the Past Perfect
We form the Past Perfect with had and the past participle (regular verbs: infinitive + -ed; irregular verbs: 3rd column of the table of the irregular verbs)
had + past participle
We use the same form of the auxiliary had every time regardless the subject.
past participle:
- regular verbs: infinitive + -ed
- irregular verbs: 3rd column of the table of the irregular verbs
Affirmative sentences
regular verbs | irregular verbs |
I/you/he/she/it/we/they had played hockey. | I/you/he/she/it/we/they had gone home. |
Negative sentences
regular verbs | irregular verbs |
I/you/he/she/it/we/they had not played hockey. | I/you/he/she/it/we/they had not gone home. |
Questions
regular verbs | irregular verbs |
Had I/you/he/she/it/we/they played hockey? | Had I/you/he/she/it/we/they gone home? |
Past Perfect - Use
1) Together with the Simple Past
When two past actions are combined - the first action, which was completed before the second one began, is put into Past Perfect.
Mary
had read the book before she watched a film.
After Amy
had gone home it started to rain.
2) the past equivalent of the Present Perfect
He
had played hockey.
Besonderheiten
Present Perfect | Past Perfect |
The bike is new. I've bought it. | The bike was new. I had bought it. |
Past Perfect - Simple Past | Simple Past - Simple Past |
The match had started before he arrived. | The match started when he arrived. |
PAST CONTINUOUS
Form of the Past Progressive/Continuous
We use a form of to be (was or were), the infinitive of the verb and the ending –ing.
to be (was, were) + infinitive + -ing
Affirmative sentences:
I/he/she/it was playing football.
We/you/they were playing football.
NOTE: Use was with I, he, she, it -
and were with all other pronouns.
In affirmative sentences we do not use short forms in the Past Progressive.
Negative sentences:
I/he/she/it was not playing football.
We/you/they were not playing football.
We use short forms in the Past Progressive in negative sentences:
I/he/she/it wasn't playing football.
We/you/they weren't playing football.
Questions:
In the Past Progressive we put the auxiliary (was or were) before the subject
(Auxiliary - Subject - Verb - Rest).
Was I/he/she/it playing football?
Were we/you/they playing football?
Past Progressive/Continuous - Use
The Past Progressive is used when we talk about something which was happening at a special time in the past. It is also called Past Continuous. Have a look at the following examples:
1) action was in progress at special time in the past
Peter
was reading a book yesterday evening.
She
was listening to the radio.
2) two actions were happening at the same time (the actions do not influence each other)
Anne
was writing a letter while Steve
was reading the New York Times.
3) together with the Simple Past
While we
were sitting at the breakfast table, the telephone
rang.
Note:
Past Progressive:
were sitting at the table
Simple Past: the telephone
rang.
The action in the Simple Past interrupted the action in the Past Progressive.
4) repeated actions irritating the speaker (with always, constantly, forever)
Andrew
was always
coming in late.
(I don't like it.)
Simple Past:
Andrew always
came late.
(Here I don't give a comment.)
PRESENT PERFECT
Form of the Present Perfect
We form the Present Perfect with have and the past participle
(regular verbs: infinitive + -ed; irregular verbs: 3rd column of the table of the irregular verbs)
have/has + past participle
has: 3rd person singular (he, she, it)
have: all other forms
past participle:
- regular verbs: infinitive + -ed
- irregular verbs: 3rd column of the table of the irregular verbs
Affirmative sentences
regular verbs | irregular verbs |
I/we/you/they have played football. | I/we/you/they have gone to the supermarket. |
He/she/it has played football. | He/she/it has gone to the supermarket. |
NOTE: We use has in the 3rd person singular (he, she, it).
Negative sentences
regular verbs | irregular verbs |
I/we/you/they have not played football. | I/we/you/they have not gone to the supermarket. |
He/she/it has not played football. | He/she/it has not gone to the supermarket. |
NOTE: We use has in the 3rd person singular (he, she, it).
regular verbs | irregular verbs |
Have I/we/you/they playedfootball? | Have I/we/you/they gone to the supermarket? |
Has he/she/it played football? | Has he/she/it gone to the supermarket? |
Questions NOTE: We use has in the 3rd person singular (he, she, it).
Present Perfect - Use
The Present Perfect is not easy to understand for ESL learners. It is a combination of past and present. An actions in the past has something to do with the present.
1) Result of an action in the past is important in the present (It is not important when this action happened. When we use a specific time in the past - e.g. yesterday - then we use the Simple Past.)
I
have cleaned my room.
(It is clean now.)
Has Peggy ever
been to Tokyo?
(Has Peggy been there or not?)
2) Recently completed actions
He
has just
played handball.
(It is over now.)
3) Actions beginning in the past and still continuing - mostly with since (point of time) or for (period of time)
We
have lived in Canada
since 1986. (We still live there.)
4) together with lately, recently, yet
I
have been to London recently.
(no specific point of time)
He
has not written the e-mail yet.
(He has not done it.)
PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS
Form of the Present Perfect Progressive
We form the Present Perfect with have, been and the verb with the ending -ing.
have/has + been + infinitive + -ing
has: 3rd person singular (he, she, it)
have: all other forms
Affirmative sentences
I/we/you/they have been playing volleyball.
He/she/it has been playing volleyball.
NOTE: We use has in the 3rd person singular (he, she, it).
Negative sentences
I/we/you/they have not been playing volleyball.
He/she/it has not been playing volleyball.
NOTE: We use has + not in the 3rd person singular (he, she, it).
Questions
Have I/we/you/they been playing volleyball?
Has he/she/ity been playing volleyball?
NOTE: We use has in the 3rd person singular (he, she, it).
Present Perfect Progressive - Use
The Present Perfect Progressive is not easy to understand for ESL students. It is a combination of past and present where actions in the past have something to do with the present. The focus is not on the result (this is the Present Perfect) but on the action itself.
1) Actions beginning in the past and still continuing (focus is on the action) - mostly with since (point of time) or for (period of time)
I
have been waiting for you for three hours.
(It was a long time.)
2) Recently completed actions (focus is on the action)
She
has been watching too many videos.
(It was too much time.)
PRESENT CONTINUOUSForm of the Present Progressive/Continuous
We use a form of to be (am, are or is), the infinitive of the verb and the ending –ing.
to be (am, are, is) +
infinitive +
-ing
Affirmative sentences:
I
am playing volleyball.
He/she/it
is playing volleyball.
We/you/they
are playing volleyball.
NOTE: Use
am with
I -
is with
he,
she,
it - and
with all other pronouns are.
We often use
short forms in affirmative sentences in the Present Progressive.
Negative sentences:
I
am not playing volleyball.
He/she/it
is not playing volleyball.
We/you/they
are not playing volleyball.
NOTE: We often use
short forms in negative sentences in the Present Progressive.
Questions:
In the Present Progressive we put the auxiliary (am, are or is) before the subject
(Auxiliary - Subject - Verb - Rest).
Am I
playing volleyball?
Is he/she/it
playing volleyball?
Are we/you/they
playing volleyball?
Present Progressive/Continuous - Use
The Present Progressive is used when we talk about something which is happening now. It is also called Present Continuous. Have a look at the following examples:
1) actions happening at the moment of speaking (now, at the moment)
Peter
is reading a book now.
She
’s listening to the radio.
2) fixed plan in the near future
She
is going to Basel on Saturday.
3) temporary actions
His father
is working in Rome this month.
Note:
We do use verbs which express states and are normally not used with the Present Progressive. Watch the difference in meaning.
They
love being together.
(They are not together now.)
They
are loving being together.
(They are together now.)
4) actions happening around the moment of speaking (longer actions)
My friend
is preparing for his exams.
5) trends
More and more people
are using their computers to listen to music.
6) repeated actions which are irritating to the speaker (with always, constantly, forever)
Andrew
is always
coming in late.
(I don't like it.)
Simple Present:
Andrew always
comes late.
(Here I don't give a comment.)
SIMPLE PAST
Form of the Simple Past
Form the Simple Past:
- with regular verbs: infinitive + -ed
- with irregular verbs: 2nd column of the table of the irregular verbs
Affirmative sentences:
Use the same form of the verb every time regardless the subject.
regular verbs | irregular verbs |
I played football. | I went to the supermarket. |
Negative sentences:
Use the auxiliary did (Simple Past of do) every time regardless the subject.
regular verbs | irregular verbs |
I did not play football. | I did not go to the supermarket. |
NOTE: Short forms in negative sentences in the Simple Past are used quite often.
regular verbs | irregular verbs |
I didn't play football. | I didn't go to the supermarket. |
Questions:
Use the auxiliary did (Simple Past of do) every time regardless the subject.
regular verbs | irregular verbs |
Did you play football? | Did I go to the supermarket? |
Simple Past - Use
The Simple Past is used to talk about actions or situations in the past. It is also called Past Simple.
Have a look at the following examples:
1) action finished in the past (single or repeated)
I
visited Berlin last week.
Andrew
watched TV yesterday.
2) series of completed actions in the past
First I
got up, then I
had breakfast.
3) together with the Past Progressive/Continuous - The Simple Past interrupted an action which was in progress in the past.
They
were playing cards when the telephone
rang.
1st action: Past Progressive
were playing
2nd action: Simple Past
rang
SIMPLE PRESENT
Form of the Simple Present
We use the infinitive of the verb. In the 3rd person Singular (he, she, it - or a name) we put an -s at the end of the infinitive.
infinitive - 3rd person Singular (he, she, it) infinitive + -s
Affirmative sentences:
I/we/you/they play football.
He/she/it plays football.
NOTE: he, she, it - Do not forget the -s.
Negative sentences:
We use the auxiliary do.
I/we/you/they do not play football.
He/she/it does not play football.
NOTE: We often use short forms in negative sentences in the Simple Present:
I/we/you/they don't play football.
He/she/it doesn't play football.
Questions:
Do I/we/you/they play football?
Does he/she/it play football?
Simple Present - Use
The Simple Present is frequently used in English. It is also called Present Simple. Have a look at the following examples:
1) repeated actions (every day, always, often, sometimes or never)
My friend often
draws nice posters.
I never
drink milk.
2) things in general
The sun
rises in the East.
3) fixed arrangements, scheduled events (e.g. timetable)
The plane
flies to London every Monday.
4) actions in the present - one follows after the other (first - then, after that)
First I
get up, then I
have breakfast.
5) instructions
Open your books at page 34.
6) after special verbs, which are normally not used with the Present Progressive (These verbs express states, possessions, feelings etc.)
be, believe, belong, hate, hear, like, love, mean, prefer, remain, realize, see, seem, smell, think, understand, want, wish
I
understand English.
He
doesn't like fish.
FUTURE TENSE
Form of the going to-future
We use a form of to be (am, are or is), going to and the infinitive of the verb.
to be (am, are, is) +
going to +
infinitive
Affirmative sentences
Example:
I
am going to play handball.
He/she/it
is going to play handball.
We/you/they
are going to play handball.
NOTE: Use
am with
I,
is with
he,
she,
it and
with all other pronouns are.
We often use
short forms in affirmative sentences in the going to-future:
Negative sentences
Example:
I
am not going to play handball.
He/she/it
is not going to play handball.
We/you/they
are not going to play handball.
NOTE: We often use
short forms in negative sentences in the going to-future.
Questions
In the going to-future we put the auxiliary (am, are or is) before the subject
(Auxiliary - Subject - going to - Verb - Rest).
Example:
Am I
going to play handball?
Is he/she/it
going to play handball?
Are we/you/they
going to play handball?
going to-future - Use
The going to-future is one future tense. There are other future tenses, like the
will-future, the
Present Progressive, the
Future Progressive/Continuous and the
Simple Present.
We use the going to-future:
1) planned actions in the future
We
are going to sing at the party.
They
are going to fly to South Africa.
2) You are certain that sth. is going to happen in the future.
Look at this car! It
is going to crash into the yellow one.
Form of the will-future
We form the will-future with the auxiliary will and the infinitive of the verb.
We use the the same form of the verb every time regardless the subject.
In British English we sometimes use shall instead of will for the first persons (I/we).
will + infinitive
Affirmative sentences
Example:
He will play football.
NOTE: short/contracted form in the will-future:
He'll play football.
Negative sentences
Example:
He will not play football.
NOTE: short/contracted forms in the will-future:
He won't play football. or
He'll not play football.
Questions
Example:
Will he play football?
will-future - Use
The will-future is one future tense. There are other future tenses, like the
going to-future, the
Present Progressive, the
Future Progressive/Continuous and the
Simple Present.
We use the will-future:
1) Future actions happen without the speaker's intention (birthday, weather, etc.)
The sun
will shine tomorrow.
Peter
will be 15 next Tuesday.
2) Predictions, assumptions (I think, I hope, I'm sure, I'm afraid)
I think Sue
will arrive in Paris at 6 pm.
3) Spontaneous actions (not planned)
Hang on! I
'll have a word with you.