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english tenses
Posted by satriawaty
at 07:49 PM on April 02, 2009
|
Present Simple
Positive sentences
Subject + Verb
I/a dog etc. work/go/make
Examples Use
• A dog is an animal (Use 1)
• I learn English twice a week (Use 2)
• I have two eggs (Use 4)
• The course starts in April (Use 5)
• I come from Basil (Use 3)
•
Questions (interrogative sentences):
Auxiliary Verb + Subject + Verb
do/does I/a dog etc. work/go/make
Examples Use
• Does Mike often play tennis? (Use 2)
• Do you know who my friend is? (Use 3)
• Is China in Europe? (Use 1)
• What do you do? (what's your occupation?) (Use 3)
Negative sentences:
Subject + Auxiliary verb+not + Verb
I/a dog etc. don't/doesn't/do not work/go/make
Examples Use
• They don't live in New York anymore (Use 3)
• I don't like winter (Use 4)
• They don't live in New York anymore (Use 3)
• He doesn't go to the cinema at all (Use 2)
Present Continuous
Positive sentences:
Subject + Auxiliary verb + Verb + ing
I/a dog etc. is/are going/taking
Examples Use
• He is getting married this month (Use 2)
• They are swimming in the sea (Use 1)
• I'm having my first driving lesson this week (Use 2)
• I'm drinking hot coffee now (Use 1)
I'm having a shower now (Use 1)
Questions (interrogative sentences):
Auxiliary verb + Subject + Verb + ing
is/are I/a dog etc. going/taking
Examples Use
• Is she eating my cake now? (Use 1)
• Are they having the party on Friday or Saturday? (Use 2)
• Are you meeting David today? (Use 2)
• Is Mary having breakfast now? (Use 1)
Negative sentences:
Subject + Auxiliary verb+not + Verb + ing
I/a dog etc. isn't/aren't going/taking
Examples Use
• He is not joking (Use 1)
• We aren't waiting for my uncle (Use 1)
• He is not going to school tomorrow (Use 2)
Present Perfect Continuous
Positive sentences:
Subject + Auxiliary verb + Auxiliary verb + Verb + ing
I/a dog etc. has/have been swimming etc.
Examples Use
• She's (=she HAS) been crying in her room for half an hour now (Use 1)
• We've been waiting for a good offer to buy a car since March (Use 1)
• I've been waiting for you to come (but now you're back!) (Use 2)
Questions (interrogative sentences):
Auxiliary verb + Subject + Auxiliary verb + Verb + ing
has/have I/a dog/ a man etc. been swimming etc.
Examples Use
• Have you been running? (Use 2)
• Has Tom been walking the dog? (Use 2)
• How long have you been learning English? (Use 1)
Q: What have you been doing there?
A: I've been eating (Use 1 or Use 2)
Negative sentences:
Subject + Auxiliary verb + not + Auxiliary verb + Verb + ing
I/a dog, a womanetc. hasn't / haven't been swimming, going etc.
Examples Use
• I haven't been sleeping very well recently (Use 1)
• I haven't been waiting for 50 minutes (Use 2)
• John hasn't been using his A drive for a long time (Use 1)
Present Perfect
Positive sentences:
Subject + Auxiliary verb + Past participle
I/a dog etc. has/have slept/gone etc.
Examples
Use
• We have already had breakfast (Use 1)
• I have bought new shades (Use 2)
• I have already been to Paris (Use 1)
• John has been a plumber for 2 years (Use 3)
• Someone has taken my bag (Use 1,2)
He has been our most serious partner for so long that I can assure you he's a very decent man (Use 3)
Questions (interrogative sentences):
Auxiliary verb + Subject + Past participle
has/have I/a dog etc. slept/gone etc.
Examples Use
• Have you ever seen this program? (Use 1)
• Where has she lived for the past 21 years? (Use 3)
• Have you found the telephone number? (Use 1,2)
• Have you ever been to France? (Use 1)
• Someone has taken my bag (Use 1,2 )
Negative sentences:
Subject + Auxiliary verb+not + Past participle
I/a dog etc. hasn't/haven't slept/gone etc.
Examples Use
• Jane has never been so angry (Use 3)
• He hasn't taken any drug for two years (Use 3)
• I haven't ever thought you will pass that test! (Use 2)
Past Simple
Positive sentences:
Subject + Verb + ed or an irregular form
I/a dog etc. worked/went/saw
He entered a room, lit a cigarette and smiled at the guests. (Use 3)
Mary tried the soup but it was too hot to eat. (Use 1)
I lived in New York for 10 years (I don't live there anymore) (Use 2)
They saw us playing football. (Use 1)
He married a woman who lived in the same villiage. (Use 1)
Questions (interrogative sentences):
Auxiliary verb + Subject + Verb
did I/a cat/me and my bother go/take
How long did he work there? (Use 2 or Use 1)
Did the telephone ring? (Use 1)
Did you see that? (Use 1)
Negative sentences:
Subject + Auxiliary verb + Verb
I/a cat etc. didn't go/take
He didn't learn any Italian when he was in Italy two year ago (Use 2)
I wasn't at my grandma's when you came (Use 1)
He didn't get any good grades when he attended school (Use 3)
Past Continuous
Positive sentences:
Subject + Auxiliary verb + Verb + ing
I/a dog etc. was/were going/taking
At 3 p.m., I was having lunch (Use 1)
(the lunch started earlier than 3 p.m.)
They were talking about her when she walked into the room. (Use 2)
While Kenneth was cleaning the living room, Sam was washing the dishes. (Use 3)
We were all thinking about our holidays. (Use 1)
Shannon was filling in a questionnaire when the pen ran out of ink. (Use 2)
Questions (interrogative sentences):
Auxiliary verb + Subject + Verb + ing
was/were I/a dog etc. going/taking
Was she going to the theater when it started raining? (Use 2)
What were the defenders doing when Kenneth struck the ball? (Use 2)
Were you painting your house yesterday at 5 p.m.? (Use 1)
Was Mary shopping when the mall was burning ? (Use 3)
Negative sentences:
Subject + Auxiliary verb + not + Verb + ing
I/a dog etc. wasn't/weren't going/taking
He asked me why I wasn't having dinner at the hotel. (Use 1)
we weren't playing football when the earthquake began. (Use 2)
Past Perfect Continuous
Positive sentences:
Subject + Auxiliary verb + Auxiliary verb + Verb + ing
I/a dog etc. had been eating/swimming, etc.
I had been running for an hour when it started raining. (Use 1)
Mary said she had never been swimming so much in one day. (Use 2b)
Kathy put on weight because she had been eating too much sugar (Use 1)
When I saw him I knew that he had been training. (Use 1)
Questions (interrogative sentences):
Auxiliary verb + Subject + Auxiliary verb + Verb + ing
Had I/a dog etc. been eating/swimming, etc.
For how many hours had Fred been painting the house when the ladder fell? (Use 1)
How long had the player been playing before he scored? (Use 1)
Negative sentences:
Subject + Auxiliary verb + not + Auxiliary verb + Verb + ing
I/a dog /Mary, etc. hadn't been going/swimming, etc.
He said he wasn't tired because he hadn't been preparing his car. (Use 2b)
If it hadn't been raining, we would have played football. (Use 2a)
Had I not been studying all night, I would have problems with this test now. (Use 2a)
Past Perfect
Positive sentences:
Subject + Auxiliary verb + Past participle
I/a dog etc. had eaten/given/gone
When we arrived, the concert had already finished. (Use 1)
It had got/gotten worse before it got better. (Use 1)
By the time I watched my favorite program, I had drunk a cup of beer. (Use 1)
If I hadn't taken my keys from the drawer, I would be unable to get into my house. (Use 2a)
My mum asked me whether I had visited grandma the previous day. (Use 2b)
By the time I got to the market, most of the stalls had already been closed. (Use 1)
I wish I had taken more food with me (Use 3)
Questions (interrogative sentences):
Auxiliary verb + Subject + Past participle
had I/a dog etc. eaten/given/gone
Had he known some words before he started learning English?
Had they had any pet before they bought the giraffe?
Negative sentences:
Subject + Auxiliary verb + not + Past participle
I/a dog etc. hadn't/ had not eaten/given/gone
I hadn't seen Berlin before I flew there in the summer.
He said Mr. Johnson hadn't mowed the lawn (Use 2b)
Brenda didn't call me before her plane had landed.
Future Simple
Positive sentences:
Subject + Auxiliary verb + Verb
I/a dog etc. will go/take etc.
• I think he will regret his choice. (Use 3)
• I will come back at 10 p.m. (Use 1)
• If you will keep your watch half an hour slow it is hardly surprising that you are late for your appointments. (Use 4)
• John will keep dropping his towel on the floor after a bath. (Use 4)
• I will go to Mary (Use 1)
(the speaker decided to go to Mary in the moment of speaking.)
• Let's buy the snacks at the supermarket - they will be cheaper (Use 3)
Questions (interrogative sentences):
Auxiliary verb + Subject + Verb
will I/a dog etc. go/take etc.
• Will he be surprised when he sees me? (Use 3)
• Will Mark be able to do the shopping before 10 a.m.? (Use 3)
Negative sentences:
Subject + Auxiliary verb + not + Verb
I/a dog etc. will not/won't go/take etc.
• I won't take any equipment with me. (Use 2)
• I'm sorry I won't be able to help you with your English today. (Use 2)
Future Continuous
Positive sentences:
Subject + Auxiliary verb + Auxiliary verb + Verb + ing
I/you/we etc. will be sleeping/taking
In positive sentences we use the contracted form of will ('ll).
She'll be having a bath when I'm back home. (Use 1)
Tomorrow at nine, I will be hosing off (=washing with a hose) my car. (Use 1)
This time next week, I will be throwing a party. (Use 1)
I'll be watching TV when my mother arrives. (Use 1)
They will be getting home just about now. (Use 2)
Questions (interrogative sentences):
Auxiliary verb + Subject + Auxiliary verb + Verb + ing ?
will I/you/we etc. be dancing/taking
Will she be cooking when we knock at the door? (Use 1)
Will Mark be playing football at 6 p.m.? (Use 1)
Will you be using the screwdriver? (Use 3)
Negative sentences:
Subject + Auxiliary verb + Auxiliary verb + Verb + ing
I/you/we etc. won't be trying/taking
In negative sentences we use the contracted form of will not (won't).
We won't be having supper tomorrow before 8 o'clock. (Use 1)
I won't be learning English tomorrow at this time. (Use 1)
John won't be sleeping now (= I think John isn't sleeping now) (Use 2)
Future Perfect Continuous
Positive sentences:
We will have been driving 6 hours by the time we get home.
In the summer Mike will have been trying to find a new job for five months.
Jane will be very tired when she comes home, because she will have been flying over 24 hours.
My father and I will have been breeding sheep for 20 years tomorrow.
By the year 2020, linguists will have been studying and defining the Indo-European language family for more than 200 years.
Subject + Auxiliary verb + Auxiliary verb + Auxiliary verb + Present participle
I/a dog etc. will have been going, doing (verb + ing)
Negative sentences:
Subject + Auxiliary verb + Auxiliary verb + Auxiliary verb + Present participle
I/a dog etc. won't have been going, doing (verb + ing)
She won't have been writing the book for four months by the end of October.
Negative sentences seem to sound somewhat unnatural. Probably because the answer to a question like, "Will she have been teaching for 30 years this year?", would simply be, "No, I don't think so".
Questions (interrogative sentences):
Auxiliary verb + Subject + Auxiliary verb + Auxiliary verb + Present participle ?
Will I/a dog etc. have been going, doing (verb + ing)
Will he have been writing the composition for a month by the end of February?
Questions beginning with "how long" are more common:
How long will you have been learning German this year?
How long will you have been trying to get your driving license this week? I hope you'll finally make it!
Future Perfect
Positive sentences:
Subject + Auxiliary verb + Auxiliary verb + Past participle
I/a dog etc. will have gone, seen, etc.
They will have graduated from from Cambridge by July 2009.
I will have retired by the end of the year.
I read 40 pages a day. If I keep up the pace, I will have read the book by Tuesday.
Questions (interrogative sentences):
Auxiliary verb + Subject + Auxiliary verb + Past participle ?
will I/a dog etc. have gone, seen, etc.
Will they have graduated from Cambridge by July 2009?
Will I have retired by the end of the year?
Will you have bought a new processor by the end of this week?
Negative sentences:
Subject + Auxiliary verb + Auxiliary verb + Past participle
I/a dog etc. won't have gone, seen, etc.
They won't have graduated from from Cambridge by July 2009.
My uncle won't have retired by the end of the year.
Positive sentences
Subject + Verb
I/a dog etc. work/go/make
Examples Use
• A dog is an animal (Use 1)
• I learn English twice a week (Use 2)
• I have two eggs (Use 4)
• The course starts in April (Use 5)
• I come from Basil (Use 3)
•
Questions (interrogative sentences):
Auxiliary Verb + Subject + Verb
do/does I/a dog etc. work/go/make
Examples Use
• Does Mike often play tennis? (Use 2)
• Do you know who my friend is? (Use 3)
• Is China in Europe? (Use 1)
• What do you do? (what's your occupation?) (Use 3)
Negative sentences:
Subject + Auxiliary verb+not + Verb
I/a dog etc. don't/doesn't/do not work/go/make
Examples Use
• They don't live in New York anymore (Use 3)
• I don't like winter (Use 4)
• They don't live in New York anymore (Use 3)
• He doesn't go to the cinema at all (Use 2)
Present Continuous
Positive sentences:
Subject + Auxiliary verb + Verb + ing
I/a dog etc. is/are going/taking
Examples Use
• He is getting married this month (Use 2)
• They are swimming in the sea (Use 1)
• I'm having my first driving lesson this week (Use 2)
• I'm drinking hot coffee now (Use 1)
I'm having a shower now (Use 1)
Questions (interrogative sentences):
Auxiliary verb + Subject + Verb + ing
is/are I/a dog etc. going/taking
Examples Use
• Is she eating my cake now? (Use 1)
• Are they having the party on Friday or Saturday? (Use 2)
• Are you meeting David today? (Use 2)
• Is Mary having breakfast now? (Use 1)
Negative sentences:
Subject + Auxiliary verb+not + Verb + ing
I/a dog etc. isn't/aren't going/taking
Examples Use
• He is not joking (Use 1)
• We aren't waiting for my uncle (Use 1)
• He is not going to school tomorrow (Use 2)
Present Perfect Continuous
Positive sentences:
Subject + Auxiliary verb + Auxiliary verb + Verb + ing
I/a dog etc. has/have been swimming etc.
Examples Use
• She's (=she HAS) been crying in her room for half an hour now (Use 1)
• We've been waiting for a good offer to buy a car since March (Use 1)
• I've been waiting for you to come (but now you're back!) (Use 2)
Questions (interrogative sentences):
Auxiliary verb + Subject + Auxiliary verb + Verb + ing
has/have I/a dog/ a man etc. been swimming etc.
Examples Use
• Have you been running? (Use 2)
• Has Tom been walking the dog? (Use 2)
• How long have you been learning English? (Use 1)
Q: What have you been doing there?
A: I've been eating (Use 1 or Use 2)
Negative sentences:
Subject + Auxiliary verb + not + Auxiliary verb + Verb + ing
I/a dog, a womanetc. hasn't / haven't been swimming, going etc.
Examples Use
• I haven't been sleeping very well recently (Use 1)
• I haven't been waiting for 50 minutes (Use 2)
• John hasn't been using his A drive for a long time (Use 1)
Present Perfect
Positive sentences:
Subject + Auxiliary verb + Past participle
I/a dog etc. has/have slept/gone etc.
Examples
Use
• We have already had breakfast (Use 1)
• I have bought new shades (Use 2)
• I have already been to Paris (Use 1)
• John has been a plumber for 2 years (Use 3)
• Someone has taken my bag (Use 1,2)
He has been our most serious partner for so long that I can assure you he's a very decent man (Use 3)
Questions (interrogative sentences):
Auxiliary verb + Subject + Past participle
has/have I/a dog etc. slept/gone etc.
Examples Use
• Have you ever seen this program? (Use 1)
• Where has she lived for the past 21 years? (Use 3)
• Have you found the telephone number? (Use 1,2)
• Have you ever been to France? (Use 1)
• Someone has taken my bag (Use 1,2 )
Negative sentences:
Subject + Auxiliary verb+not + Past participle
I/a dog etc. hasn't/haven't slept/gone etc.
Examples Use
• Jane has never been so angry (Use 3)
• He hasn't taken any drug for two years (Use 3)
• I haven't ever thought you will pass that test! (Use 2)
Past Simple
Positive sentences:
Subject + Verb + ed or an irregular form
I/a dog etc. worked/went/saw
He entered a room, lit a cigarette and smiled at the guests. (Use 3)
Mary tried the soup but it was too hot to eat. (Use 1)
I lived in New York for 10 years (I don't live there anymore) (Use 2)
They saw us playing football. (Use 1)
He married a woman who lived in the same villiage. (Use 1)
Questions (interrogative sentences):
Auxiliary verb + Subject + Verb
did I/a cat/me and my bother go/take
How long did he work there? (Use 2 or Use 1)
Did the telephone ring? (Use 1)
Did you see that? (Use 1)
Negative sentences:
Subject + Auxiliary verb + Verb
I/a cat etc. didn't go/take
He didn't learn any Italian when he was in Italy two year ago (Use 2)
I wasn't at my grandma's when you came (Use 1)
He didn't get any good grades when he attended school (Use 3)
Past Continuous
Positive sentences:
Subject + Auxiliary verb + Verb + ing
I/a dog etc. was/were going/taking
At 3 p.m., I was having lunch (Use 1)
(the lunch started earlier than 3 p.m.)
They were talking about her when she walked into the room. (Use 2)
While Kenneth was cleaning the living room, Sam was washing the dishes. (Use 3)
We were all thinking about our holidays. (Use 1)
Shannon was filling in a questionnaire when the pen ran out of ink. (Use 2)
Questions (interrogative sentences):
Auxiliary verb + Subject + Verb + ing
was/were I/a dog etc. going/taking
Was she going to the theater when it started raining? (Use 2)
What were the defenders doing when Kenneth struck the ball? (Use 2)
Were you painting your house yesterday at 5 p.m.? (Use 1)
Was Mary shopping when the mall was burning ? (Use 3)
Negative sentences:
Subject + Auxiliary verb + not + Verb + ing
I/a dog etc. wasn't/weren't going/taking
He asked me why I wasn't having dinner at the hotel. (Use 1)
we weren't playing football when the earthquake began. (Use 2)
Past Perfect Continuous
Positive sentences:
Subject + Auxiliary verb + Auxiliary verb + Verb + ing
I/a dog etc. had been eating/swimming, etc.
I had been running for an hour when it started raining. (Use 1)
Mary said she had never been swimming so much in one day. (Use 2b)
Kathy put on weight because she had been eating too much sugar (Use 1)
When I saw him I knew that he had been training. (Use 1)
Questions (interrogative sentences):
Auxiliary verb + Subject + Auxiliary verb + Verb + ing
Had I/a dog etc. been eating/swimming, etc.
For how many hours had Fred been painting the house when the ladder fell? (Use 1)
How long had the player been playing before he scored? (Use 1)
Negative sentences:
Subject + Auxiliary verb + not + Auxiliary verb + Verb + ing
I/a dog /Mary, etc. hadn't been going/swimming, etc.
He said he wasn't tired because he hadn't been preparing his car. (Use 2b)
If it hadn't been raining, we would have played football. (Use 2a)
Had I not been studying all night, I would have problems with this test now. (Use 2a)
Past Perfect
Positive sentences:
Subject + Auxiliary verb + Past participle
I/a dog etc. had eaten/given/gone
When we arrived, the concert had already finished. (Use 1)
It had got/gotten worse before it got better. (Use 1)
By the time I watched my favorite program, I had drunk a cup of beer. (Use 1)
If I hadn't taken my keys from the drawer, I would be unable to get into my house. (Use 2a)
My mum asked me whether I had visited grandma the previous day. (Use 2b)
By the time I got to the market, most of the stalls had already been closed. (Use 1)
I wish I had taken more food with me (Use 3)
Questions (interrogative sentences):
Auxiliary verb + Subject + Past participle
had I/a dog etc. eaten/given/gone
Had he known some words before he started learning English?
Had they had any pet before they bought the giraffe?
Negative sentences:
Subject + Auxiliary verb + not + Past participle
I/a dog etc. hadn't/ had not eaten/given/gone
I hadn't seen Berlin before I flew there in the summer.
He said Mr. Johnson hadn't mowed the lawn (Use 2b)
Brenda didn't call me before her plane had landed.
Future Simple
Positive sentences:
Subject + Auxiliary verb + Verb
I/a dog etc. will go/take etc.
• I think he will regret his choice. (Use 3)
• I will come back at 10 p.m. (Use 1)
• If you will keep your watch half an hour slow it is hardly surprising that you are late for your appointments. (Use 4)
• John will keep dropping his towel on the floor after a bath. (Use 4)
• I will go to Mary (Use 1)
(the speaker decided to go to Mary in the moment of speaking.)
• Let's buy the snacks at the supermarket - they will be cheaper (Use 3)
Questions (interrogative sentences):
Auxiliary verb + Subject + Verb
will I/a dog etc. go/take etc.
• Will he be surprised when he sees me? (Use 3)
• Will Mark be able to do the shopping before 10 a.m.? (Use 3)
Negative sentences:
Subject + Auxiliary verb + not + Verb
I/a dog etc. will not/won't go/take etc.
• I won't take any equipment with me. (Use 2)
• I'm sorry I won't be able to help you with your English today. (Use 2)
Future Continuous
Positive sentences:
Subject + Auxiliary verb + Auxiliary verb + Verb + ing
I/you/we etc. will be sleeping/taking
In positive sentences we use the contracted form of will ('ll).
She'll be having a bath when I'm back home. (Use 1)
Tomorrow at nine, I will be hosing off (=washing with a hose) my car. (Use 1)
This time next week, I will be throwing a party. (Use 1)
I'll be watching TV when my mother arrives. (Use 1)
They will be getting home just about now. (Use 2)
Questions (interrogative sentences):
Auxiliary verb + Subject + Auxiliary verb + Verb + ing ?
will I/you/we etc. be dancing/taking
Will she be cooking when we knock at the door? (Use 1)
Will Mark be playing football at 6 p.m.? (Use 1)
Will you be using the screwdriver? (Use 3)
Negative sentences:
Subject + Auxiliary verb + Auxiliary verb + Verb + ing
I/you/we etc. won't be trying/taking
In negative sentences we use the contracted form of will not (won't).
We won't be having supper tomorrow before 8 o'clock. (Use 1)
I won't be learning English tomorrow at this time. (Use 1)
John won't be sleeping now (= I think John isn't sleeping now) (Use 2)
Future Perfect Continuous
Positive sentences:
We will have been driving 6 hours by the time we get home.
In the summer Mike will have been trying to find a new job for five months.
Jane will be very tired when she comes home, because she will have been flying over 24 hours.
My father and I will have been breeding sheep for 20 years tomorrow.
By the year 2020, linguists will have been studying and defining the Indo-European language family for more than 200 years.
Subject + Auxiliary verb + Auxiliary verb + Auxiliary verb + Present participle
I/a dog etc. will have been going, doing (verb + ing)
Negative sentences:
Subject + Auxiliary verb + Auxiliary verb + Auxiliary verb + Present participle
I/a dog etc. won't have been going, doing (verb + ing)
She won't have been writing the book for four months by the end of October.
Negative sentences seem to sound somewhat unnatural. Probably because the answer to a question like, "Will she have been teaching for 30 years this year?", would simply be, "No, I don't think so".
Questions (interrogative sentences):
Auxiliary verb + Subject + Auxiliary verb + Auxiliary verb + Present participle ?
Will I/a dog etc. have been going, doing (verb + ing)
Will he have been writing the composition for a month by the end of February?
Questions beginning with "how long" are more common:
How long will you have been learning German this year?
How long will you have been trying to get your driving license this week? I hope you'll finally make it!
Future Perfect
Positive sentences:
Subject + Auxiliary verb + Auxiliary verb + Past participle
I/a dog etc. will have gone, seen, etc.
They will have graduated from from Cambridge by July 2009.
I will have retired by the end of the year.
I read 40 pages a day. If I keep up the pace, I will have read the book by Tuesday.
Questions (interrogative sentences):
Auxiliary verb + Subject + Auxiliary verb + Past participle ?
will I/a dog etc. have gone, seen, etc.
Will they have graduated from Cambridge by July 2009?
Will I have retired by the end of the year?
Will you have bought a new processor by the end of this week?
Negative sentences:
Subject + Auxiliary verb + Auxiliary verb + Past participle
I/a dog etc. won't have gone, seen, etc.
They won't have graduated from from Cambridge by July 2009.
My uncle won't have retired by the end of the year.
Categories: None
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