ENGLISH TENSES

Explanations&

Examples

The Simple Present TenseThe Simple Present Tense

We use the Simple Present as follows:We use the Simple Present as follows:

To talk about things in generalTo talk about things in general To say that something happens all the time To say that something happens all the time

or repeatedlyor repeatedly To talk something is true in generalTo talk something is true in general To say how often we do thingsTo say how often we do things

Examples:Examples:

Nurses look after patients in Nurses look after patients in hospitals.hospitals.

I usually go away at weekends.I usually go away at weekends. The earth goes around the sun.The earth goes around the sun.

The FormulaThe Formula

S + V( _s/es/ies) + O + CS + V( _s/es/ies) + O + C (+)(+) S + DON’T/DOESN’T + V + O + C (-)S + DON’T/DOESN’T + V + O + C (-) DO/DOES + S + V + O + C? (?)DO/DOES + S + V + O + C? (?)

I/ We / They / You + V + O + CI/ We / They / You + V + O + C I/ We / They / You + don’t + V + O + CI/ We / They / You + don’t + V + O + C Do + S + V + O + C?Do + S + V + O + C?

He / She / It + V_s/es/ies + O + CHe / She / It + V_s/es/ies + O + C He / She / It + doesn’t + V + O + CHe / She / It + doesn’t + V + O + C Does + he/she/it + V + O + C?Does + he/she/it + V + O + C? Examples:Examples:

I come from Canada.I come from Canada.What does this word mean?What does this word mean?Rice doesn’t grow in cold climate.Rice doesn’t grow in cold climate.My father reads newspaper every My father reads newspaper every morning.morning.

The Simple Past TenseThe Simple Past Tense

----> The Simple Past is used to talk ----> The Simple Past is used to talk about about activities or situations that activities or situations that began and began and ended in the past.ended in the past.

The FormulaThe Formula

S + V.2 + O + CS + V.2 + O + C (+)(+) S + DIDN’T + V + O + C (-)S + DIDN’T + V + O + C (-) DID + S + V + O + C?DID + S + V + O + C? (?)(?)

I/He/She/It/We/They/You + V.2 + O + CI/He/She/It/We/They/You + V.2 + O + C I/He/She/It/We/They/You + didn’t + V + O + I/He/She/It/We/They/You + didn’t + V + O +

CC Did + I/he/she/it/we/they/you + V + O + C?Did + I/he/she/it/we/they/you + V + O + C?

Examples:Examples:

I slept for eight hours last night.I slept for eight hours last night. Bob didn’t stay home yesterday Bob didn’t stay home yesterday

morning.morning. Last night my friends and I went to Last night my friends and I went to

the cinema.the cinema.

The Present Continuous TenseThe Present Continuous Tense The Present Continuous express an activity that is The Present Continuous express an activity that is

in progress (is occurring, is happening) right now. in progress (is occurring, is happening) right now. The event is in progress at the time the speaker is The event is in progress at the time the speaker is saying the sentence.saying the sentence.

Example: Example: - I’m having lunch at the cafeteria right now.- I’m having lunch at the cafeteria right now.

But, sometimes the event is not necessarily But, sometimes the event is not necessarily happening at the time of speaking.happening at the time of speaking.

Example: Example: -- Some friends of mine are building their own house. Some friends of mine are building their own house.

They hope it will be finished before next They hope it will be finished before next summer.summer.

We use the Present Continuous when We use the Present Continuous when we talk about things happening in a we talk about things happening in a period of time.period of time.

Example:Example:

Azka: “Is Zahra working this week?”Azka: “Is Zahra working this week?”

Syifa: “No, she’s on holiday.”Syifa: “No, she’s on holiday.”

• When we talk about changes happening When we talk about changes happening around now, we also use the Present around now, we also use the Present Continuous.Continuous.

Examples:Examples:The population of the world is rising very The population of the world is rising very fast.fast.

Is your English getting better?Is your English getting better?

The FormulaThe Formula

S + to be + V_ing + O + C (+)S + to be + V_ing + O + C (+) S + to be + not + V-ing + O + C (-)S + to be + not + V-ing + O + C (-) To be + S + V_ing + O + C? (?)To be + S + V_ing + O + C? (?)

To be (Present) = am / is / areTo be (Present) = am / is / are

I + am/am not I + am/am not

He/She/It + is/is not He/She/It + is/is not

We/They/You + are/are notWe/They/You + are/are not

Examples:Examples:

I’m having lunch with my colleagues I’m having lunch with my colleagues now.now.

She is studying French at the She is studying French at the moment.moment.

They aren’t doing their science They aren’t doing their science project right now.project right now.

The Past Continuous TenseThe Past Continuous Tense

Expresses an activity that was in progress Expresses an activity that was in progress (was occurring, was happening) at a point (was occurring, was happening) at a point of time in the past or at the time of of time in the past or at the time of another action.another action.

Examples:Examples:

- - I was sleeping when the phone rang.I was sleeping when the phone rang.

- While I- While I was was doing my homework, he was doing my homework, he was watching TV.watching TV.

To say that somebody was in the middle of To say that somebody was in the middle of doing something at a certain time. The doing something at a certain time. The action or situation had already started action or situation had already started before this time but had not finished.before this time but had not finished.

Examples:Examples:

What were you doing at 10 o’clock last What were you doing at 10 o’clock last night?night?

I waved to her but she wasn’t looking.I waved to her but she wasn’t looking.

The FormulaThe Formula

• S + to be + V_ing + O + C (+)S + to be + V_ing + O + C (+)• S + to be + not + V_ing + O + C (-)S + to be + not + V_ing + O + C (-)• To be + S + V_ing + O + C?To be + S + V_ing + O + C?

To be (Past) = was / wereTo be (Past) = was / were

I/He/She/It + was/was notI/He/She/It + was/was not

We/They/You/ + were/were notWe/They/You/ + were/were not

Examples:Examples:

Last night I was walking home when I Last night I was walking home when I met Dave.met Dave.

Ann was watching television when Ann was watching television when we came yesterday afternoon.we came yesterday afternoon.

Tom wasn’t doing his homework Tom wasn’t doing his homework when I called him last Sunday.when I called him last Sunday.

The Present Perfect TenseThe Present Perfect Tense

►Expresses activities or situations that Expresses activities or situations that occurred (or did not occur) “before occurred (or did not occur) “before now”, at some unspecified time in the now”, at some unspecified time in the past.past.

Examples: Examples:

Jim has already finished studying Jim has already finished studying physics.physics.

She hasn’t had her dinner yet.She hasn’t had her dinner yet.

Expresses activities that were repeated Expresses activities that were repeated several or many times in the past. The several or many times in the past. The exact times are unspecified.exact times are unspecified.

Examples:Examples:- I have visited her five or six times.I have visited her five or six times.- Azka has had three tests so far this week.Azka has had three tests so far this week.- They have written to the committee twice.They have written to the committee twice.

When the Present Perfect is used When the Present Perfect is used with with sincesince or or for, for, it expresses it expresses situations that began in the past and situations that began in the past and continue to the present.continue to the present.

Examples:Examples:

Mr. Avery has lived in London since Mr. Avery has lived in London since 1989.1989.

I have known Ben for twenty years.I have known Ben for twenty years.

The FormulaThe Formula

• S + HAS/HAVE + V.3 + O + C (+)S + HAS/HAVE + V.3 + O + C (+)

• S + HAS/HAVE + NOT + V.3 + O + C (-)S + HAS/HAVE + NOT + V.3 + O + C (-)

• HAS/HAVE + S + V.3 + O + C? (?)HAS/HAVE + S + V.3 + O + C? (?)

He/She/It + has/has notHe/She/It + has/has not

I/We/They/You + have/have notI/We/They/You + have/have not

Examples:Examples:

I have finished my work.I have finished my work.

Jim has had his lunch.Jim has had his lunch.

Have you seen the movie yet?Have you seen the movie yet?

How long has she lived in Bandung?How long has she lived in Bandung?

THE PAST PERFECT TENSETHE PAST PERFECT TENSE

Expresses an activity that occurred before Expresses an activity that occurred before another time in the past.another time in the past.

Example:Example:I was not hungry at 1:00 P.M yesterday. I was not hungry at 1:00 P.M yesterday. I had I had already had lunchalready had lunch..

Expresses an activity that was completed before Expresses an activity that was completed before a particular time in the past.a particular time in the past.

Example;Example;She had already finished workingShe had already finished working when I called when I called her.her.

The FormulaThe Formula

S + HAD + V.3 + O + C (+)S + HAD + V.3 + O + C (+) S + HAD + NOT + V.3 + O + C (-)S + HAD + NOT + V.3 + O + C (-) HAD + S + V.3 + O + C? (?)HAD + S + V.3 + O + C? (?)

- I/She/He/It/We/They/You + had/had not- I/She/He/It/We/They/You + had/had not

Examples:- Paul had already gone home when

Sarah arrived at the party.- Somebody had broken into our flat.- Karen didn’t want to come to the

cinema with us because she had already seen the movie.