VERB TENSES

O’hara Gómez MauramatiMireia Garrigues Rodrigo

Bea Ferrando

PAST TENSES

USED

A completed action in the past.

A short action introduced by "when“.

The temporal expression "ago" is puts behind the time period specified.

FORM

Affirmative

Formed with the regular verb +

the termination –ed.

EXAMPLE I played yesterday

Formed with the irregular verb. EXAMPLE You went

yesterday.

NegativeForm with –did

not (didn’t) + the form the base of

the verb.EXAMPLE

He didn’t (did not) swim yesterday.

Interrogativeputs –did + the subject + with

the verb.EXAMPLE Did they run

yesterday?

Short answers:Puts –did, with the affirmative answer. Yes, we did.

Puts –didn’t (did not) with negative answer. No, she didn’t.

PAST SIMPLE

USED

an incomplete action in

progress at a specific time

the past.

an incomplete action

interrupted by another action

two incomplete actions in

progress at the same time in the

past.

FORM

Affirmative

Past of to be + verb -

ing

EXAMPLE

I was working./ You were playing.

Negative

Add not or n’t, the was or

were.

EXAMPLE

He wasn’t working./ We

weren’t playing.

Interrogative

Was/Were + subject-ing

EXAMPLE

Was she working?/ Were they playing?

PAST CONTINUOUS

USED

A completed action which took place before another action in the

past.

FORM

Affirmative

Formed with the past -have (had)

Ex: She had sang.

Negative

Add "not" or the contraction "n't"

to "had“.

Ex: He had not (hadn’t) sang.

Interrogative

Had + subject

Ex: Had we sang?

PAST PERFECT

USED

An action that began in the past and continues

until the present

An action that took place at an undetermined time in the past

and has importance in the present.

FORM

Affirmativeformed with "have" as auxiliary verb + a verb in participle .

You have spoken./She has

sung.

Negative Add –not or -n’t by have and has.

We haven’t thought. /He hasn’t

broken.

Interrogative Puts –have or –has in front of de subject.

Have they made? / Has it eaten?

PRESENT PERFECT

USED TO

USED

We use “used to” to describe a habit in the past

which is now finished

We don’t use “used to” to talk about present habits.

We don’t use “used to” to talk about

single, completed actions in the past.

FORM

Affirmative

Negative

EX: You used to drink milk.

EX: We didn’t use to read comics.

PRESENT TENSES

PRESENT SIMPLE

USED

A regular habit or routine

I often see my sister at the high

school

A fact The birds fly

Stative verbsMaria thinks the

painting is wonderful

FORM

Affirmative Subject +verb (+ -s/ es), except 3rd person singular.

You walk to school

Interrogatives do(does) + Subject + verb Do you eat fish?

Negative

Subject + don’t/ doesn’t + verb,

except 1st person singular

She doesn’t speak French

PRESENT CONTINUOUS

USED

An action which is happening now

I can’t come out now, we are

having dinner

A temporary action

Maria and I are learning English

this year

A definite plan for the near future

We are going swimming tomorrow

FORM

Affirmative Subject +to be + verb +ing We are playing

Negative Subject + be + not + verb +ing He isn’t running

Interrogative to be + Subject+ verb +ing Are you working?

FUTURE SENTENCES

FUTURE SIMPLE

USED

A prediction EXAMPLE It will snow tomorrow

A timetable EXAMPLE Bill will see his family

A spontaneous

decisionEXAMPLE Wait, I will

help you

FORM

AffirmativeFormed with the auxiliary verb will before the base

of the verb EXAMPLE I will go to

New York

NegativeAddition of not to

will. The contractive form

is won’tEXAMPLE I will not

speak

InterrogativeChance of the

order of will and the subject

EXAMPLE Will you help him later?

FUTURE CONTINUOUS

USED

An action in progress at a certain future

time

EXAMPLE

In June, we will have been living in

this flat for ten years

FORM

Affirmative

Future of to be + verb -ing

I will be working

Negative

Add not ay will

You won’t be going

Interrogative

Will + subject

Will you be dancing?

TO BE GOING TO

A planned action for the future

An action that is about to happen

USED

Affirmative

Negative

Interrogative

FORM

Present of to be + going to + base form of the verb

Negative form of to be

Subject + to be

I'm going to buy a new mobile phone next week

Look at that car! it is going to crash into the lamp post

Are you going to do an exam?

He isn’t going to visit my sister

You are going to the hospital

TO BE GOING TOFORM

Affirmative

Negative

Interrogative

USED

A planned action for the

future

An action that is about

to happen