TENSES

 TENSES

1. FORMS OF VERBS :
   

V1	V2	V3	V1-ing	V (s/es)
do	did	done	doing	does
work	worked	worked	working	works
cut	cut	cut	cutting	cuts
study	studied	studied	studying	studies

 Note : Look up the irregular verbs at your dictionary.

2. TENSES

 2.1.          SIMPLE PRESENT

2.1.1.Pattern :

(+) S + V1(-s/-es)

(-) S + do/does + not + V1

(?) Do/Does + S + V1?

e.g.          The wind blows quite hard.

The wind does not blow quite hard

Does the wind blow quite hard?

Yes, it does / No, it doesn’t

2.1.2.       The uses of Present Simple :

2.1.2.1. to express present habitual action

   time signal: every (day, week… etc.), once a  (week, month, … etc.),  always,etc.

e.g.          The milkman comes at 5.30 am every morning.

The students get an English lesson four times a week.

2.1.2.2.   to express general truth

e.g.        Water freezes at 0⁰ centigrade.

Every creature needs love.

2.1.2.3. to  express feelings, condition or states, etc. in  present

e.g.          We hate his behavior.

I’m hungry.

He knows many languages.

2.1.2.4. to express the future time which is related to a timetable (as in the one at the airport ,  railway station, theater, or movie)

e.g.          The plane leaves from Surabaya at three o’clock so we must hurry now.

The “Psycho” begins at 18.00 and 21.30.

2.2. PRESENT CONTINUOUS

2.2.1. Pattern :

(+) S + is/am/are + V1-ing (-) S + is/am/are + not + V1-ing (?) Is/Am/Are + S + V1-ing?

e.g.          The astronomers are trying to discover the new galaxy.

The  astronomers aren’t trying to discover the new  galaxy.

Are the astronomers trying to discover the new galaxy ?

Yes, they are / No, they are not

2.2.2.       The uses of Present Continuous :

2.2.2.1. to express the activity that is in progress at  the moment of speaking

   Time signal : now, right now, at this moment

e.g.          He is feeding those animals right now.

All students aren’t having final test at this moment.

2.2.2.2. to  express the activity that is in  progress  but  not necessarily at the moment of speaking. The subject may be doing something else. The action that is mentioned in the sentence shows that it is still in progress within the period of  time.

   Time signal: this (afternoon, week…etc.) , today.

e.g.          The  professor  is  having a  research  on  the  new  theory this month.

(This sentence means that he isn’t in his library now and may be doing something else which doesn’t have any relation to his research.)

   The members of the committee are preparing the band festival this week.

(The action of preparing is only done after the school over, and they may be in class now)

2.2.2.3.   to express an event which has been planned for the future ( see also: Present future continuous)

e.g.          We are visiting the Borobudur temple then.

The speaker is speaking about the effect of the drugs after this.

The guests are having lunch in 10 minutes.

2.2.2.4.   with linking verbs to show a present change of condition :

e.g.          It is growing dark.

He is getting weaker and weaker.

2.2.3. Verbs that can’t be used in continuous tense :

2.2.3.1    Verbs of senses : feel, hear, smell, see, taste.

e.g.          This food tastes very delicious.  (= its taste is very delicious)

 BUT, compare these :

This food tastes very delicious (  in simple tenses)

Everyone is tasting it.  ( can be in continuous tenses. It means an action of tasting the food. The verb can be used in progressive tense)

I saw someone talking to the headmaster when I passed by his office. (This sentence means I didn’t look at him. It was only at a glance)

I was seeing my sick friend when I met him (see = visit, so it can be in  progressive tense)

This room smells bad .  (= the smell of this room is bad)

The researchers are smelling what gas in this hole is. (= an action of smelling and the verb can be in progressive tense)

The maid heard some persons arguing upstairs last night. (This sentence means she didn’t try to listen to it. It was only a coincidence)

Many people are hearing the judge’s decision in a court seriously. (it is formal situation and the verb can be used in progressive tense)

2.2.3.2. Verbs of possession  :  have, posses, belong to, own.

e.g.          Who owns this beautiful car?

Everyone has special characteristics.

This boutique belongs to the most designer in this town.

He possess everything by struggling!

2.2.3.3.   Verbs  which express feelings or emotions : adore,  wish, fear, appreciate, hate, like, love, etc.

 e.g.          We appreciate your great attention.

I hate hot weather.

2.2.3.4.Verbs  of mental activity : agree, believe, expect,  feel (= think, have opinion), forget, know, mean, realize, recognize, see(= understand), remember, trust, etc.

e.g.          They understand the Present Tense now.

I often forget my telephone number.

But, compare these sentences :

I think that he doesn’t recognize me  (= an opinion)

What is she thinking about?  She looks serious. (= the action of having a thought. The verb can be in progressive tense)

2.3.          SIMPLE PAST

2.3.1.       Pattern :

(+) S + V2

(-) S + did + not + V1

(?) Did + S + V1?

e.g.          The temperature fell into 22^o Centigrade this morning.

The  temperature didn’t fall into 22^o  Centigrade  this morning.

Did the temperature fall into 22^o Centigrade this morning?  Yes, it did / No, it didn’t

3.2.          The uses of Simple Past :

2.3.2.1.   to express activity that occurred / existed in the past.

2.3.2.1.1. in a point of time

   Time signal: yesterday, last (year, month…etc), this morning, (two days, six months,…etc. ) ago

e.g.          They left our town an hour ago.

The artists didn’t have a show of their new  paintings last year.

2.3.2.1.2. over a period of time

   Time signal : during (the summer, the holiday…etc.),  from (1990 to 1999),  for (three days, two years ,..etc.),  all afternoon, years ago, when I was young, …  etc.

e.g.          My grandfather suffered from kidney trouble when he was alive.

The  workers worked hard all day long  without  any rest at all.

The rescuers evacuated the victims of the explosion from 06.00a.m to 05.00 p.m. yesterday.

2.3.2.1.3.  the time is indicated by the context or situation.

e.g.          The Dutch exiled Soekarno and his friends because they were always against them.

U.S beat Japan in the Second World War.

2.3.2.2.   to express past habitual action.

e.g.          We  had  a  nice breakfast every  morning  when  we stayed in the village.

The old man went climbing once a month from 1960 to 1980.

“Used to + V1” can be used to show Past habit :

e.g.          The   people   used to believe that the  Earth  was flat

I  used  to go to school on foot together  with  my friends when I was at Senior High School.

2.4. PAST CONTINUOUS

2.4.1.       Pattern :

(+) S + was/were + V1-ing (-) S + was/were + not + V1-ing (?) Was/were + S + V1-ing ?

e.g.          All students were having a morning ceremony.

All students were not having a morning ceremony.

Were all students having a morning ceremony ?

Yes, they were / No, they weren’t

2.4.2.       The Uses of Past Continuous :

2.4.2.1.   to  express  activity that was in progress at the time when another activity happened in the past.

e.g.          The sun was shinning brightly when I got up.

The  Students were examining the frogs when one  of  them jumped off the table.

2.4.2.2.  to express two activities that were happening at the same time (simultaneously).

e.g.          The  man  was digging a hole while  the  woman  was sweeping the garbage.

The  journalist was writing a note while  listening to the speech.

2.4.2.3    to emphasize the continuity or the progress of an activity in the past.

e.g.          What were you doing all morning ? I called you up twice but there was no answer.

2.5.          SIMPLE PRESENT PERFECT

2.5.1.       Pattern :

(+) S + has/have + V3 (-) S + has/have + not + V3 (?) Have/Has + S + V3?

e.g.          The General has sent his troops.

The General hasn’t sent his troops

Has the General sent his troops?

Yes, he has  /  No, he hasn’t

2.5.2.       The uses of Simple Present Perfect :

2.5.2.1. to  express  finished action in a relatively  short  time before the moment of speaking  It is a present result of an activity in the past.

   Time signal : just, already, before, yet.

e.g.          We have just handed on our report to the editor so if  you want to know it, you can ask him now .

I’m sure they haven’t got our message yet because they don’t give any respond.

2.5.2.2. to express activity that began in the past and  continues up  to  the  present .

   Time signal : since (yesterday, two years ago, 2002…etc.), for (two years, three weeks,…etc.)

e.g.          We   have  learnt English for four years, but  we  are not able to speak it well.

This sentence means that we began to learn English four years ago and up to this time we still learn it.

Do you know how she is?  We haven’t heard about her since three months ago.

This sentence means that our last meeting was three months ago.

2.5.2.3.  to express activity that has been repeated up to present.

e.g.          I have written three letters and will continue the fourth after lunch.

We have paid a visit to that beautiful spot twice and plan to go there next holiday.

See the comparison between Simple Past and Simple Present Perfect below!

He  met me a minute ago.

   ( * not  yesterday  or two days ago but  a  minute ago, so it emphasizes the time of the action).

He has already met me.

   (* to  show that the action of meeting has been  completed, no matter when it happened).

The   athlete   has  run  around   the  stadium twice.

   (* it is still possible for him to run again)

The athlete ran around the stadium twice.

( * It is just a report that he did it twice and there is no possibility to do it again at present)

 2.6.          PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

2.6.1.       Pattern :

(+) S + has/have + been + V1-ing (-) S + has/have + not + been + V1-ing (?) Has/Have + S + been + V1-ing ?

e.g.          The president has been giving a speech for an hour.

The president has not been giving a speech for an hour.

Has the president been giving a speech for an hour ?

Yes, he has / No, he hasn’t

2.6.2.       The  use  of Present Perfect Continuous is to express the action that began in the past,  and is still in progress at present especially at the time of speaking and may continue up to the future time.

e.g.          The  people have been standing there to get the  ticket for the show since an hour ago.

This sentence means that they are still there.

The machine has been working all day long.  Ask the operator to stop it for a while in order that it doesn’t overheat.

2.7.          SIMPLE PRESENT FUTURE

2.7.1.       Pattern :

(+) S + will/shall + V1 (-) S + will/shall + not + V1 (?) Will/Shall + s +  V1?

e.g.          That family will adopt a child from an orphanage.

That family will not adopt a child from an orphanage.

Will that family adopt a child from an orphanage?

Yes, they will / No, they will not.

* SHALL is sometimes used for the first person (  I and WE )

2.7.2.       Time signal : tomorrow, next week /…, in two hours /in …, soon, immediately.

2.7.3.       The uses of Present Future :

2.7.3.1. to express the activity which will happen in the future.

e.g.          There will be some important guests in our town  tomorrow.

Will the people know about his real profession soon?

2.7.3.2.   used with clauses of condition, time or purpose.

e.g.          I’ll go if she wants me to. (clause of condition)

The work will begin when the instructor comes. (clause of time)

Some experts will have another observation about healthy food for babies in order that they can get nutritious food for their growth. (clause of purpose)

2.7.4.       The differences between WILL and TO BE GOING TO in expressing the future action are as follows:

2.7.4.1. in decision or intention :

e.g.          Look, the old man is trying to cross the street. I will help him.

   ( * there is no preparation or plan before and usually  it is the first person’s intention)

When  I passed by her house this morning, some  people  were busy. She is going to have a big party tonight.

   ( * there is  a preparation / plan or it has been determined before)

2.7.4.2. in prediction :

e.g.          I  think that he will realize what he did after having  your advice.

   ( * to express the speaker’s opinion,  assumption  or what  he believes that it will happen. It can  be  introduced by these verbs : think, know, believe, doubt,  expect, be afraid, wonder, etc.)

 Oh.. how hot today is. It is going to rain hard. 

   ( * there is a sign that something will happen)

2.8.          PRESENT FUTURE CONTINUOUS

2.8.1.       Pattern :

(+) S + will + be + V1-ing (-) S + will + not + be + V1-ing (?) Will + s + be + V1-ing?

e.g.          The teachers will be having a meeting next week.

The teachers will not be having a meeting next week.

Will The teachers be having a meeting next week ?

Yes, they will / No, they will not

2.8.2.       Time Signal : the same with the Simple Present Future.

2.8.3.       The uses of Present Future Continuous :

2.8.3.1    to express  the activity  that has already been fixed  or decided for the future based on  :

2.8.3.1.1. present habit

e.g.          Don’t call me up at 5 p.m. tomorrow because I will be having a mathematic course.

It’s Monday. You can meet the two professors because they will be examining  the  result of their  research  in  this laboratory. They meet each other every Monday to discuss about their research.

2.8.3.1.2. agreement, appointment or contemporary schedule.

e.g.          The  Professor  will be giving a speech at the same time tomorrow.  (as his schedule says)

I  can’t accompany you to see around the town  next Sunday  because  I will be  preparing  my  cousin’s birthday party.

2.8.3.1.3. to  express a polite way of asking about somebody’s  plan in the future. (in question only)

e.g.          Will  you  be  taking  a  picture of the  landscape in  that  village  next weekend ?  I  want  to  join you.

Will  you  be moving all these plants to  your  new house ? We would like to help you.

2.9.          SIMPLE PAST PERFECT

2.9.1.       Pattern :

(+) S + had + V3 (-) S + had + not + V3 (?) Had + S + V3?

e.g.          The judge had made a wise decision.

The judge had not made a wise decision.

Had the judge made a wise decision?

Yes, he had / No, he hadn’t

2.9.2.       The uses of Past Perfect :

2.9.2.1.   to express  an  activity that had happened earlier  than another action in the past.

e.g.          He  had moved to this school before you were born.

They had gone when I realized what was happening.

They  did  it  after they had  got  the  director’s order.

They  had  thrown the valuable things away  by  the time the police arrived.

2.9.2.2. used in reported speech.

e.g.          She said, “ I have already accepted them.”

She said that she had already accepted them.

She asked, “ How long have you been here?”

She asked how long I had been here

2.9.2.3.   used in conditional sentence type 3.

e.g.          If I had had enough time, I would have finished  it well.

She wouldn’t have been there if you hadn’t called her.

2.9.2.4.    used to express unfulfilled plan

e.g.            Everyone had hoped to get the author’s signature, but he directly left the conference.

I had thought of leaving early morning, but cancelled it.

2.10.        PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS

2.10.1.    Pattern :

(+) S + had + been + V1-ing (-) S + had + not + been + V1-ing (?) Had + S + been + V1-ing?

e.g.         Everyone had been standing in row for an hour before the actress came.

Everyone had not been standing in row for an hour before the actress came.

Had  everyone  been standing in row for an  hour  before the actress came ?

Yes, they had / No, they hadn’t

2.10.2.    Time  signal : we can use the time signal of  Simple Past Perfect.

2.10.3.    The uses of Past Perfect Continuous :

2.10.3.1. to indicate an action that continued up to or into the time  when another time in the past began and it was still in progress.

e.g.          He had been sleeping for an hour when his  parents came home.

This sentence means that he was sleeping when his parents  came.

2.10.3.2. used in indirect speech :

e.g.          They told us, “ We have been looking for a job  for a long time. “

They  told us that they had been looking for a  job for a long time.

He asked, “ Was everyone preparing their own  material yesterday? “

He asked whether everyone had been preparing  their own material the day before.

2.10.3.3. used in conditional sentence type 3 :

e.g.          They  might have died if they hadn’t  been  wearing the disinfectant coat.

                  If I had been swimming, the wave would have taken me too.

2.11.        SIMPLE PRESENT FUTURE PERFECT

2.11.1.    Pattern :

(+) S + will/shall + have + V3 (-) S + will/shall + not + have + V3 (?) Will/Shall + S + have + V3 ?

e.g.          My secretary will have finished it before lunch.

My secretary will not have finished it before lunch.

Will your secretary have finished it before lunch?

Yes, she will / No, she won’t

2.11.2.    Time signal : before (you arrive…etc.) , by (next week..etc.)., when (the time is over…etc.), by the time (you come home…etc.)

2.11.3.    The use  of  Simple  Present Future Perfect  is  to  indicate an action  that will be completed at the point of the time  in the future.

e.g.          He will have seen some interesting sights before he returns. So when we meet him later, he can tell us about his experiences.

The plane will have taken off by the time we get to  the airport. That’s why, let’s hurry up.

2.12.        PRESENT FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS

2.12.1.    Pattern :

(+) S + will/shall + have + been + V1-ing (-) S + will/shall + not + have + been + V1-ing (?) Will/Shall + S + have + been + V1-ing?

e.g.          He will have been working here for twenty five years by the end of this month.

He  will  not have been working here  for  twenty  five years by the end of this month.

Will he have been working here for twenty five years by the end of this month ?

Yes, he will  /  No, he won’t

2.12.2.    Time signal : the same as SIMPLE PRESENT FUTURE PERFECT

2.12.3.    The Use of Present Future Perfect Continuous is to express an action that will still be in progress at a given future time.

e.g.          The trainees will have been having a practice for a week by tomorrow. It is the fourth day for them.

Our  employees  will have been doing it  for  about three hours when we arrive there, so you can know how they are working.

2.13.        SIMPLE PAST FUTURE

2.13.1.    Pattern :

(+) S + would + V1

(-) S + would + not + V1

(?) Would + s + V1?

e.g.          She would sit here and see the flying birds.

She would not sit here and see the flying birds

Would she sit here and see the flying birds ?

Yes, she would / No, she wouldn’t

2.13.2.    The uses of Simple Past Future :

2.13.2.1. used  in Reported Speech when  the  main  verb is past

e.g.          She said, “ I will be ready in a few minutes.”

She said that she would be ready in a few minutes.

He asked me, “Will you move to another  office soon ?”

He asked me whether I would move to another  office soon.

2.13.2.2. used in conditional sentence type 2

e.g.          I would clean the house myself if I had time

His children would be happy if he were at home

2.13.2.3. used  in talking about something which was in the  future at that time but which had not happened yet.

e.g.          Last time I saw your family, they would have a long journey.

In 1956 there was a smart boy who would be a president of United States.

We had  better  use WOULD to express future in the past  for  the first person.

e.g.          I would make some changes on my data when they saw my work.

2.14.        PAST FUTURE CONTINUOUS

2.14.1.    Pattern :

(+) S + would + be + V1-ing (-) S + would + not + be + V1-ing (?) Would + S + be + V1-ing ?

e.g.          He would be seeing the doctor if he didn’t have a guest

He  would not be seeing the doctor if he didn’t have a stomach trouble.

If  he  did  not have a guest,  would he  be  seeing  a doctor ?

2.14.2.    The uses of Past Future Continuous :

2.14.2.1.  used  in Reported Speech when  the  main verb is past.

e.g.          She said,” I will be doing some shopping this evening.”

She said that she would be doing some shopping that evening.

He  wanted to know,”  Will they be having  a  show the following week ? “

He  wanted to know if they would be having  a  show the following week

2.14.2.2. used in conditional sentence type 2

e.g.          They  would  be having a discussion if they  got  the result from their partner.

If  everyone  knew about this news, they  would  be talking about it now.

2.15.        SIMPLE PAST FUTURE PERFECT

2.15.1.    Pattern :

(+) S + would + have + V3 (-) S + would + not + have + V3 (?) Would + S + have + V3?

e.g.          She would have been there if she had been invited

She wouldn’t have been there if she hadn’t been invited

Would she have been there if she had been invited?

2.15.2.    The uses of  Simple Past Future Perfect

2.1.5.2.1. used  in Reported Speech when  the  main verb is past

e.g.          He  told me,” I will have had the last  interview by the end of the month.”

He  told me that he would have had the last  interview by the end of the month.

He  asked,” When will I have got the result of  the experiment ?”

He  asked when he would have got the result of  the experiment.

2.15.2.2. used in conditional sentence type 3

e.g.          They  would have saved all the victims if they  had had good instrument.

If  his parents had listened to the  warning,  they would have been here safely.

2.16.        PAST FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS

2.16.1.    Pattern :

(+) S + would + have + been + V1-ing (-) S + would + not + have + been + V1-ing (?) Would + S + have + been + V1-ing?

e.g.         She would have been training them if there had been a new project.

She wouldn’t have been training them if there hadn’t  been a new project.

Would she have been training them if there hadn’t  been a new project?

2.16.2. The uses of Past Future Perfect Continuous

2.16.2.1. used  in Reported Speech when the  main verb is past

e.g.          He told,” They will have been having a test for two days by Thursday.”

He told that they would have been having a test for two days by Thursday.

He asked,”  How long will they have been testing  the instruments before the launching ?”

He asked how long they would have been testing  the instruments before the launching .

2.16.2.2.  used in conditional sentence type 3

e.g.          The audience would have been staying on their seats if the attractions had not been so boring.

The  students  would have  been  cleaning  their class if it hadn’t been locked.

GRAMMAR