INDICATIVE MOOD
Table of contents
Affirmative/Positive:................................................................................................. 5
Negative: ................................................................................................................... 5
Interrogative:............................................................................................................. 5
1.2
Uses........................................................................................................................... 5
Affirmative/Positive:................................................................................................. 7
Negative: ................................................................................................................... 7
Interrogative:............................................................................................................. 7
2.2
Uses........................................................................................................................... 7
To denote actions taking place around now (but not at the moment of speaking): .. 7
Affirmative/Positive:............................................................................................... 12
Negative: ................................................................................................................. 12
Interrogative:........................................................................................................... 12
2
4.2
Uses......................................................................................................................... 12
For an action that has taken place once, never or several times before the moment
of speaking (once, never, ever) ................................................................................... 12
4.3
Exercises ................................................................................................................. 13
4.3.1
Write positive sentences using present perfect simple ................................... 13
4.3.2
Put the verbs into the correct form (present perfect simple)........................... 13
Present perfect continuous/progressive........................................................................... 14
5.1
Forms ...................................................................................................................... 14
5.1.1
Affirmative/Positive:....................................................................................... 14
5.1.2
Negative: ......................................................................................................... 14
5.1.3
Interrogative:................................................................................................... 14
5.2
Uses......................................................................................................................... 14
An action that began in the past and continues in the moment of speaking ........... 14
Affirmative/Positive:............................................................................................... 19
Negative: ................................................................................................................. 19
Interrogative:........................................................................................................... 19
7.2
Uses......................................................................................................................... 19
Actions in the past taking place one after the other (narrative texts)...................... 19
Affirmative/Positive:............................................................................................... 21
Negative: ................................................................................................................. 21
3
Interrogative:........................................................................................................... 21
8.2
Uses......................................................................................................................... 21
Affirmative/Positive:............................................................................................... 26
Negative: ................................................................................................................. 26
Interrogative:........................................................................................................... 26
10.2 Uses......................................................................................................................... 26
Put the verbs into the correct form (past perfect progressive). ............................... 27
12
Exercise with Past Perfect Simple and Past Perfect Continuous ................................ 28
12.1 Present and Past Tense Review............................................................................... 29
13
Table of English Tenses.............................................................................................. 30
14
Irregular Verbs ............................................................................................................ 33
15
Bibliography ............................................................................................................... 37
1 Present simple
1.1 Forms
Affirmative/Positive:
Subject + short infinitive
Ex: You go; We eat etc.
+ -S/-ES* for the 3rd pers. sg.
* We add ES when the verb ends in: - S; -Z; - SH; -CH; -X; -O
Ex: He goes; She smashes; It buzzes
We add S for the rest of the verbs:
Ex: John paints; The dog barks
Negative:
Subject + DO / DOES* + NOT + short infinitive
* Does is used for the 3rd person singular
Ex: They do not swim; He does not drink
Interrogative:
Do / Does + subject + short infinitive
Ex: Do you go to school?
Does your sister know him?
1.2 Uses
To denote repeated, usual, habitual actions (adverbs usually used with this
tense: usually, always, never, seldom, every day; every time; once a year; twice a day
etc.):
Ex: My brother usually goes to school at 8 oclock.
I always buy vegetables from the market.
1.3 Exercises
1.3.1 Put the following sentences into the negative and interrogative:
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
seldom
right now
in 1999
b)
already
next week
normally
c)
never
d)
e)
since 2001
last year
up to now
sometimes
every year
soon
in a year
2 Present continuous/progressive
2.1 Forms
Affirmative/Positive:
Subject + to be (present) + vb-ing
I am going.
Negative:
Subject + to be (present) + NOT + vb-ing
He is not eating.
Interrogative:
To be (present) + subject + vb-ing
Are they coming?
2.2 Uses
To denote actions taking place at the moment of speaking (now):
I am writing a letter.
To denote actions taking place around now (but not at the moment of
speaking):
Anna is reading Coelho now.
In descriptive texts:
The sun is shinning in the clear sky.
2.3 Exceptions:
Some verbs are not used with the continuous aspect or they acquire a different meaning when
they are used in the continuous aspect: verbs expressing states, possession, senses, emotions
and mental activity.
be (state), believe (mental activity), belong (possession), hate (feeling and emotion), hear
(senses), like (feeling and emotion), love (feeling and emotion), mean (mental activity),
7
prefer (mental activity), remain (state), realize (mental activity), see (senses), seem
(feeling and emotion), smell (senses), think (mental activity), understand (mental
activity), want (feeling and emotion), wish (feeling and emotion)
He loves her very much.
Do you see that beautiful painting?
2.4 Exercises
2.4.1 Put the verbs into the correct form
The following sentences express possession, senses, emotions or mental activity.
1. I (like)
2. He (hate)
pizza.
garlic.
3. My sister (prefer)
4. I (want)
tea to coffee.
to get away from here.
me.
6. I (not / believe)
it.
7. I (not / know)
8. We (not / think)
the music?
f)
j)
2.4.3 Put the verbs into the correct form (present progressive)
a) PINK - Get The Party Started: Everybody (to wait) for me to arrive.
b) AVRIL LAVIGNE - Complicated: I like you the way you are when we (to drive) in
your car.
c) J'LO - Jenny From The Block: I know where I (go) and I know where I'm from.
d) BLUE (feat. ELTON JOHN) - Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word: And it (get)
more and more absurd.
e) BLUE - U Make Me Wanna: That's why I'm here, I (write) this song.
f) BUSTED - What I Go To School For: I guess that's why my marks (get) so high.
g) ROBBIE WILLIAMS - Feel: Before I fall in love, I (prepare) to leave her.
h) EMINEM: Lose Yourself: He opens his mouth, but the words won't come out. He
(choke). How everybody (joke) now.
i) NICK CARTER - I Got You: They say I (look) for something that can't be found.
2.4.4
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
2. Usually, I (work)
so loudly.
10
3.2 Put the verbs in brackets into the present simple or present
continuous form:
A Trekking Journal
November 12, 1997
Today (be)
to continue.
Nepal is a fascinating country, but I have a great deal to learn. Everything (be)
so different, and I (try)
here. I (learn)
I (travel, currently)
in England. He (be)
(do)
my best to keep up with him, but he is younger and
stronger than I am. Maybe, I am just feeling sorry for myself because I am getting old.
Right now, Liam (sit)
(know, not)
(call, just)
(try)
11
4.1 Forms
Affirmative/Positive:
Subject + have/has* + 3rd form of verb
I have seen that movie.
rd
* has is used for the 3 person singular
Negative:
Subject + have/has + NOT + 3rd form of the verb
He has not done this yet.
Interrogative:
Have/has + subject + 3rd form of the verb
Have we scheduled this event?
4.2 Uses
Present perfect tense is usually used for past actions that are still somehow connected to the
present, and when the exact time of the action is not specified. There are several signal words like:
already, ever, just, never, not yet, so far, till now, up to now
For an action that has taken place once, never or several times before the
moment of speaking (once, never, ever)
Alex and his wife have never swum in the ocean.
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4.3 Exercises
4.3.1 Write positive sentences using present perfect simple
Use signal words like: already, ever, just, never, yet, not yet, so far, till now, up to now, once, etc.
1. Bob / visit / his grandma
2. Jimmy / play / on the computer
3. Sue and Walter / wash / their car
4. Andrew / repair / his bike
5. Phil / help / Anne with math
6. Brad and Louise / watch / a film
7. Tamara / talk to / her best friend
8. Bridgette / draw / a picture
9. Carol / read / a computer magazine
10. Tom and Alice / be / to a restaurant
4.3.2 Put the verbs into the correct form (present perfect simple).
1. I (not work)
today.
2. We (buy)
a new lamp.
3. We (not plan)
5. He (write)
five letters.
7. (be / you)
at school?
yet.
9. (speak / he)
to his boss?
dinner yet.
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5.2 Uses
There are several signal words like: for, since, all day, the whole week, how long? etc.
An action that began in the past and continues in the moment of speaking
I have been writing for two hours.
5.3 Exercises
5.3.1 Decide whether you have to use since or for.
since if the starting point is given (two oclock, last Friday, 1998)
for if the period of time is given (twenty minutes, two days, one year)
4 oclock.
20 minutes.
six years.
1998.
last July.
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Valentines Day.
many years.
breakfast.
hours.
2 months.
5.3.2 Put the verbs into the correct form (present perfect progressive).
1
He (work)
I (wait)
Mary (live)
We (look for)
an hour.
I (live)
15
better.
for hours.
an area of five
6. I (finish/just)
my homework.
7. I (work)
9. Martin (date)
for us?
6.2 Put the verbs into the correct tense. (present perfect simple or
present perfect progressive)
Robin: I think the waiter (forget)
us. We (wait)
here for over half an hour and nobody (take)
our order yet.
by us at least
yet! We
here for over half an hour staring at him.
us. He (run)
in
16
6.3 Using the words in parentheses, complete the text below with the
appropriate tenses Present Continuous / Present Perfect
Continuous
1. It (rain)
because I want to go to the beach.
2. A: Where is Gary?
B: He (study, at the library)
at the fitness
for you
(drive)
, isn't it? He
(watch)
enough sleep
B: Yes, I (sleep)
because I (feel)
A: I hope you feel better soon.
some medicine, so I
17
6.4 Using the words in parentheses, complete the text below with the
appropriate tenses Present Continuous / Present Perfect
Continuous
Mr. Smith: So tell me a little bit about yourself, Mr. Harris. I would like to find out a little bit
more about your background.
Mr. Harris: I (work)
in the insurance industry for over
ten years. I worked for Met Life for six years and World Insurance for four and a half.
During that time, I heard many good things about Hollings Life Insurance and that's why I
for the new sales position.
(apply)
in a
tennis ?
since high school. I love the sport.
Mr. Smith: Great! We like dedication here at Hollings Life. You mentioned you volunteer
at the Sierra Club. I (work, currently)
with them on
to create a wildlife
Mr. Harris: Do you know Frank Harris? He's my brother. He (work, presently)
on the same project.
Mr. Smith: I know Frank quite well. Any brother of Frank's would be a welcome addition to
Hollings Life. Just one more thing, we (look)
somebody who is fluent in Spanish; many of our clients are from Mexico.
Mr. Harris: No problem. I (study)
elementary school.
for
Spanish since
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Negative:
Subject + DID + NOT + short infinitive
We did not recognize him.
Interrogative:
DID + subject + short infinitive
Did you see that?
7.2 Uses
A completed action in the past (usually with a time reference: yesterday, last year,
in 1996 etc.)
Actions in the past taking place one after the other (narrative texts)
He came in, took off his coat and sat down.
Actions expressing single duration (he Simple Past can be used with a duration
which starts and stops in the past. A duration is a long action often used with expressions
like "for two years," "for five minutes," "all day" or "all year.")
7.3 Exercises
7.3.1 Ask for the bold part of the sentence.
1. My friends swam in the lake.
7.3.2 Put the verbs into the correct form (simple past).
1. Last year I (spend)
my holiday in Ireland.
2. It (be)
great.
3. I (travel)
to a pub.
6. We (be)
7. It (not / rain)
a lot.
8. But we (see)
They (call)
the Potawatomi.
this place Checagou (wild onion) because it (smell)
like onions.
in 1970.
the highest building in the world.
Negative:
Subject + was/were + NOT + vb-ing
He was not eating.
Interrogative:
Was/were + subject + vb-ing
Were they crying?
8.2 Uses
An action in progress at a certain time in the past
Mom was cooking dinner yesterday at 6 oclock.
8.3 Exercise
8.3.1 Put the verbs into the correct form (past progressive).
1. When I phoned my friends, they (play)
monopoly.
dinner.
4. I (practice)
5. We (not / cycle)
all day.
21
(swim)
in the pool.
.
yesterday?
in the park.
B: I (try)
2. After I (find)
immediately)
4. Sebastian (arrive)
5. Sandy is in the living room watching television. At this time yesterday, she (watch, also)
television. That's all she ever does!
6. A: I (call)
not)
B: I (work)
22
7. When I (walk)
(talk)
(work, busily)
(discuss, quietly)
service.
8. I (watch)
a mystery movie on T.V. when the
electricity went out. Now I am never going to find out how the movie ends.
9. Sharon (be)
in the room when John told me what
happened, but she didn't hear anything because she (listen, not)
.
10. It's strange that you (call)
an iceberg.
12. When I entered the bazaar, a couple of merchants (bargain, busily)
and (try)
to
for
a banana.
the old woman who (be)
her
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9.2 Using the words in parentheses, complete the text below with the
appropriate tenses
Last night, while I was doing my homework, Angela (call)
. She said
she (call)
a phone call during the lecture. I asked what was going on.
she (make)
She said her biology professor was so boring that several of the students (sleep, actually)
in class. Some of the students (talk)
about their plans for the weekend and the student next to her (draw)
a picture of a horse. When Angela (tell)
me she was not satisfied with the class, I (mention)
that my biology professor was quite good and (suggest)
that she switch to my class.
her professor yell, "Miss, are you
up the
vegetables for
9.3 Put the verbs into the correct tense (simple past or past
progressive).
1.
When I (do)
2.
3.
He (drink)
4.
I (have)
5.
24
6.
She (go)
her textbook and (begin)
7.
to school, (take)
to learn.
When it (start)
8.
9.
When I (be)
25
out
Negative:
Subject + HAD + NOT + 3rd form of the verb
He had not finished his homework by the time she arrived.
Interrogative:
HAD + subject + 3rd form of the verb
Had we scheduled this event before our meeting?
10.2 Uses
An action taking place before a certain time/action in the past (putting
emphasis only on the fact, not the duration)
I had lived in Germany before I came to Romania.
10.3 Exercises
10.3.1 Put the verbs into the correct form (past perfect simple).
1. The storm destroyed the sandcastle that we (build)
2. He (not / be)
her homework.
a week before.
11.2 Uses
11.3 Exercise
Put the verbs into the correct form (past perfect progressive).
1. We (sleep)
up.
2. They (wait)
when the train finally arrived.
3. We (look for)
then we found it in the bathroom.
4. I (not / walk)
suddenly began to rain.
27
7. He (drive)
out of petrol.
8. They were very tired in the evening because they (help)
over an
to meet Kathy in front
into the
28
Tony: We (wait)
fact, we (wait)
Lars: Five hours? When did you arrive?
Tony: We (get) got here at 6:00 o'clock this morning. More than forty people (stand, already)
here waiting for tickets when we arrived.
Lars: I can't believe that! Are you serious?
Star Wars movies seriously. In fact, this
in
particular showing has been sold out for over a week. We (wait, just)
line to get a good seat in the theater.
Lars: When did you buy your tickets?
Tony: I (buy)
to be the first
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Affirmative/Negative/
Question
Use
Simple Present
A: He speaks.
N: He does not speak.
Q: Does he speak?
Present Progressive
A: He is speaking.
N: He is not speaking.
Q: Is he speaking?
Simple Past
A: He spoke.
N: He did not speak.
Q: Did he speak?
Past Progressive
A: He was speaking.
N: He was not speaking.
Q: Was he speaking?
A: He has spoken.
Present Perfect Simple N: He has not spoken.
Q: Has he spoken?
30
Signal Words
always,
every ,
never,
normally,
often, seldom,
sometimes,
usually
if sentences
type I (If I
talk, )
at the moment,
just, just now,
Listen!,
Look!, now,
right now
yesterday, 2
minutes ago,
in 1990, the
other day, last
Friday
if sentence
type II (If I
talked, )
action going on at a
certain time in the past
actions taking place at
the same time
when, while,
action in the past that as long as
is interrupted by
another action
putting emphasis on
already, ever,
the result
just, never, not
action that is still going yet, so far, till
on
now, up to
action that stopped
now
Present Perfect
Progressive
A: He had spoken.
N: He had not spoken.
Q: Had he spoken?
Past Perfect
Progressive
Future I Simple
A: He will speak.
N: He will not speak.
Q: Will he speak?
31
recently
finished action that has
an influence on the
present
action that has taken
place once, never or
several times before
the moment of
speaking
putting emphasis on
the course or duration
(not the result)
all day, for 4
action that recently
years, since
stopped or is still going 1993, how
on
long?, the
finished action that
whole week
influenced the present
action taking place
before a certain time in
the past
sometimes
interchangeable with
past perfect
progressive
putting emphasis only
on the fact (not the
duration)
already, just,
never, not yet,
once, until that
day
if sentence
type III (If I
had talked, )
assumption: I
think,
probably, we
might ,
perhaps
Future I Simple
(going to)
A: He is going to speak.
N: He is not going to
speak.
Q: Is he going to speak?
Future I Progressive
A: He will be speaking.
N: He will not be
speaking.
Q: Will he be speaking?
32
by Monday, in
a week
14 Irregular Verbs
Base Form
Simple Past
Tense
Past Participle
awake
be
bear
beat
become
begin
bend
beset
bet
bid
bind
bite
bleed
blow
break
breed
bring
broadcast
build
burn
burst
buy
cast
catch
choose
cling
come
cost
creep
cut
deal
dig
dive
do
awoke
was, were
bore
beat
became
began
bent
beset
bet
bid/bade
bound
bit
bled
blew
broke
bred
brought
broadcast
built
burned/burnt
burst
bought
cast
caught
chose
clung
came
cost
crept
cut
dealt
dug
dived/dove
did
awoken
been
born
beat
become
begun
bent
beset
bet
bid/bidden
bound
bitten
bled
blown
broken
bred
brought
broadcast
built
burned/burnt
burst
bought
cast
caught
chosen
clung
come
cost
crept
cut
dealt
dug
dived
done
33
draw
dream
drive
drink
eat
fall
feed
feel
fight
find
fit
flee
fling
fly
forbid
forget
forego (forgo)
forgive
forsake
freeze
get
give
go
grind
grow
hang
hear
hide
hit
hold
hurt
keep
kneel
knit
know
lay
lead
leap
learn
leave
drew
dreamed/dreamt
drove
drank
ate
fell
fed
felt
fought
found
fit
fled
flung
flew
forbade
forgot
forewent
forgave
forsook
froze
got
gave
went
ground
grew
hung
heard
hid
hit
held
hurt
kept
knelt
knit
knew
laid
led
leaped/lept
learned/learnt
left
drawn
dreamed/dreamt
driven
drunk
eaten
fallen
fed
felt
fought
found
fit
fled
flung
flown
forbidden
forgotten
foregone
forgiven
forsaken
frozen
gotten
given
gone
ground
grown
hung
heard
hidden
hit
held
hurt
kept
knelt
knit
know
laid
led
leaped/lept
learned/learnt
left
34
lend
let
lie
light
lose
make
mean
meet
misspell
mistake
mow
overcome
overdo
overtake
overthrow
pay
plead
prove
put
quit
read
rid
ride
ring
rise
run
saw
say
see
seek
sell
send
set
sew
shake
shave
shear
shed
shine
shoe
lent
let
lay
lighted/lit
lost
made
meant
met
misspelled/misspelt
mistook
mowed
overcame
overdid
overtook
overthrew
paid
pled
proved
put
quit
read
rid
rode
rang
rose
ran
sawed
said
saw
sought
sold
sent
set
sewed
shook
shaved
shore
shed
shone
shoed
lent
let
lain
lighted
lost
made
meant
met
misspelled/misspelt
mistaken
mowed/mown
overcome
overdone
overtaken
overthrown
paid
pled
proved/proven
put
quit
read
rid
ridden
rung
risen
run
sawed/sawn
said
seen
sought
sold
sent
set
sewed/sewn
shaken
shaved/shaven
shorn
shed
shone
shoed/shod
35
shoot
show
shrink
shut
sing
sink
sit
sleep
slay
slide
sling
slit
smite
sow
shot
showed
shrank
shut
sang
sank
sat
slept
slew
slid
slung
slit
smote
sowed
shot
showed/shown
shrunk
shut
sung
sunk
sat
slept
slain
slid
slung
slit
smitten
sowed/sown
speak
spoke
spoken
speed
spend
spill
spin
spit
split
spread
spring
stand
steal
stick
sting
stink
stride
strike
string
strive
swear
sweep
swell
swim
swing
take
teach
sped
spent
spilled/spilt
spun
spit/spat
split
spread
sprang/sprung
stood
stole
stuck
stung
stank
strod
struck
strung
strove
swore
swept
swelled
swam
swung
took
taught
sped
spent
spilled/spilt
spun
spit
split
spread
sprung
stood
stolen
stuck
stung
stunk
stridden
struck
strung
striven
sworn
swept
swelled/swollen
swum
swung
taken
taught
36
tear
tell
think
thrive
throw
thrust
tread
understand
uphold
upset
wake
wear
weave
wed
weep
wind
win
withhold
withstand
wring
write
tore
told
thought
thrived/throve
threw
thrust
trod
understood
upheld
upset
woke
wore
weaved/wove
wed
wept
wound
won
withheld
withstood
wrung
wrote
torn
told
thought
thrived
thrown
thrust
trodden
understood
upheld
upset
woken
worn
weaved/woven
wed
wept
wound
won
withheld
withstood
wrung
written
15 Bibliography
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/present-progressive/use/exercises?use06
http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/simplepresent.html
http://www2.gsu.edu/~wwwesl/egw/verbs.htm
Oana
Bargan
37