English Grammar lessons - The tense

The Present Tenses

1. Simple Present Tense
Simple Present Tenses
Description of the simple present tense:
In general, the simple present tense expresses events or situations that exist always,
usually, habitually; they exist now, have existed in the past, and probably will exist in the
future.
Example:
It snows in Alaska.
Mary watches T.V every day.
The Simple Present tense
The Form:
I / You /We /They + VERB

Examples:
I love reading book.
They live in a small house.
We speak English.
She / HE / It + VERB- S / ES

Examples:
She spends a lot of time to learn English.
He likes playing football.
It goes weak very quickly because of the quality.
The Usage
1. The Simple Present tense says that something was true in the past, is true at present,
and will be true in the future. It expresses general statements of facts, and timeless truths.
Examples:
The sun rises in the East.
The world is round.
The average person breathes 21,600 times a day.
2. The Simple Present tense is used to express habitual or every activities
Examples:

I study for two hours every day.

I get up at 7 every morning.
He always eats a sandwich for lunch.
2. Present Continuous Tense
Present Continuous Tenses
Look at the example situation below:
Lin is in her car. She is on her way to work.
She is driving to work.
This means: she is driving now, at the time of speaking. This action is not finished.
Marny is in the office now. This is the work time.
She is working.
This means: she is working now, at the time of speaking. This action is not finished
because it is the work time for office staff.
The present continuous tense:
The Form:
am / is / are + VERB-ING

Examples:
I am writing an email to a customer. I am busy now.
Mary is on the phone. She is speaking to someone.
The Usage
The present continuous tense expresses an activity that is in progress at the moment of
speaking. It is a temporary activity that began in the past, is continuing at present, and
will probably end at some point in the future.
Examples:
a. John is sleeping right now.
b. I need an umbrella because it is raining.
c. The students are sitting at their desks right now.
d. I am taking five courses this semester.
Often the activity is of a general nature: something generally in progress this week, this
month, this year.
e. John is trying to improve his work habits.
f. Susan is writing another book this year.
Note:
The sentence f. means that writing a book is a general activity Susan is engaged in at
present, but it doesnt not mean that at the moment of speaking she is sitting at her desk
with pen in hand.
The present continuous with Future meaning

The present continuous tense is also used to express things we have planned and decided
to do it. In this case, The present continuous tense expresses the future events which is
arranged and implimented in a certain time of near future. Lets study the following
situation for the future meaning of present continuous tense.
3. Present Perfect Tense
Present Perfect Tense
Lets study The Present Perfect Tense Now:
Look at the following example:
Tom has already eaten.
Tom finished eating something before now. The exact time is not important.
The Present Perfect Tense
The Form:
Subject + HAVE / HAS + Past participle verb

The Use:
1. The Present Perfect tense expresses the idea that something happened ( or never
happened ) before now, at an unspecified time in the past. The exact time it happened is
not important.
If there is a specific mention of time, the simple past is used: They moved into a new
apartment last month.
Notice in the examples below: the adverbs ever, never, already, yet, still, and just are
frequently used with the present perfect tense.
Example:
They have moved into a new apartment.
Have you ever visited Mexico?
I have never seen snow.
I have already seen that movie.
Jack hasnt seen it yet.
Ann started a letter to her parents last week, but she still hasnt finished it.
Alex feels bad. He has just heard some bad news.
2. The Present Perfect tense also expresses the repetition of an activity before now. The
exact time of each repetition is not important.
Notice that so far is frequently used with the present perfect.
We have had four tests so far this semester.
I have written my wife a letter every other day for the last two weeks.
I have met many people since I came here in June.
I have flown on an airplane many times.
3. The Present perfect tense, when used with for or since, also expresses a situation that

began in the past and continues to the present.

since + a particular time ( a point of time )
for + a duration of time ( a period of time )
Example:
I have been here since seven oclock.
We have been here for two weeks.
4.Present Perfect Continuous Tense
Present Perfect Continuous Tense
Lets study The Present Perfect Continuous Tense Now:
Look at the following example:
Tom has been studying for two hours.
Event in progress: studying. WHEN? before now, up to now. How long? For two hours.
The Present Perfect Continuous Tense
The Form:
Subject + HAVE / HAS + BEEN + Verb-ING

The Use:
1. The Present Perfect Continuous tense expresses the duration of an activity that began
in the past and continues to the present. When the tense has this meaning, it is used with
time words like: for, since, all morning, all day, all week
Example: Tim is sitting at his desk.
He has been sitting there since seven oclock.
He has been sitting there for two hours.
You have been studying for five straight hours. Why dont you take a break?
It has been raining all day. It is still raining right now.
2. When the Present perfect Continuous tense is used without any specific mention of
time, it expresses a general activity in progress recently, lately.
I have been thinking about changing my major.

II. The Past Tenses

1.Simple Past Tense
Simple Past Tenses

Lets study situation of The Simple Past Tense below:

The simple Past tense expesses the events or actions happened at one particular time in
the past. It began and ended in the past.
Example:
It rained heavily yesterday.
I watched a great movie on TV last night.
The Simple Past tense:
The Form:
Subject + VERB-ED / past form of irregular verb

Examples:
Keth looked for this pen this morning.( look + ED > past form : looked)
And now she found it under her desk.( find (irregular verb) > past form : found)
The Usage
1. The simple past tense indicates that an activity or situation began and ended at a
particular time in the past.
Examples:
I walked to school yesterday.
2.Past Continuous Tense
Past Continuous Tenses
Look at the example situation below:
Tom was sleeping when I arrived.
Tom went to sleep at 10.00 last night. I arrived at 11.00. He was still asleep. His sleep
began before and was in progress at a particular time in the past. It continued after I
arrived.
The Past Continuous tense:
The Form:
was / were + VERB-ING

Examples:
Kate was writing an email to a customer When I arrived.
I was living in Kuala Lumpur this time last year.
The Usage
The past continuous tense expresses both activities that happened at the same time, one
action began earlier and was in progress and other happened .

Examples:
Kate was sleeping when the phone rang.
When I was walking down the street, it began to rain.
Sometimes the past continuous tense is used in both parts of a sentence when two actions
are in progress simultaneously.
3.Past Perfect Tense
Past Perfect Tense
Lets study The Past Perfect Tense Now:
Look at the following example:
Tom had already eaten when his friend arrived.
First Tom finished eating something before now. Later his friend arrived. Toms eating
was completely finished before another time in the past.
The Past Perfect Tense
The Form:
Subject + HAD + Past participle verb

The Use:
The Past Perfect tense expresses an activity that was completed before another activity or
time in the past.
Example:
They had already left by the time John got there.
The theft simply walked in. Someone had forgotten to lock the door.
Note: If either before or after is used in the sentence, the past perfect tense is often not
necessary because the time relationship is already clear. The simple past tense may be
used.
4.Past Perfect Continuous Tense
Past Perfect Continuous Tense
Lets study The Past Perfect Continuous Tense Now:
Look at the following example:
Tom had been studying for two hours before his friend came.
Event in progress:studying. WHEN? before another event in the past. How long? for two
hours
The Past Perfect Continuous Tense
The Form:

Subject + HAD + BEEN + Verb-ING

The Use:
1. The Past Perfect Continuous tense emphasizes the duration of an activity that was in
progress before another activity in the past.
Look at the examples below:
The police had been looking for the criminal for two years before they caught him.
Eric finally came at six oclock. I had been waiting for him since four-thirty.
2. This tense also may express an ectivity in progress close in time to another activity or
time in the past.
When Judy got home, her hair was still wet because she had been swimming

III. The Future Tenses

1. Simple Future Tense
Simple Future Tense
Lets study The Simple Future Tense Now:
The simple future tense expesses the actions happen at one particular time in the future.
Example:
It will snow tomorrow.
I shall watch TV tonight.
The Simple Future tense
The Form:
Subject + WILL / SHALL +VERB (infinitive)

The use of shall with I or we to express futrure time is possible uncommon in American
English. Shall is used more frequently in British English than in American English.
Examples:
Keth will have a look at this one tonight.
2.Future Continuous Tense
Future Continuous Tense
Lets study The Future Continuous Tense Now:
Tom will be sleeping when we arrive.

Tom went to sleep at 10.00 tomorrow night. We will arrive at 11.00. The action of
sleeping will begin before we arrive, and it will be in progress at a particular time in the
future. Probably his sleep will continue.
The Future Continuous tense
The Form:
Subject + WILL / SHALL +Be + VERB-ING

The Use:
1. The future continuous tense expresses an activity that will be in progress at a time in
the future.
Example:
I will begin to study at seven. You will come at eight. I will be studying when you come.
Right now I am sitting in the class. At this same time tomorrow, I will be sitting in class,
too.
2. The continuous form of BE GOING TO: be going to + be + Verb-ING
Dont call me at nine because I wont be home. I am going to be studying at the library.
3. Sometime there is little or no difference between the future continuous and the simple
tense, especially when the future event will occur at an indefinite time in the future.
Dont get impatient. She will be coming soon.
3.Future Perfect Tense
Future Perfect Tense
Lets study The Future Perfect Tense Now:
Tom will already have eaten when his friend arrives.
First Tom will finish eating. Later his friend will arrive. Toms eating will be completely
finished before another time in the future.
The Future Perfect tense:
The Form:
Subject + WILL / SHALL +HAVE + Past participle verb

The Use:
The future perfect tense expresses an activity that will be completed before another time
or event in the future (NOTE: by the time introduces a time clause; the simple present
tense is used in a time clause.)
Example:
I will graduate in June. I will see you in July. By the time I see you, I will have graduated.

4.Future Perfect Continuous Tense

Future Perfect Tense

Lets study The Future Perfect Tense Now:
Tom will already have eaten when his friend arrives.
First Tom will finish eating. Later his friend will arrive. Toms eating will be completely
finished before another time in the future.
The Future Perfect tense:
The Form:
Subject + WILL / SHALL +HAVE + Past participle verb

The Use:
The future perfect tense expresses an activity that will be completed before another time
or event in the future (NOTE: by the time introduces a time clause; the simple present
tense is used in a time clause.)
Example:
I will graduate in June. I will see you in July. By the time I see you, I will have graduated.