UNIT 2: TENSES

1. The Simple present tense

Structers:

(+) S + Vs/es + O.

( - ) S + do not / does not + V + O.

( ? ) Do / Does + S + V + O ?

Uses:

- talk about a real.

Eg: The sun rises in the East an sets in the West.

- describe a habit.

Eg: I usually get up at 6 o’clock.

- talk about timetable / schedule.

Eg: The train leaves the station at 8 o’clock.

- Use in conditional sentences type 0 & type 1.

Eg:

- Combined with time - clause (when / since / as )

Structure: When / Since / As + S + V1 + O, clause.

V1 in present tenses, clause in present tenses or future tenses.

V1 in past tense, clause in past tense. In 2 cases: an action occurs, other actions
interjected or an action happened before another action in the past.

2. The Present continuous tense

Structers:

(+) S + is / am / are + V-ing + O.

( - ) S + is / am / are + not + V-ing + O.

( ? ) Is / am / are + S + V-ing + O ?

Uses:
 - Express one or more action going on at the time of speaking.

Eg: I am teaching English now.

- Describe the action is happening in the interim period.

Eg: BigC is selling off all items.

- Describe the action is happening at a defined time in the future.

Eg: We are learning English together here this time Wednesday.

- Combined with “always” to complain about somebody’s action.

Eg: You are always breaking dishes.

3. The Present perfect tense

Structure:

(+) S + has / have + V-p2 + O.

(- ) S + has / have + not + V-p2 + O.

( ?) Has / have + S + V-p2 + O ?

Adverb: so far, up to now, recently, lately, never, ever, yet, just, for, since,…

Uses:

- describe an action happened in the past, resulting in the current.

Eg: I have read this book 3 times.

- describe an action happened in the past, lasted to the present time and undefined
end

Eg: I have lived in Hanoi for 10 years.

- combined with clause: this is the first/second/… time + clause.

Eg: This is the first time I have ever eaten such this delicious food.

4. The Present perfect continuous tense

Structure:

(+) S + has / have + been + V-ing + O.

(- ) S + has / have + not + been + V-ing + O.

 (?) Has / have + S + been + V-ing + O ?

Uses: Describe an action happened in the past, lasted to the present time and still
continuos. Focus on time, not mention results.

Eg: I have been learning for 3 hours.

5. The Simple past tense

Structure:

(+) S + V-ed + O.

(- ) S + did not + V + O.

(? ) Did + S + V + O ?

Uses:

- Describe an action happened and ended at a particular time in the past.

Eg: The second world war was ended in 1945.

- Describe the successive action in the past.

Eg: I turned off the lights then went out and locked the door.

- Use in conditional sentence type 2.

Eg:

6. The Past continuous tense.

Structure:

(+) S + was / were + V-ing + O.

(- ) S + was / were + not + V-ing + O.

(?) Was / were + S + V-ing + O ?

Uses:

- Talk about 1 or more action happened at the defined time in the past.

Eg: This time last month, I was lying on the beach.

This time yesterday, I was doing my homework.

- Describe an ongoing action , the other action interjected.

Eg: My mother called for me while I was being in my class.

- Describe two or more concurrent actions in the past.

Eg: While I was reading, my sister was playing the piano.

7. The Past perfect tense.

Structure:

(+) S + had + V-ed + O.

( -) S + had + not + V-ed + O.

(?) Had + S + V-ed + O ?

Uses:

- Talk about an action happened before the defined time or another action in the past.

Eg: They had left before 5 o’clock.

I had checked carefully before I signed in the contract.

- Used in clause: this was the first/second/… time + clause.

Eg: This was the first time I had ever such this delicious food.

8. The Past perfect continuous tense

Structure:

(+) S + had + been + V-ing + O.

( -) S + had + not + been + V-ing+ O.

(?) Had + S + been + V-ing + O ?

Uses: Describe an action happened before the defined time or another action in the past
and extended at the time of speaking.

Eg: I had been waiting for two hours before he arrived.

When I came to England, I had been studying English since 3 years ago.

9. The Simple future tense

Structure:

(+) S + will + V + O.
 ( -) S + won’t ( will not ) + V + O.

(?) Will + S + V + O ?

Uses:

- Describe actions that are decided to do at the time said.

Eg: I will answer the phone.

Our examination will begin next month.

- As a promises.

Eg: I will buy you a bicycle for your birthday.

- Types of questions yes / no is a form of suggestion , invitation.

Eg: Will I open the door?

Will you go with me to the cinema tomorrow?

10. The Future continuous tense

Structure:

(+) S + will be + V-ing + O.

(- ) S + will not be + V-ing + O.

(?) Will + S + be + V-ing + O ?

Uses:

- Express one or more action is happening at a time in the future.

Eg: This time next year, I will be visiting USA.

- Refers to an action that has been scheduled.

Eg: We will be spending the summer at Dalat.

11. The Future perfect tense

Structure:

(+) S + shall / will + have + V-p2 + O.

(- ) S + shan’t / won’t + have + V-p2 + O.

(?) Shall / will + S + have + V-p2 + O ?

Uses: Expresses an action completed before a specified time or another action in the
future.

Eg: By 10 o’clock tomorrow they will have finished their work.

Tomorrow morning, they will have gone out before you arrive.

12. The Future perfect continuous tense

Structure:

(+) S + shall / will + have been + V-ing + O.

(- ) S + shan’t / won’t + have been + V-ing + O.

(?) Shall / will + S + have been + V-ing + O ?

Uses: Expresses an action completed before a specified time or another action in the
future.

Eg: By the end of this month, she will have been climbing mountains for 45 days.

By the end of this week, we shall have been studying English for 2 weeks.

13. The near future tense

Structure:

S + be going to + V + O.

Uses:

- Described one scheduled, one plan will be made in the near future.

- 1 sign that action is imminent.

Eg: Look at his face, he is going to fight.

14. The near future tense in the past

Structure:

S + was/ were + going to + V + O.

Eg: Described one scheduled, one plan can not be done in the past.

EXERCISES
A. Choose the word or phrase that best complete the sentence
I. MULTIPLE CHOICE
Choose the best option to finish each sentence
1. She was thoughtfully looking at him while he a newspaper.
A. read B. was reading C. has read D. has been reading
2. While I the floor, Mrs Paker began cooking.
A. swept B. was sweeping C. has swept D. has been sweeping
3. I just a telegram to say that my poor friend is badly ill again.
A. had B. have had C. was having D. has been having
4. I have lost my key again. I things. I lose things too often.
A. always B. am always losing C. have always lost D. was always losing
6. I Ann at her father’s house twenty years ago and her ever since.
A. met/ have known B. was meeting/ knew C. met knew D.have met/ was
working
7. Higher education in the US in 1636 when the first colonists Harvard College.
A. has began/ founded B. began/ have founded
C. began/ founded D. was beginning/ have founded
8. when Jack me, I a letter.
A. was phoning/ wrote B. phoned/ has been wrting
C.phoned/ was writing D. has phoned/ was writing
9. He will here till he everything.
A. stay/ will do B. stay/ will not do C/ will stay/ does D. will stay/ doesn’t do
10. In case the weather good, they fishing.
A. is/ go B. will be go C. will be/ will go D. is/ will go
11. By 8 o’clock they dinner.
A. will have B. will be having C. will have had D. is having
12. By the end of this week he the translation.
A. will finish B. will have finished C. will be finishing D. is finishing
13. Before you I all the work.
A. come/ do B. will come / will doC. will come / doD. come/ will do
14. By the time we to the forest, the rain .
A. will get/ will stop B. will get/ will have stopped
 C. get/ will stop D. get/ will have stopped
15. I think he the letter by this time.
A. will answer B. will have answered C. will be answering D. has
answered
16. I my report when you entered the hall.
A. made B. have been making C. was making D. have made
17. They the newwords yesterday from three to seven.
A. learnt B. have been learning C. have learnt D. were learning
18. She this exercise yesterday at 8 o’clock.
A. wrote B. has written C. has been writing D. was writing
19. My mother often morning exercises.
A. do B. does C. doing D. has done
20. She some cakes yesterday at 2 p.m.
A. make B. has been making C. has made D. was making
21. He me to the party yesterday.
A. invited B. has invited C. has been invited D. was inviting
22. He a book two days ago.
A. read B. has been reading C. was reading D. has read
23. Miss Brown’s telephone when she .
A. rang/ dressed B. was ringing/ was dressing
D. was ringing/ dresses D. rang/ was dressing
25. When he into the office, the secretary a crosswords puzzle.
A. came/ was doing B. was coming/ was doing
C. was coming/ did D. came/ did
26. why to me while I ?
A. did you not listen/ was speaking B. were you not listening/ was speaking
C. were you not listening/ spoke D. did you not listen/ spoke
28. He for her, but she never .
A. was waiting/ was coming B. waited / was coming
B. was waiting/ came D. was waiting/ comes
29. While I for him to call up, he a good time in the bar.
 A. waited/ was having B. have waited/ was having
C. was waiting/ have had D. was waiting/ was having
30. They this film last week.
A. have seen B. saw C. have been seeing D. were seeing
31. She the picture when I came.
A. painted B. has painted C. was painting D. have been
32. They the new words yesterday from three till seven.
A. learnt B. were learning C. have learnt D. have been learning
33. It this week.
A. rained B. has rained C. was raining D. rains
34. She a bath at seven o’clock last night.
A. was having B. had C. has had D. has been having
35. She dishes already.
A. was washing B. washed C. has washed D. has been washing
36. They supper when the telephone rang.
A. had B. have had C. were having D. have been having
37. I you for ages.
A. didn’t meet B. haven’t met C. was not meeting D. haven’t been
meeting
38. Last summer he to Ha Long Bay.
A. has gone B. was going C. went D. has been going
39. While she , she the doorbell, then voices.
A. was washing up/ heard B. washed up/ has heard
C. has heard/ was hearing D. was washing up/ was hearing
40. “ She tea”, let’s go to the dinning room”.
A. was making B. made C. has made D. has been making
41. The library by the time I there.
A. had closed/ got B. closed/ got C. closed/ had got D. has closed/ got
42. When my friend ,I an exercise for an hour.
A. was coming/ had been doing B. came/ was doing
C. was coming/ has been doing D. came/ had been doing
43. We while he .
A. read/ was eating B. were reading/ ate
C. read/ ate D. were reading/ was eating
44. When he ,I in London for a week.
A. arrived/ was living B. was living/ has been living
C. arrived/ has been living D. arrived/ had been living
45. Be quite, please. We at the translation and you a lot of noise.
A. are working/ are making B. work/ are making
B. are working/ make D. work/ make
46. He always for a walk in the morning.
A. go B. is going C. goes D. going
47. “ Where is Jack?” _ “ He his girl friend at the station. She at 12 o’clock.”
A. meets/ is coming B. is meeting/ comes C. meets/ comes D. is meeting/ is
coming
48. She . Is something wrong?
A. cries B. is crying C. cry D. crying
49. In the morning I little time, so I a shower in the evening.
A. have/ take B. am having/ am taking
C. have/ am taking D. am having/ take
50. A decade a period of ten years.
A. describes B. is describing C. describe D. describing
51. Her brother in Canada now.
A. working B. works C. is working D. work
52. She always but nothing to realize her dreams.
A. dreams/ does B. is dreaming/ does C. dreams/ is doing D. is dreaming/ is doing
53. He so suspicious to me at the moment. I wonder why.
A. be B. will be C. was D. is being
54. Hurry up, Jane! We all for you.
A. wait B. are waiting C. waiting D. are waited
55. Don’t bother her. She her French lesson; she always it in the morning.
A. takes/ is taking B. is taking/ takes c. takes/ takes D. is taking/ is
taking
56. The living standard . Every month things more expensive.
A. are changing/ are getting B. are changing
C. change/ are getting C. change/ get
57. Tom and Mary for the Netherlands tomorrow.
A. leave B. are leaving C. leaving D. are left
58. I have just started English course, I English grammar.
A. study b. studying C. am studying D. studied
59. Mercury at 357,23 degree Centigrade.
a. boils B. is boiling C. boiling D. boiled
60. It me that they can’t sell their flat.
A. surprises B. is surprising C. surprising D. Surprise
B.Choose the word or phrase that best complete the sentence
From: The Principal
To: All teachers
I have recently received several...........(1)from parents about teachers being late for class.
As you know, school policy is for all teachers to be in their classroom five minutes before
the...........(2)of a lesson. This sets a good example for our students. We can not expect our
students to be punctual if we are late ourselves. All teachers must observe school policy.
1.A. Complaints B. Complains C. Complain D.
Complaining
2. A. End B. Start C. Finish D. Introduction
C. Fill the blank with appropriate word
1. All things............, Professor Kim is the best instructor I've ever had.
A. Considered B. To consider C. Considering D.
Considerable
2. I'm quite sure this business will...................
A. Paying B. Pay for C. Pay off D. Paid
3. Iam sort of........with his flattery.
A. Disgust B. To disgust C. Disgusting D. Disgusted
4. These pills will surely......your pain.
A. Ease B. Easy C. Easily D. Easiness