I had time. Tenses in English

Now even a child knows that “without English you can’t get anywhere.” But no one can clearly explain how to learn to speak and understand effectively, where to start, and how to understand that the result has appeared.

In this article we will look at one of the most “painful” topics in language learning, namely. Everyone knows that there are many of them, they are all different: some require some kind of ending, others need . Are times as scary as they say?

Verb tense(namely, it changes tense) is a concept that characterizes the change of the verb, depending on whether the action happened, is happening, or will happen.

Let’s immediately dispel the popular myth that three times of the Simple group are enough for communication.
Communication may work, but it will be of very poor quality; in most cases, you simply will not be able to convey the idea.

Tenses in English are more connected with the mentality of English-speaking countries, because it was their affection and attention to detail that created the long (Progressive) and complete (Perfect) groups of tenses.

Present tense in English

There are four present tenses in English:

• Progressive;
• Perfect Progressive.

The same situation applies to past and future tenses.

Present Simple - present simple tense

Is used for:

• Transferring an action that happens regularly (I work 5 days a week; he walks the dog in the morning);
• Habits (I don’t smoke; my neighbor runs in the morning);
• Traditions (we visit grandma every Christmas; her husband gives her jewelry for every birthday);
• Facts (snow melts in spring, water boils at 100 C).

In every time there are so-called marker words, which will help you navigate the choice of time in case of difficulties.

So, write out this list for yourself, and you will not have problems with Present Simple tense:

• Always - always;
• Usually – usually;
• Often – often;
• Sometimes - sometimes;
• Seldom – rare;
• Never - never;
• Every day (week, month etc.) – every day (week, month, etc.);
• Once/twice a... - once in..., twice in....

In order to make a statement in the Present Simple, you need to remember that the first 2 places in the sentence are a priori occupied by the actor and the verb. The subject comes first, then the predicate. S (subject - subject) + V (verb - verb/predicate) + Obj. (object – object/addition) I(you, we, they) work everyday. BUT! He/She/It workS every day.

When the actor is a third person singular - we must add the ending –s, -es(if the word ends in –o/-s/-ss/-sh/-ch/-x).

To ask a question, you need to use . Such verbs have no translation, they simply indicate the time in which the question is asked. After all, in English, unlike Russian, there are no gender or temporal endings.

Auxiliary verbs to form a question:

• I/you/we/they – DO
• He/she/it – DOES

As you may have noticed, there is always a . BUT! The ending should be repeated only once per sentence. Therefore, if the sentence contains NO endings, you do not need to add ANY endings to the verb.

Present Progressive - present continuous tense

To understand and remember it, you first need to construct a sentence in an unusual way for yourself: I am the one writing this text, my brother is playing football now, etc. This is exactly what the literal translation of sentences sounds like in this tense.

Formula: S + be (am/is/are) + Ving + Obj.

Continuous auxiliary verb – to be.

In the present tense it has 3 forms:

• I AM - I am working now;
• He/she/it IS — He/she/it is working now.
• You/we/they ARE - We/you/they are working now.

Question:

• Be + S + Ving + Obj:
  • Am I working?
  • Is she working?
  • Are we working?

Denial:

• S + be + not + Ving + Obj:
  • I am not working now.
  • He is not working now.
  • We are not working now.

Reduction:

• I'm not;
• He/she/it isn`t;
• We/you/they aren`t.

Past tense in English

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Past Progressive

To express a long-term action in the past, tense is used. Most often, it is used in conjunction with the Past Simple when talking about a process that was interrupted by a brief event in the past.

For example:

• I was reading a book when I heard a strange noise. I was reading a book (process) when I heard a strange sound (it interrupted the process).

As with any time, markers will help you find your way:

• At 7 pm – 7 pm (or any other specific time;
• From…. Till….. – from…..to….;
• While - while.

Statement:

• S+be+Ving+Obj

As you can see, the formula is absolutely identical to the Present progressive tense, but there is still a difference. And this - .

In the past tense, the verb has only 2 forms:

• (for singular);
• (for plural).

Question:

• Be + S + Ving + Obj. —Was I sleeping at 10 am?

Negation:

• S + be NOT + Ving + Obj — I wasn`t sleeping at 10 am.

Future tense in English

The future tense can be expressed in several ways. The most used ones are time and the turn be going to.

The Future Simple is used for unplanned events in the future. We often use it for spontaneous decisions. The catch is that most school teachers presented this time as the only time available for talking about the future, but in practice, other phrases overtake it in frequency of use.

You can create this tense using an auxiliary verb .

Time markers:

• Tomorrow - tomorrow;
• Next week (month, Summer) – next week, next month, next summer;
• In 10 years – in 10 years;
• Later - later.

Statement:

• S + will + V + Obj:
  • I will call you later.
  • He will call you later.
  • We will call you later.

As you can see, the verb after will does not need to be changed.

Reduction:

• I will – I'll
• He will – he'll
• We will – we'll

Question:

In any interrogative sentence in English, we need to put the auxiliary verb first:

• Will + S + V + Obj:
  • Will you call me later?
• If the question is special, put a question word before the auxiliary verb:
  • WHEN will you call me?

Negation:

• S + will NOT + V + Obj — I will not call you later.

Reduction:

• Will not = won't

Design be going to used for a pre-planned action in the future, it is often translated as "about to do something."

Statement:

Question:

• Be + S + going to + V?:
  • Am I going to swim?
  • Is he going to swim?
  • Are you going to swim?

Negation:

• S + be NOT + going to + V + Obj:
  • I am not going to swim.
  • He is not going to swim.
  • We are not going to swim.

Signs of tenses in English

We have already found out that each tense has marker words that help distinguish one grammatical tense from another. Therefore, you should remember the markers, which is best done by making several dozen different sentences with each.

Remember that the ending – ing can only be used in conjunction with the verb be.

One of the most common errors up to high levels can be considered like:

• I'm working here.
• We live here.

They are grammatically incorrect because the verb ending in –ing is used in the following sentences:

• I AM working.
• We are living.

If we are not talking about this moment, but about what is happening in general, a simple character and a verb are enough:

• I work here.
• He work here.

Coordination of tenses is a topic that makes you want to quit studying, but in fact, the logic behind it is very simple.

Remember, if the past tense was used at the beginning of the sentence, then we can ONLY use the past tense, even if the Russian version uses the present tense.

For example:

• Her father found out that she smokes.

The past tense comes first, and the present tense comes second. This is not possible in English.

We must say:

• Her father found out that she smoked.

How to remember tenses in English?

There are several ways to remember times, but, unfortunately, there is no universal way:

1. Remember the name of the time along with the formula, like a rhyme:
   • Present Simple (I do/he does)
   • Present Progressive (I am going)
   • Past Simple (I did), etc.
2. Find interesting text and highlight all the tenses you see. Then explain the use of each:
3. Watch movies and and pay attention to the use of tenses;
4. Practice and practice again!

Exercises on tenses in English with answers

Put the verb into the correct form, using markers and auxiliary verbs:

1. He often (cut)himself.
2. What time did Peter (arrive)?
3. Mike never (forget)
4. Are you (sit) here?
5. We (drink) a lot of Coke at the party yesterday.
6. It was (rain)all night yesterday.
7. The train_______ leave in a few minutes.
8. I (put) on a clean shirt yesterday

Answers:

Choose the correct auxiliary verb:

1. ____ did you like the movie we watched yesterday?
2. _____ do you like ice-cream?
3. _____ he smoke?
4. _____ he speaking now?
5. _____ we writing?
6. _____ you live in Lindon?
7. What ____ do you usually have for breakfast?
8. When ____ you wake up this morning?
9. What ____ did you watch on TV yesterday?
10. _____ is it raining now?

Answers:

1. Did you like the movie we watched yesterday?
2. Do you like ice-cream?
3. Does he smoke?
4. Is he speaking now?
5. Are we writing?
6. Do you live in Lindon?
7. What do you usually have for breakfast?
8. When did you wake up this morning?
9. What did you watch on TV yesterday?
10. Is it raining now?

Verb tenses in English table.

Legend:

S – subject,

V – verb

Let's start from the present time.

Table of verb tenses in English: past tense.

Let's move on to the past tense of the verb in English. I offer you the following table.

Verb tense table: future tense.

Let's move on to the future tense of the verb in English. I offer you a table of future tenses in English.

Present Perfect Continuous (Present Perfect Progressive) – present continuous perfect tense. Present Perfect Continuous is not very popular in English for three reasons:

1. Long form.
2. Narrow aspect of use.
3. Interchangeability. In some cases Present Perfect Continuous can be easily replaced with Present Perfect without changing the meaning of the sentence.

But this does not mean that our article should be closed and forgotten about its existence Present Perfect Continuous. Scope of use Present Perfect Continuous quite narrow, but this tense has its place in the English language, and it is sometimes impossible to replace it with another. Moreover, in speech Present Perfect Continuous sounds very impressive if you use it correctly.

How is the Present Perfect Continuous formed?

Statement

The peculiarity of this time is that it combines two aspects - Perfect And Continuous. Present Perfect Continuous formed with an auxiliary verb to be V Present Perfect – have been(or has been for pronouns he, she, it and singular nouns). The main verb is verb + ending -ing.

Negation

A particle appears in negation not, which must be placed between have (has) And been.

We can use shortened forms for the verb have (has). In an affirmative sentence have/has combined with the pronoun:

• You've been playing.
• She's been laughing.

In a negative sentence have/has merges with not:

• We haven't been waiting.
• Hasn't been running.

Question

In an interrogative sentence have/has comes first, and been remains with the main verb. Thus, it turns out that in first place we have have (has), after it the subject, then been and the main verb closes this long chain.

To make it convenient for you to study this time, we have divided all its functions into three blocks: green (for entry-level), yellow (for intermediate), red (for high).

Using the Present Perfect Continuous

First level

Time Present Perfect Continuous looks like it at the same time Present Perfect, and on Present Continuous. This time has two main functions: one contains the meaning of the aspect Continuous, the second – aspect Perfect.

1. We use Present Perfect Continuous, if the action began in the past, lasted for some time and is still ongoing in the present. This function shows a long-term effect; it comes from the aspect Continuous.

   As a rule, the proposal indicates the duration of the action, but without clear time boundaries. That is, we can know when the action began and how long it lasted, but we do not know when it will end. To show time we use the following words and expressions: lately(lately, recently) recently(recently, the other day), quite a while(pretty long), all day(all day), as well as prepositions for(during) and since(beginning with).

   Tom has been watching TV all day. - Volume looks TV all day. (Tom started watching TV in the morning, watched it all day and is still watching it now)

   It has been raining for 3 hours. - Rain goes within three hours. (the rain started three hours ago, continued for three hours and is still raining now)

   Since this function shows the duration, the question is Present Perfect Continuous usually starts with expressions how long(how long, what time) and since when(since when, starting from what moment).

   – How long has she been learning French? – How long she teaches French?
   – She has been learning French for seven years. - She teaches French during seven years old

   – Since when have you been learning German? – Since when You you teach German?
   – I have been learning German since yesterday. - I I teach German with yesterday.

   Pay attention to the translation. We are talking about an action that continues to last in the present, so when translated into Russian the verb will be in the present tense.

2. We use Present Perfect Continuous, if the action ended recently and its result is now visible. This function comes from the aspect Perfect. But using Perfect Continuous, we emphasize that the action lasted for some time in the past.
   

   Your clothes are dirty. What have you been doing? -Your clothes are dirty. What you did? (now it’s dirty, which means before that he did something where he could get dirty)

   I 've been talking to Sandy about the problem and she agrees with me. - I talked with Sandy about this issue and she agrees with me. (in the present Sandy agrees with me because we discussed this issue in the past)

   In this function, the duration may or may not be specified.

   We are very tired. We have been walking in the mountains. - We are very tired. We walked in the mountains.

   We are very tired. We have been walking in the mountains since early morning. - We are very tired. We walked in the mountains c early morning.

   Pay attention to the translation. In this function we are talking about an action that has already ended, so when translated into Russian the verb will be in the past tense.

Where else is the Present Perfect Continuous found?

Average level

1. With verbs like work, live, feel, teach, are used as Present Perfect, so Present Perfect Continuous no difference in meaning. These verbs imply that the action takes a long period of time, that is, it becomes a permanent state.
   

   I 've worked here for 20 years. =I 've been working here for 20 years. - I Working here for 20 years.

   Her family has lived in Moscow since 1781. = Her family has been living in Moscow since 1781. – Her family lives in Moscow since 1781.

   If you want to emphasize that the situation is temporary, use Present Perfect Continuous.

2. (state verbs) are most often not used in Present Perfect Continuous. But, as is often the case in English, there are exceptions. If we want to emotionally highlight some action, we can use Present Perfect Continuous. Very often verbs are used in this function mean(to gather, to intend), want(want), wish(to desire), other stative verbs are less common.
   

   We 've been wishing to visit India for ages. - We we want have been visiting India for many years now.

   He 's been thinking it's over. - He is ponders. = He's been working on it for a long time ponders.

Complex cases of using the Present Perfect Continuous

High level

1. Present Perfect Continuous used together with Past Simple in complex sentences with a conjunction since. In a subordinate clause that begins with since, we use Past Simple, it is the starting point for the action in the main clause. And in the main sentence it will be Present Perfect Continuous.
   

   Silvia has been playing tennis since she was ten. – Sylvia plays tennis since then, How to her turned ten. (she has been playing tennis since she was ten)

2. We use Present Perfect Continuous when we draw a conclusion from what we saw or heard, in most cases with a tinge of dissatisfaction or criticism.
   

   Who has been messing around with my papers?! How should I work now?! - Who rummaged in my papers?! How can I work now?!

   He has been eating chocolate though he knows that he is allergic to it! - He ate chocolate, although he knows he is allergic!

   Present Perfect Continuous shows outrage over an action that happened once, while Present Continuous implies dissatisfaction with an action that is constantly repeated.

Present Perfect Continuous- a time with a terrifying name and a long form of formation. But appearances are deceiving; it has only 2 main functions in language: to show a long-term action and an action with a result. The remaining functions can be considered derivatives. If you suddenly forget how it is formed Present Perfect Continuous, you can always look in the table. And in order not to forget anything, take the test.

(*.pdf, 186 Kb)

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Test

Present Perfect Continuous - present continuous perfect tense in English

When starting to study any grammatical material in a foreign language, we compare it with the corresponding section in our native language - Russian. The same thing happens when studying tense forms of English verbs. Both Russian and English have three tenses: present, past and future. In English it is -

• Present - the present
• past past
• Future - future

Each of them has four types:

• simple - simple
• long - continuous
• perfect - perfect
• perfect continuous - perfect continuous

It turns out that there are actually twelve main tense forms in the English language.

The English tense table looks like this:

Depending on the nature of the action, that is, how often it is performed, when, how long the action took place, etc., we get 4 types of tenses in English.

Band times Simple

This group includes three English tenses called simple tenses.

The tenses of this group indicate actions (state facts), without indicating their duration or whether they were completed

• I sculpt from clay - I sculpt from clay(Present)
• My granny loved this garden. — My grandmother loved this garden(Past)
• I will help him. — I'll help him(Future)

Present Simple

In this tense, infinitive forms of verbs are used, with the exception of verbs in the 3rd person ( he, she) in the singular the ending is added - (e)s

• I like mountain climbing. — I like climbing mountains
• He likes mountain climbing. — He likes climbing mountains

To construct a question and negation we use to do

• Do do you like mountain climbing?
• I don't like mountain climbing
• He does not like mountain climbing

Used:

1. When stating generally known facts
2. With regular or repeated action
3. In a series of successive events in the present
4. In sentences containing verbs of feelings, mental activity or visual perception
   Download verbs
5. In sentences containing words indicating regularity:
   • always - always
   • sometimes - sometimes
   • usually - usually

Past Simple

Past Simple The past tense form is formed by adding an ending - ed to the regular verb or the second form from the table for irregular verbs

• I summ ed up the meeting. — I summed up the meeting
• I saw him the day before yesterday. — I saw him the day before yesterday

Questions and negations are formed using a verb did:

• Did did you sum up the meeting? - You summed up the meeting?
• I did not sum up the meeting. - I didn't summarize the meeting

Used:

1. To denote an action that occurred at a certain moment in the past and the time at which the action occurred has already ended
2. When listing sequential events:
   • I came home, took off my boots, opened the window, made tea for myself. — I came home, took off my boots, opened the window, made myself tea

Future Simple

This tense is formed using the verb will (‘ll- abridged version)

• You" ll write the articles
• Will do you write the articles?
• You will not write the articles

The Future Simple is used to denote actions that will happen in an uncertain future or at a distant point in the future.

Band times Continuous

Present Continuous

Formed using a verb to be And IV f. verb (the ending is added to the main verb - ing)

Conjugation table to be

• 
  We are swimm ing. — We are swimming(it is implied that they are swimming at the time of speaking)
• Are we swimm ing? — We are swimming?
• We are not swimm ing. — We don't swim

Indicates:

1. Events that occur at the time of speech
2. Actions that will happen immediately after the moment of speech
3. Constant irritants:
   • The baby is crying. — The child is crying ing

Past Continuous

To form the continuous past tense we need:

1. To be in the past time:
   • was— 1st and 3rd persons singular
   • were- 2nd person singular and 3rd person plural
2. Ending - ing for main verbs

• I was rewrit ing I've been rewriting topics all evening
• Were you rewrit ing the topics all the evening? — You've been rewriting topics all evening?
• I was not rewrit ing the topics all the evening. — I haven't rewritten topics all evening

Past Continuous conveys an action that took place at a certain moment in the past, with an emphasis on its duration

Future Continuous

Its formula is:

Will be+ verb ending - ing

• I "ll be walk ing long. — I'll be walking for a long time
• Wil l I be walk ing long? — How long will I be walking?
• I will not walk ing long. — I won't be walking for long

Future Continuous conveys an action that will take place at a certain period of time in the future, indicating its duration

Band times Perfect

Present Perfect

The formula is as follows:

Auxiliary verb of the given tense to have (has)+ semantic verb in III f

To have helps in constructing interrogative and negative sentences.

• I have decid ed the problem this morning. — I solved the problem this morning
• Has he decid ed the problem this morning? — He solved the problem this morning?
• I have not decid ed the problem this morning. — I didn't solve the problem this morning
• He has cut the apples. — He cut the apples
  

The Present Perfect is used to denote events that occurred very recently or the period when they occurred has not yet ended

Table with circumstances of time that indicate perfect the present:

Past Perfect

The formation of the Past Perfect differs from the Present Perfect only in that to have takes the form of the past tense, becoming had, otherwise - the same scheme.

• She has never seen her before last New Year. - She had never seen her before last New Year(before period in the past)
• I had cut the oranges before mother went at home. — I cut oranges before my mother came home(until another action occurs later)

Past Perfect conveys an action that took place before a certain point in the past or before another event that took place somewhat later.

Future Perfect

Education scheme:

will +have+ verb ending - ed(or III f. for irregular verbs)

• She "ll have finish ed Statistics next month. — She will finish the statistics by next month
• Will she have finish ed Statistics next month?
• She will not have finish ed Statistics next month

Indicates an action that will be done by a certain time in the future or before the start of some other event in the future

Band times Perfect Continuous

As a consolation, it is worth mentioning that this group is extremely rarely used in everyday English.

Present Perfect Continuous

Perfect Continuous It is formed as follows:

Have (has) been+ verb ending - ing

• I have been do ing the exercises already for 3 hours. — I’ve been doing exercises for 3 hours already.
• Have I been do ing the exercises already for 3 hours?
• I have not been do ing the exercises already for 3 hours

Present Perfect Continuous is used to denote an action that began in the past, lasted for some time and continues to last in the present, while indicating the period during which the action occurs

Past Perfect Continuous

His educational scheme is as follows:

Had been+ verb ending - ing

• We had been work ing for one hour when they came. — We had (already) been working for an hour when they arrived.

Denotes an event that lasted a certain period of time in the past and ended before the beginning of another action that also occurred in the past, expressed in Past Simple time