Tense Structures in English
Tense Structures in English
1
The Importance of Time
Structure:
Helping Verb
(+): Sub+V2+com+.
Did
(-): Sub+Didn’t+V1+com+.
(?): Did+Sub+V1+com+? Main Verb
2nd Form of the Verb (+)
Examples:
1st Form of the Verb (-,?)
(+): She broke the window.
(-): He didn’t break it.
(?): Did you break it? Instructor: M Zia Rasa
4
THE PAST TENSE
The use
#1
Shows an action happened in the past in a specific
time.
Note: Time is important or specific.
“-ED” Spelling.
Pronunciation of d or ed
Rule 1:
If the final sound of a singular verb’s root form ends in a
vowel or/b, g, v, m, n, l, z, δ, d ʒ, ŋ, r/ then the inflection is
pronounced /-d/
Present form Final Sound Past Form /d/
Rob /b/ Robbed /d/
Beg /g/ Begged /d/
Prove /v/ Proved /d/
Breathe /ð/ Breathed /d/
Form /m/ Formed /d/
Rain /n/ Rained /d/
Ding /ŋ/ Dinged /d/
Pull /l/ Pulled /d/
Rule 2:
If the final sound of a singular verb’s root form ends in /t , d/
then the inflection is pronounced /-ID/
9
THE PAST TENSE
Rule 3:
If the final sound of a singular verb’s root form ends in / ∫, t
∫, s, p, k, f, θ / then the inflection is pronounced /-t/
10
THE PAST TENSE
More examples
1. I wanted to visit you on Friday.
2. My Favorite team played very well last night.
3. Some students didn’t do their homework last week
because they were not present in the class.
4. Did you watch the football match last night?
The use:
#1
The past progressive is used to talk about an activity that
was in progress at a specific point of time in the past.
The emphasis is on the duration of the activity in the
past.
13
THE PAST PROGRESSIVE The Past Progressive
The use:
#2
The past progressive is often used with the simple
past to show that one action was in progress when
another action occurred (interrupted actions).
Note: Use past tense after “when”.
The use:
#3
To describe repetition and annoying.
Note: The adverb “always” is used with this usage.
The use
#1
This tense describes completed events that took place in
the past before another past event.
More examples
1. The burglar had left the house when the police got there, so they can’t catch them.
Past Perfect Past Now
Main Verb
(-): Sub + had + not + been +V-ing + com +.
Verb + ing
(?): had+ Sub +been+ V-ing + com+?
Examples:
(+): I had been eating my breakfast when you called .
(-): They had not been doing anything wrong till yesterday .
(?): Had you been calling him before the class started?
Instructor: M Zia Rasa 21
THE PAST PERFECT PROGRESSIVE
The use
#1
This tense describes events in progress that took place in
the past before another past event.
Examples:
Main Verb
(+): They paint their house every year.
(-): We don’t want to take a party. Present form (1st form
(?): Does she speak English? of the verb)
Do not = don’t
The use
#1
Expresses a habit or often repeated action or
daily activities.
Note: Adverbs of frequency such as always,
usually, sometimes, often, never, etc. are
used with this tense.
Mores examples
The use
#2
This tense also expresses general truths
or facts that are timeless.
Pronunciation of S or ES
Rule 1
If the final sound of a verb’s root form ends in a vowel or / b, d, g,
v , ð, m, n , ŋ , l / sound, then the inflection is pronounced =/-Z/.
Rule 2
If the final sound of a verb’s root form ends in/p, k, f, t , θ / sound,
then the inflection is pronounced =/S/
Rule 3:
If the final sound of a verb’s root form ends in / ∫, t ∫, z, dʒ , ʒ, s
/sound, then the inflection is pronounced =/-IZ/
The Present
Progressive
Structure:
Helping Verb
(+): Sub +To be + V1+ing +com+.
TO BE Verbs(is, am, are)
(-): Sub + To be+not+V1+ing+com+. Are = we, you, they
(?): To be + Sub + V1+ing + com+? is = she, he , it
Examples: am = I
(+): They are running.
Main Verb
(-): She is not running.
(?): Is he working right now? Verb + ing
The use
#1
This tense is used to describe an action that is
occurring right now (at this moment, today,
this year, etc.). The action has begun and is
still in progress.
More Examples
The use
#2
“Present progressive tense + always” is used
to about habits in the present.
The use
#1
The present perfect shows something
happened (or never happened) before now at
some unspecified time in the past. The exact
time it happened is not important or clear.
Note #1: if there is a specific mention of
time, the simple past is used instead.
Example:
They have moved into a new apartment. Vs. They moved
into a new apartment last month.
39
THE PRESENT PREFECT
40
THE PRESENT PREFECT
The use
#2
The present perfect also expresses the
repetition of an activity before now. The
exact time of each repetition is not
important.
Note: The term so far is frequently used
with this structure.
1. We have had four tests so far this semester.
2. I have flown on an airplane many times.
3. We have studied thirty pages of the grammar
section.
4. I have written my wife a letter every other
day for the last two weeks.
41
THE PRESENT PREFECT
The use
#3
The present perfect is used to talk about
an event that began in the past and has a
connection to the present or continues to
the present.
2. She has been living here since 2015. Present perfect progressive tense
43
THE PRESENT PREFECT
Remember
44
THE PRESENT PERFECT PROGRESSIVE
Present Perfect
Progressive
Structure: Helping Verb
(+): Sub + have/has + been + V1+ing +com+. Have/has + been
(-): Sub + have/has +not + been+V1+ing+com+.
(?): Have/Has + Sub + been + V1+ing + com+? Main Verb
The use
#1
This tense is used to describe the
duration of an action that began in the
past and continues into the present.
The Future
Will/shall and be going to are
used to describe future actions.
Helping Verb
Examples: will/ shall/ be going to
I will inform you tomorrow. Main Verb
She won’t go there.
Will you call him? Present form the verb
We are going to finish this project. (1st form of the verb)
What is she going to do tomorrow?
Will / Shall
Structure:
(+): Sub + will/shall + V1 +com+. Will / Shall = ‘ll
(-): Sub + will/shall +not + V1+com+. Shall not =
shan’t
(?): will/shall + Sub + V1 + com+?
Will not = won’t
Examples:
(+): I will call you. Shall: I, we
(-): She won’t call me.
(?): Will you call him?
#3
When you decide to do something.
Note: We usually use “ I think I’ll….I don’t think I ‘ll…”.
1. It’s a nice day. I think I’ll go out.
2. I am tired. I think I’ll go to bed eerily.
3. I have a fit body. I don’t think I’ll go to gym.
Instructor: M Zia Rasa 52
THE FUTURE TENSE
Be going to
Structure:
(+): Sub + be going to + V1 +com+. Be = is, am, are
(-): Sub + be +not +going to + V1+com+.
(?): be + Sub +going to + V1 + com+?
Going to = ganna
Examples:
Examples:
1. She leaves to tomorrow.
2. We don’t come on Friday.
3. She is leaving tomorrow.
4. We are watching a movie on Saturday.
5. I am not working tomorrow.
Instructor: M Zia Rasa
55
THE FUTURE PROGRESSIVE
The Future
Progressive
Structure:
Helping Verb
(+): Sub + will +be + V1-ing +com+.
will/ shall + be
(-): Sub + will +not + be +V1-ing +com+.
(?): Will + Sub + be+ V1-ing + com+? Be going to + be
Main Verb
Examples:
(+): I will be teaching tomorrow at 3’o clock. Verb + ing
(-): She wont be working tomorrow.
(?): Will you be studding?
The use:
#1
This tense is used to describe an event or action that
will occur over a period of time at a specific point in
the future. at 10 a.m. tomorrow
Will + have
Structure:
Main Verb
(+): She will have finished it by June.
Past participle
(-): They won’t have left by the time you
(3rd form of the verb) arrive here.
(?): Will you have done it till tomorrow?
Instructor: M Zia Rasa 59
THE FUTURE PERFECT
The use:
#1
This tense is used to describe an event or action that will
be completed before another event or time in the future.
1. We will have finished the exam by the time class ends tomorrow.
2. I graduate in June. I will see you in July. By the time I see you, I
will have graduated.
More examples:
I will begin to study at seven. You will come at eight. I
will be studying when you come.
Don’t call me at nine because I won’t be home. I am
going to be studying at the library.
The use:
#1
This tense describes an action that has been in progress for a
duration of time before another event or time in the future.