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First Certificate in English Grammar
First Certificate in English Grammar
First Certificate in English Grammar
English
Grammar: VERB TENSES
Explanations: Uses
Exercises for further practise and consolidation
1. Present Simple
6. Exercises
7. Grammar Reference
8. Bibliography
2. Habitual actions
The present simple is used to describe habitual actons. A frequency
adverb is often used.
I usually take the bus to school
4. An annoying habit
The present continuous is used to describe an annoying habit. A
frequency adver is compulsory.
You’re always complaining!
She’s constantly borrowing money from us!
Be Believe Cost Depend Have Hear Know Matter Smell Suppose Taste
Think Understand
Some of these verbs can be used in the continuous form BUT with a
change in meaning:
Tim is being rather difficult at the moment. (Behave)
I’m having lunch. (Eat)
I’m tasting the soup, to cheek if it needs more salt. (Sample)
I’m thinking of buying a new car. (Consider)
Narrative
1. Main events
The past simple is used to describe finished events in the past.
Sally went into the station and bought a ticket.
2. Background description
The past continuous is used to describe actions still in progress, and
is used for background description.
There were a lot of people waiting in the station. Some were
sleeping ond the benches, and others were walking up and
down.
2. Used to
Used to is used to describe past habits, usually in contrast with the
present.
I used to get up at six, but now I get up at eight.
(Note: Time expressions are not necessary)
Used to can also describe past states.
I used to own a horse. (I owned a horse once)
3. Would
Would is used to describe a person’s typical activities in the past. It
can ONLY be used for repeated actions, and is mainly used in writing,
and in personal reminiscences.
Every morning was the same. Jack would turn on the radio, light his
pipe and fell asleep.
4. Past Continuous
The past continuous can be used to describe repeated actions in the
past, often an annoying habit. A frequency adverb is compulsory.
When he was young, he was always getting into trouble.
PRESENT PERFECT
Recent events
1. Present perfect simple
The present perfect simple is used to describe events without a
definite time. The idea of time or place in the speaker’s mind makes
the event recent. A time expression may emphasise recentness.
I’ve left my shopping bag behind.
I’ve just borken my watch.
We can also describe events that have not happened.
I haven’t found her phone number yet.
The event may be connected with the present, because the result of
the event is present. No definite time is given for the event.
Indefinite events
1. Present perfect simple
No definite time is given for the event.
I’ve been in Mar del Plata three times
2. Definite places
If we think of a definite place for an event, this may suggest a
definite time.
I’ve left my shopping bag on the train.
Prediction
1. Will
Will is used to make predictions. It is often preceded by I think or by
opinion words like perhaps. A time expression is also necessary.
I think it’ll rain tomorrow.
Perhaps she’ll be late.
In speech both will and shall are contracted to ‘ll. Use of shall after I
and we is more common in formal speech.
2. Going to
If a predicted event is very near, and especially in impersonal
statements, going to is also commonly used for predictions.
You’re going to fall!
3. Present cause
We often make predictions because we can see the cause of the
event.
Look out! There’s a bus coming! It’s going to hit us!
I can see you’re going to have a baby.
4. Future Continuous
The future continuous i used to describe a situation in the future at a
particular time.
This time next week we’ll be eating lunch on the plane!
It is also used to predict a future state or habit at a particular time in
the future.
In ten years time I expect I’ll be living in Buenos Aires.
5. Future Perfect
The future perfect looks back form a point in the future and refers to
indefinite time up to that pint.
By the time we get there, the film will have started.
This means at the future time when we get there, we can say:
The film has started.
Intention
1. Going to
Going to is used to describe a present intention.
I’m going to fix the television tomorrow
2. Will
Will is also used for decisions made at the time of speaking
Oh! It’s Bob’s birthday tomorrow! I’ll buy him a present when I can.
2. Present Simple
This tense is used to describe future events which we cannot control.
They may be facts, such as events in a timetable, or a law.
The plane for Brazil leaves at 9.45.
Which of the uses explained above you didn’t know? Did you find any interesting
information in the explanations given?
How would you organize that “new” information so that you remember it better?
a) He paints beautifully.
b) Sarah is nervous.
Look back on the previous sentences think and answer: What is the difference in
MEANING between the sentences?
Stative Verbs
2. Look back to the different verbs mentioned that are stative. Do you find anything in
common?
Look at these categories. Which ones refer to state verbs? TICK them
• Senses
• Abilities
• Feelings
• Mind states
• Emotions
• Other
3. Complete the sentences with the verbs given. Decide if the verb must take an –ing
form and justify your choice briefly.
c) The cookers ____________________ the wine to see if it’s got the flavour they
want.
TASTE
4. Write sentences with the verbs given. Follow the instructions carefully.
Note: The verbs Must be only in present simple or continuous.
b) COMB: Habit
a) Adjectives?
b) Adverbs?
c) Nouns?
1.In the following texts identify the use of the past time (narrative, habitual action in the
past, etc.) and justify your choices clearly.
TEXT 1
TEXT 2
TEXT 3
“It was dusky in the dining-room and quite chilly. But all the same Bertha threw off
her coat; she could not bear the tight clasp of it another moment, and the cold air fell
on her arms.
But in her bosom there was still that bright glowing place - that shower of little
sparks coming from it. It was almost unbearable. She hardly dared to breathe for fear
of fanning it higher, and yet she breathed deeply, deeply. She hardly dared to look
into the cold mirror - but she did look, and it gave her back a woman, radiant, with
smiling, trembling lips, with big, dark eyes and an air of listening, waiting for
something ... divine to happen ... that she knew must happen ... infallibly.”
Remember:
Give your story
a good tittle
(don’t underline
the tittle)
Write your story
using the PAST
time
If possible,
include some
phrasal verbs or
vocabulary
developed in
class
a) What is the difference between past simple and present perfect simple?
b) What is the difference between present perfect simple and present perfect
continuous?
3. Put each verb into the present perfect simple or the present perfect continuous:
Future Time
1. Read to some predictions and highlight the future forms used. Do these forms
agree with what has been exposed in the theory?
January
February
• February 5 - Super Bowl XLVI will be played at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis,
Indiana.
March
• March 22 - Unless the European Council votes to extend current copyright law, The
Beatles debut album, Please Please Me, will fall out of copyright.
April
• April 17 - The United States will cede wartime control of the military of the Republic of
Korea after 50 years and dissolve the Combined Forces Command. Two distinct
military commands (South Korea and the United States) will operate in Korea during
wartime, rather than one unified command under the Combined Forces Command.
b) We use “be going to” to indicate on-the-spot decisions (i.e: decisions taken at
the moment of speaking)
f) Future perfect is used to describe an action that will be finished before another
action, also future.
3. Write sentences using the adverbials indicated. All sentences must have a future
time reference:
a) Tomorrow
c) Next week
d) By that time
Future forms
WILL BE GOING TO PRESENT SIMPLE PRESENT PROGRESSIVE
Will+infinitive
Webpages Consulted:
Wikipedia.com
Classicreader.com
Gardendigest.com
Owl.english.purdue.edu
Contact:
gonza432_2@hotmail.com