Farah Salma Nisrina

XI Science 1
14

T e tenses
nses
Simple present
USE 1 : repeated action

The action can be a habit, a hobby, a daily event, a scheduled

event or something that often happens.
Example : I play tennis
Use 2 : Facts or Generalizations

indicate the speaker believes that a fact was true before, is

true now, and will be true in the future. It is not important if
the speaker is correct about the fact.
Example : Cats like milk.
Use 3 : Scheduled Events in the Near Future
Speakers occasionally use simple present to talk about
scheduled events in the near future.
Example : The train leaves tonight at 6 PM.

Use 4 : Now (Non-Continuous Verbs)

Speakers sometimes use the simple present to express the idea

that an action is happening or is not happening now. This can only
be done with non-continuous verbs and certain mixed verbs
Example : He needs help right now.

present continuous
USE 1 ; Now

Use the present continuous with normal verbs to express the

idea that something is happening now, at this very moment. It
can also be used to show that something is not happening now.
Example : You are learning English now.

Use 2 : Longer Actions in Progress Now

In English, "now" can mean: this second, today, this month, this
year, this century, and so on. Sometimes, we use the present
continuous to say that we are in the process of doing a longer
action which is in progress; however, we might not be doing it at
this exact second.
Example : I am studying to become a doctor.
Use 3 : Near Future

Sometimes, speakers use the present continuous to indicate that

something will or will not happen in the near future.
Example : I am meeting some friends after work.

Use 4 : Repetition and Irritation with "Always"

The present continuous with words such as "always" or

"constantly" expresses the idea that something irritating or
shocking often happens. Notice that the meaning is like simple
present, but with negative emotion.
Example : She is always coming to class late.

Simple past
USE 1 : Completed Action in the Past

Use the simple past to express the idea that an action started
and finished at a specific time in the past.
Example : I saw a movie yesterday.

USE 2 : A Series of Completed Actions

We use the simple past to list a series of completed actions in the
past.
Example : I finished work, walked to the beach, and found a nice
place to swim.

Use 3 : Duration in the Past

The simple past can be used with a duration which starts and
stops in the past.
Example : I lived in Brazil for two years.

Use 4 : Habits in the Past

The simple past can also be used to describe a habit which

stopped in the past. It can have the same meaning as "used to" 
Example : I studied French when I was a child.

USE 5 : Past Facts or Generalizations

The simple past can also be used to describe past facts or

generalizations which are no longer true.
Example : She was shy as a child, but now she is very outgoing.

past continuous
Use 1 : interrupted action in the past
Use the past continuous to indicate that a longer action in the
past was interrupted. Can be a real interruption or just an
interruption in time.
Example : I was watching TV when she called.

Use 2 : specific time as an interruption In the simple past, a specific time

is used to show when an action
began or finished. In the past
continuous, a specific time only
interrupts the action.

can also use a specific time as an
interruption.
Example : Last night at 6 PM,
I was eating dinner.
Use 3 : parallel action
Examples:
Last night at 6 PM, I ate dinner.
(I started eating at 6 PM.)
Last night at 6 PM, I was eating
dinner.
(I started earlier; and at 6 PM, I
was in the process of eating
dinner)

it expresses the idea that both actions were happening at the

same time. The actions are parallel.
Example : I was studying while he was making dinner.

Use 4 : atmosphere
to describe the atmosphere at a particular time in the past.
Example : When I walked into the office, several people were
busily typing, some were talking on the phones, the boss was
yelling directions, and customers were waiting to be helped.

Use 5 : repetition and irritating with “always”

The past continuous with words such as "always" or "constantly"
expresses the idea that something irritating or shocking often
happened in the past. The concept is very similar to the “used to
“expression used to but with negative emotion.
Example : She was always coming to class late.

present perfect
Use 1 : unspecified time before now

To say that an action happened at an unspecified time before

now. The exact time is not important. You CANNOT use the present
perfect with specific time expressions such as: yesterday, one
year ago, last week, when I was a child, when I lived in Japan, at
that moment, that day, one day, etc. We CAN use the present
perfect with unspecific expressions such as: ever, never, once,
many times, several times, before, so far, already, yet, etc.
Example : I have seen that movie twenty times.

The concept of "unspecified time" can be very confusing to

English learners. It is best to associate present perfect with
the following topics:

1. Experience
“I have been to France.”
2. change over time
“You have grown since the last time I saw you.”
3. Accomplishments
“Man has walked on the Moon.”
4. an uncompleted action you are expecting
“James hasFrom
Use 2 : Duration not finished his Until
the Past homework
Now yet.”
(Non-Continuous Verbs)
5. multiple actions at different times
“The army has attacked that city five times.”
With non-continuous verbs and non-continuous uses of mixed
verbs, we use the present perfect to show that something
started in the past and has continued up until now.
Example : I have had a cold for two weeks.

present perfect continuous

Use 1 : duration from the past until now

to show that something started in the past and has continued up

until now. "For five minutes," "for two weeks," and "since Tuesday"
are all durations which can be used with the present perfect
continuous.
Example : They have been talking for the last hour.

Use 2 : recently, lately

You can also use the present perfect continuous WITHOUT a

duration such as "for two weeks." Without the duration, the
tense has a more general meaning of "lately." We often use the
words "lately" or "recently" to emphasize this meaning.
Example : Recently, I have been feeling really tired.

past perfect
USE 1 : Completed Action Before Something in the Past

The past perfect expresses the idea that something occurred

before another action in the past. It can also show that
something happened before a specific time in the past.
Example : I had never seen such a beautiful beach before I went
to Kauai.

USE 2 : Duration Before Something in the Past (Non-Continuous

Verbs)

With non-continuous verbs and some non-continuous uses of

mixed verbs, we use the past perfect to show that something
started in the past and continued up until another action in the
past.
Example : We had had that car for ten years before it broke
down.

past perfect continuous

USE 1 Duration Before Something in the Past

We use the past perfect continuous to show that something

started in the past and continued up until another time in the
past.
Example : They had been talking for over an hour before Tony
arrived.
USE 2 : Cause of Something in the Past
Using the past perfect continuous before another action in the
past is a good way to show cause and effect.
Example : Jason was tired because he had been jogging.

Simple future

USE 1 : "Will" to Express a Voluntary Action

"Will" often suggests that a speaker will do something
voluntarily. We also use "will" when we request that someone
help us or volunteer to do something for us.
Example : I will send you the information when I get it.

USE 2 "Will" to Express a Promise

Example : If I am elected President of the United States, I will
make sure everyone has access to inexpensive health insurance.

Use 3 : "Be going to" to Express a Plan

"Be going to" expresses that something is a plan. It expresses the
idea that a person intends to do something in the future. It does
not matter whether the plan is realistic or not.
Example : He is going to spend his vacation in Hawaii.

USE 4 "Will" or "Be Going to" to Express a Prediction

both "will" and "be going to" can express the idea of a general
prediction about the future.
FutureThecontinuous
Example: year 2222 will be a very interesting year.
USE 1 : Interrupted Action in the Future

Use the future continuous to indicate that a longer action in

the future will be interrupted by a shorter action in the
future. Remember this can be a real interruption or just an
interruption in time.
Example : I will be watching TV when she arrives tonight.

USE 2 : Specific Time as an Interruption in the Future

in addition to using short actions as interruptions, you can also

use a specific time as an interruption.
Example : Tonight at 6 PM, I am going to eat dinner.

USE 3 : Parallel Actions in the Future

When you use the future continuous

with two actions in the same sentence, it expresses the idea that
both actions will be happening at the same time. The actions are
parallel.
Example : I am going to be studying and he is going to be making
dinner.

Future perfect
USE 1 : Completed Action Before Something in the Future
Example : By next November, I will have received my promotion.
USE 2 : Duration Before Something in the Future (Non-Continuous
Verbs)

With non-continuous verbs and some non-continuous uses of

mixed verbs, we use the future perfect to show that something
will continue up until another action in the future.
Example : I will have been in London for six months by the time I
leave.

Future perfect continuous

USE 1 : Duration Before Something in the Future

to show that something will continue up until a particular

event or time in the future. "For five minutes," "for two weeks,"
and "since Friday" are all durations which can be used with the
future perfect continuous.
Example : They will have been talking for over an hour by the
time Thomas arrives.

USE 2 : Cause of Something in the Future

Using the future perfect continuous before another action in

the future is a good way to show cause and effect
Example : Jason will be tired when he gets home because he will
have been jogging for over an hour.
EXERCISE
1. Choose the most appropriate answer!
1. `Could you please book me on the next flight to Mexico
City? 'I'm sorry, sir. Our airline … to Mexico City."
A. will not fly D. wasn't able to fly
B. has not been flying E. doesn't fly
C. did not fly

2. `He has to take a TOEFL test before leaving for the U.S.'
`No, . . . have to; he already took it a few months ago.
A. he doesn't D. he mustn't
B. he isn't E. he can't
C. he hasn't

3. I think you had better tell her the truth before somebody
else ....
A. can D. did
B. tells E. does
C. had

4.   "Do I hear something?"

"Yes, somebody . . . at the door!"
A. knocks                          D. has knocked
B. knocked                        E. was knocking
C. is knocking

5.  "May I borrow your magazine?"

"I'm sorry, my sister . . . it.
A. is still reading                          D. still read
B. has been reading                      E. still reads
C. will still read
6.  ‘Have the boys had their breakfast?’ 'Not yet, they ....'
A. have taken a bath                   D. were taking a bath
B. are still taking a bath           E. would still take a bath
C. will take a bath

7. ‘Which paintings will be exhibited tomorrow?’

"We don't know yet; they . . . by a team.'
A.  are still being selected            D. still selected          
B. are still selecting                       E. still selecting
C. still be selected

8. `Have you delivered the package to the customers?

'Not yet, some . . .
A. are still being wrapped                       D. would be wrapped
B. have been wrapped                              E. were wrapped
C. will have been wrapped

9. Dika : Can I borrow your laptop?

Ditya : Certainly, but what's wrong with yours?
Dika . It ... now.
A. is being repaired                      D. has repaired
B. repaired                                                E. is going to repair
C. is repairing

10.  `You look so unhappy, Anton. What's the matter?

'My father his job.'
A. has just lost                  D. is losing
B. has been losing             E. loses
C. losing

11.  'Anwar was promoted president of your company last

week; wasn't he?
 'I'm glad he was; he____ in this company for years.'  
A. had worked                 D. would work
 B. has been working        E. worked
C. was working

12.  `What are you looking for?’, 'My wallet; I don't know where
I____ it.'
A. have been putting                   D. was putting
B. am putting                               E. have put
C. had put

13.  'Where is my dictionary? It was on my desk.' `Perhaps

somebody ____         it.'
A. takes                             D. had taken
B. has taken                      E. would take
C. is taking

14. We haven't heard from Didi for such a long time.

`We haven't either, since he . . . to Dili.'
A. moves                          D. has moved
B. moved                          E. had moved
C. was moving

15. Anita is looking forward to her birthday because she . . . a

new watch.
A. promised                      D. has been promised.
B. has been promising      E. has promised
C. being promised

16. My friend said, “I have never seen such a good film".

From the above statement we may conclude that ....
A. it was the first time he went to see a, film
B. he seldom went to good movies
C. this is the best film he has ever seen
D. the film he saw was a bad one
E. he has never seen bad films before
17. Ronny : Are you going to watch the movie on TV tonight?
Deny : No, I think I'll watch the recent news. The recent news
is news that ....
A. tells us about things that have just happened
B. provides a lot of advertisements
C. is printed in capital letters
D. makes the viewers laugh
E. is very important

18. Rini : " ... “

Rina : "for almost five years".
A. When did you study English?
B. How many years will you study English?
C. How long have you studied English?
D. When will you study English?
E. When do you study English?

19. Ronald moved to this town last year.

We can say the he ... in this town for a year.
A. lives                              D. had lived
B. lived                              E. was living
C. has lived

20. Miss Rina...US English since 1989.

A.  was teach                               C. is going to teach
B.   has taught                              D. taught