1) SIMPLE TENSES

Simple Present Tense

It snows in Alaska.
I watch television every day.
I visit my cousin all the time.

In general, the simple present expresses events or situations that exist

always, usually, habitually; they exist now, they have existed in the past, and
will probably exist in the future.

Frequency Adverbs
always generally
frequently sometimes
often rarely
usually seldom
everyday once / twice
occasionally on Sundays

Formation of Simple Present Tense

Subject + Verb + Complement

Affirmative Form
I speak English.

Subject + Don't / Doesn't + Verb + Complement

Negative Form
I don't speak English.

Do / Does + Subject + Verb + Complement ?

Question Form
Do you speak English?

Don't / Doesn't + Subject + Verb + Complement?

Negative Question Form
Don't you speak English?
The third person singular (he, she, it) is usually formed by adding -S to the
root of the verb. Sometimes -ES is added. -S, -ES and IES are added in
positive sentences.

Affirmative

I walk
You walk We walk
He walks You walk
She walks They walk
It walks

a. Hamid listens to music every night.

b. He rarely watches TV.
c. She usually takes the train to work.

Uses of Simple Present Tense

1. To show a habit
We drink coffee every morning.

2. To express a general truth

Water boils at 100 degrees.

3. To express an action with a future time expression

I leave tomorrow.

Negative

I don't cry We don't cry

You don't cry You don't cry
He doesn't cry They don't
She doesn't cry
cry
It doesn't cry

Example Sentences

1. We buy a newspaper every Sunday.

2. He doesn't visit his father.
3. Does she lie to her mother?
4. My sister works at the theater.
5. The boss gives us a lot of work to do.
6. Marry and Lucas don't play fairly.
7. Do you like to read comic books?
8. They spend a lot of money.

Simple Past Tense

It snowed yesterday.
I watched television last night.
I visited my cousin last year.

At one particular time in the past, this happened. It began and ended in the
past

Time expressions used with simple past:

four hours / two days / three weeks ago

I saw Jack yesterday then he disappeared.
Last night / year / week
in + past time (In June, in 1986)
Yesterday
the day before

I saw the manager a few minutes ago.

In the seventeenth century Europe, there were many problems.
When questioned about the latest events, the minister gave very little away.

We use the past simple for situations that existed for a period of time in
the past but not now.

When I was at high school, I played soccer. (used to play)

The teacher at high school was very strict. He severely punished any
misbehaving students.

“When, while, after, before, as…” we should pay attention to tense

agreement in sentences with time clauses.

He always ---- at me, before he ---- to me.

a) shouts / listens ✓
b) shouted / listened ✓
c) had shouted / listens
d) shouts / listened

It ---- almost midnight, we ---- go to bed.

a) is / had to
b) is / have to ✓
c) was / had to ✓
d) was / will have to
Simple Future Tense

It will snow tomorrow.

I will watch television tonight.
I will visit my cousin later.

2) PROGRESSIVE VERB TENSES

Present Progressive Tense

He is sleeping right now.

He is asleep at the moment. His sleep is in progress at the present time, and
will probably continue.(at least for a while)
Past Progressive Tense

He was sleeping when I arrived.

He went to sleep at 10:00 last night. I arrived at 11:00. He was still asleep. His
sleep began before and was in progress at a particular time in the past. It
probably continued. (at least for a while)

Future Progressive Tense

He will be sleeping when we arrive.

He will go to sleep at 10:00 tomorrow night. We will arrive around 11:00. The
action of sleeping will begin before we arrive, and it will be in progress at a
particular time in the future. His sleep will probably continue.(at least for a
while.
3) PERFECT VERB TENSES

Present Perfect Tense

I have already eaten.

I finished eating something before now. The exact time is not important.

Past Perfect Tense

I had already eaten when they arrived.

First I finished eating. Later they arrived. My eating was completely finished
before another time in the past
Future Perfect Tense

I will have already eaten when they arrive.

First I will finish eating. Later they will arrive. My eating will be
completely finished before another time in the future.

4) PERFECT PROGRESSIVE VERB TENSES

Present Perfect Progressive Tense

I have been studying for two hours.

Event in progress: studying

When? Before now, up to now
How long? For two hours

Past Perfect Progressive Tense

I had been studying for two hours before my friends came.

Event in progress: studying

When? Before another event in the past
How long? For two hours

Future Perfect Progressive Tense

I will have been studying for two hours by the time you arrive.

Event in progress: studying

When? Before another event in the future
How long? For two hours