English Verbs

A Review of the System

Three categories of English verbs
Category Type Example
1. to be as main verb I am English
as auxiliary I am speaking English
2. Auxiliary verbs do Do you speak
English?/He doesn’t
speak English
have I have been to England
modal auxiliaries (can, I can swim
could, may, might, shall, Can you swim?
should, will, would) Tom can’t swim
semi-modals (dare, need,
ought to, used to)
3. Main verbs regular love - loved
irregular speak – spoke – spoken
 The verb to be
to be can function as an auxiliary or as a main
verb, but even as a main verb, it behaves
syntactically like an auxiliary, i.e.:

• It is directly negated with not:

He is tall > He is not tall

• It is inverted to form a question:

He is tall > Is he tall?
Forms of the verb to be - positive
Affirmative Interrogative
full contracted full
I am I’m Am I?
He is He’s Is he?
She is She’s Is she?
It is It’s Is it?
The teacher is The teacher’s Is the teacher?

You are You’re Are you?

We are We’re Are we?
They are They’re Are they?
Forms of the verb to be - negative
Affirmative Interrogative
full contracted contracted
I am not I’m not Aren’t I?
He is not He’s not / He isn’t Isn’t he?
She is not She’s not / She isn’t Isn’t she?
It is not It’s not / It isn’t Isn’t it?
The teacher is not The teacher’s not / The Isn’t the teacher?
teacher isn’t

You are not You’re not / You aren’t Aren’t you?

We are not We’re not / We aren’t Aren’t we?
They are not They’re not / They aren’t Aren’t they?
Syntactic Properties of Auxiliary Verbs
• directly negated with not:
You would go > You would not go
• inverted to form a question:
You would go > Would you go?
• cannot be used alone EXCEPT:
– in tag questions
– in short answers and additions, to avoid repetition
 Auxiliaries used alone
• Tag questions
You can swim, can’t you?
You can’t swim, can you?
• Short answers and additions
“Can you swim?” – “Yes, I can.”
I can swim and so can my brother.
“I can’t swim.” – “Neither can I.”
 Exercise on modal auxiliaries
1. Preciso terminar esse trabalho hoje.
2. Fecho a porta ou deixo aberta?
3. Pode esfriar bastante no inverno aqui.
4. Leva uma blusa que pode esfriar mais tarde.
5. Você me empresta uma caneta?
6. Você acha que devemos chamar a polícia?
7. Vocês não devem falar durante a prova.
8. “Posso estacionar aqui?” – “Não, não pode.”
9. Se eu fosse você, não contaria para ninguém.
10. O Pedro não deve ter recebido a nossa mensagem.
 Semi-modals
dare He dares (to) argue He daren’t argue with Dare he argue with Daren’t he argue
with the teacher the teacher. the teacher? with the teacher?
He doesn’t dare (to) Does he dare (to) Doesn’t he dare
argue with the argue with the (to) argue with the
teacher. teacher? teacher?

need She needs to go to the She needn’t go to the Need she go to the Needn’t she go to
bank. bank. bank? the bank?
She need not go to Does she need to go Doesn’t she need
the bank. to the bank? to go to the bank?
She doesn’t need to
go to the bank.

ought to He ought to He oughtn’t to Ought he to Oughtn’t he to

apologize. apologize. apologize? apologize?
He ought not to Did he ought to Ought he not to
apologize. apologize? apologize?
He didn’t ought to Didn’t you ought
apologize. to apologize?

used to She used to smoke. She didn’t use to Did she use to Didn’t she use to
smoke. smoke? smoke?
Syntactic Properties of Main Verbs
• cannot be directly negated with not:
I like not action movies
I don’t like action movies

• cannot be inverted to form a question:

Like you action movies?
Do you like action movies?
 The verb to do (1)
• Is the ‘hidden’ auxiliary of the present and past
simple:
You speak Portuguese, don’t you?
I studied English and so did my brother.
He loved his ex-wife and he still does.
• Has to be used in those tenses to negate and
form questions with main verbs:
I don’t speak Portuguese.
Did you go to school today?
 The verb to do (2)
• Can be inserted for stress:
I do speak some Portuguese, but not very well.
I did study English at school, but I’ve forgotten it
all.
• With its main verb meaning, it has the syntactic
properties of a main verb:
What does she do for a living?
What does she for a living?
How did you do that?
How did you that?
 The verb to have (1)
• Used as an auxiliary to form the perfect
tenses:
I hadn’t been to Buenos Aires before.
Have you read Harry Potter?
• With its main verb meaning, it has the
syntactic properties of a main verb*:
I don’t have time right now.
Did you have a good time last night?
 The verb to have (2)
• *Sometimes found with auxiliary syntax and
main verb meaning - old-fashioned/formal:
I haven’t time right now.
Have you enough money to get home?
• In British English especially, have got is much
more common in main verb meaning:
I haven’t got time right now.
Have you got enough money to get home?
 The system of tenses and aspects
• Tense
– Present
– Past

• Aspect
– Simple vs. continuous
– Perfect (vs. non-perfect)
 Tense and Aspect
• Aspects of the present tense:
– Present simple: I eat
– Present continuous: I am eating
– Present perfect: I have eaten
– Present perfect continuous: I have been eating

• Aspects of the past tense:

– Past simple: I ate
– Past continuous: I was eating
– Past perfect: I had eaten
– Past perfect continuous: I had been eating
 Formation of Tenses
• Simple tenses: basic verb forms, present and
past: live – lived, eat – ate

• Continuous tenses: to be + -ing form

• Perfect tenses: to have + past participle

 Overview of Tenses
Present tenses English Portuguese
Simple I speak falo
Continuous I am speaking estou falando
Perfect simple I have spoken falei
Perfect continuous I have been speaking tenho falado

Simple I spoke falei / falava

Continuous I was speaking estava falando / falava
Perfect simple I had spoken tinha falado / falei
Perfect continuous I had been speaking tinha falado / falava
Portuguese > English Equivalences (1)
falo > I speak
estou falando > I am speaking
Exception:
Actions which started in the past and are still
going on at the present time:
I’ve studied English for ten years/since 2001.
How long have you been waiting here?
Port: Present tense > Eng: Present perfect tense
Portuguese > English Equivalences (2)
eu falava > I spoke/I used to speak /I would speak
eu estava falando > I was speaking
Exception:
Actions which started at an earlier time and are
still going on at the moment in the past which is
being described:
I had studied English for two years before going
to the States.
How long had you been waiting for the bus?
Port: Imperfect tense > Eng: Past perfect tense
 Portuguese Imperfect
eu falava >
I spoke
I used to speak = eu costumava falar/falava antes
I would speak = eu falaria
= eu costumava falar
I was speaking = eu estava falando

NB: used to also describes situations that are no longer

true:
This building used to be a movie theater.
Paula used to have long hair.
I used to think English was difficult.
Examples of past imperfect action
She spoke Italian with her grandmother. (ambiguous)

She used to speak Italian with her grandmother. (habitual action or

action that is no longer true)

She would speak Italian with her grandmother. (habitual action)

She was speaking Italian with her grandmother. (ongoing action)

If she could, she would speak Italian with her grandmother.

(conditional)
 Portuguese Preterite
falei >
I spoke reports a past action. Time of action is
either specified or implied from context:
Judy broke her arm and had to go to the hospital.
I have spoken reports on the current situation.
Time of action is irrelevant; what counts is the
impact on the present:
Judy has broken her arm. We have to take her to
the hospital.
 English Present Perfect – Rules of
Thumb (1)
• More advanced Brazilian learners tend to
overuse present perfect (where it is not
appropriate). But some American native
speakers hardly ever use the present perfect,
so, if in doubt, use the simple past.
• The present perfect CANNOT be used if there
is any reference, explicit or implied, to the
time when the action happened EXCEPT:
 English Present Perfect – Rules of
Thumb (2)
• If the time reference is a period of time which has
not yet ended at the time of speaking:
Have you seen Bob this morning?
(cf. Did you see Bob this morning?)
• If the time reference is introduced by for or since
referring to action that started in the past and is
still continuing:
We have lived in Rio for seven years.
(cf. We lived in Rio for seven years.)
 Using the Present Perfect
• The point in the past is irrelevant – what
counts is the impact on the present:
Have you met my wife? (introduction)
I haven’t been to Buenos Aires.
“Where’s Tim?” – “He’s gone to the store.”
You’ve given me the wrong change. (paying)
 Using the Present Perfect (2)
• Present perfect is often used to introduce a topic,
emphasizing its relevance to the present. Details then
follow in simple past:
“Have you met my wife?” – “Yes, I met her earlier.”
Yes, I have been to Buenos Aires. I went there last year.
Tim’s gone to the store. He went to buy milk.
You’ve given me the wrong change. I gave you a ten-
dollar bill.
The prime-minister has resigned. He announced his
resignation this morning.
 Exercise 1
1. Você já esteve na Inglaterra?
2. Não comi nada hoje.
3. Liguei o ar. Daqui a pouco vai refrescar aqui dentro.
4. Você já foi ao supermercado?
5. A Sandra acabou de sair. Ela foi ao supermercado.
6. Ela sempre quis ser cantora.
7. Os convidados chegaram. Você pode fazer as honras
da casa?
8. Não falei com o Tiago hoje.
9. Não falei com o Tiago ontem.
10. Faz quanto tempo que você estuda inglês?
 Present Perfect Continuous
• I have been doing = tenho feito, venho/ando
fazendo (except together with for and since)

“You look fit.” – “Yes, I’ve been working out.”

You’re all dirty. What have you been doing?
The business has been growing steadily over
the last few years.
 Perfect Simple vs. Perfect Continuous
(1)
• The two tenses are often interchangeable, but
simple implies completion while continuous
implies continuation:
I’ve been reading a lot about UFOs. (Tenho lido)
I’ve read a lot about UFOs. (Já li)
The price of oil has been falling lately. (vem
baixando)
The price of oil has fallen to $50 a barrel. (baixou)
 Perfect Simple vs. Perfect Continuous
(2)
• Examples with for and since:
I’ve been living here for seven years. (Estou
morando/Moro …)
I’ve lived here all my life. (Moro …)
She’s been learning Portuguese since she moved
to Brazil. (Ele aprende ...)
She’s learnt Portuguese since she moved to
Brazil. (Ela aprendeu ...)
Your son’s grown since I saw him last. (cresceu)
 Perfect Simple vs. Perfect Continuous
(3)
• If the number of times is mentioned, or the
adverbs always, never or ever > perfect simple
only:
I’ve read this book three times.
We’ve always lived in the same house.
It’s the best movie I’ve ever seen.
• Verb to be has no continuous tenses:
She’s been very understanding. (tem sido)
 Past Perfect Simple
• had done = tinha feito
He had forgotten his passport. (tinha esquecido)
• English often requires past perfect where
Portuguese uses preterite:
Bob realized he’d forgotten his passport.
The police asked her when she had last seen her
husband.
For lunch I ate the sandwiches I had brought from
home.
 Past Perfect Simple vs. Past Perfect
Continuous (1)
• Principles are the same as for present perfect
simple vs. continuous, but point of reference is in
the past rather than the present:
I’d been studying Portuguese for a number of
years before I moved to Brazil.
I had been to Brazil many times before I came
here to live.
He told me about a book he had been reading. (...
que ele lia)
He told me about a book he had read. (... que ele
leu)
 Past Perfect Simple vs. Past Perfect
Continuous (2)
• Examples with for and since (corresponds to
imperfect in Portuguese):
They had been living in São Paulo since 1974.
(Eles moravam ...)
How long had you been married when you
had your first child? (...era...)
He had grown since I had last seen him.
 EXERCISE 2
1. Faz tempo que você está me esperando?
2. O Brasil mudou muito desde a primeira vez que vim aqui em 1981.
3. Acho que você errou o caminho. É melhor voltar.
4. Você tem acompanhado a novela?
5. Não tem sido fácil me adaptar à vida aqui.
6. Eu estava usando um chapéu de palha que comprei o ano anterior.
7. Ele casou com a mulher que namorava fazia oito anos.
8. Perguntei à Sandra quanto tempo ela trabalhava como professora.
9. Quando fui a Londres, fiquei impressionado com o quanto mudou
desde a última vez que estive lá havia vinte anos.
10. O que é que você anda aprontando?
 Talking about the future
English Connotation Portuguese
will + infinitive John will leave on Neutral/formal Vou fazer/farei
Monday. reporting
If it rains, we`ll stay
at home. Consequence
going to + infinitive John is going to Intended plan Vou fazer ...
leave on Monday.
It’s going to rain Immediate future
tomorrow. based on present
evidence
present continuous John is leaving on Arrangement Vou fazer ...
Monday. already made

present simple John leaves on Requirement Faço ...

Monday.
The game starts at Scheduled event
nine.
 Special use of ‘ll (will)
• Spontaneous (unpremeditated) statements and
decisions about the future, usually in response to
circumstances are expressed with ‘ll + infinitive in
English, NOT present as in Portuguese:
I’ll see you tomorrow. (te vejo)
That’s the phone. I’ll get it. (eu atendo)
I’ll have a mineral water, please. (vou querer/quero)
John’ll drop you off at the station, won’t you, John? (o
John te deixa)
We’ll help with the cleaning. (a gente ajuda)
 will or going to
• In many cases, will and going to are largely
interchangeable, with a preference for going to in less
formal language. Examples:
I think I’ll/I´m going to make some tea.
Dad will/is going to be furious when he finds out.
We’ll/we’re going to have to find a solution sooner or
later.
You’ll/You’re going to be late if you don’t hurry.
I’m sure you’ll/you’re going to have a good time.
They said it’ll/it’s going to rain on Sunday.
I’ll/I’m going to see Ann tomorrow.
 Differences in emphasis
The company will open its Rio office in April.
(news report, formal writing)
The company is going to open its Rio office in
April. (speech, less formal writing)
The company is opening its Rio office in April.
(emphasizes arrangements already made)
The company opens its Rio office in April.
(emphasizes firmness of plan, also journalese)
 A Practical Tip for Spoken English
• Present simple and present continuous can
always be replaced by going to

• EXCEPT in spontaneous statements about the

future , will can very often be replaced by
going to

• If in doubt, going to is safest option

 Exercise 3
1. Uma encomenda para mim? Vou descer.
2. O ministro vai renunciar por conta do escândalo.
3. Vai cair um toró a qualquer momento.
4. A presidente se reunirá amanhã com o embaixador
americano.
5. Não sei se vai dar tempo para ler tudo.
6. Não se preocupem, eu ajudo vocês.
7. Quando eu receber meu salário, vou comprar um
computador novo.
8. Quando eu precisar de ajuda, te aviso.
9. O meu irmão vai pegar o voo das 22h45.
10. A que horas termina o filme?
 Other future tenses
• will/going to be doing (future continuous)
This time next week I’m going to be sitting on the
beach.
You go into the pharmacy, I’ll be waiting outside.
• will have done (future perfect)
Will you have finished the job by Friday?
They will have been married 50 years in June.
• will have been doing (future perfect continuous)
By the time we finish, we’ll have been working 24
hours non-stop.
 Future from a past perspective
• would do
Bob: “I’ll help” > Bob said he’d help.
• was going to do
Sara: “I’m going to get a dog.” > Sara said she was going
to get a dog.
• was doing
“When are you leaving?” > I asked him when he was
leaving.
• did
“The movie starts at eight.” > They told us the movie
started at eight.
 Other Conditional Tenses
• would be doing (conditional continuous)
They warned us they’d be arriving late.
• would have done (perfect conditional)
He wasn’t sure he would have finished all his
work in time to make it to the party.
• would have been doing (perfect conditional
continuous)
He said he would have been traveling for 36
hours by the time he got home.
 Exercise 4
1. Do you think the students will have done the
homework you gave them?
2. Will you be needing a ride home?
3. She said she would have preferred to stay at
home.
4. My husband was going to have painted the
house in time for Christmas.
5. What time did you say your flight left
tomorrow?
6. She told me she was meeting Trish tomorrow.
 Verb Tense and Aspect 1
1A I always wanted to go to America.
1B I have always wanted to go to America.
1C I had always wanted to go to America.

2A They live in São Paulo for two years.

2B They lived in São Paulo for two years.
2C They have lived in São Paulo for two years.
 Verb Tense and Aspect 2
3A The company has been growing steadily since it was
founded in 1988.
3B The company has grown steadily since it was founded
in 1988.
3C The company grows steadily since it was founded in
1988.

4A The house had been standing empty for two years

when we bought it.
4B The house stood empty for two years when we bought
It.
4C The house had stood empty for two years when we
bought it.
 Verb Tense and Aspect 3
5A She was not seeing her children for six months.
5B She did not see her children for six months.
5C She had not seen her children for six months.
5D She had not seen her children in six months.

6A He is not speaking English since he came back from Canada.

6B He does not speak English since he came back from Canada.
6C He did not speak English since he came back from Canada.
6D He has not spoken English since he came back from Canada.
6E He has not been speaking English since he came back from
Canada.
 Verb Tense and Aspect 4
7A Exports have risen sharply in the last five
years.
7B Exports rose sharply in the last five years.
7C Exports have been rising sharply in the last
five years.

8A There has been a change of plan.

8B There was a change of plan.
 Future tenses 1
1A The company will open its first overseas branch next year.
1B The company is going to open its first overseas branch next
year.
1C The company is opening its first overseas branch next year.
1D The company opens its first overseas branch next year.

2A Analysts predict that stock markets will continue to fall.

2B Analysts predict that stock markets are going to continue to
fall.
2C Analysts predict that stock markets are continuing to fall.
2D Analysts predict that stock markets continue to fall.
 Future tenses 2
3A We will inform you if there are any new developments.
3B We are going to inform you if there are any new
developments.
3C We inform you if there are any new developments.
3D We are informing you if there are any new
developments.

4A I’m leaving now, so I see you tomorrow.

4B I’m leaving now, so I’m seeing you tomorrow.
4C I’m leaving now, so I’m going to see you tomorrow.
4D I’m leaving now, so I’ll see you tomorrow.
 Future tenses 3
5A When I get paid, I’m going to buy a new
computer.
5B When I get paid, I’ll buy a new computer.
5C When I get paid, I buy a new computer.
5D When I get paid, I’m buying a new
computer.