5 BASIC TENSES

Soraya Grabiella Dinamika, M.A

Content
1. Simple Past Tense
2. Simple Present Tense
3. Present Continuous Tense
4. Simple Future Tense
5. Present Perfect Tense
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SIMPLE PAST TENSE

is used to tell about the completed actions in the past.
 Simple Past Tense 4

TIME SIGNAL

Yesterday Regular Verb Irregular Verb

The day before yesterday
A little while ago Follow a regular pattern in changing Has its own unique tenses form, in
A long time ago the word with the same base, simply which the changes is different with
An hour ago by adding the suffix ‘d/ed’ the base.
One week ago
Last week
Last month Called as 'weak verbs Called as strong verbs
Last year
Last Sunday
This morning
Recently V1 V2 V3 V1 V2 V3
In 1993 Fly Flied Flied Begin Began Begun
When I was…
When you were… Look Looked Looked See Saw Seen
Talk Talked Talked Sing Sang Sung

FORMULA
Affirmative Sentence (+)
S + V2 + O/C
Negative Sentence (-)
S + did not/didn’t + V1 + O/C
Interrogative Sentence (?)
Did + S + V1 + O/C ?
Or
Did not + S + V1 + O/C ?
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Affirmative Sentence (+)
 The news anchor delivered the news interestingly.
 The journalist interviewed the Minister of Education last Tuesday.
 Jim and I witnessed the bank robbery.
Negative Sentence (-)
 The news anchor didn’t deliver the news interestingly.
 The journalist didn’t interview the Minister of Education last Tuesday.
 Jim and I didn’t witness the bank robbery.
Interrogative Sentence (?)
 Did the news anchor deliver the news interestingly?
 Did the journalist interview the Minister of Education last Tuesday?
 Did Jim and you witness the bank robbery?
SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE
is used to describe an action that is regular, true, or normal.
 Simple Present Tense

Telling regular habits

or daily routines

Telling facts or Usually

always
generalizations Often
Sometimes
Occasionally
Generally TIME
Seldom SIGNAL
Everyday
Scheduled events in Every week
Every month
near future Annually
Monthly
Never
First, second, then
 Simple Present Tense

Affirmative Sentence (+)

 I learn English subject every Wednesday.
 Washington D.C. is the capital of the USA.
 The train leaves for Bekasi at 7 am every day.

Negative Sentence (-)

 I don’t learn English subject every Wednesday.
 Washington D.C is not the capital of the USA. FORMULA
 The train does not leave for Bekasi at 7 am every day. Affirmative Sentence (+)
S + V1 + O/C
 Interrogative Sentence (?) S + V1 + s/es + O/C
 Do you learn English subject every Wednesday? S + to be (is,am,are) + O/C
 Is Washington D.C. is the capital of the USA? Negative Sentence (-)
 Does the train leave for Bekasi at 7 am every day? S + do not/ does not + V1 + O/C
S + to be (is,am,are) + not + O/C

Interrogative Sentence (?)

Do/does + S + V1 + O/C ?
To be (is,am,are) + S + O/C ?
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PRESENT CONTINUOUS TENSE

is used to describe actions that are ongoing in that current moment, or in the near future.
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Action Fixed plans

TIME SIGNAL
happening at
the moment of
in the near
At the moment
speaking future
At this moment
Now
Right now
Current Repeated
Today Temporary irritating
Look! actions actions
Listen!

FORMULA
Affirmative Sentence (+)
S + to be (is, am, are) + V-ing + O/C
Negative Sentence (-)
S + to be (is, am, are) + not + V-ing + O/C
Interrogative Sentence (?)
To be + S + V-ing + O/C ?
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Affirmative Sentence (+)
 The city major is giving a speech in the open public space right now.
 The World Cup contingents are going to Qatar this November.
 Frank is always coming late.
Negative Sentence (-)
 The city major is not giving a speech in the open public space right now.
 The World Cup contingents are not going to Qatar this November.
 Frank is not always coming late.
Interrogative Sentence (?)
 Is the city major giving a speech in the open public space right now?
 Are the World Cup contingents going to Qatar this November?
 Is Frank always coming late?
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SIMPLE FUTURE TENSE

is used to represent an action that takes place in the future
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TIME SIGNAL
Will
• Offering a voluntary action
/ • Responding to complaint
Tomorrow shal
The day after l
tomorrow
In f years Will
• Expressing promise and expectation
In an hour / • Showing polite request
Later shal
Soon
l
Next year/ next week
• Expressing a plan
Next Monday
Be • Showing certain intention in the future
In the future goin
g to

FORMULA
Affirmative Sentence (+)
S + will/ shall + V1 + O/C
S + to be (is,am,are) + going to + v1 + O/C
Negative Sentence (-)
S + will/ shall + not + V1 + O/C
S + to be (is,am,are) + not + going to + v1 +
O/C
Interrogative Sentence (?)
will/ shall + S + V1 + O/C
to be (is,am,are) + S + going to + v1 + O/C
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Affirmative Sentence (+)
 I will send you the information about the job vacancy.
 Kim will translate the application letter into English.
 We are going to meet the official representative at 8 am tomorrow.
Negative Sentence (-)
 I will not send you the information about the job vacancy.
 Kim will not translate the application letter into English.
 We are not going to meet the official representative at 8 am tomorrow.
Interrogative Sentence (?)
 Will you send me the information about the job vacancy?
 Will Kim translate the application letter into English?
 Are we going to meet the official representative at 8 am tomorrow?
PRESENT PERFECT TENSE
is used for past actions that are related to or continue into the present.
Ongoing action that has started in the past, but has
not been completed TIME SIGNAL

Already
Just
To add significance to a completed action Yet
Never
Ever
How long…?
An uncompleted action that is expected to be
For
finished
Since
Affirmative Sentence (+)
 The professor has taught chemistry here for almost two decades.
 I have seen this movie six times.
 I have met the love of my life. FORMULA

Affirmative Sentence (+)

Negative Sentence (-) S + has/have + V3 + O/C
 The professor has not taught chemistry here for almost two decades.
 I have not seen this movie six times. Negative Sentence (-)
 I have not met the love of my life. S + has/have + not + V3 + O/C

Interrogative Sentence (?)

Has/have + S + V3 + O/C?
Interrogative Sentence (?)
 Has the professor taught chemistry here for almost two decades?
 Have you seen this movie six times?
 Have you met the love of your life?