TENSES BOARD
These are your options when you use a verb. Choose a time or mode (in yellow) and then decide whether it has to be simple or continuous.
Note that to build the continuous form you must use "be" in the simple form and then the verb +-ing.
SIMPLE CONTINUOUS (BE+ING)
PRESENT I work I’m working
(he works!)
PAST I
worked I was working
PRESENT I have worked I have been working
PERFECT
PAST I
had worked I had been
working
PERFECT
MODAL I will work I will be working
VERBS I will have worked I will have been working
List of modal verbs: will, would, can, could, may/might, must, should/ought to, needn’t)
To be
I'm (am)/ I’m not
He, she, it’s (is) , isn’t (is not)
We, you, they’re (are), aren’t (are not)
Am I…? Are you…? Is he…?
to have got
I, you, we, they (ha)‘ve got / haven’t got
Have you got? Yes, I have / no, I haven´t
he,she,it (ha)’s got / hasn’t got
Has he got? Yes, he has / no, he hasn’t
OTHER VERBS
All the other verbs (including "to have") use the auxiliary "do" for negative and interrogative forms and take an "s" on the third person (he,she,it) in the affirmative form.
I, you, we
they live/work/play/say/have…
He,she,it lives/works/plays/says/has…
I don’t live… (don't = do not)
He doesn’t live… (doesn't = does not)
Do you
live…? Yes, I do / no, I don’t.
Does he live…?
In these examples, compare "I, you, we, they" to "he, she, it"
My name is Aurélien Caillaud. I’m not English, I’m French.I’m
from Nantes in France. I’m 48 (years old). I’m a self-employed teacher. I teach
English and french but I don’t teach German. I don't live in France, I live in Burgos, in Spain. I’m not
married but I live with my partner María and we have (or we’ve got) two
children. I also have
two older brothers who live in France with my parents. I have (or I’ve got) two
nephews and two nieces.
Questions:
Are you English? How old are you? What do you do?
What do you teach? Where do you live?
Do you have (or have you got) any children?
My English teacher’s name is Aurélien Caillaud. He’s
french. He’s from Nantes in France. He’s 48 (years old). He’s a self-employed teacher.
He teaches English
and french but he doesn't teach. He doesn't live in France, he lives
in Burgos, in Spain. He’s not married but he lives with his partner María and they have two
children. He also has two older brothers who
live in France with his parents, they don't live in Spain. He has (or he's got) two nephews and two nieces.
Questions:
Is he English? How old is he? What does he do ?
What does he teach? Where does he live?
Does he have (or has he got) any children?
Present Continuous
"Be" in present simple + verb+-ing
I'm (not)...
you're (not)...
he's (not)...
she's (not)... ...working
it's (not)...
we're (not)...
you're (not)...
they?re (not)...
Am I (not)...
Are you/we/they (not)... ...working?
Is he/she/it (not)...
Examples
What are you and your sister (they) doing?
I'm watching T.V and my sister (she)'s having a shower.
USES
The Present Simple is used for what happens on a regular basis or general truths :
I play basket ball every Wednesday. (regularly)
Water boils at 100º. (general truth)
The Present Continuous is used for what is currently happening:
I'm watching T.V. (now)
He's working on a project. (currently)
I play basket ball but I'm not playing now. I usually play on Sundays. At the moment me and my team are doing good but the season is long.
Exercises
Present Simple or Continuous 1 Exercise 2
Exercise 3 Exercise 3 with answers
Past Simple
To be
I, he, she, it was / wasn't
We, you, they were/ weren't
Was I, he, she, it …? Were you, we, they…?
OTHER VERBS
All the verbs use the auxiliary "did" for negative and interrogative forms and take "ed" in the affirmative form.
I, you, he, she, it, we they lived/worked/played...
(if the infinitive ends with an "e" you only had "d" : live-d)
I didn’t live… (didn't = did not)
Did you live…? Yes, I did / no, I didn’t.
There are a lot of irregular verbs in the affirmative form.
Examples
I worked yesterday but I didn't work on Saturday. I went to the city center and met with my friends. We played video games at the Game Store and then ate pizza. Did we eat ice cream? No, we didn't.
Past Continuous
"Be" in past simple + verb+-ing
I, he, she, it was (not)... working
you, we, they were (not)... working
Was I, he, she, it (not)... working?
Are you/we/they (not)... working?
Examples
What were you and your sister (they) doing at 10 this morning?
I was watching T.V and my sister (she)wass having a shower.
USES
The Past Simple is used for past completed actions:
I played basket ball last Wednesday. (action completed)
I got/didn't get home at 10 p.m. (action completed)
The Past Continuous is used for past actions in progress:
I was watching T.V. (action in progress)
He wasn't working on a project. (action in progress)
The past continuous describes what was happening at a precise moment in the past (at a certain time or when something happened (past simple).
I was watching T.V. at 10 p.m. and my sister was having a shower,
I wasn't watching T.V. when you got home.
They were working on a project when the company went bankrupt.
Exercises
Past Simple/Continuous 1 Past Simple/Continuous 2
Answers 2
Used /to and Would (Past habits)
Lesson Lesson + exercise Exercise 1 Exercise 2
PERFECT
"Have" in present simple + past participle
The past participle and past simple (regular affirmative verbs) have the same form.
I, you we, they have (not) lived, worked, played ...
He, she, it has (not) lived, worked, played...
Have (not) I, you, we, they lived, worked, played...?
Has (not) he, she, it lived, worked, played...?
There are a lot of irregular past participles.
Examples
Have you been to paris? No, I haven't.
He hasn't finished his homework.
They've played basket ball 3 times this week,
Present Perfect Continuous
Be in present perfect + verb+ing
I, you we, they have (not) been living, working, playing ...
He, she, it has (not) been living, working, playing ...
Have (not) I, you, we, they been living, working, playing ...?
Has (not) he, she, it been living, working, playing ...?
Examples
Haven't you been running? No, I haven't.
He's (has) been living in Paris for 3 years.
They've been seeing each other ever since.
Uses
The Present Perfect has always a connection with now.
From past (= perfect) to present (still true or not)
In my life until now (We don’t know/say when)
Recent actions with consequence on the present
(often used with "So far, yet, just , already, recently, ever, never…")
Present perfect simple : how many times in your life, from past to present still true or just finished, already, just, yet ..., the action has a consequence on the present,
Present perfect continuous : progressive from past to present still true or we don't know
Examples
I've been to Paris three times. (how many times in my life until now)
He's had several cup of coffees today, (From beginning of the day until now, the day is not finished, he may have more cups of coffees)
I haven't finished yet (consequence: it is not over now)
We've just finished (consequence: it is over)
They've been living in Paris for 3 years. (progressive from past to present, still true)
The simple form focuses on the result of an action whereas the continuous form focuses on the process of the action :
She's painted the wall. ( consequence : It is finished)
She's been painting the wall (we don't know if it is finished or not)
Exercises
Full lesson and exercises Simple or Continuous 1 Answers
Simple or Continuous 2 Answers
Past simple vs Present perfect
The main difference between the two is that the Past Simple refers to the Past only with a precise past context and The Present perfect takes into consideration both past and present but with no reference to when it happened. With the Past simple, we know when the action happened (from the context or precising a past moment)
Examples
I played basket ball yesterday (we say when it happened)
When I was a child, I went to Paris. I thaught the city was great and I loved the food... (a past context is put and then the following actions in the following sentences agree with the context)
I've been to Paris when I was a child
She's been to Paris twice this year.(from past to present, the year is not finished, we don't say/know when she went exactly)
I did my homework this afternoon, (we say when)
I've done my homework. (recently finished but we don't say when)
Exercises
Full lesson (in spanish) + exercises
Present perfect/Past simple 1 Present perfect/Past simple 2
Past Perfect Simple
"Have" in past simple + past participle
I, you we, they had (not) lived, worked, played ...
Had (not) I, you, he ,she, it we, they lived, worked, played...?
Past Perfect Continuous
"Be" in past perfect + verb+ing
I, you, he, she, it, we, they had (not) been living, working, playing ...
Had (not) I, you, he, she, it we, they been living, working, playing ...?
Uses
Same use as Present perfect but in a past context. Instead of "from past to present" it's "from a past moment to another later past moment",
Examples
I'd (had) been to Paris three times before I came to live here. (how many times in my life before another later past moment )
He'd had several cup of coffees that day, (From beginning of a past day until the end of the day)
I hadn't finished yet (consequence: it was not over then)
We'd just finished (consequence: it was over)
They'd been living in Paris for 3 years when the war was declared. (progressive from past to another past)
The simple form focuses on the result of an action whereas the continuous form focuses on the process of the action :
She'd painted the wall. ( consequence : It is finished)
She'd been painting the wall (we don't know if it was finished or not)
Exercises
Past perfect simple/continuous
DIFFERENT TENSES TO EXPRESS THE FUTURE
ARRANGEMENT/PLANS (people :present continuous, things : present simple),
DECISION OR PREDICTION (be going to or will)
TENSE AGREEMENT (present simple, will)
What are
you going to do after class today?
I’m going to sleep for an hour because I’m tired and then
I will study.
Tomorrow , I’m taking a plane at 10h.
PRESENT SIMPLE FOR
OFFICIAL EVENTS(IMPERSONAL)
The meeting starts at 10 o’clock.
The train leaves at 11h34.
The exam is/starts
at 8.
PRESENT CONTINUOUS
FOR ARRANGEMENTS (PERSONAL)
I’m starting work at
10 tomorrow morning.
She’s leaving at
11h34 on Monday.
They’re
presenting the project this afternoon.
When are
you getting married ?
BE GOING TO FOR
INTENTIONS/THOUGHT DECISIONS
They’re going
to take up english classes next year.
She’s going to
tell him that it’s over.
I’m going to
give up smoking.
BE GOING TO FOR
PREDICTIONS BASED ON WHAT YOU’VE SEEN OR HEARD
The president is going to resign. (I’ve heard it on the radio)
It’s going to
rain. ( I’m seeing dark clouds)
WILL FOR
SPONTANEOUS DECISIONS
Mary doesn’t know ? Well, I’ll tell her tomorrow.
-Someone’s knocking at the door! - Ok, I’ll go and see who it is.
You don’t know where I live ? Ok, I’ll show you.
I think I will go to bed early tonight.
WILL FOR
PREDICTIONS BASED ON EXPERIENCE OR INTUITION AND AFTER VERBS OF OPINION
Take two pills tonight and you’ll feel better in the morning.
In ten years time, cars will all be electrical.
She believes they will accept her offer.
PRESENT SIMPLE AND
WILL IN TENSE AGREEMENT
If it rains tomorrow, we won’t go.
We’ll start as soon as/when she comes.
Unless they say otherwise, you’ll follow the
rules.
Exercises
Exercise 1 Exercise 2 Answers 2
will, would, can, could, must, mustn't, should = ought to, needn’t , may/might
There are four options to use the modal verbs according to the same rules seen for the tenses above. The form after the modal is always infinitive (verb or auxiliaries "be" or "have").
Might (not) do Might (not) be doing
Might (not) have done Might (not) have been doing
Interrogative form
Modal verbs work as auxiliaries :
Will you come tomorrow? Would she have done it?
What must teachers do? What might they be doing?
Would
Conditionnal
If I had the time, I would do lots of things. I would hang out with my friends and we would play football.
They would be enjoying with us right now if they had come.
she wouldn't have accepted if you had asked her.
What would you like to drink? I'd like a coke, please.
Past routine
At the beggining of August I started to train again and
so I ‘d/would do mostly
the same everyday. I ‘d/would
meet my friends every morning and then I’d have lunch at home. In the
afternoon I ‘d go to
the swimming pool and then in the evening I ‘d go to train. After that, I ‘d go back home, have a shower and have dinner. Finally, I ‘d meet my friends until
midnight and then go to
bed.
Will
Negative : won't (will not)
Future
I will tell her tomorrow. She won't be expecting it.
Will they have left by the time I come home?
= accept, want
Will you marry me? Yes, I will.
I told him many times but he won't do it!
Can/could
Can: Present
Could: Past simple and Conditionnal
(Un)ability, (in)capacity, (im)possibility, (im)probability, prohibition
I can/could play the guitar but I can't/couldn't play the piano. (ability/unability)
Can/ Could you lift this stone? (capacity)
This problem can't/couldn't be resolved. (possibility)
I could have helped you if you had asked me (conditionnal possibility/capacity)
He can't have done it, he wasn't there, (improbability/impossibility)
You can't smoke here! (prohibition, not allowed)
"Can" has no future form so "equivalents" are used instead
Equivalents: to be able to , to be capable of, to be allowed to, to be (im)possible, (im)probable...
May/might
50/50 probability (= maybe, perhaps, probable that…)
He may/might go to the cinema tonight. (future probability)
I might not be selected for the match tomorrow (future improbability)
They may/might have been sleeping when we called, (past probability)
Must
High probability
He must be sleeping, I can't hear him.
You must have been tired after that long journey.
Obligation
You must do your homework!
They must do their job, it's their duty.
Equivalents : to have to, to be one's obligation to...
Mustn't
Obligation not to
You mustn't cross the street when the light is red!
You mustn't tell lies!
Needn’t
No necessity
You needn't worry, everything's fine!
You needn't have brought the book because I've got it.
Equivalents : not have to, to be not necessary
Should, ought to
Advice, reproach, regret
You should study more for the exams, (advice)
She shouldn't do that, it's dangerous.(advice)
They should have told me first! Now, it's too late! (reproach)
We shouldn't have been sleeping at that moment, (regret, reproach)
Exercises
Modals present 1 Modal present 2 Modals past 1
Modals past 2 Modals past 3 Modals past 4
Modals present and past 1 Modals present and past 2
Exercise 1 Exercise 2 Exercise 3
Subjunctive lesson 1 Subjunctive lesson 2
Be + Past Participle
In the passivevoice the Complement of the active voice becomes the Subject and the verb (past participle) is preceded by "be" ("be" must agree with the tense of the active voice). The subject of the action is then used as a complement introduced by "by" (if the speaker considers it is necessary to mention.)
The President is giving a speech. (Active voice: the subject does the action)
A speech is being given by the President. (Passive voice: the subject doesn't do the action)
They arrested the thief. (active voice) / The thief was arrested. (passive voice)
We often use the passive:
- so that we can start a sentence with the most important or most logical information
- when we prefer not to mention who or what does the action (for example, it's not known, it's obvious or we don't want to say)
- in more formal or scientific writing.
The interview was recorded yesterday.
Cleaner sources of energy must be developed.
An electrical fault is believed to have caused the power cut.
Exercises
Passive voice Active/Passive voice
The impersonal and personal passive
The impersonal passive is used with reporting verbs such as allege, believe, claim, consider, estimate, expect, know, report, say, think, understand, etc. It reports what an unspecified group of people say or believe.
The impersonal passive has two forms:
1-Impersonal
it + be + past participle + (that) + subject + verb:
It is estimated that millions of people visit the site every year.
It is believed that the walls date from the third century BCE.
It is reported that mosquitoes transmit the disease.
It has been alleged that members ....
It was said that members...
2- Personal
someone/something + be + past participle + infinitive:
Millions of people are estimated to visit the site every year.
The walls are believed to date from the third century BCE.
Mosquitoes are reported to transmit the disease.
Members have been alledged to...
Members were said to ...
Note that the infinitive can be simple (as above), perfect (for a past action) or continuous (for an action in progress).
Millions are estimated to visit the site this year. (simple infinitive)
The walls are believed to have been built in the third century BCE. (perfect infinitive)
Mosquitoes are reported to be transmitting the disease. (continuous infinitive)
Exercises
(Im)personal Passive 1 (Im)personal Passive 2 (Im)personal Passive 3 (Im)personal 4
Passive infinitives and gerunds
We use passive infinitives or passive gerunds to describe actions which are done to the subject.
He is too young to be allowed to be here.
This place needs to be taken care of.
I don’t mind being told what to do.
He denied having been offered money to kill the senator.
When to use gerund (-ing) and infinitive
Exercises
Exercise 1 Exercise 2 Exercise 3
The passive with "get"
In informal English, get is sometimes used instead of be to form the passive.
My bike got/was stolen last night.
We got/were outplayed by the French team.
