This document provides a summary and examples of different English verb tenses including: 1. Simple Present, Present Continuous, Present Perfect, Simple Past, Past Continuous, Past Perfect, Would Like To, Future with Will, and Future: Be Going To. 2. Each tense is defined and examples are provided to illustrate their structure and usage. Key points about when each tense is used are highlighted such as to describe habitual actions, ongoing actions, completed actions, plans/predictions for the future. 3. Over 20 verb tense examples are given for each one to demonstrate them in full sentences. The document serves as a helpful reference guide for the different English verb tenses.

1. P RIVATE SCH OOL
IBE ROAME RICA NO
ENGLISH TENSES
NAME:
VANESSA SOLANO
COURSE:
6TO “CONTABILIDAD”
TEACHER:
OMAR INTRIAGO
SANTO DOMINGO, DECEMBER
26/12/2012
SIMPLE PRESENT
Definition:
The present simple or simple present is one of the most common
ways of expressing present time in English. The present simple is
used to describe things that are generally true, to describe things
that happen on a regular basis or to describe a series of events or
actions. It is also used in film reviews and plot summaries.
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2. We often use the simple present with adverbs of frequency like:
always usually, often, sometimes, never; and expressions of
frequency, for instance: everyday, once a month, every year.
The present simple is also used to talk about fixed arrangements in
the future; or to express the future after the conjunctions: as soon
as, after, when.
Structure:
subject + auxiliaryverb + mainverb
do base
There are three important exceptions:
1. For positive sentences, we do not normally use the auxiliary.
2. For the 3rd person singular (he, she, it), we add s to the main
verb or es to the auxiliary.
3. For the verb to be, we do not use an auxiliary, even for
questions and negatives.
Examples:
Look at these examples with the main verb like:
subject auxiliaryverb mainverb
+ I, you, we, they like coffee.
He, she, it likes coffee.
- I, you, we, they do not like coffee.
He, she, it does not like coffee.
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3. ? Do I, you, we, they like coffee?
Does he, she, it like coffee?
I live in New York.
The Moon goes round the Earth.
John drives a taxi.
He does not drive a bus.
WemeeteveryThursday.
We do not work at night.
Do youplayfootball?
PRESENT CONTINUOUS
Definition:
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.
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4. We use the present continuous tense to talk about:
action happening now
action in thefuture
Structure:
The structure of the present continuous tense is:
subject + auxiliaryverb + mainverb
be base + ing
Examples:
Look at theseexamples:
subject auxiliaryverb mainverb
+ I am speaking toyou.
+ You are reading this.
- She is not staying in London.
- We are not playing football.
? Is he watching TV?
? Are they waiting for John?
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5. I am eating my lunch.
Muriel is learning to drive.
I am living with my sister until I find an apartment.
We're eating in a restaurant tonight. We've already booked the
table..
They can play tennis with you tomorrow. They're not working.
When are you starting your new job?
I'm meeting Katie in the evening.
He's flying to Rome in September.
We're not going anywhere tomorrow.
PRESENT PERFECT
Definition:
The present perfect is formed by combining the auxiliary verb "has"
or "have" with the past participle.
We use the Present Perfect 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
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6. 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.
Structure:
The structure for positive sentences in the past present perfect is:
subject + auxiliaryverb + mainverb
have pastparticiple
The structure for negative sentences in the past present perfect is:
subject + auxiliaryverb + mainverb
Haven’t pastparticiple
Examples:
Here are some examples of the present perfect tense:
subject auxiliaryverb mainverb
+ I have seen ET.
+ You have eaten mine.
- She has not been to Rome.
- We have not played football.
? Have you finished?
? Have they done it?
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7. You have seen that movie many times.
Have you seen that movie many times?
You have not seen that movie many times.
I have seen that movie twenty times.
I think I have met him once before.
There have been many earthquakes in California.
People have traveled to the Moon.
People have not traveled to Mars.
Have you read the book yet?
Nobody has ever climbed that mountain.
A: Has there ever been a war in the United States?
B: Yes, there has been a war in the United States.
SIMPLE PAST
Definition:
We use the Past Simple to talk about actions that happened at a
specific time in the past. The actions can be short or long. There can
be a few actions happening one ofter another.
Also use simple past when:
action in the past taking place once, never or several times
He visited his parents every weekend.
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8. actions in the past taking place one after the other
Example: He came in, took off his coat and sat down.
action in the past taking place in the middle of another action
When I was having breakfast, the phone suddenly rang.
if sentences type II (If I talked, …)
If I had a lot of money, I would share it with you.
Structure:
The structure for positive sentences in the past simple tense is:
subject + auxiliaryverb + mainverb
Simple past
The structure for negative sentences in the past simple tense is:
subject + auxiliaryverb + mainverb
Didn’t base
The structure for question sentences in the past simple tense is:
auxiliaryverb + subject + mainverb
did base
The auxiliary verb did is not conjugated. It is the same for all
persons (I did, you did, he did etc). And the base form and past form
do not change. Look at these examples with the main
verbs go andwork:
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9. subject auxiliaryverb mainverb
+ I went toschool.
You worked veryhard.
- She did not go with me.
We did not work yesterday.
? Did you go to London?
Did they work at home?
Examples:
I didn't see a play yesterday.
Last year, I traveled to Japan.
Last year, I didn't travel to Korea.
Did you have dinner last night?
She washed her car.
He didn't wash his car.
A: How long did you wait for them?
B: We waited for one hour.
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10. POST CONTINUOUS
Definition:
Use the Past Continuous to indicate that a longer action in the past
was interrupted. The interruption is usually a shorter action in the
Simple Past. Remember this can be a real interruption or just an
interruption in time.
The Past Continuous is interrupted by a shorter action in the Simple
Past. However, you can also use a 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.
Structure:
The structure of the past continuous tense is:
subject + auxiliaryverb BE + mainverb
conjugated in simple past tense presentparticiple
was base + ing
were
For negative sentences in the past continuous tense, we
insert not between the auxiliary verb and main verb. For question
sentences, we exchange the subject and auxiliary verb. Look at
these example sentences with the past continuous tense:
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11. subject auxiliaryverb mainverb
+ I was watching TV.
+ You were working hard.
- He, she, it was not helping Mary.
- We were not joking.
? Were you being silly?
? Were they playing football
Examples:
I was watching TV when she called.
When the phone rang, she was writing a letter.
While we were having the picnic, it started to rain.
What were you doing when the earthquake started?
I was listening to my iPod, so I didn't hear the fire alarm.
You were not listening to me when I told you to turn the oven
off.
While John was sleeping last night, someone stole his car.
Sammy was waiting for us when we got off the plane.
While I was writing the email, the computer suddenly went off.
A: What were you doing when you broke your leg?
B: I wassnowboarding.
Last night at 6 PM, I was eating dinner.
At midnight, we were still driving through the desert.
Yesterday at this time, I was sitting at my desk at work.
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12. PAST PERFECT
Definition:
We use the Past Perfect tense to emphasize that an action in the
past finished before another action in the past started. This tense is
also used in reported speech, third conditional sentences, or to
show dissatisfaction with the past.
We use the past present tense to talk about:
Completed action before another action in the past, use of this
tense is to emphasize that one action in the past happened
before another action in the past.
Third conditional sentences.
Reported speech
Dissatisfaction with the past
Structure:
The structure of the past perfect tense is:
subject + auxiliaryverb HAVE + mainverb
conjugated in simple past tense pastparticiple
had V3
For negative sentences in the past perfect tense, we insert not between
the auxiliary verb and main verb. For question sentences, we exchange
the subject and auxiliary verb. Look at these example sentences with
the past perfect tense:
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13. subject auxiliaryverb mainverb
+ I had finished mywork.
+ You had stopped before me.
- She had not gone toschool.
- We had not left.
? Had you arrived?
? Had they eaten dinner?
Examples:
I had never seen such a beautiful beach before I went to
Kauai.
I did not have any money because I had lost my wallet.
Tony knew Istanbul so well because he had visited the city
several times.
Had Susan ever studied Thai before she moved to Thailand?
She only understood the movie because she had read the
book.
Kristine had never been to an opera before last night.
We were not able to get a hotel room because we had not
booked in advance.
A: Had you ever visited the U.S. before your trip in 2006?
B: Yes, I had been to the U.S. once before.
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14. WOULD LIKE TO
Definition:
“Would like to” is always accompanied by an infinitive, are
constructed by inverting the auxiliary and the subject.
“Would like to” refers to something more concrete. Often used as an
offer, or ask for something.
would is the same for all persons...We generally use it with the first
person singular: I'd like = I would like is a polite way of saying what
you want.
Structure:
Would like + subject + (infinitive) + to + verb (infinitive)
Subject + would + bareinfinitive
('d) contraction
I would like adrink.
You would like a mineral.
He /She would like somewater.
/It
We /they would like agoodwine.
What + would + subject like?
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15. Whichwine would you like?
Which vegetables would you like?
Whichbrand would you like?
Examples:
Would you like to go the cinema?
Would you like to come?
I’d like some coffee, would you like some too?
Would you like a chocolate?
Would you like to go to the cinema this evening?
She’d like to speak with you for a moment.
What would you like to do this weekend?
I like Cuban cigars.
I'd like a Cuban cigar.
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16. FUTURE WITH WILL
Definition:
Will future expresses a spontaneous decision, an assumption with
regard to the future or an action in the future that cannot be
influenced.
Use of will Future
a spontaneousdecision
Example: Wait, I will help you.
an opinion, hope, uncertainty or assumption regarding the
future
Example: He will probably come back tomorrow.
a promise
Example: I will not watch TV tonight.
an action in the future that cannot be influenced
Example: It will rain tomorrow.
conditionalclausestype I
Example: If I arrive late, I will call you.
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17. Structure:
Positive
Subject + [WILL + Infinitive verb] + Complement
Negative
Subject + [WILL NOT (WON'T)+ Infinitive verb] + Complement
Question
Question Word + [WILL + Subject + Infinitive verb] + Complement
Examples:
Tom will never get married.
She will pay you next week.
It won’t rain today
Seth and Tom won’t come to class today.
I won’t be late anymore.
What will youstudy?
Will Maria live in Spain?
How long will Mark stay in Peru?
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18. FUTURE: BE GOING TO
Definition:
Going to future expresses a conclusion regarding the immediate
future or an action in the near future that has already been planned
or prepared.
Structure:
Subject + to be + going to + infinitive
Positive
Subject VerbTo be Goingto Infinitive
I Am dance
He / She / It Is Goingto Study
We / You / They Are Go shopping
Negative
Subject VerbTo be + not Goingto Infinitive
I Am not Clean
He / She / It Isnot (isn’t) Goingto Cook
We / You / They Are not (aren’t) travel
Question
Question Word VerbTo Be Subject Goingto Infinitive
What Am not I Do
Where Isnot (isn’t) He / She / It Goingto Go
—————– Are not (aren’t) We / You / They travel
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19. Examples:
Maria’s going to travel this holiday.
They’re going to go to a very expensive restaurant.
I’m going to come home late.
I’m not going to go to the party.
Juan isn’t going to work today.
They aren’t going to stay at that hotel.
What are you going to do later?
What is she going to cook?
Are they going to attend the meeting?
Where is Maria going to study?
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20. INDICE
SIMPLE PRESENT ............................................................................. 1
PRESENT CONTINUOUS................................................................... 3
PRESENT PERFECT .......................................................................... 5
SIMPLE PAST ..................................................................................... 7
POST CONTINUOUS .........................................................................10
PAST PERFECT ................................................................................12
WOULD LIKE TO ...............................................................................14
FUTURE WITH WILL .........................................................................16
FUTURE: BE GOING TO ...................................................................18
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