9 graders: Verb Tenses

Present SIMPLE

• Add “-s” or “-es” to the third person singular.
• It’s used to describe a daily routine.
• And to describe a fact which is always true.
• Needs the aux. verb to do to build the negative and interrogative forms.
• Examples:                  I always eat my breakfast at home.

                                         They don’t wake up at 6.45.

                                         Are you ready to go to school?

Present CONTINUOUS

• Am /is/are + V + ing
• It’s used to describe an action that is happening at the moment we are speaking.
• It’s also used to talk about an action that is still going on and that is not finished yet.
• Examples:                  I am writing in English.

What is he studying now?

Present PERFECT

• Have/ has + past participle (of the main verb)
• You write in the present perfect when you want to refer to an action that has occurred at an indefinite time in the past.
• Examples:                  I haven’t had problems with my studies yet.

                                         Have you ever read this book?

Present PERFECT CONTINUOUS

• Have/ has been + -ing
• You use it to talk about something that started in the past but that is still being done in the present.
• Examples:                  What have you been doing lately?

                                         Fashion has been changing for centuries.

Past SIMPLE

• Regular verbs – end in “-ed”
• Irregular verbs
• You use it to talk about a finished action in the past
• Needs the aux. verb to do in the past (did) to build the negative and interrogative forms.
• Express events in a chronological order
• Examples:                  Last week we were still on the beach.

                                         We didn’t use Internet during our holidays.

                                         Did you go to school yesterday?

Past CONTINUOUS

• Was/ were + V + -ing
• It’s used to talk about an action that was taking place in the past at the same time as another action, also in the past.
• Example:                   

Dad was making a speech when we were at the table.

Past PERFECT

• Had + verb in the past participle
• It’s used to talk about an action that occurred before another one in a certain moment the past.
• Example:                   

They had already read the book when the teacher asked them to read it.

Past PERFECT CONTINUOUS

• Had + been + V + -ing
• It’s used to give emphasis to how long an action took.
• Example:       

They had been playing for over 90 minutes, so they felt exhausted.

 Future

WITH “WILL”

o   Will + infinitive

o   Used to make a prediction or a promise and to express a decision made at the time of speaking.

o   Example:                      

You will never be far away.

WITH “BE GOING TO”

• Am/ is/ are + going to + infinitive
• To talk about an intention or something that has already been decided.
• Examples:                 

It’s going to be a wonderful day.

      Is he going to Cuba?