Grammar

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English uses present and past verb tenses to refer to present and past times. These are formed by conjugating the base form of the main verb. In English, future time is expressed using modals or present tenses; there are no grammatical endings to indicate the future.

Three aspects provide more information about the relationship between the action or state expressed by the main verb and time.

  1. The simple aspect is neutral and focuses our attention on facts and actions.
  2. The progressive aspect indicates that an action or event is or was in progress.
  3. The perfect aspect links two points in time.
  4. The progressive and perfect aspects can combine to show that an action or event is or was in progress between two linked points in time.
Simple Present
Affirmative She works.
Negative She does not work.
Interrogative Does she work?
Form I, you, we, they work | he, she, it works
Uses
  • repeated actions
  • facts
  • actions taking place one after another
  • action set by a timetable or schedule
Present Progressive
Affirmative He is reading.
Negative He is not reading.
Interrogative Is he reading?
Form To be (in the simple present) + verb + ing
Uses
  • action taking place at the moment of speaking
  • action arranged for the future
Simple Past
Affirmative I cried.
Negative I did not cry
Interrogative Did I cry?
Form Regular verbs: Verb + ed | Irregular verbs: forms differ
Uses
  • action in the past taking place once, never or several times
  • actions taking place one after another
Past Progressive
Affirmative He was driving.
Negative He was not driving.
Interrogative Was he driving?
Form to be (in the simple past) + verb + ing
Uses
  • action going on at a certain time in the past
  • actions taking place at the same time
  • action in the past that is interrupted by another action
Present Perfect Simple
Affirmative They have slept.
Negative They have not slept.
Interrogative Have they slept?
Form Have / has + past participle (past participle of regular verbs: verb + ed | Past participle of irregular verbs: forms differ
Uses
  • emphasis is on the result (not the duration)
  • action that started in the past & is still going on
  • action that stopped recently
  • finished action that has an influence on the present
Present Perfect Progressive
Affirmative He has been thinking.
Negative He has not been thinking.
Interrogative Has he been thinking?
Form have or has + been + verb + ing
Uses
  • putting emphasis on the course or duration (not the result)
  • action that recently stopped or is still going on
  • finished action that influenced the present
Past Perfect
Affirmative She had won.
Negative She had not won.
Interrogative Had she won?
Form had + past participle (past participle of regular verbs: verb + ed | Past participle of irregular verbs: forms differ)
Uses
  • action taking place before a certain time in the past
  • sometimes interchangeable with past perfect progressive
  • putting emphasis only on the fact (not the duration)
Future (will)
Affirmative I will open the door.
Negative I will not open the door.
Interrogative Will you open the door?
Form will + verb
Uses
  • We use will for instant decisions.
  • We use will when we predict a future situation
  • We use will in conditional I sentences.
Future (going to)
Affirmative He is going to clean the car.
Negative He is not going to clean the car.
Interrogative Is he going to clean the car?
Form to be (in the simple present) + going + to + verb
Uses
  • to express the future when we intend to do something or have decided to do something but did not arrange it.
  • predictions in the future

Professional presentations – Grammar