REVISION – VERBAL TENSES

PRESENT SIMPLE
- describe routines and regular/habitual actions or permanent states;
- express a present state or a truth (scientific actions or facts).

Affirmative Negative Interrogative

subject + main verb subject + auxiliary (neg) + main verb auxiliary verb + subject + main verb ?
(don't / doesn't) (infinitive) (do / does) (infinitive)
I work I don't work Do I work?
You work You don't work Do you work?
He / She / It works He / She / It doesn't work Does he / she / it work?
We work We don't work Do we work?
You work You don't work Do you work?
They work They don't work Do they work?

To form the affirmative form we use the infinitive without to (love) Expressions used:
and to form the 3rd person singular in the affirmative form we add s but: always usually
- vowel + y - add s often sometimes
- consonant + y - i and add es never frequently
- o, ss, sh, ch, x - add es rarely every…

PRESENT CONTINUOUS:
Expressions used:
- describe actions happening now (at the moment of speaking);
- describe repeated and annoying actions; now at the/this moment
- express fixed arrangements in the near future (arranged previously). this… at present tomorrow

Affirmative Negative Interrogative

subject + auxiliary + main verb subject + auxiliary (neg) + main verb auxiliary verb + subj. + main verb ?
(am/are/is) (gerund) (am/are/is not) (gerund) (am/are/is) (gerund)
I am working I'm not working Am I working?
You are working You aren't working Are you working?
He / She / It is working He / She / It isn't working Is he / she / it working?
We are working We aren't working Are we working?
You are working You aren't working Are you working?
They are working They aren't working Are they working?

PAST SIMPLE: Expressions used:

- talk about past actions, finished at a definite time; yesterday
- describe regular actions in the past; … ago
- express something that you think is unlikely to happen. last…

To form the affirmative form we have to make a distinction between regular and irregular verbs:

Remember: Regular verbs:

- add ed to the infinitive but:
- ending in e - add d only
- vowel + y - add ed
- consonant + y - i and add ed

Affirmative Negative Interrogative

subject + main verb subject + auxiliary (neg) + main verb auxiliary verb + subject + main verb ?
(didn't) (infinitive) (did) (infinitive)
I worked / came I didn't work / come Did I work / come?
You worked You didn't work Did you work?
He / She / It worked He / She / It didn't work Did he / she / it work?
We worked We didn't work Did we work?
You worked You didn't work Did you work?
They worked They didn't work Did they work?
PAST CONTINUOUS TO:
- describe an action happening at a particular time in the past;
- describe actions taking place at the same time in the past;
- describe an event which was happening when another one happened (the action in course was interrupted by another one in
the past)

Affirmative Negative Interrogative

subject + auxiliary + main verb subject + auxiliary (neg) + main verb auxiliary verb + subj. + main verb ?
(was/were) (gerund) (was/were not) (gerund) (was/were) (gerund)
I was working I wasn't working Was I working?
You were working You weren't working Were you working?
He / She / It was working He / She / It wasn't working Was he / she / it working?
We were working We weren't working Were we working?
You were working You weren't working Were you working?
They were working They weren't working Were they working?

Expressions used:
When + PS / PC She was sleeping when the accident happened.
While + PC While she was sleeping, the accident happened.

PRESENT PERFECT:
- describe actions which started in the past and continue to the present, with results in the present.
Ex: I have eaten eggs for breakfast since I was a child. Where’s the key? I don’t know. I’ve lost it. (I haven’t got it now.)
- talk about a recent action.
Ex: The road is closed. There has been an accident. Expressions used:
Still - negative sentences ever (alguma vez) never
(between the subject and the auxiliary verb)
just (há pouco tempo/mesmo agora)
Yet - negative and interrogative sentences
(at the end of the sentence) already yet still
Already (- affirmative and interrogative sentences since for this…
(between the auxiliary verb and the main verb)
For - + a period of time Since - + a point in time
Affirmative Negative Interrogative
subject + auxiliary + main verb subject + auxiliary (neg) + main verb auxiliary verb + subj. + main verb ?
(has/have) (p.p.) (has/have not) (p.p.) (has/have) (p.p.)
I have worked I haven't worked Have I worked?
You have worked You haven't worked Have you worked?
He / She / It has worked He / She / It hasn't worked Has he / she / it worked?
We have worked We haven't worked Have we worked?
You have worked You haven't worked Have you worked?
They have worked They haven't worked Have they worked?

BE GOING TO + INF
1. When we have already decided or we INTEND to do something in the future. (Prior Plan)
The decision has been made before the moment of speaking.
 They're going to retire to the beach - in fact they have already bought a little beach house.
 I'm going to accept the job offer.
2. When there are definite signs that something is going to happen. (Evidence)
Something is likely to happen based on the evidence or experience you have.
 I think it is going to rain - I just felt a drop.
 I don't feel well. I think I'm going to throw up. (throw up = vomit)
3. When something is about to happen:
 Get back! The bomb is going to explode.

Affirmative Negative Interrogative

subject + to be + going to + inf subject + to be neg + going to + inf (Wh-) to be + going to + inf ?

I am going to have a party I am not going to the party What are you going to do tomorrow?
It is going to rain It isn’t going to rain Is she going to the cinema?
They are going to win the match They aren’t going to win the match
WILL + INF
1. For things that we decide to do now. (Rapid Decisions)
This is when you make a decision at that moment, in a spontaneous way.
 I'll buy one for you too.
 I think I'll try one of those. (I just decided this right now)
2. When we think or believe something about the future. (Prediction)
 My team will not win the league this season.
 I think it will rain later so take an umbrella with you.
Note: You can use both Will and Going to for making future predictions.
3. To make an offer, a promise or a threat.
 I'll give you a discount if you buy it right now.
 I promise I will behave next time.
 I'll take you to the movies if you'd like.
4. You use WON'T when someone refuses to do something.
 I told him to take out the trash but he won't do it.
 My kids won't listen to anything I say.
 My car won't start.

Affirmative Negative Interrogative

subject + will + inf subject + won’t + inf (Wh-) will + inf ?

I will open the window because it is hot I won’t turn on the radio because the What will you do if it rains?
She will fall down if she jumps baby is sleeping Will you have the party?
He won’t pay you back

Complete with the correct verbal tense.

1) "Where are you going on holiday?" I don't know yet, maybe ................................................... (go)to India.
2) ................................................................(I/not/watch) TV very much.
3) Are you watching the game? It's 5 - 2, they .................................................... (win) the match!
4) Betty ......................................................(have) the same job for 15 years.
5) Don't forget that we ....................................................(go) out with Sue and Peter tonight!
6) Have you heard? Jean is pregnant – .................................................... (have) a baby.
7) How often ................................................................(you/go) on holiday ?
8) I ............................................................(know) Ann and Lesley since we were at school..
9) I .....................................................................(never/ride) a horse in my life.
10) I can't join you at the party, I ....................................................(be) away for two weeks.
11) I got up early and ..............................................................(have) a shower.
12) I saw Bob and Sam at the party, but I ................................................(not/speak) to them.
13) I think you .................................................... (like) this movie.
14) It .................................................. (rain) when we .............................................(go) out.
15) It’s a nice day today. The sun .........................................................(shine).
16) Janet and Daniel...............................................................(be) married for nine years.
17) Jo got married when she ...................................................(be) 23.
18) Look at that beautiful sky! It most certainly .................................................... (rain) today.
19) Robert had a book in his hand but he ..............................................(not/read) it.
20) The children are in the living room. They .........................................(watch) TV.
21) The floor is clean now. I ..............................................................(just/wash) it.
22) The phone ............................(ring) while Mary ........................................(cook) dinner.
23) This exercise looks really hard – I .................................................... (help) you.
24) Tom isn’t at home at the moment. He .................................................(travel) abroad.
25) We .....................................................(go) to the cinema yesterday.
26) We ................................................(not/be) hungry, so we didn’t stay for lunch.
27) We .................................................... (get) married next year.
28) We ....................................................... (invite) them to the party but they didn’t come.
29) Who ..............................................................................( invent) the telephone ?
30) You .................................................... (see) Mr Thompson tomorrow at 10.00.