Test Your Grammar Skills: To Learn More About Tenses, Go To
Test Your Grammar Skills: To Learn More About Tenses, Go To
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1.0 Tenses
Verb is the most important word in any English sentence. The form of a verb that depends on the
time at which an action occurred is called Tense. Tenses may indicate whether an action, activity,
or state occurs in the present, past or future time.
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1.1 Simple Present Tense
FUNCTIONS EXAMPLES
- Siti and Devi always bake cakes.
1. Expressed repeated action (includes the past, present
- The moon revolves around the earth.
and future)
- They travel to Kuala Lipis by car.
2. Expresses non-action (of a state or condition) or - They have many books.
indefinite occurrences - She hates her mother-in-law.
- I remember the day I married Shakirah.
- I declare this company bankrupt.
3. Expresses special short-term events/activities.
- I quit.
- They leave at 7a.m.
- The ship sails to Australia on Friday.
4. Expresses future action (especially with verbs of
arriving and departing) based on facts/information or - The Puteri Gunung Ledang play begins at 8 p.m. on
certain events/activities. Saturday.
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SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE
BE
Positive: Negative: Question:
I am am not Am I?
you are are not Are you?
he is is not Is he?
she is is not Is she?
it is is not Is it?
we are are not Are we?
they are are not Are they?
DO
I do do not / don’t Do I?
you do do not / don’t Do you?
he does does not / doesn’t Does he?
she does does not / doesn’t Does she?
it does does not / doesn’t Does it?
we do do not / don’t Do we?
they do do not / don’t Do they?
HAVE
GO
*contractions are possible, e.g. I have not = I haven’t; he does not have = he doesn’t have, etc.
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Homework: Simple Present Tense
Name: ______________________________ Matric No.:_____________
Group No.:___________
Practice 1
Write affirmative sentences. Use the verbs in the brackets.
1. My brother __________________ (not like) to dance but he loves having a good talk.
2. Liza ___________________ (not live) in Ipoh, she lives in Shah Alam.
3. My parents ___________________ (not be) lawyers, they work in a school.
4. My school workers _________________ (not do) the homework on time.
5. Aini ___________________ (not cook) well. She wants to have some cooking lessons.
6. My cousin ________________ (not have) to wash his car. He pays to someone else to do that.
7. If you ___________________ (not study) on time, you will have many problems.
8. Please, _____________________ (not forget) to do the chores.
9. Daniel ________________ (not wear) shirts because he ______________ (not like) them.
10. John and his brother _______________(not be) twins. John is 12 and his brother is 10.
Practice 3
Write interrogative sentences. Use Do or Does and the verbs in the brackets.
1. ________ you like to ________ ( go ) to the movies? ______________. Let’s go today.
2. ________ your mother _________ (read) the newspaper every day?
3. ________ your cousins _________ (come) to visit you every weekend?
4. What ________ you __________ (like) for dinner? I ______________ chicken.
5. What ________ Lily __________ (study)? She ___________ (study) Architecture.
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Answer
Homework : Simple 1. does not like Present Tense
2. does not live
3. are not
Practice 1 4. do not do Practice 2
5. does not cook
1. go 6. does not have
2. have 7. do not study
3. does 8. do not forget
4. is 9. does not wear, does not like
5. come 10. are not
6. love
7. prepares
8. swims
9. studies, draws
10. are
Practice 3
1. Do…go
2. Does…read?
3. Does…come?
4. do…like ?
5. Does…study? studies
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(b) The Present Progressive (Continuous) Tense
FUNCTIONS EXAMPLES
- I am singing a song.
- The girls are playing games in the living room.
1. Expresses one action in the present: - He is drawing a portrait.
(i) of short period of time. - She is studying Russian this year.
(ii) of long period of time. - Megat is playing futsal this season.
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Group No.:___________
Exercise 1
Fill in the blanks with the correct Present Progressive (Continuous) Tense using the hints in the brackets
Exercise 2
Fill in the blanks with the correct Present Progressive (Continuous) Tense using the hints in the brackets.
Answer
Homework : Present Progressive (Continuous) Tense
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1. The seamstress is still making (still, make) uniforms for the orphans.
2. J & J Company Sdn. Bhd. is recruiting (recruit) workers for its new branch in Melaka.
3. My staffs are having (have) lunch with our client in the meeting room right now.
4. What is Abu doing (do), Din? He is washing (wash) my clothes.
5. The school is training (train) its student to use a new English software.
6. At the moment, the students are painting (paints) the guard post.
7. Faiz is watching (watch) his favourite Korean soap opera.
8. They are currently showing (currently, show) French films at the cinemas nearby.
9. The child is not responding (not, respond) to the teacher’ question.
10. Are the kids still visiting (still, visit) their grandparents in Ulu Kapit?
11. I am making (make) a pot of hot coco. Would you like some?
12. It is not snowing (not, snow) now. We can go outside and build snowman.
13. My head is throbbing (throb). I need to take a nap.
14. Currently, the plumber is mending (mend) the broken sink.
15. Mariam cannot answer your call right now because she is talking (talk) to the general manager.
Exercise 2
Fill in the blanks with the correct Present Progressive (Continuous) Tense using the hints in the brackets.
1. The kids are going to ask so many questions about me. (to ask)
2. Natrah is not going to work. (not/to go)
3. I am not going to open the cookie jar. (not/to open)
4. Harith is not going to tell jokes. (not/to tell)
5. My mother is not going to cry now. (to cry)
6. We are not going to visit the zoo. (not/to visit)
7. Manogaran is not going to answer the Whatsapp message. (not/to answer)
8. Siew Heng and Jogeswaran are going to eat hamburgers. (to eat)
9. My boyfriend is going to wait at the airport. (to wait)
10. The dog is not going to climb over the pillow. (not/to climb)
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(c) The Simple Past Tense
FUNCTIONS EXAMPLES
- I wrote him an e-mail of condolence for his lost.
3. Expresses a state of affairs continuing over a - For a long time, people believed that the earth
period of time with an unclear beginning and end. was flat.
BE
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Positive: Negative: Question:
DO
HAVE
GO
*contractions are possible, e.g. I had not = I hadn’t; she did not have = she didn’t have, etc.
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Name: ______________________________ Matric No.:_________________
Group No.:___________
Exercise 1
Fill in the blanks with the correct Simple Past Tense using the hints in the brackets
1. Umairah ________________ (not, go) to work yesterday because she _________ (be) ill.
2. Chen’s granduncle _________ (die) in 1989 in a road accident.
3. The police_________ (arrest) seven people for the murder five days ago.
4. _________ Ahmad _________ (call) me last night?
5. Jievitha _________ (live) in Alor Star for nine years but now she lives in Kuala Lumpur.
6. _________ Madihah _________ (water) the flowers yesterday?
7. A wasp _________ (sting) Kim when he was cycling home from the park.
8. Fathin _________ (forget) to drink a glass of water last night.
9. Priya _________ (celebrate) her birthday with her friends at a fast food restaurant.
10. I_________ (be,not) at the office last Wednesday.
Exercise 2
Fill in the blanks with the correct Simple Past Tense using the hints in the brackets.
Answer :
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Fill in the blanks with the correct Simple Past Tense using the hints in the brackets
11. Umairah did not go (not, go) to work yesterday because she was (be) ill.
12. Chen’s granduncle died (die) in 1989 in a road accident.
13. The police arrested (arrest) seven people for the murder five days ago.
14. Did Ahmad call (call) me last night?
15. Jievitha lived (live) in Alor Star for nine years but now she lives in Kuala Lumpur.
16. Did Madihah water (water) the flowers yesterday?
17. A wasp stung (sting) Kim when he was cycling home from the park.
18. Fathin forgot (forget) to drink a glass of water last night.
19. Priya celebrated (celebrate) her birthday with her friends at a fast food restaurant.
20. I was not (be not) at the office last Wednesday.
Exercise 2
Fill in the blanks with the correct Simple Past Tense using the hints in the brackets.
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1
(
(d) The Past Progressive (Continuous) Tense
FUNCTIONS EXAMPLES
2. Expresses an incomplete action in the past that is - The kids were playing in the playground.
itself likely to be of limited duration - My brother and my father were arguing about
who would win the competition.
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Name: ______________________________ Matric No.:_________________
Group No.:___________
Exercise 1
Fill in the blanks with the correct Simple Past Tense or Past Progressive (Continuous) Tense.
1. What __________________ (you / do) when mom__________________ (call) you last Tuesday?
5. Yesterday I __________________ (go) to the mall, next I__________________ (have) a drink at Coffee
café, later I__________________ (meet) Chandran for the meeting.
7. What __________________ (they / do) at 11pm last night? It__________________ (be) really lively.
11. It __________________ (be) a day last December. The sun__________________ (shine), the birds
__________________(chrip). I __________________ (walk) along the park when I__________________
(meet) an old enemy.
13. When her bus __________________ (get) to the bus stop, we__________________ (wait) on the platform.
15. During summer break, we __________________ (visit) my uncle in Perlis, __________________ (see) the
Penang bridge, and__________________ (spend) a few days at Port Dickson.
Answer
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Exercise 1
Fill in the blanks with the correct Simple Past Tense or Past Progressive (Continuous) Tense.
1. What were you doing (you / do) when mom called (call) you last Tuesday?
2. I was sitting (sit) in the living room when mom called (call).
3. When you arrived (arrive) at the wedding, who was (be) there?
4. Siti was watching (watch) a drama when she heard (hear) the whispers.
5. Yesterday I went (go) to the mall, next I had (have) a drink at Coffee café, later I met (meet)
Chandran for the meeting.
6. We were playing (play) bowling when John hurt (hurt) his wrist.
7. What were they doing (they / do) at 11pm last night? It was (be) really lively.
8. He was taking his bath (take) his bath when his phone rang (ring).
9. He was (be) in the bathtub when the TV suddenly turned (turn) on.
10. When I walked (walk) into the hall, everyone was chatting (chat).
11. It was (be) a day last December. The sun was shining (shine), the birds were chirping (chirp).
I was walking (walk) along the park when I met (meet) an old enemy.
12. He was living (live) in France when the Revolution began (begin).
13. When her bus got (get) to the bus stop, we were waiting (wait) on the platform.
14. He was being (be) so irritating! He always leave (always / leave) his stuffs everywhere.
15. During summer break, we were visiting (visit) my uncle in Perlis, saw (see) the Penang bridge, and spent
(spend) a few days at Port Dickson.
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1.5 Present Perfect Tense
(e) The
Present Perfect Tense
FUNCTIONS EXAMPLES
- I have wrote this novel for three years.
1. Expresses actions or a series of repeated
- They have lived in Brunei since 2007.
events/activities that extend from the past
- I have visited the Lining Tower of Pasir Salak
to the present time and still continuing on.
three times so far.
- The kids have had colds all winter.
2. Expresses indefinite events or happenings in a
- We have had no trouble with our house up
period leading up to the present time.
to now.
- The landlord has called for the repairs. (and
3. Expresses past actions or events with results so you must fix it)
in the present time. - I have come to school without my pens. (and
now I cannot write anything)
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Homework: Present Perfect Tense
Group No:___________
Exercise 1
Exercise 2
Exercise 3
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Write Present Perfect sentences.
Exercise 4
Write Present Perfect questions.
Answer
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Exercise 1
Exercise 2
Exercise 3
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Write Present Perfect sentences.
Exercise 4
Write Present Perfect questions.
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1.6 The Present Perfect Progressive (Continuous) Tense
FUNCTIONS
-
EXAMPLES
They have been waiting to see you since
1
morning.
1. Expresses a single temporary action that
extends from the past to the present, over a - I have been waiting all day for his e-mail.
limited duration. - He has been watering that cactus for an
hour.
- Jimmy have been playing the guitar since
I was seven.
2. Expresses a series of repeated actions - She has been working for the same
from the past up to the present time, over a
longer duration. company for the last thirty-five years.
- He has been seeing a great deal of his
mother lately.
- The girls have been playing in the
3. Expresses an action that happens in the sandbox. (and now they’re filthy)
past but the results of the action happen in - Careful! Mahmud has been painting the
the present.
chair. (and it’s still wet)
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Homework: Present Perfect Progressive (Continuous) Tense
Name: ______________________________ Matric No.:_________________
Exercise 1
Fill in the blanks with Present Perfect Simple or Present Perfect Progressive (Continuous).
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Answer
Exercise 1
Fill in the blanks with Present Perfect Simple or Present Perfect Progressive (Continuous).
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1.7 The Past Perfect Tense
FUNCTIONS EXAMPLES
- They had locked all the windows and
doors before they left for the holidays.
1. Expresses a single happening in past time - The robber had escaped the bank
that precedes another past time. before the police arrived.
- After she had send the e-mail, she
realized her mistake.
- I had known him since my teens.
2. Expresses a state of affairs continuing over - She had never been ill in his life until he
a period of time up to past time.
visited Africa.
Exercise
Fill in the blanks with the correct Past Perfect Tense using the hints in the brackets.
3. Before Mashitah clear up the table, she___________________ a talk with her mother. (to have)
5. There were no chicken nuggets left when I came back. The dog___________________ them all.
(to eat)
6. It___________________ for two weeks, so the field was hot and dry. (not/to rain)
7. Zack did not wait for my sister because I___________________ his text message. (to read)
10. ___________________ his fish before she left her office? (Emma/to feed)
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Answer
Exercise
Fill in the blanks with the correct Past Perfect Tense using the hints in the brackets.
11. When I arrived at Pizza Hut, Janet had already taken a glass of water. (already/to order)
12. He noticed that Pooja had not painted the new wall. (not/to paint)
13. Before Mashitah clear up the table, she had not have a talk with her mother. (to have)
14. He asked me if I had not learned the new words. (to learn)
15. There were no chicken nuggets left when I came back. The dog had not eaten them all. (to eat)
16. It had not rained for two weeks, so the field was hot and dry. (not/to rain)
17. Zack did not wait for my sister because I had not read his text message. (to read)
18. Harun had never played before yesterday evening. (never/to be)
19. He told me that Mikail had not cleaned his room. (not/to clean)
20. Emma had not fed his fish before she left her office? (Emma/to feed)
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1.8 Future Tense
FUNCTIONS EXAMPLES
(i) The Future Tense: the auxiliaries ‘we’ll and - He will call you tonight.
‘shall’ are used to express intention, prediction
- The ferry will arrive at 11 p.m.
or willingness.
- I shall meet you outside the school.
(ii) be going to + infinitive expresses what - Khalid is going to leave for Canada tomorrow.
somebody has already decided to do. - He is going to call you about the contract
tomorrow.
- They are going to renovate the room for three
months.
(iii) The Future Progressive (Continuous): - He will be getting a raise next year.
Tense the auxiliaries will and shall + the - We will be having a party near the lake tomorrow
progressive (continuous) express action at a night.
particular time in the future - I will be playing badminton at 9 in the morning
tomorrow.
(iv) The Future Perfect Tense - The bus will have left when you arrive.
(will/shall + the perfect) expresses action in the - In ten years, we will have paid off the mortgage
future before another action in the future. on our house.
- By next year, we will have forgotten everything
we learned in school.
- We will have completed our project by next year.
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Homework: Future Time
Name: ______________________________ Matric No.:__________
Group No.:___________
Exercise 1
Build the correct Future Time sentences using the hints in the brackets.
1. (I / leave by two)
_______________________________________________________________
2. (you / finish the essay by the deadline?)
_______________________________________________________________
3. (when / we / cook the turkey?)
_______________________________________________________________
4. (she / finish her test by then, so we can go out for party)
_______________________________________________________________
5. (I / read the book before the next lesson)
_______________________________________________________________
6. (she / not / finish studying by eight)
_______________________________________________________________
7. (when / you / complete the house?
_______________________________________________________________
8. (they / arrive by tea time)
_______________________________________________________________
9. (we / be in Malaysia for four years next week)
_______________________________________________________________
10. (she / get home by dinnertime?)
_______________________________________________________________
Exercise 2
Build the correct Future Time sentences using the hints in the brackets.
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Answer
Exercise 1
Build the correct Future Time sentences using the hints in the brackets.
1. (I / leave by two)
She is going to finish her test by the, so we can go out for party.
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Exercise 2
Build the correct Future Time sentences using the hints in the brackets.
10. David will not use (not/use) the computer or the internet.
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