Lesson 4 : Verb Tenses, relative clauses and Conditionals

Verb tenses are changes or additions to verbs to show when the action
took place: in the past, present, or future. The simple present is the most
important tense to ESL students and needs particular attention.

Remember

Tenses and their functions

The table below gives an overview of some of the basic functions of tenses and aspects.
Tenses locate an event in time, while aspects communicate durations and relationships
between events that happen at different times.

Tense Function Example

used for facts, generalizations, and truths
Present “She writes a lot of papers for
that are not affected by the passage of
simple her classes.”
time
“She wrote the papers for all
Past simple used for events completed in the past
of her classes last month.”
Future used for events to be completed in the “She will write papers for her
simple future classes next semester.”
used to describe events that began in the
“She has written papers for
Present past and are expected to continue, or to
most of her classes, but she still
perfect emphasize the relevance of past events to
has some papers left to write.”
the present moment
“She had written several
used to describe events that happened
Past perfect papers for her classes before
prior to other events in the past
she switched universities.”
used to describe events that will be “She will have written
Future
completed between now and a specific many papers for her classes by
perfect
point in the future the end of the semester.”
Present used to describe currently ongoing “She is writing a paper for her
continuous (usually temporary) actions class.”
used to describe ongoing past events, “She was writing a paper for
Past
often in relation to the occurrence of her class when her pencil
continuous
another event broke.”
“She will be writing a lot of
Future used to describe future events that are
papers for her classes next
continuous expected to continue over a period of time
year.”

1. The Present Simple

We use the present simple to talk about repeated actions or events,

permanent states or things which are always true.
 To know how to use the present simple, you need to know the different
uses of this tense. Watch the following video to discover the present
simple.

Can you give me some examples?

……………………………………………
……………………………………………
……………………………………………
……………………………………………
……………………………………………

I usually get up at 7 o'clock.

During the week I have swimming practice on Mondays, I do taekwondo on Tuesdays and
tennis on Thursdays.
We always go on holiday in the summer.

This is an extract from the video. Read the conversation and pick up
sentences using verbs expressing habitual and permanent states?

Alfie: So, how’s it going with Jack?

Daisy: Not great. I mean, I like him a lot, but it’s impossible! During the week I have
swimming practice on Mondays, I do taekwondo on Tuesdays and tennis on Thursdays.
Alfie: Do you see him on Wednesdays, then?
Daisy: No, he watches black and white films at his cinema club on Wednesdays.
Oliver: Yeah, and they’re not just really old films, Alfie, they watch foreign ones with
subtitles too!
Alfie: Well, there’s always the weekend. Do you go out together at the weekends?
Daisy: That’s just it, it’s tricky. He works in the bookshop all day Saturday and he goes out
with his mates from the book club on Saturday evenings.
Alfie: Whoa! Book club? So, he loves old films and books!? Mmm ... Does he like sports?
Daisy: Not really. He thinks chess is a sport! Well, he watches football on the telly
sometimes, but he doesn’t play any sports.
Alfie: Mmm ... I think you’re right. It’s impossible!
Daisy: Right, I’m late. See you later.
Alfie and Oliver: See you, Daisy.
 Habitual States Permanent States

- -
- -
- -
- -
- -

Activity 1

1. Check your grammar: true or false – the present simple Circle True or False for
these sentences about the present simple.

1. We use it for talking about permanent states or situations. True False

2. We use it for things happening at the moment. True False

3. We use it for general facts (e.g. scientific facts). True False

4. We use it for talking about timetables (e.g. bus or lesson timetables). True False

5. We use it for future plans. True False

6. We use it for routines (e.g. things we do every day or week). True False

7. We use it for talking about likes and dislikes. True False

8. We use it for giving opinions (e.g. with the verbs think / believe). True False

2. Check your grammar: multiple choice – the present simple

Activity 2

Circle the best word to complete these sentences.

1. Jack go / goes to a film club on Wednesdays.

2. I love / loves reading in my free time.

3. They don’t / doesn’t usually see each other during the week.

4. The train leave / leaves at 6.30.

5. Do / Does Ollie play chess?

6. Daisy like / likes most sports.

7. We always get up / gets up at 7 o’clock.

8. What do / does you think of their new album?

Activity 3

3. Check your grammar: gap fill – the present simple Write the word in the correct
form to fill the gaps.

1. Alfie ________________ in London. (live)

2. ________________ you go swimming a lot? (Do)

3. Sophie ________________ in Thailand today. (be)

4. We ________________ go to the same school. (do not)

5. I ________________ old black and white films. (hate)

6. She ________________ as a travel writer. (work)

7. My dad ________________ breakfast before us. (have)

8. They ________________ taekwondo on Tuesdays. (do)

2. Relative Clauses

Look at the following sentences. Match the first half of the sentence in List A
with the appropriate phrase in List B to complete the definition. You will obtain
complete sentences about different functions
 List A List B
-A supervisor is a person -you can contact to resolve contract issues.
-I have difficulties with bosses -can tighten a wide variety of nuts and bolts.
-Office Suite is a group of programs -provides a friendly place to post questions,
-Success on the road can be assisted by the make comments and discuss issues.
cloud -I use to keep track of all my mileage, meals
-The human resources director is the and other work expenses.
liaison -allows me to access documents and other
-Use the ratchet as a tool data from a wide range of devices.
-Internal office communications are -do not take my point of view into
handled by our company forum consideration.
-You'll find that Anita is a person -is willing to help with any problem you may
-I couldn't get my work done without have.
Daren -assists me with day-to-day tasks.
-Taplist is an app -directs employees working in a team.
-is used for word processing, creating
spreadsheets and presentations.

Put your answers here:

1……………………………………………………………………...
2……………………………………………………………………...
3……………………………………………………………………...
4……………………………………………………………………...
5……………………………………………………………………...

1. I couldn't get my work done without Daren assists me with day-to-day tasks.
2. I have difficulties with bosses do not take my point of view into consideration.
3. Office Suite is a group of programs is used for word processing, creating
spreadsheets and presentations.
4. Success on the road can be assisted by the cloud allows me to access
documents and other data from a wide range of devices.
5. You'll find that Anita is a person is willing to help with any problem you may
have.

Are the sentences you joint related ?

No
 Can you relate the sentences in 1?

Try to consider the following example:

Try to consider the following example:

A consultant is someone who provides services and advice to a company on a contractual

basis.

1. I couldn't get my work done without Daren who assists me with day-to-day
tasks.
2. I have difficulties with bosses who do not take my point of view into
consideration.
3. Office Suite is a group of programs which is used for word processing, creating
spreadsheets and presentations.
4. Success on the road can be assisted by the cloud which allows me to access
documents and other data from a wide range of devices.
5. You'll find that Anita is a person who is willing to help with any problem you
may have.

These are relative clauses

How are define a relative clause ?

Could you understand relative clauses ? If yes, do the following activities.

Activity 1
Choose the correct option to complete the sentences below.

1. Did you really understand (which, what, that) I told you?

2 Mr. Dean, (who, which, that) had recently been fired, had a long list of misconducts.

3. The victims, most of (who, whom, which) were adults, are being identified by the US
authorities.

4. I like the scene (where, what, which) Dorothy meets Scarecrow.

5. This is the man (which, whom, who) I am in love with.

6. I wasn't honest with Kenneth, (which, that, -) made him furious.

7. The police searched the vehicle (that, which, where) the gun was found.

9 The driver, (who, whose, whom) contract finishes at the end of the season, doesn't want to
talk about his future.

Activity 2
Choose the correct option for the sentences below.

1. They said they were going to have twins, ______ surprised everybody.
a.that
b.which
c.what
d.whose

2. This is the man ______. Choose the INCORRECT answer

a.who I used to work with.
b.with whom I used to work.
c.I used to work with.
d.with who I used to work.

3. They've caught the driver ______ caused the car accident. Choose TWO correct options
a.who
b.–
c.that
d.which

4.Several men in plainclothes, ______ were armed, forced him to go with them.
a.who some
b.whom some
c.some of whom
d.some who
5.She's going with a friend ______ I really don't like. Choose the INCORRECT answer
a.whom
b.who
c.that
d.which

Activity 3
Combine the sentences above into one only sentence using the relative
pronoun provided.

1. We are arguing. Do you remember the reason? (why)

Do you remember ?

2. We have to be at the station. Can you tell me the exact time? (when)

Can you tell me the exact time ?

3. He got the job. This surprised everyone. (which)

He got the job, .

4. You need to listen to a person. He is not this person. (whom)

He is not the person .

5. 25 people disembarked on a local beach. Some of them were children. (whom)

25 people, , disembarked on a local beach.

6. He was found in a place. That's the place. (which)

That's the place .

7. You must decide the exact location. You are going to build your house in that location.
(where)

You must decide the exact location .

8. You arrived with a woman. Who was that woman? (that)

Who was the woman ?

9. They have appointed two new directors. Neither of them has any experience. (whom)

They have appointed two new directors, .

10. The buildings are badly damaged. All of them have been hit by the storm. (which)

The buildings, , are badly damaged.

3. Conditionals

Sophie is in Iceland for work and Oliver is in a really bad mood.

As you watch the video, look at the examples of conditional sentences. They
are in red in the subtitles.

Oliver: Hey, how’s Iceland?

Sophie: I love it.
Oliver: Oh, what a surprise!
Sophie: It is actually. I don’t normally like camping!
Oliver: If I had the opportunity to visit places like that, I wouldn’t complain!
Sophie: What’s the matter with you today, Ollie?
Oliver: Ah, nothing really.
Sophie: If you don’t tell me, I’ll just keep asking ...
Oliver: Hmm. Yesterday, you were so excited, you didn’t ask about my exam!
Sophie: Oh, Ollie! I’m so sorry. You’re more important to me than camping and volcanoes!
Oliver: Well, it doesn’t always feel like it.
Sophie: If I promise to travel less, will you forgive me?
Oliver: No. Because you won’t travel less. You love it. And if you travelled less because of
me, I’d feel worse. So … it’s not an option.
Sophie: You don’t make it easy! Seriously, honey, I don’t think I knew about the exam. If I’d
known, I would have asked, you know that.
Oliver: Well, anyway. Have you been near that volcano? What’s its name?
Sophie: Even if I had three days of classes, I wouldn’t be able to say it, I don’t think. Wait, I
can’t say it unless I read it – Eyjafjallajökull. There are about 30 active volcanoes in Iceland;
the eruption in 2010 of Eyja … of that volcano really wasn’t so serious. If it hadn’t affected
flights, we wouldn’t have heard much about it. There’s a bigger volcano near it – with a
shorter name too – Katla. I’ve been to see that. The landscape here’s awesome ... You can’t
imagine what it’s like.
Oliver: No? Well, I’ll never go unless you take me.
Sophie: Darling, please …
Oliver: Sorry. What’s it like?
Sophie: It’s beautiful. Water, rock, ice, lava, geysers … there aren’t many trees, obviously.
I’ll send photos later.
 Can you pick up an example from the above conversation ?

If you don’t tell me, I’ll just keep asking.

If I promise to travel less, will you forgive me?

This is called a first conditional: if + present simple, then will + infinitive.

It’s for talking about a situation in the future which the speaker thinks is quite possible. If the
first condition happens, something will happen as a result. In this conditional sentence, the
present tense after if refers to the future, not the present.

Can you pick up other examples from the above conversation ?

1. If you travelled less because of me, I’d feel worse.

2. When it rains a lot, the animals move to higher ground.

These are the two other types of conditional:

(1) is the second conditional. If + past simple, then would + infinitive.
(2) is a zero conditional. We often use it for facts, or in academic subjects.

Could you understand relative clauses ? If yes, do the following activities.

Activity 1
Match the two sentence halves and write a–h next to the numbers 1–8.
1........ If they don't stop that noise, a. if I ate that.
2........ If I had enough money for a holiday, b. unless I have to babysit.
3........ If you can’t repair your headphones, c. I'll go next door and complain.
4........ I'd be ill d. you might need to buy new ones.
5........ If we had more space at home, e. if you fancy a chat.
6........ Ice cream melts f. I'd go to Iceland.
7........ I'll see you on Saturday night g. we could have a dog.
8........ Call me h. if you don't keep it in the freezer.

Activity 2
2. Check your grammar: multiple choice
Circle the correct verb form to complete the conditional sentences.
1. If the bus is late, I ’ll be / ’d be / was late for school.
2. I'll phone Charlie from home later if I remembered / remember / ’ll remember .
3. If I go to the shops this afternoon, I buy / ’ll buy / would buy some chocolate for
you.
4. If I have / would / had enough money, you know I’d lend it to you.
5. I can / could / ’ll borrow my parents' car if I had my driving licence.
6. I wouldn’t / won’t / not tell anyone if you tell me.
7. If there's any cake left, I had / would have / ’ll have another piece.
8. If you had three wishes, what did / would / will you wish for?

Activity 3
3. Check your grammar: gap fill
Write one word to complete each conditional sentence.
1. If I _______________ enough money, I'd buy a car.
2. If I _______________ to Dan's party, I'll call you.
3. I _______________ sleep better if I didn't have to share a room.
4. _______________ you call me when you get there?
5. If I _______________ have too much homework to do this weekend, I'll come out with
you.
6. I’d _______________ really bored without my phone!
7. If you _______________ regular exercise, you'll feel a lot better.
8. You don't need to call me unless you _______________ a problem.