Simple Tense

Verb tense tells you when the action happens. There are three main verb tenses: present, past, and future. Each main tense is divided into simple, progressive, perfect, and perfect progressive tenses.

Simple Present finish Past Future finished

Progressive am/is/are finishing was/were finishing

Perfect have/has finished had finished

Perfect Progressive have/has been finishing had been finishing will have been finishing

will will have will be finishing finish finished Things to remember about simple tense: a. Present tense is the original verb form. b. Past tense has a few patterns. c. Future tense needs will (shall) + verb. run

I run a marathon twice a year. (present) I ran a marathon last year. (past) I will run a marathon next year. (future) eat

I eat lunch in my office. I ate lunch an hour ago. I will eat lunch in one hour. see

I see a movie once a week. I saw a movie yesterday. I will see a movie tomorrow. know

I know it. I knew it the day before yesterday. I will know it by tomorrow. learn

I learn English. I learned English the last two years. I will learn English next year. cook

I cook my supper every night. I cooked our dinner already. I will cook breakfast tomorrow.

[Quiz 10.1]
Fill in the blanks with appropriate verb forms. 1) I 2) He 3) I [10.1] 1) sang 2) will write 3) will go a song at the concert yesterday. a letter to his girlfriend tomorrow. to the library to borrow some books this weekend.

Simple Present
Introduction
The simple present tense is one of the most common tenses in English. This page will explain the rules for forming the tense with regular verbs.

1. Forming the simple present tense

There are only two basic forms for the simple present tense; one ends with -s and the other doesn't. Here are the rules, using the example verb "sing":

Subject

Verb Form

Example

I You He She It We They

simple form simple form simple form + S simple form + S simple form + S simple form simple form

I sing You sing He sings She sings It sings We sing They sing

In other words, only THIRD PERSON SINGULAR subjects (he, she and it) have to have a verb with -S.

2. -s or -es ?
With most verbs, the third person singular form is created simply by adding -S. However, with some verbs, you need to add -ES or change the ending a little. Here are the rules:

Verb ending in...

How to make the 3rd person singular

Example

s z sh ch x o consonant + y [anything else]

Add -ES Add -ES Add -ES Add -ES Add -ES Add -ES Change Y to I, then add -ES Add -S

He passes She waltzes She wishes He watches She mixes He goes It flies He sings

English Tenses Examples

Explanation Past Present Future

Simple Past

Simple Present

Future I Simple

action that takes place once, never or several times actions that happen one after another state

He played football every Tuesday. He played football and then he went home. He loved football.

He plays football every Tuesday. He plays football and then he goes home. He loves football.

He will / is going to play football every Tuesday. He will play football and then he will go home. He will love football. Future I Progressive He will be playing football.

Past Progressive action going on at that moment actions taking place at the same time He was playing football. He was playing football and she was watching. Past Perfect Simple action taking place before a certain moment in time; emphasises the result He had won five matches until that day. Past Perfect Progressive action taking place before a certain moment in time (and beyond), emphasises the duration table of English tenses He had been playing football for ten years.

Present Progressive He is playing football.

He is playing He will be playing football and she is football and she will watching. be watching. Present Perfect Simple He has won five matches so far. Future II Simple He will have won five matches by then. Future II Progressive

Present Perfect Progressive

He has been He will have been playing football for playing football for ten years. ten years.

Table of English Tenses

tense Affirmative/Negative/Question Use Signal Words

Simple Present

A: He speaks. N: He does not speak. Q: Does he speak?

always, every , never, normally, often, seldom, facts sometimes, actions taking place one usually action in the present taking place once, never or several times

 Present A: He is speaking. Progressive N: He is not speaking. Q: Is he speaking?

if sentences type I (If action set by a timetable I talk, ) or schedule after another action taking place in the moment of speaking action taking place only for a limited period of time action arranged for the future yesterday, 2 minutes ago, in 1990, the other day, last Friday actions taking place one if sentence after another type II (If I talked, ) action taking place in the middle of another action action in the past taking place once, never or several times 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 putting emphasis on the result action that is still going on action that stopped recently finished action that has an influence on the present action that has taken place once, never or several times before the moment of speaking putting emphasis on the course or all day, for 4 years, since 1993, how already, ever, just, never, not yet, so far, till now, up to now when, while, as long as at the moment, just, just now, Listen!, Look!, now, right now

Simple Past A: He spoke. N: He did not speak. Q: Did he speak?

Past A: He was speaking. Progressive N: He was not speaking. Q: Was he speaking?

Present Perfect Simple

A: He has spoken. N: He has not spoken. Q: Has he spoken?

Present A: He has been speaking. Perfect N: He has not been speaking. Progressive Q: Has he been speaking?

duration (not the result) long?, the whole week action that recently stopped or is still going on finished action that influenced the present 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) action taking place before a certain time in the past sometimes interchangeable with past perfect simple putting emphasis on the duration or course of an action action in the future that cannot be influenced spontaneous decision assumption with regard to the future in a year, next , tomorrow If-Satz Typ I (If you ask her, shewill help you.) assumption: I think, probably, perhaps in one year, next week, tomorrow for, since, the whole day, all day already, just, never, not yet, once, until that day if sentence type III (If I had talked, )

Past Perfect Simple A: He had spoken. N: He had not spoken. Q: Had he spoken?

Past A: He had been speaking. Perfect N: He had not been speaking. Progressive Q: Had he been speaking?

Future I Simple

A: He will speak. N: He will not speak. Q: Will he speak?

Future I Simple (going to)

A: He is going to speak. N: He is not going to speak. Q: Is he going to speak?

decision made for the future conclusion with regard to the future action that is going on at a certain time in the future action that is sure to happen in the near

Future I A: He will be speaking. Progressive N: He will not be speaking. Q: Will he be speaking?

in one year, next week, tomorrow

future Future II Simple A: He will have spoken. N: He will not have spoken. Q: Will he have spoken? action that will be finished at a certain time in the future action taking place before a certain time in the future putting emphasis on the course of an action action that might take place if sentences type II (If I were you, I would go home.) by Monday, in a week

Future II A: He will have been speaking. Progressive N: He will not have been speaking. Q: Will he have been speaking? Conditional I Simple A: He would speak. N: He would not speak. Q: Would he speak?

for , the last couple of hours, all day long

Conditional A: He would be speaking. I N: He would not be speaking. Progressive Q: Would he be speaking?

action that might take place putting emphasis on the course / duration o f the action action that might have taken place in the past if sentences type III (If I had seen that, I would have helped.)

Conditional II Simple

A: He would have spoken. N: He would not have spoken. Q: Would he have spoken?

Conditional A: He would have been II speaking. Progressive N: He would not have been speaking. Q: Would he have been speaking?

action that might have taken place in the past puts emphasis on the course / duration o f the action

Explanations Action that is repeated every Friday. Habitual action. Facts that are believed to be true. Generalizations Scheduled events in the near future Explanations

Present Simple I visit my uncle every Friday Cats hate mice. The sun rises in the morning. The plane takes off at 10 o'clock tonight Present Progressive

Action that takes place now / at I am working on my computer the moment Near future Explanations To talk about experiences I am leaving tomorrow Present Perfect I have been to Italy.

Past action that has the result in She has read that book. the present. Action which started in the past I have lived in this town for 12 years. and continued up to now. Explanations Present Perfect Progressive To show that something started He has been sleeping for the last 3 hours in the past and has continued up until now. To talk about an action that started in the past and stopped recently. To talk about an action that started in the past and is continuing now. Explanations Completed action in the past. To talk about an action that started in the past and stopped recently. To talk about an action that started in the past and is continuing now. An action taking place in the middle of another action. Explanations Actions happening at the same time in the past. Interrupted action in the past. Explanations Completed action before another action in the past. Explanations She left yesterday. She woke up, had a shower and left. The grass is wet because it has been raining all day long. I have been watching TV for 2 hours / since you left. Past Simple

If I had a million dollar, I would help the poor.

She was playing when the accident occurred. Past Progressive He was reading a newspaper while his wife was preparing dinner. Sh was reading a book when the light went off, had a shower and left. Past Perfect Simple She had left when I arrived. Past Perfect Progressive

To show that something started They had been playing soccer when the accident in the past and continued up occurred until another action stopped it. To show that something started I had been living in that town for ten years in the past and continued up before I moved to New York. until another time in the past. We use the Past Perfect Continuous before another I was so tired. I had been working for 6 hours.

action in the past to show cause and effect. Explanations Instant decisions Future Simple I've left the door open; I'll close it.

We use the simple future , when She'll pass the exam. She's hardworking. we predict a future situation We use the simple future with: "I It will probably rain tonight (don't) think...", "I expect...", "I am sure...", "I wonder...", "probably". Conditional sentence type one Explanations Action that will be taking place at some time in the future. Explanations Completed action before another action in the past Explanations If I have enough time, I'll watch the film. Future Progressive When you arrive, I'll be sleeping . Future Perfect By tomorrow, I will have finished the work. Future Perfect Progressive

It is used to show that an action She will have been working for over 8 hours by will continue up until a the time her children arrive. particular event or time in the future. Simple Present Affirmative She drinks. Negative Form She does not drink. I, you we they play | he, she, it plays

Interrogative Does she drink? action in the present taking place once, never or several times facts actions taking place one after another action set by a timetable or schedule Present Progressive Affirmative He is reading. Negative Form Uses He is not reading. To be (in the simple present) + verb + ing

Uses

Interrogative Is he reading? action taking place at the moment of speaking action arranged for the future

Simple Past Affirmative I cried. Negative I did not cry Regular verbs: Verb + ed | Irregular verbs: forms differ and should be learned by heart. This is a list of irregular verbs

Interrogative Did I cry? Form

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 Form He was not driving. to be (in the simple past) + verb + ing

Interrogative Was he driving? 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. Have / has + past participle (past participle of regular verbs: verb + ed | Past participle of irregular verbs: forms differ and should be learned by heart. This is a list of irregular verbs)

Uses

Interrogative Have they slept? Form

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 Form He has not been thinking. have or has + been + verb + ing

Interrogative Has he been thinking? 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 Simple Affirmative She had won.

Uses

Negative

She had not won. had + past participle (past participle of regular verbs: verb + ed | Past participle of irregular verbs: forms differ and should be learned by heart. This is a list of irregular verbs)

Interrogative Had she won? Form

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) Past Perfect Progressive

Affirmative He had been waiting. Negative Form He had not been waiting. had + been + verb + ing

Interrogative Had he been waiting? action taking place before a certain time in the past sometimes interchangeable with past perfect simple putting emphasis on the duration or course of an action Future Simple Affirmative You will win. Negative Form You will not win. will + verb

Uses

Interrogative Will you win? action in the future that cannot be influenced spontaneous decision assumption with regard to the future Near Future (going to) Affirmative He is going to watch TV. Negative Form Uses He is not going to watch TV. to be (in the simple present) + going + to + verb

Uses

Interrogative Is he going to watch TV? decision made for the future conclusion with regard to the future Future Progressive Affirmative She will be listening to music. Negative She will not be listening to music. Interrogative Will she be listening to music?

Form Uses

will + be + verb + ing

action that is going on at a certain time in the future action that is sure to happen in the near future Future Perfect

Affirmative He will have spoken. Negative He will not have spoken. will + have + past participle (past participle of regular verbs: verb + ed | Past participle of irregular verbs: forms differ and should be learned by heart. This is a list of irregular verbs)

Interrogative Will he have spoken? Form

Uses

action that will be finished at a certain time in the future Future Perfect Progressive

Affirmative You will have been studying. Negative Form Uses You will not have been studying. will + have + been + verb + ing

Interrogative Will you have been studying? action taking place before a certain time in the future putting emphasis on the course of an action Conditional Simple Affirmative We would relax. Negative Form Uses We would not relax. would + verb

Interrogative Would we relax ? action that might take place Conditional Progressive Affirmative He would be writing. Negative Form Uses He would not be writing. would + be + verb + ing

Interrogative Would he be writing? action that might take place putting emphasis on the course / duration of the action Conditional Perfect Affirmative He would have written. Negative He would not have written. Interrogative Would he have written?

Form

would + have + past participle (past participle of regular verbs: verb + ed | Past participle of irregular verbs: forms differ and should be learned by heart This is a list of irregular verbs)

Uses

action that might have taken place in the past Conditional Perfect Progressive

Affirmative She would have been sleeping. Negative Form Uses She would not have sleeping speaking. would + have + been + verb + ing

Interrogative Would she have been sleeping? action that might have taken place in the past puts emphasis on the course / duration of the action