Basic Tenses of the English Language
методическая разработка по английскому языку

Aspect and Tense

Past

Present

Future

Indefinite or Simple - FACT

(+) S+V2 Ann worked.

(-) S+DID NOT +V1 Ann didn’twork.

(?) DID +S+V1? Did Ann work?

USE:

-for a PAST action with given time (yesterday/in 1987) or DEFINITE time (The train was late.)

-when the time is asked about (When did you come?)

-for a past habit (They never drank wine.)

-for a chain of successive actions

He got up, pushed away the armchair and left.

-stories and descriptions of FINISHED PAST events/situations: (He worked in that bank for 4 years.) (NOT NOW)

-for fully simultaneous actions:

Ann looked her best when she smiled.

In 19…, … ago, last…, yesterday

(+) S +V1 (-s, -es in 3d pers.sing) Ann works.

(-) S +DO(-es) NOT + V1 Ann doesn’t work.

(?) Do(-es) +S +V1? Does Ann work?

USE:

- timeless truths (Water boils at 100*.)

-permanent situations

(It always rains here in November)

-regular and repeated things (habitual or routine)

-with VERBS NOT USED IN THE CONTINUOUS (respect, know, believe…)

-for a future action (program/schedule/instructions/clauses of condition/time)

-instructions/commentaries/stories (You wait outside the bank…, Tailor shoots – and it’s a goal! So I see the man and he tells me…)

Often seldom sometimes occasionally always never ever every… once a… daily, ON (Sundays)…

(+) S+WILL+V1 Ann will work.

(-) S +WILL NOT +V1 Ann will not work.

(?) WILL+S+V1? Will Ann work?

USE:

-the speaker’s opinions, assumptions, speculations about the future (suppose, Perhaps, sure, believe, expect, hope, think etc…):

Perhaps we’ll find him at home.

-for future habitual actions:

Spring will come again.

-Weather forecasts and formal announcements of plans:

It will rain tomorrow.

The President will open…

-for spontaneous intention (WON’T-FOR REFUSAL)

I’ll have coffee. I won’t come.

Progressive or Continuous - PROCESS

(+) S+WAS/WERE+V-ING Mike was sleeping.

(-) S+WAS/WERE NOT+V-ING

Mike was not sleeping.

(?) WAS/WERE+S+V-ING?

Was Mike sleeping?

USE:

-SMTH IN PROGRESS around a past time

What were you doing at 8 o’clock?

-a longer “background” action or situation

As I was walking down the road, I saw James.

-for gradual development

It was getting darker.

-for descriptions

A wood fire was burning and a cat was sleeping in front of it.

-for an unfinished action

During the flight I was reading a book. (DID NOT FINISH IT)

(+) S+AM/IS/ARE+V-ING Mike is sleeping

(-) S+AM/IS/ARE NOT +V-ING Mike is not sleeping

(?) AM/IS/ARE+S+V-ING? Is Mike sleeping?

USE:

-temporary situations NOW OR ‘AROUND NOW’ Why are you crying? I am learning Greek.

-changes and developments

It is getting warmer.

-FOR Future: personal arrangements and fixed plans; with verbs of movement:

I’m meeting Larry on Sunday. We are touring NY next summer.

Are you coming to the pub?

-WITH ALWAYS (FOR UNEXPECTED OR UNPLANNED OR IN CRITICAL REMARKS)

I am always losing my keys.

He is always scratching himself in public.

(+) S+WILL BE+V-ING Mike will be sleeping at 10.

(-) S+WILL NOT BE+V-ING Mike WON’T BE sleeping at 10.

(?) WILL+S+BE+V-ING? Will Mike be sleeping at 10?

USE:

-smth in progress at a particular moment in the future

-fixed/decided/expected in the natural course of events

Professor B. will be giving another lecture on…

I’ll be going to shops anyway.

I’ll be seeing Tom tomorrow. (more casual and less definite)

-polite enquiries about people’s plans

Will you be staying in tonight?

PERFECT -PRESENT RESULT OF PAST ACTIONS

(+) S+HAD+PAST PARTICIPLE

Mom had cooked dinner yesterday by five o’clock.

(-) S+HAD NOT+PAST PARTICIPLE

Mom had not cooked dinner by five yesterday.

(?) HAD+S+PAST PARTICIPLE?

Had Mom cooked dinner yesterday by five?

USE:

-‘earlier past’

When I arrived at the party, Lucy had already gone home.

-to say HOW LONG smth HAD continued up to a past moment

She began to do all the things she HAD wanted to do for years.

-unrealised hopes and wishes

I HAD HOPED we would leave tomorrow, but it won’t be possible.

-IT WAS THE first/second…that

It was the first time that I had heard her sing.

-NOTICE THE FOLLOWING SENTENCE PATTERNS:

a. Outside it HAD STOPPED raining and the air was fresh.

b. When they HAD SHOWN him round, they demanded news.

c. When he next spoke his tone HAD CHANGED.

d. I hadn’t gone a hundred yards when I noticed… (не прошел я и 100 ярдов, как заметил…

I hadn’t been in the pub two minutes when smb brought…

(Не пробыл я там и двух минут, как кто-то…)

I discovered the news before I HAD BEEN in the house for an hour. (…не побыл я в доме и часа, как…)

e. Hardly HAD SHE SAT down WHEN a stout gentleman flopped into a chair… (едва она…)

He HAD SCARCELY ENTERED THE room WHEN he saw… (едва он…)

NO SOONER HAD THEY SETTLED down in York THAN a strange thing happened (не успели они…)

(+) S+HAVE/HAS +PAST PARTICIPLE Mom has cooked dinner.

(-) S+HAVE/HAS NOT+PAST PARTICIPLE

Mom has not cooked dinner.

(?)HAVE/HAS+S+PAST PARTICIPLE?

Has Mom cooked dinner?

USE:

-to name a PAST OCCURRENCE (случай)

CONNECTED WITH THE PRESENT:

I can’t go skiing because I’VE BROKEN MY LEG. (It’s broken now)

-for the COMPLETION OR ACHIEVEMENT (завершение или достижение)

Have you done all the housework?

- finished events with words meaning “at some time up to now)

EVER,BEFORE,NEVER,JUST,RECENTLY,LATELY,YET,ALREADY

I’m sure we’ve met before.

Has Dan phoned yet?

-past actions in a period of time that is NOT OVER YET: TODAY, THIS MORNING, THIS WEEK/YEAR…

-actions that HAVE CONTINUED UP TO/INTO THE PRESENT

I’ve known her all her life.

I’ve loved you since I’ve known you.

We’ve been friends since we met.

The picture has been mine for years.

(FOR(OVER) THE LAST/PAST FEW…, SO FAR, FOR AGES, IN YEARS, ALL THIS WEEK…)

-TO ANNOUNCE NEWS (which is further described in the simple past)

Have you heard? Andy has won a big prize!

30000& worth of jewellery has been stolen from K. The thieves broke into…

• IT IS +PERIOD +SINCE +PAST (!!!) OR PERFECT

It is tree years since I (last) saw Bill.  OR

It is three years since I HAVE SEEN BILL.

-IN CLAUSES OF TIME (WHEN,BEFORE,AFTER,AS SOON AS, UNTIL, TILL)

When you have had your tea, we’ll talk about it.

You can’t say that until you’ve met her.

(+) S+WILL HAVE+PAST PARTICIPLE

Mom will have cooked dinner tomorrow by five o’clock.

(-) S+WILL NOT HAVE+PAST PARTICIPLE

Mom won’t have cooked dinner tomorrow by five o’clock.

(?) WILL+S+HAVE+PAST PARTICIPLE?

Will Mom have cooked dinner by five o’clock tomorrow?

USE:

-for an action ACCOMPLISHED before a given future moment

You’ll have gone to bed by the time I’ve finished work.

BY THEN, BY THAT TIME

PERFECT CONTINUOUS

(+) S+HAD+BEEN+V-ING

(-) S+HAD NOT+BEEN+V-ING

(?)HAD+S+BEEN+V-ING?

USE:

-for an action which began before a given past moment and continued into it or up to it:

He knew what she had been thinking about since she received the telegram.

-for an action in progress JUST BEFORE a given past moment:

She came across the lawn to meet him, carrying roses she HAD BEEN CUTTING.

-for HOW LONG…?

We had been walking since sunrise, and we were hungry.

NOTICE THE FOLLOWING PATTERN:

a.He had been sitting by the fire for nearly an hour when his mother came into the room.

(+) S+HAVE/HAS+BEEN+V-ING I have been thinking about you.

(-) S+HAVE/HAS NOT BEEN+V-ING (NOT COMMON!!!)

(?) HAVE/HAS+S+BEEN+V-ING? (HOW LONG) has she been waiting?

USE:

-actions/situations which started in the past and are still gong on:

It’s been raining all day. Food prices have been going up steadily all this year.

-people’s use of their time up to the present:

 What have you been doing with yourself?

-for an action in progress recently, but which has present results:

You look hot. Yes, I’ve been running.

-for repeated activity

People have been phoning me all day.

-HOW LONG…? (!!!!!)

How long have you been studying English?

It has been raining ALL DAY.

It has been snowing SINCE X-MAS!!!

TO SAY HOW MUCH/OFTEN WE USE THE SIMPLE PERFECT:

I’ve painted two rooms since lunchtime.

I’ve played tennis three times this week.

Look at all the rose bushes I’ve planted!

(+) S+WILL+HAVE+BEEN+V-ING

 IT HARDLY EVER OCCURS IN ENGLISH as it is seldom required

By the end of the month he will have been living/working here for ten years.