Marina Miloevi, 2011

Tenses
Present
Past
future

Simple

Continuous

PERMANENT STATE:
Facts
Habits
Characteristics

TEMPORARY STATE:
Activity in
progress at a
particular moment
in time

Perfect
An activity
preceding the
moment
discussed

PERFECT FORMS usually imply:

1. That an action occurred before the time indicated by the context or situation:
It has happened before now.
It had happened before a certain time in the past.
It will have happened before a certain time in the future.
2. That an action or event has produced, had produced or will have produced a result or a
state of affairs that is relevant to the present situation, was relevant to the past situation
or will be relevant to the future situation.
An important characteristic of perfect forms is that they link an earlier action with the current
situation.

Present Simple
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Form:
Positive form
Interrogative form
Negative form
Positive
short
answer
short answer
1. I play
1. Do I play
1. Negative
I do not (dont)
play
Yes,
I/you/we/they
do.
No,
I/you/we/they
not (dont).
2. You play
2. Do you play
2. You do not (dont) do
play
Yes,
he/she/it
does.
he/she/it
does not play
(doesnt)
3. He plays
3. Does
he play
3. No,
He does
not (doesnt)
She plays
Does she play
She does not (doesnt) play
It plays
Does it play
It does not (doesnt) play
1. We play
1. Do we play
1. We do not (dont) play
2. You play
2. Do you play
2. You do not (dont) play
3. They play
3. Do they play
3. They do not (dont) play
Negatives and questions are made with the auxiliary verb DO.

Spelling of the 3rd person singular:

Most verbs, -S is added: works, sings, runs.

Verbs ending in SS, -CH, -SH, -X, -Z, we add ES: kisses, watches, washes, fixes.
Verbs ending in consonant + -Y, change Y to I and add ES: cries, dies, hurries.
Verbs ending in vowel + -Y, no change: enjoys, toys.
EXCEPTIONS: have has; go goes; do does.

Pronunciation of the 3rd person singular:

Irregular pronunciation: say /sez/, does /dz/

Present Simple of auxiliary verbs:

BE
Positive
1. I am (Im)
2. You are (Youre)
3. He is (Hes)
She is (Shes)
It is (Its)
1. We are (Were)
2. You are (Youre)
3. They are (Theyre)

Interrogative
1. Am I
2. Are you
3. Is he
Is she
Is it
1. Are we
2. Are you
3. Are they

Negative
1. I am not
2. You are not (arent)
3. He is not (isnt)
She is not
It is not
1. We are not
2. You are not
3. They are not

DO
1. I do
2. You do
3. He does
She does
It does
1. We do
2. You do
3. They do

HAVE
1. I have
2. You have
3. He has
She has
It has
1. We have
2. You have
3. They have

Use:

NEUTRAL PRESENT => Permanent states (general truth =facts that are always true)
or states regarded as permanent:
Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius. (PERMANENT)
Digital cameras cost a lot of money. (PERMANENT)
She is 27 years old and has a small flat. (REGARDED AS PERMANENT)

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I dont like gangster films. (REGARDED AS PERMANENT)

ITERATIVE1 PRESENT => Repeated or habitual actions (habits):
I play tennis every Wednesday.
Lora drinks a lot of tea.
She (always) takes the train to work and I usually drive.
Characteristics of appearance:
She wore a hat, a dark red tank top, gray shorts and black flip-flops.
Her brother is a full-grown man, with a bear belly.
Timetabled future events:
I start my new job tomorrow.
The train arrives at 12 a.m.
In newspaper headlines:
Ship sinks in midnight collision.
In explanations/instructions, itineraries, recipes/demonstrations, announcements, etc.
When you buy a ticket, you put it in the machine which sucks it in. (EXPLANATION)
On day three we visit the Piccadilly Circus. (ITINERARY)
First I take a bowl and break two eggs into it. (RECIPY)
This park opens at 6:00 and closed at 20:00. (ANNOUNCEMENT)
Making declarations:
I hope you will come to the party.
I bet you dont know the answer.
Summaries of (historical) events, plots of stories/plays, describing a film scene, telling
a joke etc.
HISTORIC OR DRAMATIC PRESENT (used to give immediacy to past events, real or
fictional):
I rush to the station and find I have missed the train. (REAL)
When Hamlet meets his fathers ghost, he learns the truth about his uncle.
(FICTIONAL)

Adverbs of frequency: (nearly) always, all the time, (hardly) ever, every day/month/year,
frequently, generally, never, normally, occasionally, often, rarely, seldom, sometimes, usually,
etc.

Time line:
Past

Present

Future

Present Continuous
Form:

Present Continuous is formed with the present tense of BE and the ING form of the
verb.

doing something again and again

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Positive form
1. I am playing
2. You are playing
3. He is playing
She is playing
It is playing
1. We are playing
2. You are playing
3. They are playing

Interrogative form
1. Am I playing
2. Are you playing
3. Is he playing
Is she playing
Is it playing
1. Are we playing
2. Are you playing
3. Are they playing

Negative form
1. I am not playing
2. You are not playing
3. He is not playing
She is not playing
It is not playing
4. We are not playing
5. You are not playing
6. They are not playing

Spelling:

Verbs ending in E: coming, loving, smiling (but: agreeing, seeing)

One syllable verb, vowel + consonant: putting, running, swimming, getting.
Two syllable verb, 2nd syllable stressed: travelling, forgetting, preferring, upsetting.
Verbs ending in IE change into Y: dying, tying, lying.
Verbs ending in IC, we add K + -ING: picnicking, panicking, trafficking.

Common mistakes:
Lie lied lied (lagati); lying
Lie lay lain (lezati); lying
Lay laid laid (postaviti); laying
Rise rose risen (no object)
Raise raised raised (with object)
See saw - seeen
Saw sawed sawed/sawn /s/; testerisati
Sew sewed sewed/sewn /s/; siti
Sow sowed sowed/sown /s/ sejati

Use:

Actions in progress around or at the time of speaking:

Jane is having a bath at the moment.
Look! The dog is sleeping on our bed.
Hurry up! We are all waiting for you.
Repeated actions happening just around the present:
I am traveling a lot these days.
I am learning to drive.
Temporary activities over a more extended period of time but of limited duration:
I am working in Oxford just now (but next year Ill be working somewhere else).
Developments and changes (esp. with verbs get and become and comparative adjectives
more, worse, better):
That child is getting bigger every day.

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House prices are going up again.

This city is becoming more and more dangerous.
Complaining about annoying habits and behaviour that happens more often than
expected (with always, constantly, forever, continually, perpetually):
You are always making remarks about my cooking.
Why are you always shouting?
She is forever buying me presents.
Future plans and arrangements:
What are you doing tomorrow morning?

Adverbs: now, at the moment, at present, currently, just, still, etc.

We use still to show that sth Is continuing and is temporary:

I am still living with my parents but I want to get my own flat.

Stative verbs2:

Stative verbs are verbs which are not normally used in the progressive forms. These
verbs are:
1. Verbs which describe thought, feelings and senses: think, know, believe, agree,
remember, forget, understand, like, love, hat, prefer, want, see, hear, smell, taste etc.
2. Some other verbs which describe what thing and people are, what they are like and
what they possess: be, have, need, own, involve, depend on, seem, look, weigh etc.
BUT: some stative verbs can be used in continuous sense: I am tasting the soup (action)
vs. The soup tastes funny (state of the soup, what the soup is like).

Time line:
Past

Present

Future

Present Simple vs. Present Continuous:

1. Stories:
Present Simple: used for main events the things that happen one after another.
Present Continuous: used for background information thing already happening
when the story starts or that continue through the story,
2. Commentaries:
Present simple: used for quicker actions and events which are finished before
the sentences that describe them.
Present continuous: used for longer actions and situations.

Present Perfect
Form:

Present Perfect is formed with have/has plus past participle.

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Positive form
1. I have played
2. You have played
3. He has played
She has played
It has played
1. We have played
2. You have played
3. They have played

Interrogative form
1. Have I played
2. Have you played
3. Has he played
Has she played
Has it played
1. Have we played
2. Have you played
3. Have they played

Negative form
1. I have not played
2. You have not played
3. He has not played
She has not played
It has not played
1. We have not played
2. You have not played
3. They have not played

Use:

We use Present Perfect to talk about thing that took place:

1. during a period which includes past and present
They have been waiting here for an hour.
2. in the past, but we are not saying exactly when
Dont tell me he has bought another new car.
3. in the past with an effect or result in the present
Im afraid I have forgotten my key.
4. with the time adverb just meaning a short time ago
He has just gone out.
5. when an action or event repeated a number of times up to now
He has been to Chine three time.
Present Perfect often combines with other tenses In the same sentence:
1. uses with other present tenses
a) With report/comment words and phrases (guess, imagine, suppose, etc.)
I reckon Gloria has been held up in the traffic.
Do you suppose they have forgotten they are meant to be here?
b) With the phrases This is / Its / Thats the first /second / only etc. time.
This is the first time he has been late.
c) When an even is unusual or unique in your life (often with superlative,
never and ever). I have never met Brad Pitt.
d) When commenting on present results of sth in the past (usually with
appear, seem, sound). He sounds as is he has run all the way here.
2. uses with past tenses
a) To describe state or events that have continued since a time in the past
(with since, ever since etc.). He has been a bit more careful since he had
that warning.
b) To describe long-term feeling and thoughts about past events. I have
often wondered why he decided to become a teacher.
c) To refer to sb who is dead. Princess Diana was the most extraordinary
person I have ever read about.
3. uses with another present perfect

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a) To describe two states that have existed since a time in the past. Since I
have known his, he has always worn the same sweater.
4. uses with future forms
a) In time clauses (after when, as soon as, until, before, etc.). We will
continue the meeting when he has recovered his composure.

Time line:
Connecting past and present

Past

Present

Future

Comparison with Past simple:

Past simple
Talks about the past only:
I knew her when I was a child.
Is concerned with a specific past time either
mentioned or understood:
I went to London.
Is used with time expressions to talk about
finished periods of time:
I saw Jane yesterday.

Past perfect
Links the past with the present:
I have known her for 10 years. (I net her 10
years ago, and I still know her now.)
Does not refer to a specific past time:
I have been to London.
Is used with time expressions to talk about
periods of time that are not finished:
Jane has been a teacher for 5 years.

Adverbs: for, since, never, ever, just, before, recently, already, yet, still, up to now etc.
For and Since:

FOR a period of time: I have lived in London for 20 years.

SINCE beginning of an action: I have lived in London since 1990.

Common phrases:
Theyve made it! (= They have succeeded)
Ive had enough! (= Im fed up. I dont want to do any more)
Youve had it! (= You are in trouble)
Thats torn it! (= When sb has done sth that sb else will complain strongly about)
Now youve done it! (= Youve done something seriously wrong)
Shes arrived (= Shes achieved fame, success, acceptance, etc. at last)
Hes lost it! (= Hes lost his patience or self-control)
Youve got me there! (Good point: Ive no idea what the solution is)

Present Perfect Continuous

Form:
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Present Perfect Continuous is formed with have/has + been + -ing.

Positive form
1. I have been playing
2. You have been playing
3. He has been playing
She has been playing
It has been playing
1. We have been playing
2. You have been playing
3. They have been playing

Interrogative form
1. Have I been playing
2. Have you been playing
3. Has he been playing
Has she been playing
Has it been playing
1. Have we been playing
2. Have you been playing
3. Have they been playing

Negative form
1. I have not been playing
2. You have not been playing
3. He has not been playing
She has not been playing
It has not been playing
1. We have not been playing
2. You have not been playing
3. They have not been playing

Use:

Describes a past period happening in the period up to now. It can be used:

1. to say how long an activity or situation has been in progress (usually with for and
since):
Catherine Wild has been receiving Christmas cards for the past 17 years.
She has been living in London since she bough the house.
2. to focus on an activity itself. The result of the activity is not important. It is either still
going on or it has just stopped:
A: What have you been doing? B: I have been cooking.
3. to talk about something that is incomplete, just finishing or bout to change:
I have been reading War and Peace again.

Simple or continuous?
Present simple
To show that an action was repeated:
I have had interviews all year but I still dont
have a job.
Or to say how many times it happened:
I have had six interviews but I still dont have
a job.
To focus on the result or completion of an
activity:
A: What have you done this afternoon?
B: I have watched some football and written a
letter. (completed activities this afternoon)

Present continuous
To show that an action was not repeated:
I have been having interviews all year but I
still dont have a job.
Note that we cannot say how many times it
happened using the continuous: I have been
having six interviews.
To talk about activity itself:
A: What have you been doing this afternoon?
B: I have been watching the athletics (not
necessarily completed).
We dont use adverbs like before and already
with present perfect continuous:
I have seen him before. NOT I have been
seeing him before.

Past Simple
Form:
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Positive form
Regular verbs:
I / you / he / she / it / we / they
watched
Irregular verbs:
I / you / he etc. went / ate/ saw etc.

Interrogative form
Regular verbs:
Did I / you / he / she etc.
watch
Irregular verbs:
Did I / you etc. go / eat /
see etc.

Negative form
Regular verbs:
I / you etc. didnt watch.
Irregular verbs:
I / you etc. didnt go / eat / see
etc.

Spelling:

In verbs which end in E, we add D: loved, hated, smiled, liked, danced, lied, etc.
In verbs which end in consonant + y, we change y into I and add ED: cried, carried,
tried, etc.
BUT: vowel + y: played, toyed, etc.
In one-syllable verbs which end in a vowel and a consonant, the consonant is doubled:
stopped, dropped, planned, jogged, etc.
Two-syllable verbs, when the 2nd syllable I stressed we double the consonant: regretted,
referred, occurred, preferred, etc.
Verbs ending in c have ck in the past: picnicked, panicked, etc.
Verbs ending in l: travelled, labelled, etc.

Past Simple of auxiliary verbs:

BE
Positive
1. I was
2. You were
3. He was
She was
It was
1. We were
2. You were
3. They were

Interrogative
1. was I
2. were you
3. was he
Was she
Was it
1. were we
2. were you
3. were they

Negative
1. I was not (wasnt)
2. You were not (werent )
3. He was not
She was not
It was not
1. We were not
2. You were not
3. They were not

DO
1. I did
2. You did
3. He did
She did
It did
1. We did
2. You did
3. They did

HAVE
1. I had
2. You had
3. He had
She had
It had
1. We had
2. You had
3. They had

Use:

NEUTRAL PAST => Single past actions and events:

I went to a fashion shop and bought a necklace.
ITERATIVE PAST => Repeated and habitual past actions:
I always went shopping on Saturdays.
Past stated (long-lasting situations and states):
My father knew the Prime Minister.
Used in stories and descriptions of past events;
Oh, yes, we had a great time at the party.

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Adverbs: yesterday, ago, last day/week/year, in the year 1986, then, on (Monday), etc.
Time line:
Past

present

future

Past continuous
Form:

Past continuous is formed with the past tense of be plus the ing form of the verb.

Positive form
1. I was playing
2. You were playing
3. He was playing
She was playing
It was playing
1. We were playing
2. You were playing
3. They were playing

Interrogative form
1. was I playing
2. were you playing
3. was he playing
was she playing
was it playing
1. were we playing
2. were you playing
3. were they playing

Negative form
1. I was not playing
2. You were not playing
3. He was not playing
She was not playing
It was not playing
1. We were not playing
2. You were not playing
3. They were not playing

Used with as, when, while to set the scene:

As / when / while I was eating, my mother brought in the dog.

Use:

To say that some action was in progress at the particular time in the past:
When I got up this morning the sun was shinning.
Background descriptions and events:
The phone rang while I was having the dinner.
As I was walking down the road, I saw Bill.
Mozart died while he was composing the Requiem.
For temporary actions and situations in the past:
It happened while I was living in London last year.
When I got home the water was running down the kitchen walls.
To talk about plans in the past:
We were meeting at 8 oclock and I was already late.

Past simple vs. Past Continuous:

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We use past continuous to set the scene (give an idea of a background situation) for a
story. We use past simple to describe the events of the story. Sometimes the events
interrupt the background situation:
I was reading a book (background situation) when a man rushed in (event).
Sometimes the events happen in the same time as the background situation:
While I was sleeping my mother made me a meal.

Time line:
Past

present

future

Used to and Would:

To talk about sth that was true in the past but is not true anymore we can use:
Used to + verb; would + verb; past simple.
USED TO + VERB is used to talk about:
1. a repeated action that no longer happens:
I use to help her with her homework. (many times in the past but not now)
We used to collect her from the school.
2. a past state, situation or feeling that lasted a long time but which is no longer
true:
We used to live In London. (now we live in the country)
I used to be very thin.
WOULD + VERB is only used for repeated past actions:
She would often go to noisy London nightclubs. (many times in the past,not now)
WOULD + VERB is not use for past states. We cannot say: I would love pizza.
Would is more likely than used to when we describe more than 1 past action:
I would come home late and my mother would worry about me and she would get upset
and we would start arguing.

Past Perfect
Form:

Past Perfect is formed with had plus past participle:

Positive form
1. I had played
2. You had played
3. He had played
She had played
It had played
1. We had played
2. You had played
3. They had played

Interrogative form
1. Had I played
2. Had you played
3. Had he played
Had she played
Had it played
1. Had we played
2. Had you played
3. Had they played

Negative form
1. I had not played
2. You had not played
3. He had not played
She had not played
It had not played
1. We had not played
2. You had not played
3. They had not played

Use:
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Giving information about a period before a time in the past:

He remembered their previous meeting. She had told him her life story.
If the time sequence is clear (e.g. because we use after), both Past Simple and Past
Perfect are possible. At other times Past Perfect is essential to understanding the
sequence and we often add already, as soon as, or until:
I got to work after Simon arrived / had arrived.
When I arrived, they had already started. (= they started before I arrived.)
When I arrived, they started. (I arrived before they started.)
When we use before, the verb in Past Simple can refer to something that takes place
before the verb in Past Perfect. The first action may prevent the second from
happening:
The waiter took my plate away before I had finished eating.
I was blamed for it before I had even had a chance to defend myself.
We use Past Perfect with report verbs and with hope, intend, expect, etc. to talk about
plans that have not yet been fulfilled:
I had hoped to talk to him but he was to busy to listen.
I had thought of phoning him but decided against it.
Explaining or commenting on sth in the story (often following because). We often use
words like always, often, never:
I felt uneasy about him because I had seen his face somewhere before.

Adverbs: after, before, as soon as, often, never, by the time, etc.
Time line:
Past perfect

past simple

present

Past Perfect Continuous

Form:

Past Perfect continuous is formed with had + been + -ing:

Positive form
1. I have been playing
2. You have been playing
3. He has been playing
She has been playing
It has been playing
1. We have been playing
2. You have been playing
3. They have been playing

Interrogative form
1. Have I been playing
2. Have you been playing
3. Has he been playing
Has she been playing
Has it been playing
1. Have we been playing
2. Have you been playing
3. Have they been playing

Negative form
1. I have not been playing
2. You have not been playing
3. He has not been playing
She has not been playing
It has not been playing
1. We have not been playing
2. You have not been playing
3. They have not been playing

Future Time in English language

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There are several ways to use the verbs to talk about the future in English:

(1) Future Simple

Form:

Future Simple is formed with will/shell + infinitive:

Will
Positive form
I / you / he / she etc. will play (Ill / youll / hell / shell etc.)
Interrogative form
Will I / you / he / she play etc.
Negative form
I / you/ he / she etc. will not play (wont)
Short answers
Yes, I will. No, I wont.

Shell and shant can be used to replace will and wont. it is usually used only with I and
we:
I shell phone the doctor immediately.
However, it is becoming increasingly formal its most common current use is in polite
offers or to ask advice: Shell I open the window?
What shell I do?
Wont can be used to talk about annoying problems:
The coffee machine wont turn off.

Use:

GENERAL PREDICTION. When we havent decided about the future yet, when we
make a prediction. When we think, guess or calculate what will happen. We often use
words such as think, probably, sure, suppose, definitely, doubt:
We think well buy them some glasses as a wedding present. (havent decided yet)
I will probably go home in a few minutes. (havent decided yet)
Shell definitely fell home sick in the States. (prediction)
The shops will be really busy tomorrow. (prediction)
You will be sick if you eat more chocolate. (prediction)
IMMEDIATE DECISIONS OF WHAT YOU ARE DOING. When we decide at the
time of speaking to do sth (this can be an offer or promise or a response to an offer,
announcements, decisions etc.) -> it expesses out intentions and attitudes towards other
people:
A: Have you bought Anna a birthday present? B: No! Ill buy her some flowers at
lunchtime. (decision at the time of speaking)
A: Oh, Ive forgotten to turn off the iron! B: Dont worry. Ill do it. (offer)

(2) Be going to future:

Form:
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Formed with the verb be + going to + infinitive:

Be going to
Positive form
I / you / he / she etc. is/are going to play
Interrogative form
Am I / you / he / she etc. going to play.
Negative form
I / you/ he / she etc. am not going to play.
Short answers
Yes, I will. No, I wont.

Use:

PERSONAL INTENTION. When we already made a decision, to talk about plans:

Next year I am going to climb the Alps.
I am going to study Arabic next term.
We are going to get a new car.
When the present situation tell us something about the future predicting the future on
the basis of present evidence, to say that the future event is starting to happen :
She is going to win. (one more point and she and she is going to win)
Sandra is going to have another baby in June.
Look at the sky! It is going to rain.
Look out! We are going to crash!
Can be used to insist that people do things do not do things:
You are going to finish that soup if you sit there all afternoon.
She is going to take that medicine whether she likes it or not.

(3) Future Continuous

Form:

The Future continuous is formed with will + be + -ing form:

Future Continuous
Positive form
I / you / he / she etc. will be playing.
Interrogative form
Will I / you / he / she etc. be playing.
Negative form
I / you/ he / she etc. will not be playing.
Short answers
Yes, I will. No, I wont.

Use:

To describe or predict an activity in progress at a particular time in the future:

This time next week Ill be flying to Mexico.
To describe a future action or event that is already organized, decided or known.
Compare:
Dont worry, Ill be picking Karen up at 8.00. (already decided)
OK, Ill pick Karen up at 8.00. (decision at the time of speaking)
To describe sth we know is happening now somewhere else:
I mustnt phone my father now. Hell be watching the football.

Time line:

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Past

present

future

(4) Future Perfect

Form:

The Future Perfect is formed with will + have + past participle:

Future Perfect
Positive form
I / you / he / she etc. will have played.
Interrogative form
Will I / you / he / she etc. have played.
Negative form
I / you/ he / she etc. wont have played.
Short answers
Yes, I will. No, I wont.

Use:

To describe or predict an event that will be completed before a particular time in the
future:
Phil will have completed his course by this time next month.
When you are sure, because of your knowledge of events, that something has happened
somewhere else:
Anna will have met Peter at the airport by now.
We can use should / ought to or may / might instead of will if there is some uncertainty
about the prediction of present or future:
I should have finished making this cake by the time Sue comes home.

Future Perfect with in and by:

We use by + fixed points of time = meaning at some point before the time mentioned.
By the time, by the 4th of December, by the summer, by this time next week
Its taking her so long to write that book that by the time she has finished all the people
will have forgotten the incident its based on.
We use in + period of time + time with the future perfect:
In a couple of hours time, in a weeks time, in two days time

(5) Present Simple:

We use Present Simple to talk about the future when we are talking about events which
are part of a timetable, a regular schedule or something similar.
The summer term starts on April the 10th.
The train leaves at 2 am. tomorrow.
What time does the buss arrive in Belgrade? Are you on duty next weekend?

(6) Present Progressive:

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We use Present Progressive for future actions and events when we have some present
reality. It is common in discussions or personal arrangements and fixed plans, when the
time and place have been decided (planned and arranged future events):
What are you doing this evening? ~ Im washing my hair.
Im seeing Larry on Saturday. We are traveling round Mexico next summer.

Differences between Present Progressive and be going to future:

We use be going to future when we are NOT talking about fixes arrangements but
intentions and decisions. Compare:
I am seeing Phil tonight. (emphasis on arrangement)
Im really going to tell him what I think of him (emphasis on intention)
Whos cooking lunch? (asking what has been arranged)
Whos going to cook lunch? (asking for a decision)
Present Progressive is used esp. for personal arrangements and it is not generally used
to make predictions about events outside peoples control:
Its going to snow before long.
I can see that things are going to be better soon.
PP is used for actions and events but not for permanent states. Compare:
Our house is getting / is going to get new windows this winter.
Their new house is going to look over the river. (NOT Their new house is looking ove
the river.)

(7) Be about to + infinitive

ALSO: be on the point of / be due to / be just/just about to

Suggests that a future event is very close:
The plane is about to take off.
Look at the clouds! Its about to rain.

(8) Be to + infinitive

To talk about planed and arrangements and schedules and to give instructions:
The president is to visit Belgrade in January.
You are not to tell anybody about this.

(9) Future in the past

Future-in-the-past: was/were going to can be used if you planned sth but you didnt do
it:
I was going to make something to eat, but then I went out.
Last time I saw you, you were going to start a new job.

Stative verbs
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Stative verbs are verbs which are not normally used in the continuous form.
They describe states that stay the same rather then actions and events that change.
The most common stative verb is be. Others include:
1. Emotional states: love, hate, like, doubt, care, etc.
2. Senses: hear, smell, touch, feel, see, sound, etc.
3. Mental states: believe, feel, remember, think, find, realize, regret, understand,
know, etc.
4. Verbs that describe a sense of performance because they are not actions: own,
need, depend, belong, contain, etc.
5. We use can or could with see, hear, taste, smell, understand and remember what
is or was happening at the time:
Thats strange: I couldnt smell anything burning when I went to bed last night.
We can use some stative verbs in the continuous:
1. When they have active meaning:
Im tasting this to see if there is enough salt.
Shes being rather obstinate at the moment.
2. When they emphasize change or development:
More schools will be including Shakespeare on their syllabus.
3. Sometimes using simple or continuous involves a change in meaning:
Im thinking about going to see Hamlet (= trying to reach a decision)
I think Shakespeare is brilliant. (= my opinion)
I am seeing her later. (= I have an appointment)
I see what you are on about. (= I understand)
4. we use verbs that refer to physical feelings (e.g. hurt, ache, feel) in the simple or
continuous with little difference in meaning:
My head aches / is aching.
How are you feeling / do you feel now.

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