THE USE OF VERB TENSES

1. THE PRESENT SIMPLE TENSE

Negative Negative
Affirmative Long forms Short forms Interrogative
To work
I work I do not work I dont work Do I work?
You work You do not work You dont work Do you work?
He works He does not work He doesnt work Does he work?
She works She does not work She doesnt work Does she work?
It works It does not work It doesnt work Does it work?
We work We do not work We dont work Do we work?
You work You do not work You dont work Do you work?
They work They do not work They dont work Do they work?
PRESENT SIMPLE IS USED TO EXPRESS:
1. Repeated or habitual (obinuite) actions:
Ex. We go dancing three times a week. (repeated)
The bus stops right in front of my office. (habitual)
2. Permanent situations:
Ex. My aunt and uncle live in Australia.
3. Timetables or schedules (orar sau program):
Ex. Your bus leaves Bucharest at 8 p.m. (timetable)
The conference begins at 10 a.m. and ends at 3 p.m. (schedule)
4. General truths:
Ex. Pigs are fat and are brought up (crescui) for their meat.
5. Zero conditional:
Ex. If I like a dress, I buy it.
6. Conditional sentences type 1:
Ex. If I finish work early, well go for an ice-cream at the new cafe.
They will not help us unless you ask them nicely.
7. Future in time clauses (after when, after, before, as soon as, till/until, while, once, as long as, whenever, by
the time)
Ex. I will visit you whenever you invite me.
2. THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS TENSE
Affirmative Negative
Interrogative
Long forms Short forms Long forms Short forms
To work
I am working Im working I am not working Im not working Am I working?
You are working Youre working You are not working You arent working Are you working?
He is working Hes working He is not working He isnt working Is he working?
She is working Shes working She is not working She isnt working Is she working?
It is working Its working It is not working It isnt working Is it working?
We are working Were working We are not working We arent working Are we working?
You are working Youre working You are not working You arent working Are you working?
They are working Theyre working They are not working They arent working Are they working?
PRESENT CONTINUOUS IS USED TO EXPRESS:
1. Actions happening at the moment of speech:
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 Ex. We are dancing as we are at a wedding and the music is wonderful.
2. Temporary situations:
Ex. My aunt and uncle live in Australia but they are living with us in Europe for a couple of weeks.
3. Future arrangements:
Ex. You are leaving Bucharest at 8 tonight.
4. Changing and developing situations:
Ex. The pigs I have bought are getting fatter and fatter.
5. Annoying present habits:
Ex. My sister is always contradicting me.
PRESENT SIMPLE VERSUS PRESENT CONTINUOUS
Repeated or habitual (obinuite) actions: Actions happening at the moment of speech:
1.
Ex. The baby sleeps every afternoon. Ex. Be quiet! The baby is sleeping.
Permanent situations: Temporary situations:
2. Ex. Tom works for a big business Ex. Tom is working for a company in Beijing for three
company. months.
Timetables or schedules: Future arrangements:
3.
Ex. My plane takes of (decoleaz) at 7. Ex. I am leaving at 7.
Changing and developing situations:
General truths:
4. Ex. It is raining less and less (din ce n ce mai puin) in
Ex. August is a dry (secetoas) month.
August.
3. THE PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE TENSE
Affirmative Negative
Interrogative
Long forms Short forms Long forms Short forms
I have worked Ive worked I have not worked I havent worked Have I worked?
You have worked Youve worked You have not worked You havent worked Have you worked?
He has worked Hes worked He has not worked He hasnt worked Has he worked?
She has worked Shes worked She has not worked She hasnt worked Has she worked?
It has worked Its worked It has not worked It hasnt worked Has it worked?
We have worked Weve worked We have not worked We havent worked Have we worked?
You have worked Youve worked You have not worked You havent worked Have you worked?
They have worked Theyve worked They have not worked They havent worked Have they worked?
PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE IS USED TO EXPRESS:
1. Unfinished actions or situations (how long? for, since)
Ex. How long have you known Diana?
I have known her since she was a child. Ive known her for over 20 years.
2. Life experiences (ever, never)
Ex. Have you ever touched a snake?
No, I have never touched one. But I touched a lizard (oprl) once.
3. With already, yet and just
Ex. Grandma hasnt finished dinner yet. She has already boiled (a fiert) the potatoes and she has just fried
the meat. But she hasnt done the salad yet.
4. After the first/ second/ third etc.
Ex. Is it the first horror film you have seen?
No, its the third horror film Ive seen, but Im still scared to death.
5. With an unfinished time word, to express an unfinished action or situation (today, this week/month/year,
before, so far, so long)
Ex. I have to read 10 books for my exam and I have only read four so far.

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 6. Present result or consequence
Ex. Its cold inside because Jim has opened the window.
7. A finished future action, in time clauses (after when, after, before, as soon as, till/until, while, once, as long as,
whenever, by the time)
Ex. We will finish the preparations for the party before you have arrived.
4. THE PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE
Affirmative Negative
Interrogative
Long form Short form Long form Short form
I have been working Ive been working I have not been working I havent been working Have I been working?
You have been working Youve been working You have not been working You havent been working Have you been working?
He has been working Hes been working He has not been working He hasnt been working Has he been working?
She has been working Shes been working She has not been working She hasnt been working Has she been working?
It has been working Its been working It has not been working It hasnt been working Has it been working?
We have been working Weve been working We have not been working We havent been working Have we been working?
You have been working Youve been working You have not been working You havent been working Have you been working?
They have been working Theyve been working They have not been working They havent been working Have they been working?
PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS IS USED TO EXPRESS
1. Unfinished continuous actions which started in the past and continue in the present, when we want to
emphasize the duration or the progression of the action.
Ex. Im very tired because I have been tidying up the house for three hours and I still have to finish the
bathroom.
2. Continuous actions which started in the past and finished just before the present time, when we want to
emphasize the duration or the progression of the action.
Ex. Tom needs to change his clothes because he has been mending the car since morning.
5. THE PAST SIMPLE TENSE
Negative
Affirmative Interrogative
Long forms Short forms
I worked I did not work I didnt work Did I work?
You worked You did not work You didnt work Did you work?
He worked He did not work He didnt work Did he work?
She worked She did not work She didnt work Did she work?
It worked It did not work It didnt work Did it work?
We worked We did not work We didnt work Did we work?
You worked You did not work You didnt work Did you work?
They worked They did not work They didnt work Did they work?
PAST SIMPLE IS USED TO EXPRESS
1. Finished events in the past with no connection to the present
Ex. Ernest Hemingway wrote novels and short stories.
2. With a finished time word (yesterday/ last week, month, year/ at 6:30/ in 2010/ two days, weeks, months,
years ago etc.
Ex. I visited my friend Gemma yesterday.
3. For stories and lists of events
Ex. He went to a caf, sat down and lit a cigarette.
Yesterday, we went to the museum, walked through the city centre, had dinner in a nice restaurant, the,
finally, came home.
4. Details of news
Ex. Alice has been on holiday. She went to Spain and Portugal.
5. As part of the second conditional
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 Ex. I would call Diana if I knew her number.
PRESENT PERFECT VERSUS PAST SIMPLE
A past action when the exact time is not A past action when the time is known or important
1. known or it is unimportant. enough to be mentioned.
Ex. We have bought a new house. Ex. We bought a new house two months ago.
Actions or situations that started in the past Actions or situations that started in the past but are
and still continue in the present. finished in the present.
2.
Ex. I have worked for this company for over Ex. I worked for this company for 10 years, then I started
10 years and I like it very much. my own business.
A finished action in someone's life (when the A finished action in someone's life (when the person is
person is still alive: life experience) dead)
3.
Ex. He is a great painter and he has sold Ex. This painter sold over 100 paintings before his death in
over 50 paintings. 1999.
A finished action with a result in the present: A finished action with no result in the present:
4. Ex. I've lost my keys! (The result is that I Ex. I lost my keys yesterday. It was terrible! (Now there is
can't get into my house now). no result. I got new keys yesterday).
With a finished time word (last week, last month,
With an unfinished time word (this week,
yesterday)
5. this month, today):
Ex. I called you three times last week but you didnt
Ex. Ive called Mark twice this week.
answer.
6. THE PAST CONTINUOUS TENSE
Negative
Affirmative Interrogative
Long forms Short forms
I was working I was not working I wasnt working Was I working?
You were working You were not working You werent working Were you working?
He was working He was not working He wasnt working Was he working?
She was working She was not working She wasnt working Was she working?
It was working It was not working It wasnt working Was it working?
We were working We were not working We werent working Were we working?
You were working You were not working You werent working Were you working?
They were working They were not working They werent working Were they working?
PAST CONTINUOUS IS USED TO EXPRESS
1. An action in development at a certain moment in the past.
Ex. At 11:00 p.m. yesterday I was sleeping.
2. A continuous action in the past which is interrupted by another action or a time
Ex. He was watching TV when somebody knocked at the door.
3. Background information, to give atmosphere to a story
Ex. It was a stormy night. The wind was blowing and the rain was pouring down.
4. An annoying and repeated action in the past, usually with 'always'
Ex. I didnt like my uncle Carl very much. He was always telling me what to do.
5. For two actions which happened at the same time in the past
Ex. Mother was cooking while father was fixing the car.
7. THE PAST PERFECT SIMPLE TENSE
Affirmative Negative
Interrogative
Long forms Short forms Long forms Short forms
I had worked Id worked I had not worked I hadnt worked Had I worked?
You had worked Youd worked You had not worked You hadnt worked Had you worked?

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He had worked Hed worked He had not worked He hadnt worked Had he worked?
She had worked Shed worked She had not worked She hadnt worked Had she worked?
It had worked Itd worked It had not worked It hadnt worked Had it worked?
We had worked Wed worked We had not worked We hadnt worked Had we worked?
You had worked Youd worked You had not worked You hadnt worked Had you worked?
They had worked Theyd worked They had not worked They hadnt worked Had they worked?
PAST PERFECT SIMPLE TENSE IS USED TO EXPRESS
1. A past action that took place before another past action.
Ex. When I got home, my mother had cooked dinner. (She finished cooking before I got home)
2. A past action that took place before another past moment.
Ex. At 11 a.m. yesterday, Pam had already taken her exam.
3. To explain or give reasons for something in the past.
Ex. I won the competition because I had practised a lot.
4. As part of the third conditional.
Ex. If you had told me about your problems, I would have helped you.
8. THE PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE
Affirmative Negative
Interrogative
Long forms Short forms Long forms Short forms
I had been working Id been working I had not been working I hadnt been working Had I been working?
You had been working Youd been working You had not been working You hadnt been working Had you been working?
He had been working Hed been working He had not been working He hadnt been working Had he been working?
She had been working Shed been working She had not been working She hadnt been working Had she been working?
It had been working Itd been working It had not been working It hadnt been working Had it been working?
We had been working Wed been working We had not been working We hadnt been working Had we been working?
You had been working Youd been working You had not been working You hadnt been working Had you been working?
They had been working Theyd been working They had not been working They hadnt been working Had they been working?
PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS IS USED TO EXPRESS
1. Something that started in the past and continued up to another action or moment in the past.
Ex. He had been working in this office for three years when he met Denise.
At 10 p.m. yesterday, I had been waiting for Tom for over three hours.
2. A cause of something in the past.
Ex. The road was wet and slippery because it had been raining all day long.
9. THE FUTURE SIMPLE TENSE
Affirmative Negative
Interrogative
Long forms Short forms Long forms Short forms
I will work Ill work I will not work I wont work Will I work?
You will work Youll work You will not work You wont work Will you work?
He will work Hell work He will not work He wont work Will he work?
She will work Shell work She will not work She wont work Will she work?
It will work Itll work It will not work It wont work Will it work?
We will work Well work We will not work We wont work Will we work?
You will work Youll work You will not work You wont work Will you work?
They will work Theyll work They will not work They wont work Will they work?
FUTURE SIMPLE TENSE IS USED TO EXPRESS
1. A decision made at the moment of speaking.
Ex. I like this dress. I will buy it.
2. A prediction made on a personal opinion.

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 Ex. I think the Conservatives will win the elections.
3. A future fact.
Ex. The sun will raise early tomorrow.
4. A promise.
Ex. We will finish the project on time.
5. A request.
Ex. Will you lend me some money?
6. Refusal.
Ex. I wont go on that boring trip!
7. To express willingness.
Ex. They will give up smoking.
8. For offers and suggestions (in this situation shall is used with the first person singular and plural: I and we)
Ex. Shall I get you some cofee?
Shall we go to a restaurant later?
10. THE FUTURE WITH GOING TO
Affirmative Negative
Interrogative
Long forms Short forms Long forms Short forms
I am going to work Im going to work I am not going to work Im not going to work Am I going to work?
You are going to work Youre going to work You are not going to work You arent going to work Are you going to work?
He is going to work Hes going to work He is not going to work He isnt going to work Is he going to work?
She is going to work Shes going to work She is not going to work She isnt going to work Is she going to work?
It is going to work Its going to work It is not going to work It isnt going to work Is it going to work?
We are going to work Were going to work We are not going to work We arent going to work Are we going to work?
You are going to work Youre going to work You are not going to work You arent going to work Are you going to work?
They are going to work Theyre going to work They are not going to work They arent going to work Are they going to work?
GOING TO FUTURE IS USED TO EXPRESS
1. Future long- term plans, made before the moment of speaking.
Ex. When I grow up, Im going to become a lawyer.
2. Predictions based on present evidence.
Ex. Its cloudy. Its going to rain.
FUTURE SIMPLE VERSUS GOING TO FUTURE
A decision made at the moment of speaking A decision made before the moment of speaking.
1. Ex. Im cold. I will close the window. Ex. When he is 18, John is going to buy a red car.
A prediction based on present evidence.
A prediction based on a personal opinion.
2. Ex. The boys who are playing football are going to
Ex. She thinks her brother will pass the exam.
break the window.
11. THE FUTURE CONTINUOUS TENSE
Affirmative Negative
Interrogative
Long forms Short forms Long forms Short forms
I will be working Ill be working I will not be working I wont be working Will I be working?
You will be working Youll be working You will not be working You wont be working Will you be working?
He will be working Hell be working He will not be working He wont be working Will he be working?
She will be working Shell be working She will not be working She wont be working Will she be working?
It will be working Itll be working It will not be working It wont be working Will it be working?
We will be working Well be working We will not be working We wont be working Will we be working?
You will be working Youll be working You will not be working You wont be working Will you be working?
They will be working Theyll be working They will not be working They wont be working Will they be working?
FUTUTRE CONTINUOUS IS USED TO EXPRESS
1. A continuous action in progress at a certain moment in the future.
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 Ex. At this time tomorrow, Jim will be working on his paper
2. To make a guess about the present.
Ex. Little Susie will be sleeping now.
12. THE FUTURE PERFECT SIMPLE TENSE
Affirmative Negative
Interrogative
Long form Short form Long form Short form
I will have worked Ill have worked I will not have worked I wont have worked Will I have worked?
You will have worked Youll have worked You will not have worked You wont have worked Will you have worked?
He will have worked Hell have worked He will not have worked He wont have worked Will he have worked?
She will have worked Shell have worked She will not have worked She wont have worked Will she have worked?
It will have worked Itll have worked It will not have worked It wont have worked Will it have worked?
We will have worked Well have worked We will not have worked We wont have worked Will we have worked?
You will have worked Youll have worked You will not have worked You wont have worked Will you have worked?
They will have worked Theyll have worked They will not have worked They wont have worked Will they have worked?
FUTURE PERFECT SIMPLE IS USED TO EXPRESS
1. An action that will finish before another future action
Ex. By the time you arrive, we will have finished our work.
2. An action that will finish before a certain moment in the future.
Ex. At 3 p.m. tomorrow, Dan will have taken his driving test.
13. THE FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE
Affirmative Negative
Interrogative
Long forms Short forms Long forms Short forms
I will not have been working
I will have been working Ill have been working I wont have been working Will I have been working?
You will not have been working
You will have been working Youll have been working You wont have been working Will you have been working?
He will not have been working
He will have been working Hell have been working He wont have been working Will he have been working?
She will not have been working
She will have been working Shell have been working She wont have been working Will she have been working?
It will not have been working
It will have been working Itll have been working It wont have been working Will it have been working?
We will not have been working
We will have been working Well have been working We wont have been working Will we have been working?
You will not have been working
You will have been working Youll have been working You wont have been working Will you have been working?
They will not have been
They will have been working Theyll have been working They wont have been working Will they have been working?
working

FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS IS USED TO EXPRESS

1. An action that starts before a moment in the future and continues up to that moment.
Ex. Next March I will have been working in this office for 6 years.
14. THE PRESENT CONDITIONAL
Affirmative Negative
Interrogative
Long forms Short forms Long forms Short forms
I would work Id work I would not work I wouldnt work Would I work?
You would work Youd work You would not work You wouldnt work Would you work?
He would work Hed work He would not work He wouldnt work Would he work?
She would work Shed work She would not work She wouldnt work Would she work?
It would work Itd work It would not work It wouldnt work Would it work?
We would work Wed work We would not work We wouldnt work Would we work?
You would work Youd work You would not work You wouldnt work Would you work?
They would work Theyd work They would not work They wouldnt work Would they work?
THE PRESENT CONDITIONAL IS USED TO EXPRESS
1. A present hypothesis, wish or unreal situation.
Ex. This car is so comfortable that I think anyone would spend a lot of money to have it.
2. As part of the second conditional sentence.
Ex. We would finish the project on time if John were here to help us.
If I had more time, I would go to watch that new action movie at the cinema tonight.
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 You wouldnt go to Chriss party unless your parents agreed.
15. THE PAST CONDITIONAL
Affirmative Negative
Interrogative
Long forms Short forms Long forms Short forms
I would have worked I wouldve worked Would I have worked?
I would not have worked I wouldnt have worked
You would have worked You wouldve worked Would you have worked?
You would not have worked You wouldnt have worked
He would have worked He wouldve worked He would not have worked He wouldnt have worked Would he have worked?
She would have worked She wouldve worked She would not have worked She wouldnt have worked Would she have worked?
It would have worked It wouldve worked It would not have worked It wouldnt have worked Would it have worked?
We would have worked We would not have worked We wouldnt have worked Would we have worked?
We wouldve worked
You would not have worked You wouldnt have worked
You would have worked You wouldve worked Would you have worked?
They would not have worked They wouldnt have worked
They would have worked Would they have worked?
They wouldve worked
THE PAST CONDITIONAL IS USED TO EXPRESS
1. A past hypothesis, wish or unreal situation.
Ex. Diana was so desperate that she would have accepted any job.
2. As part of the third conditional sentence.
Ex. We would have arrived in time if Alice hadnt been late.
If mother had remembered to buy some bread I wouldnt have gone on the trip with no sandwiches.
You wouldnt have taken the car unless Tom had given you the keys.