English Verbs

A Review of the System

An Average English Class
 Three Types of English Verbs
• to be
• Auxiliary verbs
i) to do
ii) to have
iii) Modal auxiliaries (can, could, may, might, must,
ought to, shall, should, will, would)
• Main verbs
 Auxiliary Verbs
• Primary auxiliaries double as main verbs
• Modal auxiliaries require a lexical verb (main
verbs) to accompany them
 The verb to be
to be can function as an auxiliary or as a main
verb, but even as a main verb, it behaves
syntactically like an auxiliary, i.e.:

• It is directly negated with not:

He is tall > He is not tall

• It is inverted to form a question:

He is tall > Is he tall?
Syntactic Properties of Auxiliary Verbs
• directly negated with not:
You would go > You would not go
• inverted to form a question:
You would go > Would you go?
• cannot be used alone EXCEPT:
– in tag questions
– in short answers and additions, to avoid repetition
 Auxiliaries used alone
• Tag questions
You can swim, can't you?
You can't swim, can you?
• Short answers and additions
"Can you swim?" – "Yes, I can."
I can swim and so can my brother.
"I can't swim." – "Neither can I."
Syntactic Properties of Main Verbs
• cannot be directly negated with not:
I like not action movies
I don't like action movies

• cannot be inverted to form a question:

Like you action movies?
Do you like action movies?
 The verb to do (1)
• Is the 'hidden' auxiliary of the present and
past simple:
You speak Portuguese, don't you?
I studied English and so did my brother.
• Has to be used in those tenses to negate and
form questions with main verbs:
I don't speak Portuguese.
Did you go to school today?
The verb to do (2)
 The verb to have (1)
• Used as an auxiliary to form the perfect
tenses:
I hadn't been to Buenos Aires before.
Have you read Harry Potter?
• With its main verb meaning, it has the
syntactic properties of a main verb*:
I don't have time right now.
Did you have a good time last night?
 The verb to have (2)
• *Sometimes found with auxiliary syntax and
main verb meaning - old-fashioned/formal:
I haven't time right now.
Have you enough money to get home?
• In British English especially, have got is much
more common in main verb meaning:
I haven't got time right now.
Have you got enough money to get home?
 The differences between time, tense
and aspect
• Time refers to the reality of an event
• Tense represents the inflections of the verb
• Aspect shows whether an action is complete
or not
- This means we use a given tense to talk about
a different time e.g.
I wish I had more time to get around to my
studies.
 The system of tenses and aspects
• Tense
– Present
– Past

• Aspect
– Simple vs. continuous
– Perfect (vs. non-perfect)
 The system of tenses and aspects
• Tense
– Present
– Past

• Aspect
– Simple vs. continuous
– Perfect (vs. non-perfect)
 Tense and Aspect
• Aspects of the present tense:
– Present simple: I eat
– Present continuous: I am eating
– Present perfect: I have eaten
– Present perfect continuous: I have been eating

• Aspects of the past tense:

– Past simple: I ate
– Past continuous: I was eating
– Past perfect: I had eaten
– Past perfect continuous: I had been eating
 Formation of Tenses – minimal
inflection
• Simple tenses: basic verb forms, present and
past: live – lived, eat – ate

• Continuous tenses: to be + -ing form

• Perfect tenses: to have + past participle

Overview of Tenses
Portuguese > English Equivalences (1)
falo > I speak
estou falando > I am speaking
Exception:
Actions which started in the past and are still
going on at the present time:
I've studied English for ten years/since 2001.
How long have you been waiting here?
Port: Present tense > Eng: Present perfect tense
Portuguese > English Equivalences (2)
eu falava > I spoke/I used to speak /I would speak
eu estava falando > I was speaking
Exception:
Actions which started at an earlier time and are
still going on at the moment in the past which is
being described:
I had studied English for two years before going
to the States.
How long had you been waiting for the bus?
Port: Imperfect tense > Eng: Past perfect tense
 Portuguese Imperfect
eu falava >
I spoke
I used to speak = eu costumava falar/falava antes
I would speak = eu falaria
= eu costumava falar
I was speaking = eu estava falando

NB: used to also describes situations that are no longer

true:
This building used to be a movie theater.
Paula used to have long hair.
I used to think English was difficult.
Examples of past imperfect action
She spoke Italian with her grandmother. (ambiguous)

She used to speak Italian with her grandmother. (habitual action or

action that is no longer true)

She would speak Italian with her grandmother. (habitual action)

She was speaking Italian with her grandmother. (ongoing action)

If she could, she would speak Italian with her grandmother.

(conditional)
Examples on the use of "would"
From that day on, she would devote the rest of her life
to the study of gorillas (future in the past)

She would talk about how they behaved so much like

us humans. (past habitual action )

Much as they tried to convince her to turn back, she

just wouldn't listen. (refusal on a past occasion)
 Real time versus Unreal time
My car wouldn't start this morning. I had to take a bus.

I would sleep at home if the baby didn't make so much

noise.

Whenever we had time, we would go windsurfing.

Gone are the days!

None of this would have happened if it hadn't been for

a mouse.
 Portuguese Preterite
falei >
I spoke reports a past action. Time of action is
either specified or implied from context:
Judy broke her arm and had to go to the hospital.
I have spoken reports on the current situation.
Time of action is irrelevant; what counts is the
impact on the present:
Judy has broken her arm. We have to take her to
the hospital.
 English Present Perfect – Rules of
Thumb (1)
• More advanced Brazilian learners tend to
overuse present perfect (where it is not
appropriate). But some American native
speakers hardly ever use the present perfect,
so, if in doubt, use the simple past.
• The present perfect CANNOT be used if there
is any reference, explicit or implied, to the
time when the action happened EXCEPT:
 English Present Perfect – Rules of
Thumb (2)
• If the time reference is a period of time which has
not yet ended at the time of speaking:
Have you seen Bob this morning?
(cf. Did you see Bob this morning?)
• If the time reference is introduced by for or since
referring to action that started in the past and is
still continuing:
We have lived in Rio for seven years.
(cf. We lived in Rio for seven years.)
 Using the Present Perfect
• The point in the past is irrelevant – what
counts is the impact on the present:
Have you met my wife? (introduction)
I haven't been to Buenos Aires.
"Where's Tim?" – "He's gone to the store."
You've given me the wrong change. (paying)
 Using the Present Perfect (2)
• Present perfect is often used to introduce a topic,
emphasizing its relevance to the present. Details then
follow in simple past:
"Have you met my wife?" – "Yes, I met her earlier."
Yes, I have been to Buenos Aires. I went there last
year.
Tim's gone to the store. He went to buy milk.
You've given me the wrong change. I gave you a ten-
dollar bill.
The prime-minister has resigned. He announced his
resignation this morning.
 Exercise 1
• Você já esteve na Inglaterra?
• Não comi nada hoje.
• Liguei o ar. Daqui a pouco vai refrescar aqui dentro.
• Você já foi ao supermercado?
• A Sandra acabou de sair. Ela foi ao supermercado.
• Ela sempre quis ser cantora.
• Os convidados chegaram. Você pode fazer as honras
da casa?
• Não falei com o Tiago hoje.
• Não falei com o Tiago ontem.
• Faz quanto tempo que você estuda inglês?
 Present Perfect Continuous
• I have been doing = tenho feito, venho/ando
fazendo (except together with for and since)

"You look fit." – "Yes, I've been working out."

You're all dirty. What have you been doing?
The business has been growing steadily over
the last few years.
 Perfect Simple vs. Perfect Continuous
(1)
• The two tenses are often interchangeable, but
simple implies completion while continuous
implies continuation:
I've been reading a lot about UFOs. (Tenho lido)
I've read a lot about UFOs. (Já li)
The price of oil has been falling lately. (vem
baixando)
The price of oil has fallen to $50 a barrel. (baixou)
 Perfect Simple vs. Perfect Continuous
(2)
• Examples with for and since:
I've been living here for seven years. (Estou
morando/Moro …)
I've lived here all my life. (Moro …)
She's been learning Portuguese since she moved
to Brazil. (Ele aprende ...)
She's learnt Portuguese since she moved to
Brazil. (Ela aprendeu ...)
Your son's grown since I saw him last. (cresceu)
Perfect Simple vs. Perfect Continuous
(3)
• If the number of times is mentioned, or the
adverbs always, never or ever > perfect simple
only:
I've read this book three times.
We've always lived in the same house.
It's the best movie I've ever seen.
• Verb to be has no continuous tenses:
She's been very understanding. (tem sido)
 Past Perfect Simple
• had done = tinha feito
He had forgotten his passport. (tinha esquecido)
• English often requires past perfect where
Portuguese uses preterite:
Bob realized he'd forgotten his passport.
The police asked her when she had last seen her
husband.
For lunch I ate the sandwiches I had brought
from home.
 Past Perfect Simple vs. Past Perfect
Continuous (1)
• Principles are the same as for present perfect
simple vs. continuous, but point of reference is in
the past rather than the present:
I'd been studying Portuguese for a number of
years before I moved to Brazil.
I had been to Brazil many times before I came
here to live.
He told me about a book he had been reading. (...
que ele lia)
He told me about a book he had read. (... que ele
leu)
 Past Perfect Simple vs. Past Perfect
Continuous (2)
• Examples with for and since (corresponds to
imperfect in Portuguese):
They had been living in São Paulo since 1974.
(Eles moravam ...)
How long had you been married when you
had your first child? (...era...)
He had grown since I had last seen him.
 EXERCISE 2
• Faz tempo que você está me esperando?
• O Brasil mudou muito desde a primeira vez que vim aqui em
1981.
• Acho que você errou o caminho. É melhor voltar.
• Você tem acompanhado a novela?
• Não tem sido fácil me adaptar à vida aqui.
• Eu estava usando um chapéu de palha que comprei o ano
anterior.
• Ele casou com a mulher que namorava fazia oito anos.
• Perguntei à Sandra quanto tempo ela trabalhava como
professora.
• Quando fui a Londres, fiquei impressionado com o quanto mudou
desde a última vez que estive lá havia vinte anos.
• O que é que você anda aprontando?
 Talking about the future
English Connotation Portuguese

will + infinitive I will see Ann on Inevitability or Vou ver/verei/

Monday. spontaneous vejo...
decision

going to + infinitive I am going to see Intention or Vou ver ...

Ann on Monday. inevitability

present continuous I am seeing Ann on Arrangement Vou ver ...

Monday.

present simple I see Ann on Fixed schedule, list Vejo ...

Monday. (or regular
occurrence)
 Present simple with future meaning
(1)
• Scheduled events, more often with inanimate
subject and always with time specified.
Present tense also used in Portuguese:
Tomorrow is Monday. (é)
It's my birthday next week. (faço)
The game starts at 9.00 p.m. (começa)
My flight leaves at six in the morning. (sai)
Classes resume on Thursday. (recomeçam)
 Present simple with future meaning
(2)
• With personal subject, connotation is that
schedule is imposed:
I leave on Monday. (não tenho escolha)
He doesn't get off work till late tomorrow.
• Also used to list your schedule:
On Friday I fly to São Paulo, return to Rio on
Sunday and leave for London the day after.
• With personal subject, present continuous can
always be used instead.
 Present continuous with future
meaning (1)
• Arranged events with indication of time.
Connotation is that the subject has a say in the
arrangement. Portuguese mostly uses ir +
infinitive:
Jim's having a wisdom tooth out tomorrow. (vai
tirar)
I'm meeting Sara for lunch on Thursday. (vou me
encontrar)
They're getting married at the end of April. (vão
casar)
 Present continuous with future
meaning (2)
• Inanimate subject also possible, especially in
passive:
The old stadium is being imploded on Sunday.
• In other cases, present continuous implies a
change to expected schedule:
Tonight's game is starting slightly later than
usual.
(cf. Tonight's game starts at 9.00 p.m.)
 going to + infinitive
• Intended action, usually with animate subject. Connotes
some premeditation. Portuguese uses ir + infinitive:
I'm going to buy a new computer. (vou comprar)
Why are you going to study Chinese? (vai estudar)
They're going to leave their car at our place. (vão deixar)

• Talking about the immediate future based on the present

circumstances:
It looks like Federer is going to lose this game. (vai perder)
I think it's going to rain. (vai chover)
The river is going to burst its banks if it doesn't stop raining
soon. (vai transbordar)
 will + infinitive
• Spontaneous (unpremeditated) statements about the
future, usually in response to circumstances. Usually
present in Portuguese:
I'll see you tomorrow. (te vejo)
That's the phone. I'll get it. (eu atendo)
I'll have a mineral water, please. (vou querer/quero)
I'll drop you off at the station if you like. (te deixo)
We'll help with the cleaning. (a gente ajuda)
• Promises (ir + infinitive in Portuguese):
I'll do my best. (vou fazer)
We'll never let you down. (nunca vamos)
 will or going to
• In other cases, will and going to are largely
interchangeable, with a preference for going to in less
formal language. Examples:
I think I'll/I´m going to make some tea.
Dad will/is going to be furious when he finds out.
We'll/we're going to have to find a solution sooner or
later.
You'll/You're going to be late if you don't hurry.
I'm sure you'll/you're going to have a good time.
They said it'll/it's going to rain on Sunday.
I'll/I'm going to see Ann tomorrow.
 Differences in emphasis
The company will open its Rio office in April.
(news report, formal writing)
The company is going to open its Rio office in
April. (speech, less formal writing)
The company is opening its Rio office in April.
(emphasizes arrangements already made)
The company opens its Rio office in April.
(emphasizes firmness of plan, also journalese)
Some Practical Tips for Spoken English
• Present simple and present continuous can
always be replaced by going to
(NB going to go is normally simplified to just
going)
• EXCEPT in spontaneous statements about the
future and promises, will can always be
replaced by going to
• If in doubt, going to is safest option
 Exercise 3
• Uma encomenda para mim? Vou descer.
• O ministro vai renunciar por conta do escândalo.
• Vai cair um toró a qualquer momento.
• A presidente se reunirá amanhã com o embaixador
americano.
• Não sei se vai dar tempo para ler tudo.
• Não se preocupem, eu ajudo vocês.
• Quando eu receber meu salário, vou comprar um
computador novo.
• Quando eu precisar de ajuda, te aviso.
• O meu irmão vai pegar o voo das 22h45.
• A que horas termina o filme?
 Other future tenses
• will/going to be doing (future continuous)
This time next week I'm going to be sitting on the
beach.
You go into the pharmacy, I'll be waiting outside.
• will have done (future perfect)
Will you have finished the job by Friday?
They will have been married 50 years in June.
• will have been doing (future perfect continuous)
By the time we finish, we'll have been working 24
hours non-stop.
 Future from a past perspective
• would do
Bob: "I'll help" > Bob said he'd help.
• was going to do
Sara: "I'm going to get a dog." > Sara said she was
going to get a
dog.
• was doing
"When are you leaving?" > I asked him when he was
leaving.
• did
"The movie starts at eight." > They told us the movie
started at eight.
 Other Conditional Tenses
• would be doing (conditional continuous)
They warned us they'd be arriving late.
• would have done (perfect conditional)
He wasn't sure he would have finished all his
work in time to make it to the party.
• would have been doing (perfect conditional
continuous)
He said he would have been traveling for 36
hours by the time he got home.
 Exercise 4
• Do you think the students will have done the
homework you gave them?
• Will you be needing a ride home?
• She said she would have preferred to stay at home.
• My husband was going to have painted the house in
time for Christmas.
• What time did you say your flight left tomorrow?
• She told me she was meeting Trish this afternoon.
 Verb Tense and Aspect 1
1A I always wanted to go to America.
1B I have always wanted to go to America.
1C I had always wanted to go to America.

2A They live in São Paulo for two years.

2B They lived in São Paulo for two years.
2C They have lived in São Paulo for two years.
 Verb Tense and Aspect 2
3A The company has been growing steadily since it was
founded in 1988.
3B The company has grown steadily since it was founded
in 1988.
3C The company grows steadily since it was founded in
1988.

4A The house had been standing empty for two years

when we bought it.
4B The house stood empty for two years when we bought
It.
4C The house had stood empty for two years when we
bought it.
 Verb Tense and Aspect 3
5A She was not seeing her children for six months.
5B She did not see her children for six months.
5C She had not seen her children for six months.
5D She had not seen her children in six months.

6A He is not speaking English since he came back from Canada.

6B He does not speak English since he came back from Canada.
6C He did not speak English since he came back from Canada.
6D He has not spoken English since he came back from Canada.
6E He has not been speaking English since he came back from
Canada.
 Verb Tense and Aspect 4
7A Exports have risen sharply in the last five
years.
7B Exports rose sharply in the last five years.
7C Exports have been rising sharply in the last
five years.

8A There has been a change of plan.

8B There was a change of plan.
 Future tenses 1
1A The company will open its first overseas branch next year.
1B The company is going to open its first overseas branch next
year.
1C The company is opening its first overseas branch next year.
1D The company opens its first overseas branch next year.

2A Analysts predict that stock markets will continue to fall.

2B Analysts predict that stock markets are going to continue to
fall.
2C Analysts predict that stock markets are continuing to fall.
2D Analysts predict that stock markets continue to fall.
 Future tenses 2
3A We will inform you if there are any new developments.
3B We are going to inform you if there are any new
developments.
3C We inform you if there are any new developments.
3D We are informing you if there are any new
developments.

4A I'm leaving now, so I see you tomorrow.

4B I'm leaving now, so I'm seeing you tomorrow.
4C I'm leaving now, so I'm going to see you tomorrow.
4D I'm leaving now, so I'll see you tomorrow.
 Future tenses 3
5A When I get paid, I'm going to buy a new
computer.
5B When I get paid, I'll buy a new computer.
5C When I get paid, I buy a new computer.
5D When I get paid, I'm buying a new
computer.