Super verb tenses review
DBH3
English
Verb tenses
● English, as all languages, has verb tenses to express when the action
happened (present, past, future).
● Apart from giving us information about the time (present, past, future),
they can also tell us whether the action is in progress ( continuous
form) or not (simple).
● There are unfortunately many verb tenses in English… but there are
more in Spanish so don’t complain and let’s check them out.
Verb tenses
● These are English verb tenses:
○ Present simple
○ Present continuous
○ Present perfect simple
○ Present perfect continuous
○ Past simple
○ Past continuous
○ Past perfect simple
○ Past perfect continuous
○ Future “will”
○ Future “to be going to”
Present simple
● Present simple is one of the most common tenses.
● Structure: the same as the infinitive form (without to) EXCEPT for the 3rd
person singular (he/she/it), which you need to add -s,-es or -ies at the end.
● For example: to speak.
Person Verb
I speak
You speak
He/she / it speaks
We speak
You speak
They speak
Present simple
● Uses:
○ General truths and facts
■ British people drink a lot of tea.
○ Repeated events and actions: things that happen on a regular basis
■ Every morning I read the newspaper.
○ To give directions or instructions
■ From here you cross the street and then turn left.
○ With timetables (Even if the action is planned for the future).
■ The train leaves tomorrow at 18:30.
○ Newspaper headlines
■ Coronavirus crises hits basque society
Present continuous
● Structure: the verb “to be” in Present Simple + -ing
● For example: to speak
Person Verb
I am speaking
You are speaking
He/she / it is speaking
We are speaking
You are speaking
They are speaking
Present continuous
● Uses:
○ Things which are NOW true. Temporary.
■ We are studying verb tenses in English.
■ She is staying in the Hotel Carlton.
○ Sports comentaries:
■ They are now entering the back straight and EL
Garrouj is starting to pull away etc.
Present continuous
● There are some verbs which ARE NOT usually used in the continuous form.
Exercises
Exercises
Present perfect simple
● Structure: the verb “to have” (in present) + 3rd column
● For example: to speak
Person Verb
I have spoken
You have spoken
He/she / it has spoken
We have spoken
You have spoken
They have spoken
Present perfect simple
● Uses:
○ States that started in the past and are still continuing in the present.
■ The house has stood 30 years. (It is still there).
○ With the preposition “for” and “since”.
■ I have lived in Bilbao since 1996 / for twenty-four years.
○ Adverbs often used with the present perfect. Some adverbs are
commonly used with the present perfect simple (ever, often, seldom,
never, so far, already, yet, still).
■ I have never experienced any racism in athletics.
Exercises
● She(not/study) for the exam.
● Adam and Natalie (live) together for 3 years-
● Where ___ he ___ (Go)?
● We (not/leave) yet.
● I (want) a new car for a long time.
● ___ the bus ____ (arrive) yet?
● They (bring) their children with them.
● ___ you ever ___ (see) a shooting star.
Exercises
Present perfect continuous
● Structure: has/have been + ing
● Example: to speak
Person Verb
I have been speaking
You have been speaking
He/she / it has been speaking
We have been speaking
You have been speaking
They have been speaking
Present perfect continuous
● Uses:
○ Talk about an ongoing state or action which began in the past and is still continuing.
■ Women have been fighting for their rights.
Exercises
Past Simple
● There are two groups of verbs:
○ Regular verbs: we add an -ed to the infinitive verb.
■ Talk: talk + ed → talked.
○ Irregular: you need to learn them, there is no rule, sorry…. It is the second column.
■ Buy → bought
○ BUT, you do not need to add an -s, -es or -ies when you have he/she/it.
● For example: To speak
Past simple
Person Verb
I spoke
You spoke
He/she / it spoke
We spoke
You spoke
They spoke
Past simple
● Uses:
○ Completed actions in the past.
■ Yesterday I bought eggs.
○ Series of completed actions in the past.
■ First, I got up, then I had breakfast.
○ Used to: soler (in Spanish)
■ I used to read Harry potter
