verb tenses (lecture)

ENGLISH COMPREHENSION AND

COMPOSITOIN

Verb-tense

Subject-verb agreement

Articles/ determiners

Word Order

PrepositionCourse Supervisor:

Ayyaz Qadeer

Present Action or Condition

General Truths

Non-action; Habitual Action

Future Time

• I hear you.• Here

comes the bus.

• There are thirty days in September.

• I like music.

• I run on Tuesdays and Sundays.

• The train leaves at 4:00 p.m.

Active TensesSimple Present

Present Progressive

Activity in Progress Verbs of Perception

•I am playing soccer now

•He is feeling sad.

Simple Past

Completed ActionCompleted Condition

•We visited the museum yesterday.

•The weather was rainy last week.

Past Progressive

Past Action that took place over a

period of time

Past Action interrupted by

another

•They were climbing for twenty-seven days.

•We were eating dinner when she told me.

Future

With will/won't -- Activity or event that will or won't exist or happen in the future

With going to -- future in relation to

circumstances in the present

•I'll get up late tomorrow.

•I won't get up early.

•I'm hungry.

•I'm going to get something to eat.

Present Perfect

With verbs of state that begin in the past and lead up to and

include the present

To express habitual or

continued action

With events occurring at an

indefinite or unspecified time

in the past -- with ever, never,

before

•He has lived here for many years.

•He has worn glasses all his life.

•Have you ever been to Tokyo before?

Present Perfect Progressive

To express duration of an action that began in the past, has continued into the present, and

may continue into the future

•David has been working for two hours, and he hasn't finished yet.

Past Perfect

to describe a past event or condition completed before

another event in the past

In reported speech

•When I arrived home, he had already called.

•Jane said that she had gone to the movies.

Future perfect

to express action that will be completed by or before a specified time in the future

•By next month we will have finished this job.•He won't have finished his work until 2:00.

THE PASSIVE TENSES Simple present

active: passive:

•The company ships the computers to many foreign countries.

Computers are shipped to many foreign countries.

Present Progressive

active: passive:

•The chef is preparing the food.

•The food is being prepared.

Simple Past

active: passive:

•The delivery man delivered the package yesterday.

•The package was delivered yesterday.

Past Progressive

active: passive:

•The producer was making an announcement.

•An announcement was being made.

Future

active: passive:

•Our representative will pick up the computer.

•The computer will be picked up.

Present Perfect

active: passive:

•Someone has made the arrangements for us.

•The arrangements have been made for us.

Past Perfect

active: passive:

•They had given us visas for three months.

•We had been given visas for three months.

Future perfect

active: passive:

•By next month we will have finished this job.

•By next month this job will have been finished.

Modals

active: passive:

•You can use the computer.

•The computer can be used.

Verb Tense Final Test

Cumulative Verb Tense Review

Verb Tense Final TestCumulative Verb Tense Review

1. When Carol (call) last night, I (watch) my favorite show on television.

2. I (work) for this company for more than thirty years, and I intend to stay here until I retire!

3. Sharon (love) to travel. She (go) abroad almost every summer. Next year, she plans to go to Peru.

4. Thomas is an author. He (write) mystery novels and travel memoirs. He (write) since he was twenty-eight. Altogether, he (write) seven novels, three collections of short stories and a book of poetry.

5. We were late because we had some car problems. By the time we (get) to the train station, Susan (wait) for us for more than two hours.

6. Sam (try) to change a light bulb when he (slip) and (fell) .

7. Everyday I (wake) up at 6 o'clock, (eat) breakfast at 7 o'clock and (leave) for work at 8 o'clock. However, this morning I (get) up at 6:30, (skip) breakfast and (leave) for work late because I (forget) to set my alarm.

8. Right now, Jim (read) the newspaper and Kathy (make) dinner. Last night at this time, they (do) the same thing. She (cook) and he (read) the newspaper. Tomorrow at this time, they (do, also) the same thing. She (prepare) dinner and he (read) . They are very predictable people!

9. By this time next summer, you (complete) your studies and (find) a job. I, on the other hand, (accomplish, not) anything. I (study, still) and you (work) in some new high paying job.

10. The students (be, usually) taught by Mrs. Monty. However, this week they (be) taught by Mr. Tanzer.

CHECK YOUR ANSWERS

Verb Tense Final TestCumulative Verb Tense Review

1. When Carol (called) last night, I (was watching) my favorite show on television.

2. I (have been working) for this company for more than thirty years, and I intend to stay here until I retire!

3. Sharon (loves) to travel. She (goes) abroad almost every summer. Next year, she plans to go to Peru.

4. Thomas is an author. He (writes) mystery novels and travel memoirs. He (has been writing) since he was twenty-eight. Altogether, he (has written/ wrote) seven novels, three collections of short stories and a book of poetry.

5. We were late because we had some car problems. By the time we (got) to the train station, Susan (had been waiting) for us for more than two hours.

6. Sam (was trying) to change a light bulb when he (slipped) and (fell) .

7. Everyday I (wake) up at 6 o'clock, (eat) breakfast at 7 o'clock and (leave) for work at 8 o'clock. However, this morning I (got) up at 6:30, (skipped) breakfast and (left) for work late because I (had forgotten) to set my alarm.

8. Right now, Jim (is reading) the newspaper and Kathy (is making) dinner. Last night at this time, they (did) the same thing. She (was cooking) and he (was reading) the newspaper. Tomorrow at this time, they (will also do) the same thing. She (will prepare) dinner and he (will read) . They are very predictable people!

9. By this time next summer, you (will have completed) your studies and (found) a job. I, on the other hand, (will not have accomplished) anything. I (will be still studying) and you (will be working) in some new high paying job.

10. The students (are usually) taught by Mrs. Monty. However, this week they (will be) taught by Mr. Tanzer.

HOME TASK

PART ONE EXERCISE #

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