VERB STRUCTURE USE: We use these verb tenses to talk about: EXAMPLES

TENSE
Present + S + V(he, she,it + s/es) + (C) · Habits, routines · He always goes to bed before midnight.
Simple - S + don’t/doesn’t + infinitive + (C)
? (wh-) do/does + S + infinitive + (C)? · Universal truths · Paris is the capital of France

· Timetables · What time does the film begin ?

· in time clauses · As soon as I see David, I’ll tell him.

· Before she goes to work, tell her to phone me.
TO BE + S + am / is /are + C · “SER/ESTAR/TENIR · Are you American?
- S + am not/isn’t /aren’t + C CALOR,ANYS,FRED,SON...” · The children aren’t tired.
? (wh-) am/is/are+ S + C ? · She’s 15.
· Are you cold?
· I’m not hungry.
Present + S+ am/is/are + V-ing + (C) · An action happening now · What are you doing now ?
Continuous - S + am not/isn’t/aren’t +V-ing + (C) (or around the time of speaking) · I’m reading Hamlet.
? (wh-)am/is/are + S+ V-ing +(C)? · A temporary action. · She’s teaching Maths in London.

· An arranged plan in the future. · I’m meeting my friends tonight.

· (to emphasise that something is done · They are constantly having parties.
repeatedly with always, constantly, continually,
forever)
·
(the following verbs are not normally used in continuous tense: like, love, hate, want, need, prefer, know, suppose, mean,
understand, believe, remember, belong, contain, depend, seem, see (sense), hear, smell, taste….)

STATIVE VERBS:
- EMOTIONS & FEELINGS (like, love, hate, want, prefer, hope...)
- THOUGHTS & OPINION (believe, remember, forget, guess, know, understand, THINK...)
- SENSE: see, hear, smell, sound, TASTE, FEEL...)
- MEASUREMENT: cost, measure, WEIGH...)
- POSSESSION: (own, belong, HAVE...)
Past Simple + S + V-ed / 2nd column + (C) · A finished past action · I didn’t go to Jane’s party last night
- S + didn’t + infinitive + (C) · Who did you see at the party?
? (wh-) did + S + infinitive + (C) · Who saw you at the party?

· Something that happened regularly in the past. · I walked to school every morning.

TO BE + S + was/were + C · “ERA/ESTAVA/ TENIA · Were you in Manlleu yesterday?

- S + wasn’t/weren’t + C CALOR,ANYS,FRED,SON...” · The children weren’t tired.
? (wh-) was/ were+ S + C? · She was 15.
· Were you cold?
· I wasn’t hungry.
Past + S+ was / were + V-ing + (C) · An action that was in progress at a specific time in · “Were you washing your car yesterday at 9pm?”
Continuous - S + wasn’t / weren’t + V-ing + (C) the past.
? (wh-) was / were + S+ V-ing +(C)?
· To describe two actions happening at the same time · I was doing my homework while my brother was
in the past. washing the car.

· An action which was interrupted by another action · I was having a bath when the phone rang.
in Simple Past.

· To make descriptions. · This morning was really nice. The sun was
shining...

Present + S + have/has+ past participle+ (C) · A recent action · He’s just had dinner.
Perfect - S + haven’t/ hasn’t +p. participle+ (C)
Simple ? (wh-)have/has+S +p. participle + (C) ?
· An action started in the past which still continues in · How long have you studied English ?
the present

· An experience in life · Have you ever been in England ?

PAST SIMPLE versus PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE:

· In the Past Simple, we are interested in a fact/action that happened in the past. We often use specific time expressions.
· In the Present Perfect Simple, we’re not interested in the time of the action but in the results of that action which is connected to the present.

Present + S + have/has+ been +V-ing + (C) · An action started in the past which still continues in · She has been waiting for the bus since 3
Perfect - S + haven’t/hasn’t+been+V-ing + (C) the present o’clock.
Continuous ? (wh-)have/has+ S+ been+ V-ing + (C)?
· A recent action that still influences the present. · Julie has been crying. Her eyes are still red.
Present Perfect Simple - · He has been painting the ceiling. -we are interested in the activity, it doesn’t matter if
Present Perfect Continuous the activity is finished or not.
· He has painted the ceiling. -we are interested in the results, the activity is
complete.

· How long have you been reading that book? -We use the continuous to ask or say how long for an
· They’ve been playing tennis since 2 o’clock. activity that is still happening.

· How many pages of that book have you read? -We use the Present Perfect Simple to ask or say how
· They’ve played tennis three times this week. many, how much or how many times.

· I’ve known Peter for a long time.

-There are some verbs that are not normally used in
the continuous: know, like, believe, remember,
understand, mean…
Past Perfect
Simple
+ S + had + past participle+ (C)
- S + hadn’t+ past participle+ (C)
· An action that happened before another activity or
time in the past.
· John had done the job before we came.
? (wh-)had + S + past participle + (C) ?
Past Perfect + S + had + been + V-ing + C · An action that was in progress before another past · He was tired because he had been working hard
Continuous - S + had +not + been + V-ing + C action. .
? (wh-)had + S + been + V-ing + C? · -There are some verbs that are not normally used
in the continuous tense: know, like, believe, remember,
understand, mean…
Used to + S + used to + infinitive + (C) · Something that happened regularly in the past but · He used to smoke a lot when he was young.
- S + didn’t + use to + infinitive+ (C) no longer happens. · I didn’t use to do sport before, now I go to the
? (wh-)Did +S+ use to + infinitive + (C) gym everyday.
· Did you use to eat a lot of sweets when you
were a child?
FUTURE TENSES
Present + S + V(he, she,it + s/es) + (C) · To talk about timetables, programmes … (for · The train leaves London at 2 o’clock and arrives
Simple - S + don’t/doesn’t + infinitive + (C) example, for public transport, cinemas, etc) in Brighton at 6 o’clock.
? (wh-) do/does + S + infinitive + (C)? · What time does the film begin?
· The film starts at 8.15.
· It’s Thursday tomorrow.

· We can use this tense to talk about someone’s plans · I start my new job on Monday.
if are fixed like a timetable, but the present continuous is · What time do you finish work tomorrow?
more usual.

Present + S+ am/is/are + V-ing + (C) · To express what has been arranged to do in the · What are you doing on Saturday?
Continuous - S + am not/isn’t/aren’t +V-ing + (C) future. · I’m meeting my friends this evening.
? (wh-)am/is/are + S+ V-ing +(C)? · I’m not working tomorrow.

(TO BE GOING TO is possible in the above sentences

but the PRESENT CONTINUOUS is more natural for
arrangements).
Will + S + will + infinitive + (C) · Spontaneous decisions · I’m hungry, I think I’ll have something to eat.
- S + won’t + infinitive + (C)
? (wh-) will + S + infinitive + (C) ?
· Personal opinions (about future) · I wonder what will happen.
· I think Barça will win the league.
· Do you think she’ll like the present?
· I don’t think the exam will be very difficult.

· We often use will with: · I ‘ll probably be home late this evening.
-probably · I haven’t seen her. I expect she’ll phone.
-I expect · I’m sure you’ll pass the exam.
-(I’m) sure
-(I) think
-(I) don’t think
-I wonder

· Future facts (things that are certain to happen). · I’ll be 26 next month.

· The result in the first conditional · If it snows, I will be happy.

· Offers · I’ll help you with your bags.

· Refusing to do something. · I’ve tried to advise her but she won’t listen.

· Agreeing to do something. · A: Can I have my book back?

B: Of course, I’ll give it to you later.

· Promises · I won’t tell anyone.

· Requests · Will you help me with my homework, please?

To be going + S + am/is/are + going to + infinitive +(C) · An intention or plan (future) after a decision has · They’re going to marry next year.
to - S +am not/isn’t/aren’t+going to+inf. + (C) been made. · This food looks horrible. I’m not going to eat it.
?(wh-)am/is/are+S+going to+ infinitive(C)? · What are you going to do with all the money
you won in the lottery?

· A prediction about the future based on evidence · It’s cloudy. It’s going to rain.
(you can see the evidence now). · The chair is broken. Someone is going to fall.
Future in + S + was / were + going to + inf. + (C) · To express an action that you intended to do but · We were going to play tennis but it started to
the past - S +wasn’t/weren’t+ going to +inf. + (C) didn’t do it. rain and went back home.
? (wh-)was/were+S+ going to+ inf+(C)? · To say that something was going to happen but · I thought that it was going to rain but then the
didn’t happen. sun came out.
FUTURE + S + will + be + V+ing + (C) · To express an action being carried out at a specific · This time next week, I’ll be lying on a beach.
continuous - S + won’t + be + V+ing + (C) time in the future. · Don’t phone me at 9.00. I’ll be having dinner
? (wh-) will + S+ be + V+ing (C) ? then.
· At ten o’clock tomorrow, she’ll be working.
FUTURE + S + will + have +Past Participle (C) · To say that something will already be complete at a · We’re late. The film will already have started by
PERFECT - S + won’t + have + Past participle + (C) specific time in the future. the time we get to the cinema.
? (wh-) will + S+ have +Past Participle +
(C) ?
· This time tomorrow, I’ll have done my exam.