Grammar>tenses

**محمود عبد المعطي** · 12-08-2010 07:03 AM

Aloha !! What's Up ?
Tenses :
1.. Simple Present:
We use the Simple Present tense:
a.To talk about activities that we repeat regularly (routines, habits) :
ex. Peter goes to work by bus
I drink coffee every morning
My friends learn English.
b.To talk about permanent situations now:
ex. I have two cats and a fish
we like animals.
The Smiths don't enjoy big weddings.
c.To Talk about general truths:
ex. The sun rises in the east and sets in the west
If you mix yellow and blue, you get green.
d.To talk about future official events or ti****bles which we cannot change:
ex. The Summer term begins on the 15th of February next year
The train leaves at 6.25
?In statements, we add –s or –es in the third person singular (-y ending changes to –ies):
Ex. He speaks English very well.
She hurries to work every morning.
?In Questions, negative sentences and short answers, we use does(for third person singular) or do(for other grammatical persons)
ex. Does she knit well? No, she doesn't
Do you like music? Yes, I do
It doesn't rain a lot in November
We don't eat fast food.
?We often use the following time adverbials with the Simple Present:
?Always, usually, regularly, often, sometimes, occasionally, rarely, seldom, , hardly ever, never. >> appear between the subject and the verb:
ex. I always have breakfast
Some people regularly exercise in the gym.
?from time to time, twice a week, , once a(week/month..etc) , every(morning/night/day…etc). >>usually appear at the end or at the beginning of the sentence:
ex. I have a haircut once a month
From time to time we go fishing.
2.. Present Continuous:
We use the Present Continuous:
a.To talk about activities that are going on at the time of speaking:
ex. I'm reading a story. (now, at this moment)
Mum can't come because she's *****ng dinner. (at this moment)
b.To talk about activities that happen regularly but for s limited period of time (temporary routines or habits):
ex. We are training everyday this week to prepare for our match.
c.To talk about future events that we have already fixed or arranged:
ex. She is getting married in June.
We are going to museum tomorrow.
?We form the Present Continuous tense using a present form of be + …-ing
ex. I am having my lunch
Is she wearing your tie?
They aren't going to school today.
?when the verb ends with a consonant + e : we drop the final –e >> write ..> writing // smile ..> smiling
?when the verb ends with on vowle + one consonant we double the final consonant >> put..> putting // run..> running
Except after –w,-x,-y >> knowing, fixing, hurring
?we can use the following time adverbials with the present continuous:
Jus, now, at the moment, at present. >> their positions in a sentence can be:
? between be and the –ing form of the verb :
I'm just having a snack.
? at the end of the sentence:
We are having lunch at the moment.
? at the beginning of the sentence:
At present, many doctors are working on a cure.
?some verbs ( called state verbs) are not usually used in a Continuous tense :
? verbs knowing or not knowing about:
Believe, doubt, forget, imagine, know, remember, realize, suppose, understand.
?verbs about appearance:
Appear, resemble, seem.
? verbs about liking or not liking:
Hat, like, love, prefer.
? verbs about the senses:
Hear, see, smell, taste
? verbs about what things are made of or where they come from:
Be, come from, contain, include.
? verbs about possession:
Belong to, need, own, possess, want, wish.
3.. Simple Past:
We use the Simple Past to talk about:
? finishing actions:
She went to the city and did her shopping.
? past situations that are repeated or continuous, and past habits:
I went to elementary school in my village.
? In the Simple Past, we add –ed or –ied (for verbs ending –y) to the infinitive of regular verbs Or use the past form of irregular verbs:
Ex. It rained all day yesterday. (regular verb)
I read the book this morning. (irregular verb)
? In Questions and negative sentences, we use the infinitive and did or didn't:
Ex. Did you watch the movie last night?
We didn't like the song, it was too loud.
? we can use the following time adverbials with the Simple Past:
Yesterday, last(week/month/year….etc), (two/three/…etc) days/years ago .
?Their positions in a sentence can be at the beginning or end :
Last week I visited my uncle.
My friend went to Russia ten years ago.
4..Past Continuous:
We use it to talk about :
? activities that continues for some time in the past:
She was reading the story all evening.
? activities or situations that form a background for an event:
It was snowing during the night.
? we form the Past Continuous with was/were + -ing :
The child was playing in the garden.
Was the child playing in the garden?
The children were playing in the garden.
5..Present Perfect :
We use it to talk about:
? past events and activities with results or consequences now :
The doctor has gone out.
I have cut my finger.
He hasn't cleaned the car.
? things that started in the past and continue up till now:
I have had a nice sun tan for the last few days.
I've always wanted a guitar.
? a single or repeated action in the past, often with adverbials such as before, even, often…… when we don't know or are not interested in exactly when they happened:
I have listened to that song often.
Have you ever driven a car ?
? we form the Present Perfect with a present form of have + the third form of the verb :
He has been to this place before.
Have you heard about your brother?
She hasn't bought any dresses.
? we use the following time adverbials with this tense:
?Before, ever, never, seldom, sometimes, often, usually, just ( the potions is usually after has/have , and sometimes at the end of the sentence)
Have you ever eaten Sushi?
?Already in statements{usually after have}
Yet in questions and negative sentences{usually at the end of the sentence}
I've already had lunch.
I haven't had lunch yet.
?For: Tells us about the period of time which the activity has taken:
I haven't seen him for ages.
? Since: tells us about point in the time when the activity began":
We've known each other since we were neighbors
? all my life.
6..The future :
English doesn't have one future tense. We can use several forms to express different ideas about the future.
? will + infinitive without To :
He'll make a good doctor.
I think I wont buy this shirt.
She will bring back your pen tomorrow.
Will you wait for me?
? be Going to + infinitive without To:
He's going to fail the test
My parents are going to buy me a CD player.
~~~~ that's all for the tenses~!!~