Grammar: Tense

Present Simple

• An action we do regularly: I run every morning.
• Something true now: I’m sad.
• Something that is always true: I live in England.
• To summarise or describe: Friends is a TV show set in New York city.
• Future actions: My dance classes start next Monday.

• Regular verbs: add -s to the 3rd person:
  I talk, you talk, she talks, he talks, it talks, we talk, you talk, they talk
• Irregular verbs: add -es to the 3rd person:
  I kiss, you kiss, she kisses, he kisses, it kisses, we kiss, you kiss, they kiss
• to be:
  I am, you are, she is, he is, it is, we are, you are, they are

• Negatives:
  subject + do/does + not + infinitive
  subject + be + not + infinitive
  • My cat doesn’t like salmon.
  • She isn’t ready for class.

• Questions:
  Do/Does + subject + infinitive
  Auxiliary + subject + infinitive
  • Do you understand the question?
  • Can we wait outside?

Present Continuous

• An action we are doing now: I’m eating dinner.
• Future plans or arrangements: I’m going on a business trip next week.
• Something that is changing: Your daughter is growing up so fast!
• Something that happens again and again: I’m always forgetting things.

• Affirmative structure: subject + be + present participle
• Negative structure: subject + be + not + present participle
• Questions: be + subject + present participle

Past Simple

• An action that happened once in the past: I drove to work this morning.

• An action in the past that was completed at an unspecified time: I was so excited to see the play.

• An action that happened regularly in the past: I worked in London last year.

• Regular verbs: add -ed: I talked, you talked, she talked, he talked, it talked, we talked, you talked, they talked

• Irregular verbs: must be learnt by heart!

• to be: I was, you were, she was, he was, it was, we were, you were, they were

• Negatives:
  subject + did + not + infinitive
  subject + didn’t + infinitive

  • My daughter did not want to go back to school.
  • We didn’t like that restaurant.

• Questions: Did + subject + infinitive

  • Did you enjoy the concert?
  • Did we win?

Past Continuous

• An action that was happening in the past, until another action started: I was watching TV when you called.
• An action that happened before or after a specific time: I was sleeping at 11pm.
• An action lasted for a long time: I was sneezing all day because of my allergies.
• At the beginning of a story: I was driving when suddenly a cat ran into the middle of the road!
• To express a change of mind: I was going to go for a run, when I decided to walk instead.
• To express things that we want now in the present: I wish I wasn’t coughing so badly.
• Affirmatives: subject + was/were + present participle
  • I was talking to her, when my sister interrupted me.
  • They were playing football last night.
• Negatives: subject + wasn’t/weren’t + present participle
  • She wasn’t working last weekend.
• Questions: Was/Were + subject + present participle
  • Were you shopping when I called?

Simple Future

• Present simple and continuous to talk about future actions or plans:
  • The game starts at 6pm.
  • We’re playing basketball next weekend.

will

• Beliefs or predictions about the future: Cars will fly one day.
• Wants or desires: I hope she’ll be ok.
• Offers and promises: We’ll bring the wine!
• Instant decisions: I’ll go to the store!
• Affirmatives: subject + will + infinitive
  • She’ll never play basketball again.
  • We’ll be happier when she’s gone.
• Negatives: subject + will not/ won’t + infinitive
  • They won’t even try!
• Questions: Will + subject + infinitive
  • Will you join me for dinner?

going to

• Plans and firm intentions: I’m going to go clubbing this weekend.
• Probable events based on evidence: It’s going to fall!
• Affirmatives: subject + be + going to + infinitive
  • I’m going to the movies later.
• Negatives: subject + be + not + going to + infinitive
  • We’re not going to play that game again, it sucks.
• Questions: Be + not + going to + infinitive
  • Are you going to drive to California?