CHAPTER 2

ENGLISH TENSES

In some languages, verb tenses are not very important or do not even exist. In English,
the concept of tense is very important. In this lesson we look at the idea behind tense, how to
avoid confusing tense with time, and the structure of the basic tenses, with examples using a
regular verb, an irregular verb and the verb be.

A. SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE

1. Pola kalimat ‘verb’
 (+): Subject + Verb1 (s/es) + Compliment (object/adjective/adverb)
 (-) : Subject + Do/Does + Not + Verb1 + Compliment (object/adjective/adverb)
 (?) : Do/Does + Subject + Verb1 + Compliment (object/adjective/adverb)

Examples:
a) My mom goes to market every Day.
b) The children play volleyball every afternoon.
c) Erika walks to campus everyday.
d) The midwife checks the pregnant women three times a week.
e) The midwifery students practice delivery method once in a week.

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2. Pola kalimat ‘nominal’
(+) : Subject + to be (am, is, are) + Compliment (object/adjective/adverb)
(-) : Subject + to be (am, is, are) + Not + Compliment (object/adjective/adverb)
(?) : to be (am, is, are) + S + Compliment (object/adjective/adverb)

Examples:
a) She is my English Lecture. (Noun)
b) We are midwifery students of STIKES Dr. Soebandi Jember. (Noun)
c) Miss Yuni is a generous department leader in our campus. (Adjective)
d) Greta and Sherliya are responsible leader in our class. (Adjective)

3. Fungsi
1) Kebiasaan sehari-hari:
 I have breakfast at 7.00 every morning.
 I get up early in the morning.
2) Pekerjaan yang sering kali dilakukan:
 I always visit my grandmother.
 He often comes late.
3) Kebenaran umum:
 The earth goes round the sun.
 The river Amazon flows into the Pacific Ocean.
4) Suatu pernyataan pada saat sekarang:
 I love him.
 He likes coffee.
 John is a clever boy.
5) Kalimat dalam bentuk present tense juga terkadang disertai adverb of time atau
kata keterangan waktu. Beberapa adverb yang sering digunakan misalnya every
day, every week, today, tonight, this week, dan lain-lain.
6) Selain itu juga terkadang disertai adverb of frequency atau kata keterangan yang
menerangkan “seberapa sering”, yaitu often, always, generally, usually, seldom,
sometimes, dan lain-lain.

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 4. Catatan
Jika kata kerja dalam bentuk present ini digabungkan dengan subjek orang ketiga
tunggal maka harus ditambah akhiran -s. Ada beberapa aturan dalam
mencantumkan akhiran -s ini, yaitu:
1. Untuk kata kerja pada umumnya, tambahkan -s. Contoh:
- eat » eats
- run » runs
2. Untuk kata kerja yang berakhiran –s, –ss, –sh, –ch, –x, –z, dan –o, tambahkan –
es. Contoh:
- catch » catches - fix » fixes
- miss » misses - go » goe
3. Untuk kata kerja yang berakhiran konsonan+y, –y diganti dengan –ies. Contoh:
- fly » flies
- cry » cries
- hurry » hurries

B. PRESENT CONTINUOUS TENSE

1. Pola kalimat
(+): Subject + To be (am/is/are) V ing + Object/Adverb
(-): Subject + To be (am/is/are) V ing + Object/Adverb
(?): To be (am/is/are) + Subject + V ing + Object/Adverb

2. Fungsi
a) Tenses yang digunakan untuk menyatakan suatu kegiatan yang sedang
berlangsung pada saat sekarang (pada saat di informasikan).
1. We are studying TOEFL right now.
2. Miss. Lutfiah is teaching English right now.
3. We are in the on line class right now.
4. I am listening to Miss. Lutfiah right now.
b) Menjelaskan suatu peristiwa yang sedang berlangsung di seputar waktu present.
1. It is raining at the moment.
2. We are staying at home now.
3. Corona Virus is happening at the moment.
c) Menyatakan “changing situation”
1. The economic situation is getting worse since Corona Pandemic.
2. The condition of my town is changing since Corona Pandemic.
3. The population of the world is rising very fast.
4. My mom’s health is getting better

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 3. Notes
a) Keterangan waktu yang dipakai: now, at present, at this moment, dan lain-lain.
b) Salah satu ciri bentuk continuous adalah akhiran –ing pada kata kerjanya.
c) Aturan penggunaan “ing” dalam setiap kata kerja:
1) Untuk kata kerja pada umumnya, cukup tambahkan –ing. Contoh:
- watch » watching - eat » eating
- fly » flying - go » going
2) Untuk kata kerja yang berakhiran –e, maka –e harus dihilangkan
sebelum ditambah –ing. Contoh:
- love » loving - argue » arguing
- save » saving - rise » rising
3) Untuk kata kerja yang berakhiran –ee, -e tidak perlu dihilangkan. Cukup
ditambahkan –ing. Contoh: Agree: agreeing, See: seeing
4) Untuk kata kerja yang berakhiran dengan satu huruf vokal dan satu huruf
konsonan, maka konsonannya didobel sebelum ditambahkan –ing. Contoh:
Sit : sitting kidnap : kidnapping
Run : running get : getting

4. Beberapa kata kerja yang tidak dipakai dalam bentuk present continuous:
a) Verbs of sense atau kata kerja yang berkaitan dengan indra. Contohnya see, hear,
smell, notice, recognize.
b) Verbs of emotion atau kata kerja yang berkaitan dengan emosi. Contohnya
desire, refuse, forgive, wish, care, hate, adore, like, dislike.
c) Verbs of thinking atau kata kerja yang berkaitan dengan pemikiran. Contohnya
feel, realize, understand, know, mean, suppose, believe, expect, remember,
recollect, forget, trust, mind.
d) Verbs of possessing atau kata kerja yang berkaitan dengan kepemilikan.
Contohnya own, owe, belong, posses.
e) Kata-kata kerja lainnya, termasuk seem, appear, contain, consist, keep, concern.

C. PRESENT PERFECT TENSE

1. Pola kalimat
(+): Subject + Have/Has + Verb3 + Object + Adv of time
(-): Subject + Have/Has + Not + Verb3 + Object + Adv of time
(?): Have/Has + Subject + Verb3 + Object + Adv of time?

2. Fungsi:
a. Bentuk ini juga dapat digunakan ketika kita membicarakan sesuatu
kejadian/aktivitas yang dimulai dikerjakan pada masa lampau dan hingga
sekarang masih berlangsung (there is a connection with the present time).
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 Example:
1) I have lived in Jakarta since 1999.
2) I have taught in STIKES Dr. Soebandi since 2010.
3) I have studied in STIKES Dr. Soebandi since 2014.
4) She has worked in the bank for five years.

b. Bentuk tense ini juga digunakan untuk memberikan informasi baru atau
mengumumkan suatu kejadian yang baru saja terjadi/berakhir (giving new
information, to announce a recent happening)
Example:
1) I’ve lost my key (I haven’t got it now)
2) Ow! I’ve burn myself
3) Jim has gone to Canada. (He is in Canada or on his way there now)
4) I’ve just finished my work.
5) I’ve just eaten.

c. Use the present perfect to say that you have ever/never done something during a
periode of time which continues up to the present.
Example:
Dave : Have you travelled a lot Nora?
Nora : Yes, I’ve been to 47 different
countries. Dave : Really? Have you ever
been to China? Nora : Yes, I’ve visited China
twice.
Dave : What about India?
Nora : No, I’ve never been to India

d. Digunakan untuk menyatakan tindakan berulang dalam periode waktu yang tidak
ditentukan antara masa lalu dan kini.
Examples:
 They have seen that films six times
 We have eaten at the restaurant many times.
 She has visited her grandmother frequently.

e. Kata keterangan yang sering digunakan adalah:

 Just (baru saja terjadi) - ever/never - lately/recently
 Already (sudah) - once/twice/three times - Since and for
 Before (sebelumnya) - Still (masih)

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D. SIMPLE PAST TENSE
1. Pola kalimat Verbal
(+) : Subject + Verb2 + Object + Adv of time
(-) : Subject + Did + Not + Verb1 + Object + Adv of time
(?) : Did + Subject + Verb1 + Object + Adv of time?

2. Pola kalimat Nominal

(+) : Subject + Be (was/were) + Compliments
(-) : Subject + Be (was/were) + Not + Compliments
(?) : Be (was/were) + Subject + Compliments

3. Fungsi
 Digunakan untuk menyatakan suatu aktivitas yang telah terjadi di masa lampau.
 Kata kerja yang digunakan merupakan Verb bentuk ke 2 (regular/irregular verb)

4. Examples Past Tense Sentence with Verb

a) (+) They went to the zoo last year.
(-) They did not go to the zoo last year
(?) Did they go to the zoo last year?

b) (+) She saw my uncle in the garden.

(-) She did not see my uncle in a garden.
(?) Did she see my uncle in a garden?

c) (+) We borrowed the book in the library a week ago.

(-) We did not borrow the book in the library a week ago.
(?) Did we borrow the book in the library a week ago?

5. Examples Past Tense Sentence with Nominal

a) (+) Our family was in the Nasional Museum last month.
(-) Our family was not in the Nasional Museum last month.
(?) was our family in the Nasional Museum last month?

b) (+) We were in our campus four month ago.

(-) We were not in our campus four month ago.
(?) Were we in our campus four month ago?

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IRREGULAR VERB
E. SIMPLE FUTURE TENSE
1. Pola kalimat:
(+) : Subject + Shall/Will + Verb1 + Object + Adv of time
(-) : Subject + Shall/Will + Not + Verb1 + Object + Adv of time
(?) : Shall/Will + Subject + Verb1 + Object + Adv of time
2. Penggunaan:
a) Bentuk ini digunakan jika kita membicarakan suatu perencanaan.
Examples:
1) I will go to Malang next month.
2) They will visit their family tomorrow.
3) We will study together tonight.
b) Bentuk ini digunakan untuk membicarakan suatu kejadian yang akan terjadi
(prediction).
Examples:
1) I think it will rain tomorrow because the clouds are there now.
2) “Oh, I feel terrible. I think I will be sick.

ENGLISH TENSES EXERCISES

A. SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE

EXERCISE 1. Supply a suitable simple present tense of the given verb in the bracket!
1. The swimming bath..................(open) at 9.00 and....................(close) at 18.30 every day.
2. What time...........................................(the banks/close) in Britain?
3. I have a car but I..........................................(not/use) it very often.
4. How many cigarettes................................(you/smoke) a day?
5. “what.......................(yourfather/come) from?” He.................(come) from Scotland.”
6. If you need money, why..........................(you not/get) a job?
7. “What.................................(you/do)?” I am an electrical engineer.”
8. I....................................(play) the piano, but I..........................(not/play) very well.
9. I don’t understand the word “deceive”. What.......................(deceive/mean)?”
10. Water.............(boil) at 100 degree centigrade.
11. George...................(not/go) to the library very often.
12. How many languages…....................................(you/speak)?
13. How often…....................(Ann/watch) television?
14. What time............(the car/break down)?
15. Why…...............(people/do) stupid things?

EXERCISE 2. Supply a suitable simple present tense of the given verb in the bracket!

1. She (go) to school every day.

2. The sun always (shine) in Bali.
3. Bad students never (work) hard.
 4. She (wake up) at seven and (have) breakfast at half past every morning.
5. Ships (travel) from Singapura to New York in five days.
6. John (travel) to England.
7. It (be) very cold now.
8. A: “What you (read) when you are on holiday?”
B: “I (read) love stories to refresh my mind.
9. A: “...........you (speak) French?”
B: yes, I……(do). I only (use) it when I (travel) abroad.
10.“you (understand) the present tense now?

EXERCISE 3. Form complete sentences in the present tense!

Examples:
Q: I /to eat / not / eggs every day
A: I do not eat eggs everyday

1. Billy / to like / cats __________________________________________________________________

2. trains in Japan / always / to run / on time_______________________________________________
3. Tina / to drink / not / banana milkshakes_______________________________________________
4. the shopping centre / to open / every day at 6 a.m._______________________________________
5. all cookies / to taste / amazing________________________________________________________
6. I / to find / not / English book / in the libary____________________________________________
7. Fred and Shirley / to eat / not / after midnight__________________________________________
8. unhappy employees / to be / not / good for business_____________________________________
9. My friend / attend / not / the English class / today_______________________________________
10. my car / to have / climate control / but / it / to work / not_________________________________
11. flocks of birds / to fly / in interesting formations________________________________________
12. peanut butter and cheese / to go / not / well together____________________________________
13. the students of pharmacy / not / in the laboratory / now_________________________________
14. we / to travel / not / to the lakes more than twice a year_________________________________
15. Mr. Ardy / teach / not / today / because / he / sick______________________________________
EXERCISE 4. Write your own daily activities! (use simple present tense!)

My daily activities

Every morning from Monday to Saturday, I get up at 6 o'clock. After breakfast, I go to school
by bicycle. It takes me about 20 minutes from my house to my school. Usually, I study at
school until 11:30 a.m. I return home at noon to have lunch with my family. In the afternoon I
attend English and computer courses. I always get home just in time for dinner at 7:30 p.m.
After dinner, while my parents are watching television in the living-room, I read books or
prepare for school in my own room.

I am free at weekends. On Sunday mornings, I get up later than usual. Then I often go
shopping downtown with my friends. Sometimes we go for a picnic in the countryside. On
rainy Sundays, I stay at home reading books and listening to music. I am quite happy with my
daily activities.
 Write your daily activities using present tense!

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EXERCISE 5. Translate words or phrases related to daily activities into English!

1. Bangun pagi 21. Sarapan pagi

2. Sholat pagi 22. Pergi ke kampus

3. Mandi 23. Menyiram bunga

4. Menggosok gigi 24. Membantu orang tua

5. Lari pagi 25. Menonton TV

6. Senam pagi 26. Mendengarkan musik

7. Menyapu lantai 27. Main game

8. Merapikan kamar 28. Pulang ke rumah

9. Merapikan kasur 29. Istirahat

10. Menata buku 30. Tidur siang

11. Menyiapkan seragam 31. Makan siang

12. Menyetrika baju 32. Mengerjakan tugas

kampus
13. Menyiapkan 33. Pergi ke masjid
perlengkapan sekolah
14. Membersihkan kamar 34. Makan malam
mandi
15. Mencuci baju 35. Menonton film

16. Mencuci sepeda 36. Mengaji

17. Menyapu halaman 37. Menelpon

18. Mengepel lantai 38. Bermain

19. Belanja ke pasar 39. Bermain basket

20. Memasak 40. Pergi tidur

B. PRESENT CONTINUOUS TENSE
EXERCISE 1. Read this conversation between Brian and Steve. Put each verb into the
correct form.
Brian and Steve meet in a restaurant.
Brian : Hello, Steve. I haven’t seen you for ages.
What (1)....................................(you/do) these days?
Steve : I (2)...................................(train) to be a shop manager.
Brian : Really? (3)..................................(you/enjoy) it?
Steve : Yes, it’s quite interesting. How about you?
Brian : Well, I (4)......................................(not/work) at the moment, but
I am very busy. I (5)........................(build) a house.
Steve : Really? (6).............................(you/do) it alone?
Brian : No, some friends of mine (7)........................(help) me.

EXERCISE 2. In this exercise you have to put the verb into the correct form
Example: Please don’t make so much noise. I....................(study)
Answer: I am studying.

1. Please be quite. I..............................................(try) to concrete.

2. Look! It..............................................(snow).
3. Why...........................(you/look) at me like that? Have I said something wrong?
4. You..................................(make) a lot of noise. Can you be a bit quieter?
5. (in the cinema) It’s a good film, isn’t it?.................................(you/enjoy) it?
6. Listen! Can you hear those people next door? They...............(shout) at each other again.
7. I.......................(not/work) this week. I am on holiday.
8. Why.............................(you/wear) your coat today? It’s very warm.
9. Excuse me, I..............................(look) for a phone box. Is there one near here?
10. I want to lose weight. I................................(not/eat) anything today.

EXERCISE 3. Complete these sentences using one of these verbs.

Get become change rise improve fall increase
1. He is still ill but he......................better slowly.
2. These days food...................more and more expensive.
3. The world........................things never stay the same.
4. The cost of living................Every year things are dearer.
5. The economic situation is already very bad and it................worse.
6. George has gone to work is Spain. When he arrived, his Spanish wasn’t very good but
now it.............................................
7. The number of people without jobs .............................. at the moment.
 C. PRESENT PERFECT TENSE
EXERCISE 1. Form complete sentences in the present perfect tense!
Examples:
Q: the engineer / to repair / the van
A: The engineer has repaired the van.

1. Remi / to choose / her dress carefully

2. the sailors / to paint / the boat green
3. the dentists / to order / a new chair
4. my father / to retire / not / yet
5. you / to create / a wonderful display
6. the Robinsons / to prepare / not / the table for dinner
7. we / to pay / the delivery man for the pizza
8. I / to refuse / to take part in the parade
9. the police / to identify / not / the thief
10. she / to mention / her family’s wealth many times
11. Edward / to believe / not / in Santa since he was young
12. the bus service / to improve / not
13. I / recommend / this movie many times
14. the storm / to destroy / our fence
15. my parents / to decide / not / which house to buy

EXERCISE 2.
In this exercise you have to read the situation and then write a suitable sentence.
Use the verb give.
Example : Tom is looking for his key. He can’t find it. (lose) He has lost his key.

1. Ann’s hair was dirty. Now it is clean. (wash)

__________________________________________________________________
2. Tom was 80 kg. Now he weighs 70. (lose weights)
__________________________________________________________________
3. The car has just stopped because there is not any more petrol in the tank. (ran out of petrol)
__________________________________________________________________
4. Yesterday Bill was playing football. Now he can’t walk and his leg is in plester. (break)
__________________________________________________________________

D. SIMPLE PAST TENSE

EXERCISE 1. Read a sentence about the present and write a sentence about the past.
Example: Tom usually get up at 7.30. Yesterday Tom got up at 7.30
1. Tom usually wakes up early. Yesterday morning
 2. Tom usually walks to work. Yesterday
3. Tom is usually late for work. Yesterday
4. Tom usually has a sandwich for lunch. Yesterday
5. Tom usually goes out in the evening. Yesterday evening
6. Tom usually sleeps very well. Last night

EXERCISE 2. Put one of these verbs in each sentence.

Hurt teach spend sell throw fall catch buy cost
Example: I was hungry, so I bought something to eat in the shop.
1. Tom’s father him how to drive when he was 17.
2. Don down the stairs this morning and his leg.
3. We needed some money, so we our car.
4. Ann a lot of money yesterday. She a dress which
Rp. 1.000.000
5. Jim the ball to Sue who it.

EXERCISE 3. Form complete sentences in the past simple!

● Q: I / to know / not / where he lived (negative)
● A: I did not know where he lived.
1. the postman / to be / late again / yesterday (positive)
2. Felicia / to grow / tomatoes in her garden / last year (introgative)
3. he / to understand / not / the project (negative)
4. we / to fail / to finish in time / in the last examination (positive)
5. they / to give / not / us the bag of flour (negative)
6. Liam / to ask / not / the question politely (negative)
7. I / to pick / not / the right flowers / in the party (negative)
8. Your uncle / to drive / all the way to Scotland (introgative)
9. My mom / to bring / the green umbrella / last night (positive)
10. The police men / to arrest / the wrong man (positive)