Tenses (Present,

Past, Perfect)

Ted Ankara Koleji

Vakfı Özel Lisesi
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Present Simple Tense

MEANING
We use this tense for;

- Permanent states, repeated actions and daily routines

eg.
He works in a bank. ( permanent state)
He takes the bus to work every morning. ( repeated action/ routine)

- General truths
eg.
The sun rises in the east.
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Present Simple Tense

MEANING
We use this tense for;

- Timetables ( plane, bus, train,etc.) and programmes

eg.
The plane to Rome leaves at 10 pm.

- Sports commentaries, reviews and narration

eg.
Falcao passes the ball and Donk scores a goal. ( commentary)
Di Caprio plays the part of Jake in Titanic. ( review)
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Present Simple Tense

MEANING
We use this tense to;

- Give instructions or directions

eg.
Grate some cheese on the egg and then mix them.
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Present Simple Tense
STRUCTURE
+ Positive sentences: Subject Verb1 Object
Susan waters her flowers every day.

- Negative sentences: Subject don’t/doesn’t Verb1 Object

Susan doesn’t water her flowers every day.

? Yes/ No Questions: Do/ Does Subject Verb1 Object

Does Susan water her flowers everyday? - Yes, she does.
- No, she doesn’t.

? WH- Questions: Wh- do/does Subject Verb1 Object

What does Susan do everyday?
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Present Simple Tense

TIME EXPRESSIONS
Every……(day, year, etc.), in the morning/ afternoon /evening, at night, at the weekend, on Sundays,
once/ twice/ … a day/year/ month, etc.

For adverbs of frequencies

Always, usually, often, generally, sometimes, rarely, hardly ever, never
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Present Simple Tense

TIME EXPRESSIONS
- We use adverbs of frequencies before the main verb.
Eg. Brian often goes skiing at the weekend.
Jim never lies to his friends and family.

- But after verb TO BE.

Eg. Sam is sometimes rude to other people.
I am never late to class.

- Expressions with two or more words can go at the beginning or at the end of a sentence.
Eg. We go on holiday twice a year.
Twice a year we go on holiday.
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Present Simple Tense

Action Verbs State Verbs
Go, jump, swim, crawl, write, climb, kick, etc. State verbs describe a state rather than an action and
Used both with simple and continuous tenses: therefore do not normally have continuous tenses.

My father writes to me every month. (habit) Love, like, know, believe, understand, belong, need, etc.
My father is writing a story right now. (action)
My uncle owns a hotel.
I love chocolate icecream.
My teacher believes in hard work.
That bag belongs to Julia.
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Present Simple Tense

Some of the state verbs can be used in continuous forms when they describe actions
Eg.
I think he is lying. (believe)
I am thinking about the plan. (consider)

I can see the plane in the distance. (perceive)

I see what you mean. ( understand)

Bob has a Ferrari. (possess)

Bob is having breakfast at the moment. (eat)

He appears to be nervous. (seem)

He is appearing in a new play. ( take part in)
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Present Simple Tense

EXERCISE:

1. Every morning, she __________ (take) a walk in the park before breakfast.
2. They __________ (study) French and Spanish at university.
3. The company __________ (offer) several benefits to its employees.
4. My friend __________ (visit) different countries every summer.
5. He __________ (prefer) tea to coffee when he __________ (work) late at night.
6. The team __________ (meet) regularly to discuss their progress on the project.
7. The museum __________ (close) early on Mondays, but it __________ (open) at 10 AM the rest of the week.
8. She __________ (believe) that exercise __________ (help) improve mental health.
9. Each year, the city __________ (host) a large festival that __________ (attract) tourists from around the
world.
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Present Simple Tense

ANSWERS:

1. Every morning, she takes a walk in the park before breakfast.

2. They study French and Spanish at university.
3. The company offers several benefits to its employees.
4. My friend visits different countries every summer.
5. He prefers tea to coffee when he works late at night.
6. The team meets regularly to discuss their progress on the project.
7. The museum closes early on Mondays, but it opens at 10 AM the rest of the week.
8. She believes that exercise helps improve mental health.
9. Each year, the city hosts a large festival that attracts tourists from around the world.
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Present Continuous Tense

MEANING
We use this tense for;
- Actions taking place at the moment of speaking
Eg.
He is giving the baby a bath at the moment.

- temporary actions, that are going on around the moment of speaking

Eg.
It is raining hard these days.
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Present Continuous Tense

MEANING
We use this tense for;
- With ‘always’ to express annoyance, irritation or anger
Eg.
You are always interrrupting me when I am talking.

- Changing or developing situations

Eg.
The earth is getting warmer and warmer everyday.
 Present Continuous Tense 14

S STRUCTURE
+ Positive sentences: Subject am/is/are Verb-ing Object
Susan is watering the flowers now.

- Negative sentences: Subject am/is/are NOT Verb-ing Object

Susan isn’t watering her flowers now.

? Yes/ No Questions: Am/is/are Subject Verb-ing Object

Is Susan watering her flowers now? - Yes, she is.
- No, she isn’t.

? WH- Questions: Wh- am/is/are Subject Verb-ing Object

What is Susan doing now?
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Present Continuous Tense

TIME EXPRESSIONS

Now, at the moment, at present, these days, still, nowadays, today, tonight, this year, this week etc.

Eg.
You are working hard today.
The company I work for isn’t doing so well this year.
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Present Continuous Tense

EXERCISE
Rewrite the following sentence on your notebook in different forms:

+ Positive sentences: We are living longer, healthier, freer and happier lives.

- Negative senences:

? Yes/ No Questions:

? WH- Questions: Why…

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Present Continuous Tense

ANSWER KEY

+ Positive sentences: We are living longer, healthier, freer and happier lives.

- Negative senences: We aren’t living longer, healthier, freer and happier lives.

? Yes/ No Questions: Are we living longer, healthier, freer and happier lives?

? WH- Questions: Why are we living longer, healthier, freer and happier lives?
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Present Continuous Tense

EXERCISE
Fill in the blanks with Present Simple or Present Continuous form of the verbs:

1.At the moment, she ______ (prepare) a presentation for tomorrow's meeting, but she usually ________ (work) on
marketing strategies.
2.The company _______(announce) new policies this week, and many employees ________ (attend) informational
sessions about these changes.
3.Every summer, we _________ (travel) to a different country, but this year we _______ (plan) to stay at home due to the
travel restrictions.
4.He __________ (read) the latest novel by his favorite author right now, while his friends __________ (discuss) their
upcoming weekend trip.
5.While I _______(understand) the basics of the theory, I ______ (struggle) with the more complex aspects of the subject
right now.
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Present Continuous Tense

1. At the moment, she is preparing a presentation for tomorrow's meeting, but she usually works on
marketing strategies.
2. The company is announcing new policies this week, and many employees are attending informational
sessions about these changes.
3. Every summer, we travel to a different country, but this year we are planning to stay at home due to the
travel restrictions.
4. He is reading the latest novel by his favorite author right now, while his friends are discussing their
upcoming weekend trip.
5. While I understand the basics of the theory, I am struggling with the more complex aspects of the subject
right now.
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Present Perfect Tense

MEANING
We use this tense for;

- an action which started in the past and continues up to present

eg.
Rachel has had the dog for three years. (She got the dog three years ago and she still has it.)

- An action which has recently finished and whose result is visible in the present.
eg.
She has just washed her hair. ( Her hair is clean now)
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Present Perfect Tense

MEANING
We use this tense for;

- an action which happened at an unstated time in the past

eg.
The Simpsons have bought a new car.

- An action which has happened in a specific period of time which is not over at the time of speaking.
eg.
Lucy has taken 15 pictures today. ( today is not over yet, she could take more photos)
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Present Perfect Tense
STRUCTURE
+ Positive sentences: Subject have/has Verb3 Object
Susan has watered her flowers today.

- Negative sentences: Subject haven’t/hasn’t Verb3 Object

Susan hasn’t watered her flowers today.

? Yes/ No Questions: Have/ Has Subject Verb3 Object

Has Susan watered her flowers today? - Yes, she has.
- No, she hasn’t.

? WH- Questions: Wh- have/has Subject Verb3 Object

What has Susan done today?
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Present Perfect Continuous Tense

MEANING
We use this tense to;

- Put an emphasis on the duration of an action which started in the past and continues up to present.
eg.
My father has been talking on the phone for half an hour.

- For an action which started in the past and lasted for some time.
eg.
Her feet hurt. She has been walking all morning. ( The result of an action is visible in the present.)
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Present Perfect Continuous Tense
STRUCTURE
+ Positive sentences: Subject have/has been Verb-ing Object
Susan has been watering her flowers for half an hour.

- Negative sentences: Subject haven’t/hasn’t been Verb-ing Object

Susan hasn’t been watering her flowers for half an hour.

? Yes/ No Questions: Have/ Has Subject been Verb- ing Object

Has Susan been watering her flowers? - Yes, she has.
- No, she hasn’t.

? WH- Questions: Wh- have/has Subject been Verb- ing Object

What has Susan been doing today?
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Present Perfect Simple / Continuous Tense

TIME EXPRESSIONS
For, since, already, yet, always, just, ever, never, so far, today, this…. , how long, lately, recently, still

FOR or SINCE?
For + a period of time
Eg.
Two hours, twenty minutes, five days, a long time, six months, thirty years, etc.

Since + the start of period

Eg.
9 o’clock, Tuesday, 15 May, April, lunchtime, midnight, etc.
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Present Perfect Simple /Continuous Tense

Already (before now) + sentences
I have already spent my salary and it’s two weeks before payday.

Just ( a short time before) + sentences

I have just seen Mary coming out of the cinema.

Yet (at any time up to now) – and ?

Have you finished your homework yet?
I haven’t finished it, yet. I’ll do it after dinner.
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Present Perfect Simple /Continuous Tense

Simple or Continuous?
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Past Simple Tense

MEANING
We use this tense for;

- An action which happened at a definite time in the past. The time is stated, or known.
eg.
They went camping by the lake last month.

- Actions which happened immediately one after the other in the past.
eg.
First Alex paid the driver, then he got out of the taxi.
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Past Simple Tense

MEANING
We use this tense for;

- Past habits or states which are now finished

eg.
Cars were very different a hundred years ago.
 Past Simple Tense 30

STRUCTURE
+ Positive sentences: Subject Verb2 Object
Susan watered her flowers yesterday.

- Negative sentences: Subject didn’t Verb1 Object

Susan didn’t water her flowers yesterday.

? Yes/ No Questions: Did Subject Verb1 Object

Did Susan water her flowers yesterday? - Yes, she did.
- No, she didn’t.

? WH- Questions: Wh- did Subject Verb1 Object

What did Susan do yesterday?
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Past Simple Tense

TIME EXPRESSIONS

Yesterday, then, when, How long ago..?, last….., ……ago, in 1997, etc.
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Past Continuous Tense

MEANING
We use this tense for;

- An action which was in progress at a stated time in the past.

eg.
At seven o’clock yesterday evening I was playing football with my friends.

- An action which was in progress when another action interrupted it.

eg.
He was walking down the road when Pete ran into an old friend.
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Past Continuous Tense

MEANING
We use this tense for;

- Two or more simultaneous actions.

eg.
She was talking on her mobile phone while she was driving to work.

- To describe the atmosphere or setting in a story

eg.
On a beautiful summer day the birds were singing, the sun was shining and people were chatting with their families.
 Past Continuous Tense 34

STRUCTURE
+ Positive sentences: Subject was/were Verb-ing Object
Susan was watering the flowers yesterday at noon.

- Negative sentences: Subject was/ were NOT Verb-ing Object

Susan wasn’t watering her flowers yesterday at noon.

? Yes/ No Questions: Was/ were Subject Verb-ing Object

Was Susan watering her flowers yesterday at noon? - Yes, she was.
- No, she wasn’t.

? WH- Questions: Wh- was/were Subject Verb-ing Object

What was Susan doing yesterday at noon?
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Past Continuous Tense

TIME EXPRESSIONS
While, when, as, just as, all morning, etc.

WHEN + Past simple/ continuous

When I was travelling to Brighton, I finished a book. ( Past continuous)
When Dan arrived home, he saw his best friend waiting at the door. (Past simple)

WHILE/ AS + Past continuous

While I was travelling to Brighton, I finished a book. (Past continous)
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Past Continuous Tense

EXERCISE
Each sentence has one mistake. Correct the sentences.

1- She was seeing the shark while she was surfing.

2- What was you doing last night at 8.00pm?
3- I was reading a book when my brother was getting back.
4- He didn’t liked the film very much.
5- What did he see while he swam?
6- You can turn off the TV, I not was watching it.
7- I was talking to Stephen while the phone rang.
8- I went to the cinema last night but I wasn’t liking the film.
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Past Continuous Tense

EXERCISE
Each sentence has one mistake. Correct the sentences.

1- She was seeing the shark while she was surfing. saw
2- What was you doing last night at 8.00pm? were
3- I was reading a book when my brother was getting back. got
4- He didn’t liked the film very much. like
5- What did he see while he swam? was swimming
6- You can turn off the TV, I not was watching it. wasn’t
7- I was talking to Stephen while the phone rang. when
8- I went to the cinema last night but I wasn’t liking the film. didn’t like
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Past Perfect Tense

MEANING
We use this tense for;

- An action which happened before another action in the past

eg.
She had finished her work when she met her friends for coffee.

- An action which finished in the past and whose result was visible in the past.
eg.
He was happy. He had signed an important contract.
 Past Perfect Tense 39

STRUCTURE
+ Positive sentences: Subject had Verb3 Object
Susan had watered her flowers before rain.

- Negative sentences: Subject hadn’t Verb3 Object

Susan hadn’t watered her flowers before rain.

? Yes/ No Questions: Had Subject Verb3 Object

Had Susan watered her flowers before rain? - Yes, she had.
- No, she hadn’t.

? WH- Questions: Wh- had Subject Verb3 Object

What had Susan done before rain?
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Past Perfect Tense

TIME EXPRESSIONS
Before, after, just, already, since, for, till, until, by, by the time, never, etc.
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Past Perfect Continuous Tense

MEANING
We use this tense to;

- Put emphasis on the duration of an action which started and finished in the past before another past action
eg.
They had been looking for a car for six months before they found one they liked.

- For an action which lasted for some time in the past and whose result was visible in the past
eg.
Last Tuesday Joe had to fly to London. His flight was delayed. He was annoyed. He had been waiting at the airport for five
hours.
 Past Perfect Continuous Tense 42

STRUCTURE
+ Positive sentences: Subject had been Verb-ing Object
Susan had been watering her flowers for half an hour before the rain.

- Negative sentences: Subject hadn’t been Verb-ing Object

Susan hadn’t been watering her flowers for half an hour before the rain.

? Yes/ No Questions: Had Subject been Verb- ing Object

Had Susan been watering her flowers? - Yes, she had.
- No, she hadn’t.

? WH- Questions: Wh- had Subject been Verb- ing Object

What had Susan been doingbefore the rain?
 Past Perfect Continuous Tense 43

Complete the blanks with Past simple or Past perfect tense. Take your notes on your notebook

1. My mother _____________________ (worry) a lot about me before she _____________________ (hear) that I was safe

with my friends.

2. I didn’t like Romania; It _____________________ (be) much smaller than I _____________________ (expect).

3. By the time the firefighters ____________________(arrive) the building __________________(already / burn) down.

4. They _____________________ (go) to the cinema after they _____________________ (finish) their dinner.

5. She ______________ just _____________ (enter) the room when the door _____________________ (open) and Jason

_____________________ (enter).
 Past Perfect Continuous Tense 44

Answer Key

1. My mother had worried a lot about me before she heard that I was safe with my friends.

2. I didn’t like Romania; it was much smaller than I had expected.

3. By the time the firefighters arrived the building had already burned down.

4. They went to the cinema after they had finished their dinner.

5. She had just entered the room when the door opened and Jason entered.