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Verb Tenses Verb tenses are an attribute of verbs that show time. Remember that verbs are words that show an action or a state of being. So, when we use different verb tenses, we are showing the different times that these actions took place. There are only six tenses for English verbs! You can learn about six tenses! It's not too hard. Three of them are called simple tenses, and three of them are called perfect tenses. One tricky thing is that each of those six tenses can be made progressive, so it almost seems like there are 12 tenses. But those progressive forms are not really different verb tenses, they are just different forms of the six verb tenses. You'll learn all about these six tenses here! S imple Tenses There are three basic times when verbs can take place: past, present, and future. These are the easy ones to remember. In fact, they are called simple tenses. All English verbs have these three simple tense. Simple present tense verbs show actions that happen regularly or that are permanently happening. We play football in the backyard. My niece skips down the road. Simple past tense verbs are verbs that show actions that took place in the past. We played football in the backyard. My niece skipped down the road Simple future tense verbs are verbs that show actions that have not taken place yet, but that will take place in the future. We will play football in the backyard. My niece will skip down the road. Perfect Tenses All English verbs also have three perfect verb tenses: present perfect tense, past perfect tense, and future perfect tense. These tenses are pretty cool, I guess, but I'm not sure that I'd call them perfect. Whoever named these guys sure thought highly of them. At any rate, all of these perfect tenses are formed with the helping verbs have, has, had, will and shall and the past participles of the verb. Present perfect tense verbs show an action that was finished recently or one that that was completed at an indefinite time in the past. These use has or have. We have played football. My niece has skipped down the road. Past perfect tense verbs show an action that that came directly before another action in the past. These use had. We had played football. My niece had skipped down the road before I came. Future perfect tense verbs show an action that will happen before another future action happens. These use will have and shall have. By tomorrow, we will have played football. By noon, my niece will have skipped down the road. Progressive/Continuous Forms Both simple and perfect verb tenses can also be made into progressive verb forms. Sometimes they are also called continuous. That just means that they show an action that is in progress or that is continuing. To form this type of verb, you add one of the forms of the verb be with the present participle of the verb. (The present participle ends in ing.) We are playing. (present progressive) We were playing. (past progressive) We will be playing. (future progressive) We have been playing. (present perfect progressive) We had been playing. (past perfect progressive) We will have been playing. (future perfect progressive) Regular Verbs These are not a different verb tense, but they are an important thing to learn about. You will often hear about regular verbs, so you might as well learn about them! Verbs that add d or ed to their present form to form the past tense are regular verbs. Here are some sentences with regular verbs. Notice that they end in d or ed. The dog jumped toward the squirrel. We all noticed the stain on his shirt. My grandmother knitted me this scarf. Irregular Verbs Again, irregular verbs are not a different verb tense, but they are an important topic when it comes to studying verbs. The word irregular means not regular, so irregular verbs are those that have unpredictable forms in the past tense. They don't add d or ed to their present form to form the past tense are irregular verbs. Here are some sentences with irregular verbs written in the past tense. Notice that they don't end in d or ed. I ate my vegetables. We swam across the lake. My mother read me a bedtime story.

Types of Questions

Yes\no Questions auxiliary

Special questions

Be + S+Vo

Do, does, did

Information questions Who \What (The Subject is unknown)

Who

+ verb +(compliment)+(modifier)

What, whose

Note: there is no auxiliary verb

Whom\What in complemented questions: a compliment question is one in which the compliment is unknown

Whom + auxiliary (do, does, did) + S + Vo + (modifier)

What,

When, where, how and why questions + aux +S +Vo + (compliment) + (modifier)

Alternative questions

Were you born in 1989 or 1990?

Are you a student or a worker?

Are you from England or from Wales?

Do you live in a city or in a village?

Are you a manager or an accountant?

Must we go or stay here?

Tail questions

You’re not a teacher, are you? - No, I am not.

You are an economist, aren’t you? – Yes, I am.

Tag questions

There are only 28 days in February, aren’t there?

There’s an extra exam tomorrow, isn’t it?

We have seen this movie, haven’t we?

He should stay in bed, shouldn’t he?

Some rules of constructing tag questions

1. Use the same auxiliary verb as in the main clause. If there is no auxiliary, use do, does or did.

2. If the main clause is negative, the tag is affirmative, if the main clause is affirmative, the tag is negative.

3. Don’t change the tense.

4. Use the same subject in the main clause and the tag. The tag must always contain the subject form of the pronoun.

5. Negative forms are usually contracted. If they are not aux+S+not

Example: He saw him yesterday, did he not?

Embedded questions

Aux + S + Vo + question word + S + Vo

Do you know where he went?

Could you tell me what time it is?

Put the questions to the underlined members of the sentence

1. Our flight was delayed, owing to the bad weather.

2. The proof of the pudding is in the eating.

3. I met Polly at Ken’s wedding.

4. It was warm and sunny.

5. The book was so interesting that I couldn’t put it down.

6. What he doesn’t know about cars isn’t worth knowing.

7. My bike is brand new.

8. She looks quite different since she changed her hairstyle.

Tick the correct question tag

1 .John’s coming to see you, a) hasn’t he b) wasn’t he c) isn’t he?

2. It’s been a long time since you’ve seen him, a)hasn’t it b)isn’t it c)haven’t you?

3. He’s due to arrive tomorrow, a) won’t he b)isn’t he c) will he?

4. He won’t be getting in till about 10.30, a) isn’t he b) is he c) will he?

5. You met him while you were on holiday, a) didn’t you b) weren’t you c) haven’t you?

6. I think I’m expected to pick him up, a)aren’t I b)don’t I c) are you?

7. No doubt you’d rather he stayed in England now, a) didn’t you b) wouldn’t you, c) shouldn’t you?

8. Nobody else has been told he’s coming, a) is he b) has he c) have they?

9. We’d better not stay up too late tonight, a) didn’t we b) isn’t it c) don’t we?

Put questions to the underlined words:

1. Since he was a married man, he couldn’t spend much time with his friends.

2. This is the second time I’ve heard this story.

3. He denied stealing the jewelry.

4. He didn’t mind going there alone.

5. It’s very expensive to buy a new car.

6. We had to wait over an hour at the airport.

7. When we were at school, we always wore a uniform.

Choose the correct answer.

1. Oh, I’m sorry!....disturbing you? a) Do I b)Have I? c) Should I? d) Am I?

2. Did Dorothy…..you about the meeting on Friday? A) told b)tell c)has told d)tells

3. …..hot when you were in Spain? A) Was it b) it was c)did it d) it made

4. Tony,….got time to call Mrs Roberts? A)do you have b)you have c) are you d)have you

5. When your boss arrived, ...finished the report? A)you had b)did you have c)had you d) were you

6. I know Jane’s pretty, but…seen someone spend so much time in front of the mirror?

a)do you ever b) you have never c) have you ever d) ever have you

7. It’s raining, so… cancel the concert? A)will they b)they will c) do they will d) are they

8……pass me the salt, please? A) You could b) Are you c) you are d) Could you

9. Sir,… repeat what the homework is, please? A)do you b)are you c) you d) can you

10. ….the couple you met in France last year staying in the same hotel?

a) Did b) Have c) Were d) Could

11. I know how to pronounce controversy, but what….?

a) does it mean b) it means c) is it means d) means it

12. It’s a great idea, but …it will work? A) are you think b) do you think c)you think d)you do think

Write questions

1. you / wash / your hair / when I rang?

2. Jullie / give / you / her e-mail / address / yesterday?

3. you / always / have / lunch / this late?

4. Jack and Tom / come / to the party / tonight?

5. you / can / give / me / a hand / later?

6. how / you / spell / your name ?

7. why / the government /can’t / do / something / about the situation?

8. where / you / go / for honeymoon / last year?

9. what / your house / look like / when / it is finished?

10. which / flavour of ice cream / your favourite / be?

GRAMMAR REVIEW

I. VERBALS

Participle I

Participle 1 Active Passive

Non-perfect sending being sent

Perfect having sent having been sent

В предложении причастие 1 может выступать как определение (все формы, кроме перфектных), как обстоятельство (времени, причины, образа действия, и др.) в сочетании с союзами when, while, if, with ; и как часть сложного дополнения и обстоятельства в предикативных оборотах.

Non perfect form of participle 1

To hear, to see, to look,, to notice, to learn, to understand, to realize, to come, to arrive, to seize, to turn.

II. THE GERUND

Active Passive

Non-perfect writing being written

Perfect having written having been written

Герундий может выступать в предложении как:

1) подлежащее,

2) часть сказуемого;

3) дополнение;

4) предложное дополнение (после многих глаголов, причастий, прилагательных, требующих определенных предлогов);

5) определение;

6) обстоятельство (времени, образа действия, цели, сопутствующих условий).

III. THE INFINITIVE

Form Active Passive

Indefinite to send to be sent

Continuous to be sending ---------------

Perfect to have sent to have been sent

Perfect Continuous to have been sending ---------------------

Some grammar rules:

The to-infinitive is used:

to express purpose. He went to university to become a lawyer.

after certain verbs (agree, appear, decide, expect, hope, plan, promise, refuse etc).

He refused to pay the bill.

after certain adjectives (happy, glad, sorry etc).

She was happy to win the prize.

after I would like\would prefer to express specific preference.

I’d like to see the manager.

after certain nouns. What a surprise to see him there!

after too\enough constructions.

He’s too young to have his own car.

with: it + be+ adjective (+ of + noun\pronoun).

It was generous of him to offer money.

with: so + adjective + as.

Would you be so kind as to help me move the sofa?

with “only” to express an unsatisfactory result.

She came in only to find Bob had left.

after: be + the first\second etc\next\last\best etc.

He was the last to come to work.

in the expression: for + noun\pronoun + to –inf.

For him to be so rude was unforgivable.

in expressions such as : to tell you the truth, to begin with, to be honest etc.

To be honest, I don’t like him.

The infinitive without to is used:

after: most modal verbs,

after: had better\would rather

after: make\let\see\hear\feel + object. They made him pay for the damage. But: in the passive: be made, be heard, be seen + to –infinitive.

“know” and “help” are followed by a to-infinitive or an infinitive without to.

I have never known him (to) be so mean.

In the passive: be known, be helped + to-infinitive.

She was known to have worked as a teacher.

Some grammar rules

Used to-(+ Infinitive), be used to- get used to (+Gerund)

USED TO expresses past habits, regularly repeated actions in the past or past states.

(Stative verbs are not used with “would”)

WOULD expresses regularly repeated actions and routines in the past. It isn’t used for states.

BE USED TO means “be accustomed to”, “be in the habit of”.

WAS GOING TO expresses actions one intended to do but didn’t do.

For example:

She used to tell me stories. (also would tell me…)

He used to live in the country.(not: would – state)

He used to have a beard. (not :would – state)

The negative form is either:

I didn’t use to or I used not to (rare for some speakers).

Mum would always make me a big breakfast.

(also: Mum used to make…)

She isn’t used to living in tropical climates. (=she isn’t accustomed to living…)

She was going to move to London but then she decided to stay in York.

WAS GOING TO describes events intended to take place, but which didn’t happened.

For example: I was going to phone you, but I forgot.

I was thinking of going to Italy this year, but I haven’t decided.

I was about to do it, but I started doing something else.

Jack was to have taken part, but he fell ill.

About the usage “make” and “do”

DO – shopping, work, homework, housework, cleaning, washing up, gardening, military service, mathematics, something interesting, a boring job….

MAKE – arrangements, an offer, a suggestion, an attempt, an effort, an excuse, a mistake, a noise, a phone call, a date, a profit, a bed, a cake, a speech, trouble…..

To do or to make?

To make a cup of tea, to do one’s best, to do the washing up, to make a mess, to make an offer, to do aerobics, to do a favour, to make plans, to do the waltz, to make a mistake, to do the accounts, to make a date, to do business, to make trouble, to do the ironing, to do a casserole, to make a cabinet, to do exercises, to do cleaning.

DO – shopping, work, homework, housework, cleaning, washing up, gardening, military service, mathematics, something interesting, a boring job….

Remember, please

Only singular

News, advice, information, knowledge, furniture, luggage

Only plural

People, trousers, scissors, clothes, goods, thanks, police..

Some grammar rules for using gerund

The –ing form is used:

as a noun. Walking is a good exercise.

after certain verbs: accuse of, admit, anticipate, appreciate, approve of, avoid, be better of, consider, count on, continue, delay, deny, depend on, discuss, enjoy, escape, excuse, fancy, finish, forgive, give up, go, imagine, insist on, involve, keep on (=continue), mention, mind, miss, object to, postpone, practice, prevent from, put off, quit, recall, recollect, rely on, report, succeed in, think about, resent, resist, risk, save, stand, suggest, tolerate, understand, worry about, etc).

after: dislike, enjoy, hate, like, love, prefer to express general preference. She likes painting.

Note: like + to-inf = it’s a good idea. I like to wash my hair every day.

after: I’m busy, it’s no use, it’s (no) good, it’s (not) worth, what’s the use of, can’t help, there’s no point (in), can’t stand, have difficulty ( in), in addition to, as well as, have trouble, have a hard\difficult time, be : better off, accustomed to, afraid of, capable of, intend on, successful in, tired of . He can’t stand being treated like a slave. He had difficulty finding his way back.

after: spend\waste ( time, money etc), look forward to, be (get) used to, be (get) accustomed to, admit (to).

After prepositions: after, before, on, upon, by, without, instead of, in spite of

Ex.1 Open the brackets, use the correct verb and grammar tense form

1. Your hat (to lie/to lay) on the table.

2. You may (to lie/to lay) your coat on the table.

3. Europe (to lie/to lay) North of Africa.

4. Do you enjoy (to lie/to lay) in the sun?

5. The Sun (to rise/to raise) in the East.

6. (To rise/to raise) your hand if you want to speak.

7. I (to be raised/ to be risen) in a big family.

8. Don’t (to rise/to raise) noise!

9. . Smoke (to rise/to raise) from the factory chimneys.

10. The temperature (to rise/to raise) recently above zero.

The infinitive and the gerund

Study two lists of common verbs. The ones in the first list always take the infinitive and those in the second always take the gerund.

Infinitive: manage, pretend, offer, promise, hope, plan.

Gerund: succeed in, consider, deny, look forward to, avoid, risk

Ex2

Now use one of these verbs in the correct form to complete each of the following sentences.

1. She finally……to escape by stealing a key. 2. He…….to carry the old man’s suitcase. 3. I’ve never been to France before. I’m…. going there next year. 4. They ….reaching the frontier the following day. 5. She realized that she……breaking a leg if she jumped from the window, but she knew there was no other choice. 6. Her mother made her…….to write home every week. 7. It was nice to see you. I………to see you again soon. 8. When he gets out of prison, he…….to travel. 10. He ……..stealing the car, although a witness saw him. 11. Give up smoking if you want to…….getting a cough. 12. He…….to be asleep, but in fact he heard everything they said.

Ex.3

Use the correct form of the verbs in brackets (the infinitive or the gerund)

1. I’d prefer (go)…..to the theatre tonight, rather than the cinema.

2. Jane hasn’t gone on holiday yet. I remember (see)…….her yesterday evening.

3. We all helped (do)…..the shopping.

4. I’d advise you (get)……your hair cut before (go)…….for such a very important interview.

5. I’m tired of (sit)……..here (do)…….nothing.

6. I had no money, so I had no choice but (sell)…..my car.

7. I won’t allow you (talk)……to me like that!

8. I heard her (speak)…….. to someone on the phone.