VERB TENSES SWOOSH 9 Cláudia Regina Abreu | Cidália Sousa | Vanessa Reis Esteves

A verb tense expresses when an event happened.

Present Simple Expresses an action that is repeated or usual (habits/routines) and general truths. Time expressions such as, often, always, never, usually, every day, etc. are used with this tense.

(add -s / -es to the 3rd person singular in the affirmative form) Present Simple FORM subject + verb (add -s / -es to the 3rd person singular in the affirmative form)

My teacher brings her laptop to class every day. (routine / habit) Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius. (general truth)

Present Continuous Expresses an action that began in the past but is still happening now. Expresses a temporary action. This action is happening now, but will end soon. Time expressions such as, now, at the moment, at the present, tonight, etc. are used with this tense.

Verb to be (present simple) Present Continuous FORM Verb to be (present simple) + verb (-ing)

The twin sisters are putting up the tent now. (they are doing this at this moment) Lia is studying in London at present. (temporary action)

Past Simple Expresses an action that took place in the past. It no longer happens in the present. Time expressions such as, yesterday, last week/year, two days ago, in 2010, when, etc. are used with this tense.

Patrick attended a Chinese language course in 2010. (he no longer attends this course) I visited Italy when I was 10 years old. (I’m not in Italy now)

Past Continuous Expresses an action that was happening at a specific time in the past. Time expressions such as, while, yesterday at (nine o’clock, half past ten), all morning/day, etc. are used with this tense.

Past Continuous FORM was / were + verb (-ing)

Keith was studying for the Math test at 2 am yesterday. Last Saturday morning Kate was waiting for the bus while we were speaking on the phone.

Present Perfect Expresses an action that started in the past and continues in the present. To talk about an action that happened in the past, but it doesn’t matter when. What is important is the fact that it happened. Time expressions such as, since, for, already, just, yet, ever etc. are used with this tense.

Present Perfect ? FORM subject + have / has + past participle subject + haven’t / hasn’t + past participle ? have / has + subject + past participle

Jerry Yang has studied in Poland for five months. She has already done bungee jumping. (it doesn’t matter when she did)

Future – will Expresses an action that will probably happen in the future: a request, a promise and a prediction. Time expressions such as, tomorrow, next summer, in the future, in 2025 etc. are used with this tense.

infinitive (without to) Future – will FORM will + infinitive (without to)

request promise prediction Will you carry this for me, please? Peter said he will call me when he arrives. promise I will not watch TV tonight. I think Bob will arrive in London at 7 am. prediction

Future – be going to Expresses a future action which is certain or has been planned: future plans, intentions or predictions based on what we see (evidence). Time expressions such as, tomorrow, next summer, in the future, in 2025 etc. are used with this tense.

Future – be going to FORM be going to + infinitive (of the main verb)

future plan intention prediction In ten years, Kate is going to be the next president of this company. future plan Charles is going to spend his holiday in Hawaii. intention This film is going to win several Academy Awards. prediction

Verb tenses Let’s practise a bit!

Complete with the correct verb tense: Lucas _____ already _______ (see) that comedy ten times. I’m sorry I can’t hear what you __________ (say) because everybody ___________ (talk) so loudly. Yesterday Tom _________________ (not listen) to me when I ____________ (tell) him to switch the TV off. I ________________ (study) abroad next year. Every Saturday Rachel ____________ (drive) her kids to basketball practice. Are you sleepy? Hold on… I ___________ (get) you a cup of coffee. Probably that __________ (wake) you up. has seen are saying is talking was not listening told ’m going to study drives will get will wake

on pages 26, 27 to practise VERB TENSES a bit more. Now open your books on pages 26, 27 to practise VERB TENSES a bit more.