Sandra Santamaría García 1er BAT-HTS
VERBAL TENSES
VERBAL TENSES
1. Present Simple
Uses:
+ A regular habit or routine My aunt works as a teacher.
+ A regular truth or scientific fact Scientifics study for many years.
+ Stative verbs (they express a state or condition) I think he’s tired.
Form:
S + infinitive (add “s” for he, she, it).
S + do/does + infinitive.
Do/does + S + infinitive?
Key words/expressions:
Adverbs of frequency (usually, rarely, seldom…).
Time expressions (at night, in the morning, twice a week…).
2. Present
2. Present Continuous
Continuous
Uses:
+ An action which is happening now We are sending letters right now.
+ A temporary action They are learning survival skills today.
+ A definite plan for the near future We are leaving Spain next week.
Form:
S + is/are + verb(-ing).
S + is/are + not + verb(-ing).
Is/are + S + verb(-ing) ?
Key words/expressions:
Now, right now, at the moment, these days, this evening this year,
today, next month, next Friday,
3. Past Simple
Uses:
+ A completed action in the past I went to the new restaurant last weekend.
+ A series of completed actions in the past I lost my keys, so I went to my friend’s house.
Form:
S + past simple form (verb + -ed if it is regular).
S + did not + infinitive.
Did + S + infinitive?
Key words/expressions:
Yesterday, last week / year / month, 2 years ago, in 2007, in the 1970s,
in the 20th century, when , then.
4. Past
4. PastContinuous
Continuous
Uses:
+ An incomplete action in progress at a specific time in the past At half past eleven last
night, I was reading my favourite book.
+ An incomplete action interrupted by another action I was having a shower when the
telephone rang.
+ Two incompleted actions in progress at the same time in past Carmen was reading her
book as I was talking with my mother.
Form:
S + was / were + verb(-ing).
S + was / were not + verb(-ing).
Was / were + S + verb (-ing) ?
Key words/expressions:
Last night / day / week / month / year, when, while ,as.
5. Present Perfect Simple
Uses:
+ An action that began in the past and continues until the present I’ve worked as a
firefighter for 25 years.
+ An action that took place at an undetermined time in the past, but is connected to the
present I’ve lost my keys.
Form:
S + have / has + participle.
S + have / has not + participle.
Have / has + S + participle ?
Key words/expressions:
Never, ever, already, just, yet, recently, lately, how
long..? for, since
6. Past Perfect Simple
Uses:
+ A completed action which took place before another action in the past By the time I called
my mum, she had already left the house.
Form:
S + had + participle.
S + had + not + participle.
Had + S + participle ?
Key words/expressions:
Already, by the time, after, before, until, never, just.
7. Future Simple
Uses:
+ A prediction I’m sure you will pass the exam.
+ A timetable The plane will leave at six o’clock in the morning.
+ A spontaneous decision We ran out of food! I’ll go to the shop to buy.
Form:
S + will + infinitive.
S + will not / won’t + infinitive.
Will + S + infinitive ?
Key words/expressions:
This evening, in an hour, at 2 o’clock, later, tomorrow, next month,
son, in a few weeks, in the future.
8. Be going to
Uses:
+ A planned action for the future I’m going to travel around the world next summer.
+ An action that is about to happen (visual evidence) Be careful! If you do that you are going
to hurt yourself!
Form:
S + am / are / is + going to + infinitive.
S + am / are / is + not + going to + infinitive.
Am / are / is + S + going to + infinitive ?
Key words/expressions:
This evening, later, in an hour, at 4 o’clock, tomorrow, soon, next
month, in a year, in a few weeks, on 8th May.
9. Future Continuous
Uses:
+ An action in progress at a certain future time At this time next week , I will be doing my
homework.
Form:
S + will be + verb(-ing).
S + will not / won’t be + verb(-ing).
Will + S + verb(-ing) ?
Key words/expressions:
At this time tomorrow / next..., on Thursday, in the next decade.
10.Future
10. Future Perfect
Perfect SimpleSimple
Uses:
+ A completed action at a certain future time.
Form:
S + will + have + participle.
S + will not / won’t + have + participle.
Will + S + have + participle ?
Key words/expressions:
By this time next week, by 3 o’clock, by the end of…, by then, by
August, in four months
