A Guide to English Verb Tenses
English Verb Tenses
Present Simple
- Affirmative Sentences: Subject + verb.
- Negative Sentences: Subject + auxiliary verb (to do) + auxiliary negative (“not”) + verb.
- Interrogative Sentences: Auxiliary verb (to do) + subject + main verb?
Uses
- To talk about things that happen habitually.
- To talk about general truths or scientific facts.
- To talk about scheduled events in the near future.
- To give instructions (the imperative).
Present Continuous
- Affirmative Sentences: Subject + auxiliary verb (to be) + verb + “ing”.
- Negative Sentences: Subject + auxiliary verb (to be) + auxiliary negative (“not”) + verb + “ing”.
- Interrogative Sentences: Auxiliary verb (to be) + subject + verb + “ing”?
Uses
- To talk about something that is happening at the moment of speaking.
- To talk about something that is happening in the present.
- To talk about something that has already been decided to be done in the near future.
Past Simple
-ed
- Affirmative Sentences: Subject + main verb…
- Negative Sentences: To be: Subject + “to be” + “not”… All other verbs: Subject + auxiliary verb (to do) + “not” + main verb (in infinitive)…
- Interrogative Sentences: To be: “To be” + subject…? All other verbs: Auxiliary verb (to do) + subject + main verb (in infinitive)…?
Uses
- To talk about a specific action that began and ended in the past.
- To describe a series of actions in the past.
- To talk about repeated or habitual actions in the past.
- To tell stories or describe actions over long periods of time in the past.
- To talk about general truths or facts from the past.
Past Continuous
- Affirmative Sentences: Subject + auxiliary verb (to be) + verb + “ing”.
- Negative Sentences: Subject + auxiliary verb (to be) + “not” + verb + “ing”.
- Interrogative Sentences: Auxiliary verb (to be) + subject + verb + “ing”?
Uses
- To describe an action in progress in the past when another action interrupted it.
- To talk about actions at a specific time in the past.
- To describe two actions that were happening at the same time in the past.
“Be Going To”
- Affirmative Sentences: Subject + auxiliary verb (to be) + “going to” + main verb.
- Negative Sentences: Subject + auxiliary verb (to be) + “not” + “going to” + main verb.
- Interrogative Sentences: Auxiliary verb (to be) + subject + “going to” + main verb?
Uses
- For plans.
- To make predictions.
“Will”
- Affirmative Sentences: Subject + “will” + main verb.
- Negative Sentences: Subject + “will” + “not” + main verb.
- Interrogative Sentences: “Will” + subject + main verb?
Uses
- With voluntary actions.
- To express a promise.
- To make predictions.
Image Description
In this photo, we can see a family of four. They are watching television while sitting on their sofa. The father is changing the channel. They appear to be a very happy family. The family has a son and a daughter who seem young. The father has a purple shirt and a watch on. He has brown hair, just like his wife. On the television cabinet, they have a very nice cactus with lights. I really like the decoration of their house.
Email to Goran
Hi Goran,
Thank you very much for writing to me. I think I will arrive at the airport around 7pm, my flight number is 766387619. If possible, I am also enclosing my phone number so you can meet me at Arrivals. My number is 677284657. In order for you to recognize me quickly, I will be dressed in a navy blue suit jacket with a white shirt and a red tie.
I will return to Croatia on January 7th. Regarding food intolerances, I have only one: I am allergic to milk protein, nothing else. If possible, I would like to be alone in a room because at night I like to talk to my girlfriend before going to sleep.
Finally, I would like to visit typical restaurants and special tourist sites. I really want to go; I think it is going to be a very special trip.
Best regards,
My Trip to Segovia
On my trip through Segovia, I visited a great variety of places, from museums to very famous restaurants in the area. I also visited different churches during my stay there. I took this trip with my whole family. It is a trip that we do every year around the second half of August throughout Spain. One aspect to highlight is the food. The food was super good since they were very good quality products and they knew how to cook them. The best thing I tried there was the famous suckling pig.
Also, another point in favor of this site was the climate and the location of our house. The climate there was super cool; during the day it was hot and at night it was quite cold. We must bear in mind that we were living in a rural house in the middle of the field.