Verb Tenses and Environmental Vocabulary in English
Verb Tenses in English
Present Simple
I/you/we/they work; he/she/it works; Do I work? Does he work? (always, usually, often, sometimes). Used to express routines, habits, scientific facts, schedules, and programs.
Present Continuous
I am playing; you/we/they are playing; he/she/it is playing. – I am not playing; we aren’t playing; he isn’t playing. – Am I playing? Are you playing? Is he playing? Used for actions happening at the moment of speaking and ongoing present actions. (at the moment, this year).
Past Simple
I/you/we/they played; he/she/it played; he/I/you didn’t play. Did I play? Used for completed actions in the past. (yesterday, last week, when).
Past Continuous
I was playing; we/they/you were playing; he/she/it was playing. Wasn’t, weren’t. Was I playing? Were they playing? Used for incomplete actions in progress at a specific time in the past, or an incomplete action interrupted by another action. (while, as).
Past Perfect Simple
I/he/we had arrived. Hadn’t played. Had I played/eaten? Used for a completed action that took place before another action in the past. (already, by the time, after, before, until, never, just). Example: By the time he arrived, the train had already left.
Present Perfect Simple
I/you/we have; he/she/it has lived. I haven’t lived; he hasn’t lived. Have I/you/we lived? Has he/she/it lived? Used for actions that started in the past and continue to the present, or to express that an action has just happened. Example: Your team has just scored a goal.
Future Simple
I will play; I won’t play; Will I play? Used for established schedules, sudden decisions, and making predictions. (this evening, later, in an hour, at 4 o’clock, tomorrow, soon, next month, on May 8th).
Be Going To
I am/you are/he is/we are going to buy. I am not/aren’t/isn’t going to buy. Am I/are you/is he going to buy? Used to express intentions, plans for the near future, and to say something is about to happen because we have evidence. (this evening, later, in an hour, at 4 o’clock, tomorrow, soon, next month, on May 8th).
Future Continuous
I will be traveling; I won’t be traveling; Will I be traveling? Used to express what will be happening at a specific time in the future. (at this time tomorrow, on Thursday, next year).
Future Perfect Simple
I will have eaten; I won’t have eaten; Will I have eaten? Used to indicate actions that will be completed by a specific time in the future. (by the time).
Environmental Vocabulary
Affect: to harm; Air pollution: atmospheric contamination; Attitude: posture, stance; Care about: to be concerned about; Claim: to affirm; Cloth: fabric; Cut down: to fell; Damage: to harm; Decompose: to break down; Ecological disaster: environmental catastrophe; Environmentally-friendly: eco-friendly; Exhaust fumes: tailpipe emissions; Glass: glass; Harm: to damage; Harmful: damaging; Heat: to warm up; Increase: to augment; Inhabitant: resident; Interconnected: interrelated; Land pollution: soil contamination; Landfill: dump; Litter: trash; Nuclear power: atomic energy; Oil spill: petroleum discharge; Overcrowded: congested; Overuse: excessive use; Overvalue: to overestimate; Pollutant: contaminant; Polluted: contaminated; Pollution: contamination; Renewable: sustainable; Save: to conserve; Source: origin; Supply: provision; Tin can: can; Toxic waste: hazardous waste; Underestimate: to undervalue; Underway: in progress; Water pollution: aquatic contamination.
Natural Disaster Vocabulary
Sandy: arenaceous; Ancient: old; Well-known: famous; Narrow: tight; Wide: broad; Crowded: packed; Remarkable: extraordinary; Peaceful: calm; Warm: to alert; To strike: to hit; Shallow: not deep; Drag: to pull; Quake: to shake; Tide: sea level; Plates: tectonic plates; Engulf: to submerge; Aftermath: consequences; Wake (noun): trail; Thunder: boom; Recede: to withdraw; Tremor: vibration; Trendy: fashionable.
Example Sentences
- Alternative energy won’t damage the environment.
- By the end of this month, Sally will have gotten her driver’s license.
- In 2020, he/she will be working in China.
- By the end of June, we will have finished classes.
Prefixes
Overcrowded: superpopulated; Undervalue: to underestimate; Underestimated: undervalued; Overuse: excessive use; Interconnected: linked; Renewable: sustainable; Multinational: international; Anti-smoking: against smoking; Underdeveloped: less developed.
Using ‘Want’ in Sentences
- Want + infinitive: Expresses the desire to do something. Example: Joe wants to forget the ecological disaster.
- Want + object + infinitive: Expresses the desire for someone else to do something. Example: Environmental groups want people to recycle paper.