Simple Present
infinitive
(3rd person singular: infinitive + ’s’)
I speak
you speak
he / she / it speaks
we speak
they speak
Exceptions when adding ’s’ :
• For can, may, might, must, do not add s.
Example: he can, she may, it must
• After o, ch, sh or s, add es.
Example: do – he does, wash – she washes
• After a consonant, the final consonant y becomes ie. (but: not after a vowel)
Example: worry – he worries
but: play – he plays
Present Progressive
form of ‘be’ and verb + ing
I am speaking
you are speaking
he / she / it is speaking
we are speaking
they are speaking
Exceptions when adding ‘ing’ :
• Silent e is dropped. (but: does not apply for -ee)
Example: come – coming
but: agree – agreeing
• After a short, stressed vowel, the final consonant is doubled.
Example: sit – sitting
• After a vowel, the final consonant l is doubled in British English (but not in American English).
Example: travel – travelling (British English)
but: travelling (American English)
• Final ie becomes y.
Example: lie – lying
Use
In general or right now?
Do you want to express that something happens in general or that something is happening right now?
Simple Present
in general (regularly, often, never)
Colin plays football every Tuesday.
present actions happening one after another
First Colin plays football, then he watches TV.
Signal words
• always
• every …
• often
• normally
• usually
• sometimes
• seldom
• never
• first
• then
Present Progressive
right now
Look! Colin is playing football now.
also for several actions happening at the same time
Colin is playing football and Anne is watching.
Signal words
• at the moment
• at this moment
• today
• now
• right now
• Listen!
• Look!
Note: The following verbs are usually only used in Simple Present:
be, have, hear, know, like, love, see, smell, think, want
Timetable / Schedule or arrangement?
Do you want to express that something is arranged for the near future? Or do you refer to a time set by a timetable or schedule?
Simple Present
action set by a timetable or schedule
The film starts at 8 pm.
Present Progressive
arrangement for the near future
I am going to the cinema tonight.
Daily routine or just for a limited period of time?
Do you want to talk about a daily routine? Or do you want to emphasis that something is only going on for a limited (rather short) period of time?
Simple Present
daily routine
Bob works in a restaurant.
Present Progressive
only for a limited period of time (does not have to happen directly at the moment of speaking)
Jenny is working in a restaurant this week.
Certain Verbs
The following verbs are usually only used in Simple Present (not in the progressive form).
• state: be, cost, fit, mean, suit
Example: We are on holiday.
• possession: belong, have
Example: Sam has a cat.
• senses: feel, hear, see, smell, taste, touch
Example: He feels the cold.
• feelings: hate, hope, like, love, prefer, regret, want, wish
Example: Jane loves pizza.
• brain work: believe, know, think, understand
Example: I believe you.
• Introductory clauses for direct speech: answer, ask, reply, say
Example: “I am watching TV,“ he says.
Exercises :
1. Something_______(smell) very good.
Answer : smells
1. We______(eat) dinner at seven o’clock tonight.
Answer : are eating
1. He______(practice) the piano every day.
Answer : practices
1. They___¬¬___(drive) to school tomorrow.
Answer : are driving
1. I_____(believe) you.
Answer : believe
1. Maria_____(have) a cold.
Answer : has
1. Jorge______(swim) right now.
Answer : is swimming
1. John_____(hate) smoke
Answer : hates
1. Jill always_______(get) up at 6.00 A.M.
Answer : gets
1. Jerry______(mow) the lawn now.
Answer : is mowing
Simple Past Tense – Past Progressive (continous)
Form
Simple Past
irregular verbs: see 2nd column of irregular verbs
I spoke
regular verbs: verb + ed
I worked
Exceptions when adding ‘ed’ :
• when the final letter is e, only add d.
Example: love – loved
• after a short, stressed vowel, the final consonant is doubled
Example: admit – admitted
• final l is always doubled in British English (not in American English)
Example: travel – travelled
• after a consonant, final y becomes i. (but: not after a vowel)
Example: worry – he worried
but: play – he played
Past Progressive
past form of ‘be’ + ing form of verb
I was speaking
you were speaking
he / she / it was speaking
we were speaking
they were speaking
Exceptions when adding ‘ing’ :
• silent e is dropped (but: does not apply for -ee)
Example: come – coming
but: agree – agreeing
• after a short, stressed vowel, the final consonant is doubled
Example: sit – sitting
• final l is always doubled in British English (not in American English)
Example: travel – travelling
• final ie becomes y.
Example: lie – lying
Use
After another or at the same time?
Do you want to express that the actions in the past happened one after another or at the same time?
Simple Past
after another
She came home, switched on the computer and checked her e-mails.
Past Progressive
at the same time
Simon was playing on the computer while his brother was watchin TV.
New action or already in progress?
If you want to express that a new action happened in the middle of another action, you need both tenses: Simple Past the new action and Past Progressive for the action already in progress.
Simple Past
new action
My mobile rang (when I was sitting in a meeting.)
Past Progressive
action already in progress
While I was sitting in a meeting, (my mobile suddenly rang.)
Only mentioning or emphasising progress?
Do you just want to mention that an action took place in the past (also used for short actions)? Or do you want to put emphasis on the progress, e.g. that an action was taking place at a certain time?
Simple Past
just mentioning
Colin played football yesterday.
Past Progressive
emphasising progress
Yesterday at six o’clock, Colin was playing football.
Certain Verbs
The following verbs are usually only used in Simple Past (not in the progressive form).
• state: be, cost, fit, mean, suit
Example: We were on holiday.
• possession: belong, have
Example: Sam had a cat.
• senses: feel, hear, see, smell, taste, touch
Example: He felt the cold.
• feelings: hate, hope, like, love, prefer, regret, want, wish
Example: Jane loved pizza.
• brain work: believe, know, think, understand
Example: I did not understand him.
• introductory clauses for direct speech: answer, ask, reply, say
Example: “I am watching TV,“ he said.
Signal words
Simple Past
• first
• then
• If-Satz Typ II (If I talked, …)
Past Progressive
• when
• while
• as long as
Exercises :
Use either the simple past tense or the past progressive in the following sentences as approiate.
1. Gene_____(eat) dinner when his friend called.
Answer : was eating
1. While Maria was cleaning the apartment, her husband__________(sleep).
Answer : was sleeping
1. At three o’clock this morning. Eleanor________(study).
Answer : was studying
1. When Mark arrived, the Johnsons________(have) dinner, but they stopped in order to talk him.
Answer : were having
1. John_____(go) to France last year.
Answer : went
1. When the teacher_________(enter) the room, the students were talking.
Answer : entered
1. While joan was writing the report, Henry_________(look) for more information.
Answer : was looking
1. We____(see) this movie last night.
Answer : saw
1. At one time, Mr. Roberts__________(own) this building.
Answer : owned
1. Jose_______(write) a letter to his family when his pencil_______(break).
Answer : was writing, broke
Present Perfect Tense – Present Perfect Progressive (continous)
Form
Present Perfect Simple
irregular verbs: form of ‘have’ + 3rd column of irregular verbs
Example:
I / you / we / they have spoken
he / she / it has spoken
regular verbs: form of ‘have’ + infinitive + ed
Example:
I / you / we / they have worked
he / she / it has worked
Exceptions when adding ‘ed’ :
• when the final letter is e, only add d
Example:
love – loved
• after a short, stressed vowel, the final consonant is doubled
Example:
admit – admitted
• final l is always doubled in British English (not in American English)
Example:
travel – travelled
• after a consonant, final y becomes i (but: not after a vowel)
Example:
worry – worried
but: play – played
Present Perfect Progressive
form of ‘have’ + been + verb + ing
Example:
I / you / we / they have been speaking
he / she / it has been speaking
Exceptions when adding ‘ing’ :
• silent e is dropped. (but: does not apply for -ee)
Example: come – coming
aber: agree – agreeing
• after a short, stressed vowel, the final consonant is doubled
Example: sit – sitting
• after a vowel, the final consonant l is doubled in British English (but not in American English).
Example: travel – travelling
• final ie becomes y.
Example: lie – lying
Use
Both tenses are used to express that an action began in the past and is still going on or has just finished. In many cases, both forms are correct, but there is often a difference in meaning: We use the Present Perfect Simple mainly to express that an action is completed or to emphasise the result. We use the Present Perfect Progressive to emphasise the duration or continuous course of an action.
Result or duration?
Do you want to express what has happened so far or how long an action has been going on yet?
Present Perfect Simple
Result (what / how much / how often)
I have written 5 letters. / I have been to London twice.
Present Perfect Progressive
Duration (how long)
I have been writing for an hour.
Certain verbs
The following verbs are usually only used in Present Perfect Simple (not in the progressive form).
• state: be, have (for possession only)
Example: We have been on holiday for two weeks.
• senses: feel, hear, see, smell, taste, touch
Example: He has touched the painting.
• brain work: believe, know, think, understand
Example: I have known him for 3 years.
Emphasis on completion or duration?
Do you want to emphasise the completion of an action or its continuous course (how has somebody spent his time)?
Present Perfect Simple
Emphasis on completion
I have done my homework. (Meaning: My homework is completed now.)
Present Perfect Progressive
Emphasis on duration
I have been doing my homework. (Meaning: That’s how I have spent my time. It does not matter whether the homework is completed now.)
Result or side effect?
Do you want to express that a completed action led to a desired result or that the action had an unwanted side effect?
Present Perfect Simple
desired result
I have washed the car. (Result: The car is clean now.)
Present Perfect Progressive
unwanted side effect
Why are you so wet? – I have been washing the car. (side effect: I became wet when I was washing the car. It does not matter whether the car is clean now.)
Time + negation: last time or beginning of an action?
In negative sentences: Do you want to express how much time has past since the last time the action took place or since the beginning of the action?
Present Perfect Simple
since the last time
I haven’t played that game for years. (Meaning: It’s years ago that I last played that game.)
Present Perfect Progressive
since the beginning
I haven’t been playing that game for an hour, only for 10 minutes. (Meaning: It’s not even an hour ago that I started to play that game.)
Permanent or temporary?
If an action is still going on and we want to express that it is a permanent situation, we would usually use the Present Perfect Simple. For temporary situations, we would prefer the Present Perfect Progressive. This is not a rule, however, only a tendency.
Present Perfect Simple
permanent
James has lived in this town for 10 years. (Meaning: He is a permanent resident of this town.)
Present Perfect Progressive
temporary
James has been living here for a year. (Meaning: This situation is only temporary. Maybe he is an exchange student and only here for one or two years.)
Signal words
Present Perfect Simple
• how often
• … times
Present Perfect Progressive
• how long
• since
• for
Exercises :
Use either the present perfect or the simple past in the following sentences.
1. John____(write) his report last night.
Answer : Wrote
1. Bob______(see) this movie before.
Answer : has seen
1. Jorge______(read) the newspaper already.
Answer : has read
1. Mr. Johnson_______(work) in the same place for thirty-five years.
Answer : has works
1. We_______(begin; negative) to study for the test yet.
Answer : haven’t begun
1. George______(go) to the store at ten o’clock this morning.
Answer : went
1. Joan_______(travel) around the world.
Answer : has traveled
1. Betty______(write) a letter last night.
Answer : wrote
1. Guillermo_______(call) his employer yesterday.
Answer : called
1. We________(see; negative) this movie yet.
Answer : have not seen
Past Perfect Tense – Past Perfect Progressive (continous)
Past Perfect
The past perfect is used to indicate :
• An action that happened before another action in the past; there usually are two actions in the sentence.
• A state which continued for a time in the past, but stopped before now.
Past Perfect Progressive
The past perfect progressive puts emphasis on the course or duration of an action taking place before a certain time in the past.
Form
• A: He had been talking.
• N: He had not been talking.
• Q: Had he been talking?
Use
• action taking place before a certain time in the past
• sometimes interchangeable with past perfect simple
• puts emphasis on the course or duration of an action
signal words
• for, since, the whole day, all day
Exercises :
Supply the past perfect or simple past in the following sentences.
1. The policeman read the suspect his rights after he_______(arrest) him.
Answer : had arrested
1. After John______(wash) his clothes, he began study.
Answer : had washed
1. George______(wait) for one hour before the bus came.
Answer : has waited
1. Maria______(enter) the university after she had graduated from the community college.
Answer : entered
1. Jeanette______(wash) the pipettes after she had completed the experiment.
Answer : washed
1. Jane sent a letter to her university after she________(receive) her scholarship check.
Answer : has received
1. After the stewardesses had served lunch to the passengers, they________(sit) down.
Answer : sat
1. The car______(flip) ten times before it landed on its roof.
Answer : had flipped
1. We corrected our papers after we________(take) the quiz.
Answer : had taken
10. John______(live) in Miami for one year when his parents came to visit.
Answer : had lived
Review My English Lessons About Grammar
Each question on this mini-test consist of a sentence in which four words or phrases are underlined. Then, we are to identify the one underlined word or phrase that would not be acceptable in standard written English.
EXERCISE
Buying clothes are often a very time-consuming practice because those clothes that person likes are rarely the ones that fit him or her. Answer : are => is
These televisions are all too expensive for we to buy at this time, but perhaps we will return later. Answer : we =>us.
After she had bought himself a new automobile, she hold her bicycle. Answer : himself => herself.
After George has returned to his house, he was reading a book. Answer : we reading => read
The food that Mark is cooking in the kitchen is smelling delicious. Answer : is smelling => smells.
After John eaten dinner, he wrote several letters and went to bed. Answer : eaten => had eaten.
Pete had already saw that musical before he read the reviews about it. Answer : already saw => seen.
My cousin attends an University in the Midwest which specializes in astronomy. Answer : an => a.
The work performed by these officers are not worth our paying them any longer. Answer : are => is.
The president went fishing after he has finished with the conferences. Answer : has finished => had finished
PRONOUNS
In this post, I will discuss about Pronouns..
There are five form of pronouns in English :
¤ Subject Pronouns : subject pronouns occur in the subject position of a sentence or after the verb be.
¤ Complement Pronouns : complements pronouns occur in complement position or after preposition unless the preposition introduces a new clause.
¤ Possessive adjective : possessive adjective are not the same as possessive pronoun.
¤ Possessive pronouns : these pronouns cannot precede a noun. They are pronouns and thus replace the noun. The noun is understood from the context and is not repeated.
¤ Reflexive pronouns : these pronouns usually follow the verb and indicate that the subject is both giving and receiving the action.
EXERCISE :
1. I go to school with (he/him) every day.
2. I see (she/her).
3. She speaks to (we/us/ourselves) every morning.
4. Isn’t (she/her) a nice Person ?
5. (he/him) is going to New York on vacation.
6. (she/her) and john gave the money to the boy.
7. (yours/your) record is scratched and (my/mine) is too.
8. I hurt (my/mine/the) leg.
9. John bought (him self/her self/his self) a new coat.
10. (we/us) girls are going camping over the weekend.
11. Mr. Jones cut (his self/him self) shaving.
12. We like (our/ours) new car very much.
13. The dog bit (she/her) on the leg.
14. John (he/himself) went to the meeting.
15. You’ll stick (you/your/yourself) with the pins if you are not carefully.
16. Mary and (I / Me) would rather go to the movie.
17. Every one has town do (their/his) own research.
18. Just between you and (I /me), I don’t like this food.
19. Monday is a holiday for (we / us).
20. (her / hers) car doesn’t go as far as (our/ours).
Verbs that are always followed by the infinitive
Agree
Desire
Intend
Prepare
Tend
Attempt
Fail
Learn
Pretend
Try
Claim
Forget
Need
Refuse
Want
Decide
Hesitate
Offer
Seem
Wish
Demand
Hope
Plan
Strive
Verbs that are always followed by the gerund
Admit
Delay
Miss
Regret
Risk
Appreciate
Deny
Postpone
Report
Suggest
Avoid
Enjoy
Practice
Resent
Cant’ help
Finish
Quit
Resist
Consider
Mind
Recall
Resume
The following verbs can be followed by either the infinitive of the gerund with no change in meaning.
Begin
Like
Can’t stead
Love
Continue
Prepare
Have
Start
Drill
Verbs + prepositions followed by the gerund
Approve of
Give up
Rely on
Worry about
Think of
Be better of
Insist on
Succeed in
Count on
Object to
Keep on
Think about
Depend on
Put off
Look forward to
Adjectives + prepositions followed by the gerund
Accustomed to
Intent to
Afraid of
Interested in
Capable of
Successful
Fond of
Tired of
Adjectives followed by the infinitive
Anxious
Eager
Pleased
Common
Dangerous
Good
Ready
Difficult
Hard
Strange
Some verbs can be followed by either
Stop
Remember
Forget
Pronouns before the gerund or infinitive
1. S + V + Complement from (Noun/pronoun) + ( to + V1)
2. S + V + Possesive from (Noun/pronoun) + ( V + ing)
Some common verbs which are followed by the infinitive and which option require an indirect object are listed here
Allow
Invite
Remind
Ask
Order
Urge
Beg
Permit
Want
Convince
Persuade
Expect
Prepare
Instinct
Promise
Pronouns:
1. I go to school with (he/him) every day.
2. I see (she/her).
3. She speaks to (we/us/ourselves) every morning.
4. Isn’t (she/her) a nice Person ?
5. (he/him) is going to New York on vacation.
6. (she/her) and john gave the money to the boy.
7. (yours/your) record is scratched and (my/mine) is too.
8. I hurt (my/mine/the) leg.
9. John bought (him self/her self/his self) a new coat.
10. (we/us) girls are going camping over the weekend.
11. Mr. Jones cut (his self/him self) shaving.
12. We like (our/ours) new car very much.
13. The dog bit (she/her) on the leg.
14. John (he/himself) went to the meeting.
15. You’ll stick (you/your/yourself) with the pins if you are not carefully.
16. Mary and (I / Me) would rather go to the movie.
17. Every one has town do (their/his) own research.
18. Just between you and (I /me), I don’t like this food.
19. Monday is a holiday for (we / us).
20. (her / hers) car doesn’t go as far as (our/ours).
Jawaban :
1. He
2. Her
3. Us
4. She
5. He
6. She
7. You/Mine
8. My
9. Himself
10. We
11. Himself
12. Our
13. Her
14. Himself
15. Yourself
16. I
17. Their
18. We
19. Us
20. Her/Our
