Verb Tenses Revision 1st BAT

7/28/2019 Verb Tenses Revision 1st BAT

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Verb tenses revision: Present Simple vs. PresentContinuous.

Look at the following sentences:

- Where's Ann?- She's in the living room. She's watching TV.- Matthew's jokes are so funny! I think he's absolutely nuts.- She often has a toast for breakfast.- They go to the theatre twice a month.- Where does your brother live?

- He lives in Minnesota, but currently he's spending a schoolyear in Paris.- What are you doing this evening?- I'm watching the football match. Some friends are coming

over and we are going to order some pizzas.


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Present Simple vs. Present Continuous.

Present simple:

- Structure: Subj.+ verb (s)+ obj.

She's in the living room.Use the Present simple to talk about:

- Permanent situations: I live in a flat.

- Frequent actions or habits: They go out twice a week.

In combination with adverbs or frequency (always, usually,never, hardly ever...) or expressions of frequency (every day,once a month..)

Adverbs of frequency go before the main verb but after be:

Frequency expressions (once a week, etc...) usually go at the


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Present Simple vs. Present Continuous.

Present Continuous:

- Structure: Subj+ am/is/are + obj.

- She's playing the guitar at the moment. Use the Present Continuous to talk about:

- Actions happening now (with now, at the moment, thisweek).

- It's raining. We're listening to Classical music.

- Future arrangements (with expressions like this evening,tomorrow night).

- What are you doing this evening?- '


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Past Simple vs Past Continuous.

Look at the following sentences:- I met John six weeks ago. Now we're great friends!

- I came, I saw, I conquered, said Julius Caesar.

- Last summer we went to Rome. It was a wonderful holiday!

- What were you doing yesterday at six o'clock?, asked thedetective.

- It was a wonderful spring morning. The sun was shining andthe birds were singing. He closed the door of his flat, and

went down the street for a walk.

- The dogs were barking fiercely and running towards thepostman, so he started to run as fast as he could.

- The baby was taking a nap when the doorbell rang, so he

started to cry.


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Past Simple vs. Past Continuous.

Past Simple:

- Structure: Subj+ verb+ed/ 2nd column (irr.)+ obj.

- Use the Past Simple to talk about completed actions in aspecified time of the past.

Yesterday evening, I saw an amazing show on TV.


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Past simple vs. Past Continuous.

Past Continuous:

- Structure: Subj.+ was/were+ verb+ing+ obj.

- Use the Past Continuous to talk about actions in progress at aspecified time of the past, or actions that were interrupted(unfinished) by another action, or two incomplete actions inprogress at the same time in the past.

In combination with the Past Continuous, the Past Simple

is a simple tense, not a progressive tense. This means inthe Past Continuous the action was still in progress and inthe Past Simple, it was finished.


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Going to and Will futures.

This evening I'm watching the match on TV, but next weekI'm going to watch it at the stadium. I'm so excited about it!

Next Saturday we are going to go to the beach for the first

time this year. I hope the weather will be nice.

You don't have to carry those heavy bags by yourself. I'llhelp you.

The plane will take off at 7 o'clock in the evening.

When I grow up, I'm going to be a hotel manager.

Watch it! You're going to break the glass.

The soothsayer said that we will have at least three

children. Can you imagine?


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Going to future.

-Structure: Subj.+ am/is/are +going to+ inf+ obj.

I'm going to work for my father. Use the Going to future to talk about something that you

have already decided to do.

Future arrangements: A planned appointment, a meeting,

something in the future that you have already arranged(Present continuous is also possible). I'm going to see thedoctor on Monday.

Predictions about an inmediate future, or based on observinga sequence of events:Look at those clouds. It's going to rain

in a minute.


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Will future:

- Structure: Subj.+ will+ inf. + obj.

- She will be eighteen in November. Use Will to make predictions (guessing, soothsaying, facts

not depending on you).

I think they will win the race. The bus will leave at four. Don't be

late! To talk about unplanned decisions (making a decision or an

offer at the moment of speaking).

- It's windy, isn't it? I'll close the window.

First person I/We.. will or shall. We shall overcome.


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Present Perfect vs. Past Simple.

- I heard that you had an accident last week. Are you alright?

- You're late. The teacher has just told us what he will ask forthe exam.

- Have you ever seen any film by the Coen brothers?

- Yes, they're great. About a month ago I saw The BigLebowski.

- In any case, I didn't like No country for all men.- Oh, I haven't seen that one.

- Joe has recently started dating a girl. I think he's got acrush on her.


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We use the Present Perfect to....

--> Talk about our experiences of the past.

--> Talk about an action that has recently happened or isexpected to finish around this time.

--> Talk about an action that took place at an unspecifiedtime in the past and is still important.

With yet, ever, never, already, just, since, recently,lately.

Structure: Subj + have/has + participle + obj.


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We use the Past Simple:

--> To talk about finished actions that took place at aspecified time of the past.

--> Often with phrases like: yesterday, last week, a monthago, in January, last Christmas...

Structure: Subj.+ main verb (ed)/ 2nd Column (irregularverb)+ object.

In combination with the Present Perfect, the PresentPerfect refers to an experience or an action that hasdeveloped around the time we are speaking.


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Past Simple vs. Past Perfect.

- What did you do last night?

- Oh, not much. I spent the evening with my family.

- Before we met, I had heard about you.- They read the story after the child had brushed his

teeth.

- The robbers took all the jewels and money after they

had tied up the shop assistant and the customers.

- I was so tired. I had been working all day.

- I have told you many times. Don't make me wait for so

long. I've been waiting for you at least for an hour.


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The Past Simple is often seen in combination with the PastContinuous, the Present Perfect or the Past Perfect.

- I saw Bob a week ago. He was walking in the street along

with his sister.

- I have already finisihed lunch. The meat was delicious!

- I drunk some coffee last night. Afterwards, I couldn't sleep --> I couldn't sleep last night because I had drunk somecoffee earlier.

In combination with the Past Perfect, the Past Perfectrefers to an action that was previous to the time we arespeaking about.


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Past Perfect:

- Structure: Subj.+ had+ main verb (participle or 3rdcolumn)+ obj.

We had had lunch before we met so we just drank a cup oftea.

Past Perfect Continuous:

- The Past Perfect Continuous is a progressive tense. Itmeans that the action had been in progress before thetime we refer to.

- We had had lunch before we met. I had been eating in thesame restaurant where we met.


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Future Continuous vs. Future Perfect.

I will be rich when I turn 35.

Sally will be finishing her last year at University, when youstart.

When you return from your holiday in the Canaries I will bestill working at the office.

Tomorrow at this time I will be having coffee with myfriends.

She won't wait for you. By the time you get home she willhave had dinner.

It's quite late this evening. When we get home, Salvadoswill have finished.


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The Future (Will) is the Future Simple tense. Other futuretenses are the Future Continuous and the Future Perfect.

- She will be reading her book when you phone her (Future

Continuous).

- She will have finished her book when you phone her(Future Perfect).

The Future Continuous refers to an action that will be in

progress at a specific time in the future, often inconnection with another action.

Structure: Subj.+ will be+ verb (+ing)+ obj.


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The Future Perfect refers to an action that willhave finished at a specific time of the Future,often in connection with another action.

- This time tomorrow I will have finished studyingfor my exam.

- When you get home, he will have cooked

dinner.

Structure: Subj.+ have + main verb (Participleor 3rd column)+ obj.

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Verb Tenses Revision 1st BAT