All Tenses:

SIMPLE PRESENT

Subject ( I, You, We, They ) + V₁ ( First Form of Verb )

 Subject ( He, She, It ) + VERB – s / es / ies.

Usage:

1. Routine

2. Free Time

3. Habits

4. Things in General

5. Scientific Facts

6. Summary of Books and Movies

 7. Newspaper Headlines

8. Sport Commentary

9. Time Table

10. Stative Verbs Now

ADVERBS OF FREQUENCY :

always 100%

usually 90%

normally / generally 80%

often / frequently 70%

sometimes 50%

occasionally 30%

seldom 10%

hardly ever / rarely / scarcely 5%

never 0%

The adverb of frequency is usually place after the subject and before the main verb. If there is an auxiliary verb, the adverb of frequency comes after the auxiliary verb.

I usually wake up early in the morning.

Sam always goes to work on foot.

Bernard rarely smokes.

We sometimes go on a picnic with our friends.

“Sometimes” and “usually” can go at the front, in the middle, or at the end of a sentence.

I usually read story books before going to bed.

Usually I read story books before going to bed.

I read story books usually before going to bed.

PRESENT CONTINUOUS

Subject + am / is / are + verb ing

Usage:

1. Something which is happening right now

2. Something which is happening these days. (Longer action in progress now)

– I’m working on a project.

3.Temporary things

4. Arranged plan for future

5. Annoying habits   (always)
subject + am/is/are + always + verb ing

6. New things in comparison with a previous state

7. Talking about clothes, make up, and perfume

8. Picture Description

People are relaxing on an island.

Some people are sailing.

A woman is walking with her daughter.

A woman is fishing.

A couple is gazing at the lake.

The man is lying on the grass and smoking a pipe.

SIMPLE PAST

• subject + Verb 2
• Verbs 2 can be regular and get “ed” such as “like”, or irregular and totally change such as “ate” which is the past form of “eat”.

Usage:

1. Finished actions in specific time in the past

We went to a restaurant yesterday.

I graduated in 2017.

My family and I travelled to Egypt 2 years ago.

I got married last year.

I watched a lot of cartoons when I was a child.

As soon as I graduated from university I found a job.

2. A series of completed actions ( list of events)

• I graduated from university, then I found a job. At work I met a handsome man, and I fell in love with him. We went out for one year and then we got married in 2010. After 2 years we had our first baby girl, and 3 years later our son was born.

3. Habits in the past

Signs and Adverbs of Simple Past

In 2000/ in 2019/ in 20^th century

Last week/ last Christmas/ last Monday

2 years ago/ 20 million years ago/ 2 minutes ago

Yesterday

When I was a child/ when I graduated 

From 2019 to 2021

Between 2000 and 2005

First …..then….after that…….finally …….

PAST CONTINUOUS

subject + was / were + verb ing

Usage:

1. Unfinished action that was interrupted by another event

2. Background information to give atmosphere to a story

3. An annoying and repeated action in the past with “always”

4. Two actions which happened at the same time in the past

PRESENT PERFECT

have / has + verb 3

Verbs 3 can be regular and get “ed” such as “like”, or irregular and totally change such as “eaten” which is the past participle of “eat”.

Usage:

1. Life experience

Jack is an experienced man. He has been to lots of countries in the world.

When we talk about the time and details of those experiences, we use Simple Past Tense. Details of his trip to Egypt:

He went to Egypt in 1990.

He visited the pyramids.

He rode a camel there.

He tried Koftas and Falafel in Egypt.

He also drank mint tea.

He took a cruise down the Nile River.

He visited the museum of Islamic Art.

He fell in love with an Egyptian girl.

Details of the trip to Turkey:

He went to Izmir in 2010 and stayed there for two weeks. He visited lots of historical sites such as Ephesus. He went swimming in Çeşme and Foça. He tried different kinds of kebab and Turkish Coffee. He really enjoyed his trip.

What is the difference between “has been to” and “has gone to”?

Jack has gone to Germany.= He is in Germany now.

Jack has been to Germany.= He has the experience of going to Germany.

2. Continuation up to now

3. Unspecified time before now

4. Accomplishments

5. Present result

6. Telling news

Signs and Adverbs of Present Perfect:

Ever: Have you ever been to China?

Never: I’ve never tried Thai food.

Yet: I haven’t done my homework yet.

Yet: Have you finished the project yet?

Just: I’ve just drunk coffee.

Recently/ lately: I’ve recently seen a good movie.

So far: I haven’t seen such a beautiful scenery so far.

Already: I’ve already told him.

Before: I’ve visited that museum before.

Always: I’ve always loved you.

Since: I’ve had this car since 2010.

For: I’ve known him for 20 years.

This year/month/week: I’ve been busy this week.

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

have / has + been + verb ing

Usage:

1. Duration from the past until now

2. Something you have recently been busy with

3. Events with connection to present

4. Actions which have just stopped

PAST PERFECT

had + verb 3

Usage:

1. A completed action before something in the past

2. Experience up to a time in the past.

PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS

had + been + verb ing

Usage:

1. Duration before something in the past

2. Cause of something in the past

1. An action at a particular moment in future

FUTURE PERFECT

will + have + verb 3

Usage:

1. Completed action before a certain time in future

FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS

will + have + been + verb ing

Usage:

1. Action that will continue till a point in future