Apuntes para mi

germaneta
Con mucho cario de parte de su
germaneta

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2013
Laura
[Escribir el nombre de la compaa]
04/12/2013
Hola germaneta, here you have some outlines (esquemas) of the tenses in English. Ive added
some exercises and some explanations.

PRESENT SIMPLE VS PRESENT CONTINUOUS
FORMULATION:
PRESENT SIMPLE
I play, you play, she/he/it plays, we play, you play, they play
PRESENT CONTINOUS
I am playing, you are playing, she/he/it is playing, we are playing, you are playing, they are
playing
USAGE:
Present Simple (indicate facts and habits, thing that are always true or general facts
I live in Spain. I like ice cream. It rains a lot. (facts)
I usually shop on Saturdays. He drives fast. She always drinks coffee in the morning (habits)
Present Continuous (action in progress now, temporary situations, things that happen now
and will stop in some point)
I am talking to you. Youre listening to me. Its raining.
COMMON MISTAKES.
I am living in Spain. (Ill be moving somewhere else soon) >>>> I live in Spain (for a long time)
I am coming from Japan (just been to Japan, coming back from Japan) >>>> I come from Japan
(I live in Japan)
Our company is producing glass. (only at the moment)>>> Our company produces glass. (its a
fact)
The economy grows again this year. (mistake) >>> The economy is growing this year.
They build a house next to mine (mistake) >>> They are building a house next to mine.
Look, it snows! (mistake)>>> Look, its snowing!


PRESENT CONTINUOUS VS. PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

FORMULATION:
Present continuous: (to be+ ing) I am playing, you are playing
Present perfect continuous: (have/has+ ing) I have been playing, you have been playing,
she/he/it has been playing, we have been playing, you have been playing, they have been
playing
USAGE:
Present continuous: (action in progress now)
Present perfect continuous: (action that started in the past and its still in progress)
Ive been talking to you for 5min. Ive been talking to you since 11.30. Youve been listening to
me for a few min. It has been raining all morning.
Present continuous timeline ----------------------
Now Future
Happening now and the action will continue for a
while
Present perfect continuous timeline ----------------|-----------
Past now future
Starts in the past and has continued until now
and will continue for a while
Note: Since: exactly when it started the action
For: how long its been going on the action
COMMON MISTAKES
Im working here for 2 years. (mistake) >>>> I have been working here for 2 years.
I study English for 6 months (mistake) >>> I have been studying English for 6 months.
He is doing his homework since he woke up (mistake) >>> He has been doing his homework
since he woke up.

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS VS. PRESENT PERFECT

Present perfect continuous: (have/has + ing) I have been playing, you have been playing
Present perfect: (have/has + past participle): I have played, you have played, she/he/it has
played, we have played, you have played, they have played
USAGE:
Present perfect continuous: (action that started in the past and its still in progress)
Ive been studying all morning.
Present perfect: (action that its completed at the time of speaking)
Ive studied 3 sections until now. (until now you have finished 3 sections)
Ive already done half of the exercises.
He has driven 500km so far.
Until now its a synonym of so far
Present perfect continuous timeline -----------------|----------
Past now future
Action started in the past and its still in
progress now
Present perfect timeline --------|--------(now, time of speaking)
Past now
Action completed at the time of speaking
COMMON MISTAKES
I have waited for half an hour (mistake). >>>> I have been waiting for an hour.
He has slept since 9 oclock (mistake) >>>> He has been sleeping since 9 oclock.
It has been snowing twice this week (mistake) >>>>>It has snowed twice this week.
She has been writing many books (mistake) >>>> She has written many books.

PRESENT PERFECT VS. PAST SIMPLE

FORMULATION:
Present Perfect ( have/has+ past participle): I have played, you have played
Past Simple (regular verbs> +ed or irregular verbs*): I played, you played, She/he/it played, we
played, you played, they played
USAGE:
Present perfect: action that is completed at the time of speaking
1. Ive studied 3 sections until now.
2. Ive already done half of the exercises.
3. He has driven 500km so far.
Past Simple: action completed in the past, but there is a clear specific time in the past.
1. I studied 3 sections last night (WHEN? Last night)
2. I did half of the exercises before lunch.
3. He drove 500km yesterday.
Present perfect timeline: ------|--------
Past now
Action completed at some point (we dont know exactly when
and its completed at the time of speaking)
Past simple timeline: ---------|--------
Past now
Action completed at a specific time in the past: yesterday, 2 weeks
ago, when I was 10 years etc.)
COMMON MISTAKES
We have bought this car 2 months ago (mistake) >>> We bought this car 2 months ago.
I have slept well last night (mistake) >>> I slept well last night.
She has met him when she was at college (mistake) >>> She met him when she was at college.
I already called him (mistake, but sometimes accepted in the American English) >>> I have
already called him.
She just come back (mistake) >>> She has just come back.
Prices went up this month (mistake) >>> Prices have gone up this month.
PAST SIMPLE VS. PAST CONTINUOUS

FORMULATION:
Past simple: (regular verbs> +ed or irregular verbs*): I played, you played
Past continuous: (were/was +ing): I was playing, you were playing, she/he/it was playing, we
were playing, you were playing, they were playing
USAGE:
Past simple: finished action (short action) action completed in the past, but there is a clear
specific time in the past.
Past continuous: unfinished action in the past (a longer action), in the middle of an action
Action in progress in the past either: a) when a shorter action took place
b) at a precise moment
Yesterday I was driving home and I killed a cat.
Past simple timeline: ---------|--------
Past now
Action completed at a specific time in the past: yesterday, 2 weeks
ago, when I was 10 years etc.)
Past continuous timeline: -----------------------(now)
The action is not finished
The sun was shining.
The birds were singing.
What were you doing at 3.30? At 3.30 I was reading a book.
Make this quiz: http://www.quiz.biz/quizz-369678.html








*Irregular verbs





PAST CONTINUOUS VS. PAST PERFECT VS. PAST PERFECT
CONTINUOUS
FORMULATION:
Past continuous (was/were + ing): I was playing, you were playing
Past perfect (had+past participle): I had played, you had played, she/he/it had played, we had
played, you had played, they had played
Past perfect continuous (had been+ing): I had been playing, you had been playing, she/he/it
had been playing, we had been playing, you had been playing, they had been playing
USAGE
Past continuous: action in progress in the past
We were playing cards when she arrived.
He was sleeping when the phone rang.
It was snowing at 10 a.m. yesterday.
Note: the shorter action is always in the Past Simple. It may stop the action in progress or
not.
We were playing cards when she arrived.
Past continuous timeline: -----------------------(now)
The action is not finished (playing cards), and it is interrupted by a
short action (she arrived)
Past perfect: action that was completed in the past either a) before another action took place
b) before a precise moment
He had slept a little before the phone rang.
It had started to snow by 10 a.m. yesterday
They had left for Tokyo by this time yesterday.
I was sure that I had seen him before.
Note: the later action is always in the Past Simple.
Past perfect timeline: ----------------------------------------
Past now
The action was completed before the second later action

Past perfect continuous: Action that had started, had continued for some time and was still in
progress either
a) before another action
b) before a precise moment
We had been playing cards for two hours when she arrived.
He had been sleeping for a long time when the phone rang.
They had been flying to Tokyo for a few hours by this time yesterday.
Note: the second action is always in Past Simple
Past perfect continuous timeline: ----------------------------------------
Past now
We had been playing cards for two hours when she arrived.
COMMON MISTAKES
I saw the accident when I drove (mistake) >>> I saw the accident when I was driving
I spoke when he put the phone down (mistake) >>> I was speaking when he put the phone
down.
He was late because he missed the bus (mistake) >>>> He was late because he had missed the
bus.
I didnt know that he left (mistake) >>>> I didnt know that he had left
I walked to work 15min when I realized I forgot my key (mistake) >>> I had been walking to
work 15min when I realized I had forgotten my key.
Notes:
1. If you use the Past Simple for both verbs, it means that they happened at the same
time:
He said hello when he arrived
2. In the case of Past Perfect, if the first and the second actions are very close to each
other, we can use the Past Simple twice.
She had switched off/switched off the light before she went to bed.
I left as soon as we had finished/finished.

MODAL VERBS I: CAN VS. COULD, MAY VS. MIGHT
FORMULATION
All modal verbs have the following features in common: Modal verbs are auxiliary verbs that
help the main verb build meaning to the sentence. In the sentence: I can go to my sisters
house, can is the modal auxiliary verb and go is the main verb of the sentence.
-They are always followed by the infinitive without to
-They are the same for all the pronouns
-They do not need auxiliaries. They take direct negative and question forms.
-They never combine with another modal verb
USAGE
CAN:
1. Ability or lack of ability in the present or future
I can see you at 3.00 pm tomorrow.
They cannot (cant) dance.
2. Giving/not giving permission
You can use my office.
You cannot (cant) smoke here.
COULD:
1. Ability or lack of ability in the past
I could read without glasses last year.
I could not (couldnt) sleep last night.
2. Making a request
Could you repeat that please?
3. Making a suggestion (only in the affirmative form)
What do you suggest we have for dinner?We could have fish.
MAY:
1. To ask for permission
May I use your pen?
May we have a look?
2. A strong possibility in the present or future
It may happen again.
She may not accept the offer.
MIGHT:
1. Possibility in the present or future and it is wicker that may
It might happen again. (It could happen again > we also can use could)
She might not accept the offer.
2. A possibility in the past (followed by have done)
He might have missed his train. (He could have missed his train)
I might have not managed to convince her.
Note: may can also be used to show a possibility in the past, but is less common than
might and could: He might/could (may) have missed his train.
However, you must avoid using may in a third conditional sentence: If I had studied more,
I would/might/could (may) have passed my test.

MODALS II: WILL VS. WOULD, SHALL VS. SHOULD

USAGE
WILL:
1. Formulation of the Future Simple Tense
John will probably call you
If we have some time, we will (well) see you
2. Making a request with the pronoun you in the question form (informal alternative to
could)
Will you turn the TV down please?
Will you give me a hand please?
SHALL:
1. Formulation of the Future Simple Tense with the pronoun I and we
If we have some time, we shall come and see you
I shall give you a call.
Note: If you use Shall instead of will with the pronouns I and we, you sound rather
formal. In modern day usage, will is more common than shall.
2. Offering to do something with the pronoun I in the question form
What shall I bring you, tea or coffee?
You look cold. Shall I put the heater on?
3. Making a suggestion/asking for a suggestion with the pronoun we in the question
form
It looks nice outside. Shall we go for a walk?
Where shall we go for our next holiday?
4. The Future Tense in official document and contracts
The tenant shall pay for all damages caused to the property.
The buyer shall not seek any compensation in this case.
WOULD:
1. Formulation of conditional 2 and conditional 3 sentences:
If we had time, we would come and see you.
If you had had time, we would have come and see you.
2. Habit in the past (similar to used to)
When I lived in the city, I would walk everywhere.
Where she was at school, she would play the guitar every day.
3. Making a request with the pronoun you in the question form (alternative to could)
Would you turn the TV down please?
Would you give me a hand please?
4. In polite expressions:
What would you (=do you) like/prefer/ recommend?
I would like (=I want) a glass of wine please?
Would you be prepared (=are you prepared) to do this?










MODAL VERBS III: SHOULD VS. MUST VS. HAVE TO

FORMULATION
HAVE TO: is a semi-modal verb. It is like a modal verb because it fulfils a specific function, but
it behaves like an ordinary verb in its formulation:
It is conjugated according to pronouns: I have to, he has to etc.
It needs auxiliaries. It doesnt take direct negative and question forms: I dont have to. She
doesnt have to. Do I have to?
It can combine with modal verbs: You will have to. He might have to.
USAGE
SHOULD:
1. Expressing an opinion/ Giving advice or asking for advice
I believe nurses should have higher salaries.
You look tired. I think you should have some rest.
He shouldnt make a rushed decision.
Do you think we should phone her?
2. Expressing an expectation
He should arrive any minute.
He shouldnt be long now.
3. Expressing a regret about a past action
You should have been more careful.
I shouldnt have said that.
Note: ought to is synonym for should. It generally sounds more formal that should and
is less commonly used particularly in the question form
You ought to have some rest.
He oughtnt to make a rushed decision.
Should (but not ought to) is also used to express a small possibility. If I should ever go back
there, I will not make the same mistake again.
Should you need any further assistance, do not hesitate to contact me. (formal writing)

MUST:
1. Expressing a necessity felt by the speaker (present or future)
He is very ill. You must call a doctor now.
We must not (mustnt) lose the match tomorrow, or we will be out of the tournament.
2. Expressing a prohibition (present or future)
You must not (mustnt) use your mobile devices during take off.
You must not be late for your interview tomorrow.
3. Expressing an assumption in the present or past (affirmative sentences only)
You must be tired after your very long day.
He must have read my letter, because he repeated exactly what I had written.
HAVE TO:
1. Expressing an external obligation (positive sentences)
You have to make an appointment to see him.
She has failed her exam. She has to retake it.
2. Expressing a necessity or obligation in the past
He was very ill. We had to call the doctor immediately.
He was very busy. I had to make an appointment to see him.
3. Removing a necessity or an obligation (present, past, future)
He feels much better now. You dont have to call a doctor.
I didnt have to make an appointment to see him.
Note: As you can see, the main difference between must and have to is that must is a
necessity felt by the speaker, whereas have to is an external obligation or rule. If this
difference is not relevant, you can use must and have to interchangeably in positive
sentences.
However, be careful that in the negative, must not is still a necessity or an obligation NOT
TO do something (a prohibition), whereas dont have to removes the necessity or
obligation.
As must has no past tense, both obligation and necessity are expressed with had to in
the past.

Need to is a softer alternative to both must and have to:
-I must/need to finish this tonight, because I want to take tomorrow off.
-I have to/need to finish this tonight. My deadline is tomorrow.
-Do I need to finish this tonight? I dont need to finish this tonight.
You may also come across the modal verb need. It is not a very common modal verb, and
can only be used in negative sentences and questions:
-Do I need to finish this? Need I finish this? I neednt finish this.