Appendix 3

English Grammar - The tenses 1

signal examples examples examples

tense use form
words affirmative negative interrogative
something
happens
every day repeatedly

sometimes how often

something
I don't
happens
always work. Do I work?
I work.
Simple one action
often He doesn't Does he
Present follows another infinitive He works.
work. work?
or
Present usually
things in general he/she/it + -s I go.
Simple I don't go. Do I go?
seldom
after the He goes.
He doesn't Does he go?
following verbs
never go.
(to love, to hate,
to think, etc.)
first ...
then future meaning:
timetables,
programmes
something is I'm not
happening at the I'm working. Am I
now same time of working. working?
speaking or to be
Present He isn't
at the around it (am/are/is)
Progressive moment He's working. Is he
+
or working. working?
Present future meaning:
I'm not
Continuous Look! when you have infinitive + -
I'm going. going. Am I going?
already decided ing
Listen! and arranged to
do it (a fixed He's going. He isn't Is he going?
plan, date) going.

I didn't
regular: work.
last ... action took place infinitive + - I worked. Did I work?
in the past, ed
Simple He didn't
... ago mostly connected He worked. Did he work?
Past work.
with an
or irregular:
expression of
Past in 1990 2nd column I went. Did I go?
time (no I didn't go.
Simple of table of
connection to the
yesterday present) irregular He went. Did he go?
verbs He didn't
go.
an action I was I wasn't Was I
happened in the working. working. working?
Past middle of another was/were +
Progressive action
or while He was He wasn't Was he
Past infinitive + - working. working. working?
Continuous someone was ing
doing sth. at a
certain time (in I was I wasn't Was I
 the past) - you going. going. going?
don't know
whether it was He was He wasn't Was he
finished or not going. going. going?
just

yet

never I have I haven't

you say that sth. have/has + Have I
has happened or worked. worked.
worked?
ever is finished in the
Simple past and it has a participle* He has He hasn't
Present Has he
already connection to the worked. worked.
Perfect worked?
present *(infinitive +
or -ed) or (3rd
Present so far, I have I haven't
Have I gone?
Perfect action started in column of gone. gone.
table of
up to now, the past and irregular
continues up to Has he
verbs) He has He hasn't
the present gone?
since gone. gone.

for

recently
I have
been I haven't
all day working. been Have I been
action began in working. working?
the past and has He has
Present the whole just stopped been He hasn't Has he been
Perfect day how long the have/has + working. been working?
Progressive
action has been been + working.
or
how long happening infinitive + -
Present I have Have I been
ing
Perfect been I haven't going?
since emphasis:
Continuous going. been going.
length of time
of an action Has he been
for He has He hasn't going?
been been going.
going.
mostly when two
actions in a story I hadn't
I had
are related to had + past worked. Had I
worked.
each other: the participle* worked?
Simple
Past already action which had He hadn't
He had
Perfect already *(infinitive + worked. Had he
worked.
or just happened is put -ed) or (3rd worked?
Past into Past Perfect, column of I hadn't
Perfect the other action I had gone.
never table of gone. Had I gone?
(Simple) into Simple Past irregular
verbs) He had
He hadn't Had he gone?
the past of the gone.
gone.
Present Perfect
I had been I hadn't
Had I been
working. been
Past Perfect how long how long working?
working.
Progressive something had had + been +
He had
or since been happening infinitive + Had he been
been He hadn't
Past Perfect before something ing working?
working. been
Continuous for else happened
working.
Had I been
I had been
 going. I hadn't going?
been going.
He had Had he been
been He hadn't going?
going. been going.
predictions about
the future (you
think that sth will
happen) I won't
work.
I'll work. Will I work?
you decide to do
sth. He won't
He'll work. Will he work?
spontaneously at will + work.
will - future
the time of infinitive
speaking, you I'll go. Will I go?
I won't go.
haven't made a
decision before He'll go. Will he go?
He won't
go.
main clause in
type I of the if
clauses
I'm not
I'm going going to Am I going to
to work. work. work?
when you have
already decided He's going He's not Is he going
to do sth. in the be to work. going to to work?
going to - future (am/are/is) work.
future + going to +
infinitive I'm going Am I going to
what you think to go. I'm not go?
what will happen going to go.
He's going Is he going
to go. He's not to go?
going to go.
An action will be I'll be I won't be Will I be
in progress at a working. working. working?
certain time in
the future. This
Future He'll be He won't be Will he be
action has begun
Progressive working. working. working?
before the certain will + be +
or time. infinitive +
Future ing I'll be I won't be Will I be
Continuous going. going. going?
Something
happens because
it normally He'll be He won't be Will he be
happens. going. going. going?

I won't
I'll have have Will I have
will + have + worked. worked. worked?
past
Simple participle*
Future He'll have He won't Will he have
sth. will already worked. have worked?
Perfect
have happened *(infinitive + worked.
or
before a certain -ed) or (3rd
Future I'll have Will I have
time in the future column of
Perfect gone. I won't gone?
Simple table of
have gone.
irregular
verbs) He'll have Will he have
gone. He won't gone?
have gone.
Future sth. will already will + have + I'll have I won't Will I have
Perfect have happened been + been have been been
Progressive before a certain infinitive + working. working. working?
or time in the future ing
Future He'll have He won't Will he have
Perfect emphasis: been have been been
Continuous length of time working. working. working?
of an action
I'll have I won't Will I have
been have been been
going. going. working?

He'll have He won't Will he have

been have been been
going. going. working?
I wouldn't
I would Would I
work.
work. work?
sth. that might
He wouldn't
happen He would Would he
work.
Conditional would + work. work?
Simple main clause in infinitive
I wouldn't
type II of the if I would go. Would I go?
go.
clauses
He would Would he
He wouldn't
go. go?
go.
I would be
I wouldn't Would I be
working.
be working. working?
sth. that might
happen He would
Conditional He wouldn't Would he be
be
Progressive would + be + working. be working. working?
emphasis:
or infinitive +
length of time
Conditional ing I wouldn't Would I be
of an action I would be
Continuous be going. going?
going.

He wouldn't Would he be
He would
be going. going?
be going.
I would I wouldn't
Would I have
have have
would + have worked. worked?
sth. that might worked.
+ past
have happened in
participle* Would he
the past He would He wouldn't
have
(It's too late have have
Conditional *(infinitive + worked. worked?
now.) worked.
Perfect -ed) or (3rd
column of Would I have
main clause in I would I wouldn't
table of gone?
type III of the if have gone. have gone.
irregular
clauses
verbs) Would I have
He would He wouldn't
gone?
have gone. have gone.
sth. that might I would I wouldn't
Would I have
have happened in have been have been
Conditional been
the past working. working.
Perfect working?
(It's too late would + have
Progressive now.) + been + He would He wouldn't
or Would he
infinitive + have been have been
Conditional have been
emphasis: ing going. going.
Perfect working?
length of time
Continuous
of an action I would I wouldn't
Would I have
have been have been
 going. going. been going?

He would He wouldn't Would he

have been have been have been
going. going. going?

We sometimes use Continuous instead of Progressive. Some signal words can be found in more tenses.
We did not list signal words in the future tenses as there are no definite ones. Always remember what
action is described.

English Grammar - The tenses 2

One sentence is put into different tenses. You can see how the meaning changes.
The words in green are signal words. They tell you which tense you have to use.

Tense Example Explanation

Simple
I play football every week. Here you want to say that it happens regularly.
Present
Present Here you want to say that it is happening at the
I'm playing football now.
Progressive moment.
I played football
Simple Past You did it yesterday, it happened in the past.
yesterday.
Past I was playing football the You were doing it in the past. It's not sure whether the
Progressive whole evening. action was finished or not.
Present You have just finished it. So it has a connection to the
I have just played football.
Perfect present. Maybe your clothes are dirty.
Present
I have been playing You want to say how long you have been doing it. (You
Perfect
football for 2 hours. started in the past and it continues up to the present.
Progressive
I had played football when The two actions are related to each other: you had
Past Perfect
Susan came. finished to play football and after that the girl arrived.
Past Perfect I had been playing football Here you want to point out how long you had been
Progressive when Susan came. doing it before the girl came.
I will play football next This is a prediction, you can probably do something
will future
week. else.
going to I'm going to play football
This is a plan you've made.
future this afternoon.
Future I will be playing football
You do it every Sunday (as usual)
Progressive next Sunday.
I will have played football
Future Perfect You will have done it before tomorrow.
by tomorrow.
Conditional
I would play football. You'll probably do it.
Simple
Conditional I would be playing You'll probably do it. Here you concentrate more on the
Progressive football. progress of the action.
You'll probably have finished playing football at a special
Conditional I would have played
time in the future. Here you concentrate on the fact
Perfect football.
(football).
Conditional You'll probably have finished playing football at a special
I would have been playing
Perfect time in the future. Here you concentrate on the progress
football.
Progressive of playing (football).

Negations of the sentences

Tense Example
I do not play football every week.
Simple Present
I don't play football every week.
I am not playing football now.
Present Progressive
I'm not playing football now.
I did not play football yesterday.
Simple Past
I didn't play football yesterday.
I was not playing football yesterday.
Past Progressive
I wasn't playing football yesterday.
I have not played football.
Present Perfect I haven't played football.
I've not played football.
I have not been playing football.
Present Perfect Progressive I haven't been playing football.
I've not been playing football.
I had not played football.
Past Perfect I hadn't played football.
I'd not played football.
I had not been playing football.
Past Perfect Progressive I hadn't been playing football.
I'd not been playing football.
I will/shall not play football next week.
will future
I won't play football next week.
I am not going to play football this afternoon.
going to future
I'm not going to play football this afternoon.
I will/shall not be playing football.
Future Progressive
I won't be playing football.
I will/shall not have played football.
Future Perfect
I won't have played football.
I would not play football.
Conditional Simple
I'd not play football.
I would not be playing football.
Conditional Progressive I wouldn't be playing football.
I'd not be playing football.
I would not have played football.
Conditional Perfect I wouldn't have played football.
I'd not have played football.
I would not have been playing football.
Conditional Perfect Progressive I wouldn't have been playing football.
I'd not have been playing football.

Questions

Tense Example
Simple Present Do you play football?
Present Progressive Are you playing football?
Simple Past Did you play football?
Past Progressive Were you playing football?
Present Perfect Have you played football?
Present Perfect Progressive Have you been playing football?
Past Perfect Had you played football?
Past Perfect Progressive Had you been playing football?
will future Will you play football?
 going to future
Future Progressive
Future Perfect
Conditional Simple
Conditional Progressive
Conditional Perfect
Conditional Perfect Progressive
Are you going to play football?
Will you be playing football?
Will you have played football?
Would you play football?
Would you be playing football?
Would you have played football?
Would you have been playing football?

English Grammar - The tenses 3 - How to fill in the verbs

Here you find 4 examples where you have to fill in the correct form of the verb. Study the steps
which show you how to fill in the verb form into different types of sentences. Do not follow the text
in grey.

What are signal words?

What are auxiliaries?

Is there a signal word in the sentence?

no
yes
What action is it?
Define the tense.
Form the verb form.
What type of sentence do you have to fill in the verb?
Is it a statement? Is it a question?
yes
Is there an auxiliary in the question?
yes no
yes do or does in Simple Present
did in Simple Past
Is the statement or the question negative?
Put in not after the auxiliary.
(Simple Present don't or doesn't; Simple Past didn't)
Now fill in the verbform into the gap.

Example 1: Peter always ________ (to play) football.

Is there a signal word in the sentence?

no
yes always
What action is it?
Define the tense. Simple Present
Form the verbform. plays
What type of sentence do you have to fill in the verb?
Is it a statement? Is it a question?
no
yes Is there an auxiliary in the question?
yes no
 do or does in Simple Present
did in Simple Past
Is the statement or the question negative? no
Put in not after the auxiliary.
(Simple Present don't or doesn't; Simple Past didn't)
Now fill in the verbform into the gap. plays
Peter always plays football.

Example 2: Peter ________ (always/not/to play) football.

Is there a signal word in the sentence?

no
yes always
What action is it?
Define the tense. Simple Present
Form the verbform. plays
What type of sentence do you have to fill in the verb?
Is it a statement? Is it a question?
no
Is there an auxiliary in the question?
yes no
yes do or does in Simple Present
did in Simple Past
Is the statement or the question negative? yes
Put in not after the auxiliary.
(Simple Present don't or doesn't; Simple Past didn't)
Now fill in the verbform into the gap. doesn't play (Do not put an -s on the full verb, the
-s is in doesn't. The adverb of frequency always goes before the full verb play.)
Peter doesn't always play football.
English Grammar - Irregular verbs - Learn verbs effectively.

Here you find irrregular verbs listed to their forms. So you can learn them more effectively.

Question: Must I write -ought or -aught?

Answer: If in the infinitive is an -a, write -aught, otherwise -ought.

all 3 forms are similar

infinitive simple past past participle

bet* bet bet
cost cost cost
cut cut cut
hit hit hit
hurt hurt hurt
let let let
put put put
read read read
set set set
shut shut shut

Infinitive and Simple Past are similar

infinitive simple past past participle

beat beat beaten

Infinitive and past participle are similar

infinitive simple past past participle

come came come
run ran run
become became become

Simple Past and past participle are similar

infinitive simple past past participle

bring brought brought
build built built
burst burst burst
buy bought bought
catch caught caught
deal dealt dealt
feed fed fed
feel felt felt
fight fought fought
find found found
get got got
hang hung hung
have had had
hear heard heard
hold held held
keep kept kept
lay laid laid
lead led led
leave left left
lend lent lent
light* lit lit
lose lost lost
make made made
mean meant meant
meet met met
pay paid paid
say said said
sell sold sold
send sent sent
shine shone shone
shoot shot shot
sit sat sat
sleep slept slept
slide slid slid
spend spent spent
stand stood stood
stick stuck stuck
sweep swept swept
swing swung swung
teach taught taught
tell told told
think thought thought
understand understood understood
win won won

all 3 forms are different

infinitive simple past past participle

be was/were been
begin began begun
blow blew blown
break broke broken
choose chose chosen
do did done
draw drew drawn
drink drank drunk
drive drove driven
eat ate eaten
fall fell fallen
fly flew flown
forget forgot forgotten
freeze froze frozen
give gave given
go went gone
grow grew grown
hide hid hidden
know knew known
lie lay lain
ride rode ridden
ring rang rung
rise rose risen
see saw seen
shake shook shaken
show* showed shown
sing sang sung
sink sank sunk
speak spoke spoken
spring sprang sprung
steal stole stolen
swear swore sworn
swim swam swum
take took taken
tear tore torn
throw threw thrown
wake woke woken
wear wore worn
weave wove woven
write wrote written

* regular form (+ -ed) also possible.

The following English irregular verbs are now obsolete and use the standard past and participle
forms (-ed).

infinitive simple past past participle

burn burnt burnt
dream dreamt dreamt
learn learnt learnt