TENSES

1.Simple Present
Pattern : S + V1(s/es) + O
Time Signal :
always,asually,generally,often,sometimes,occasionally,frequently,seldom,never,
every,once/twice a week/a month.
Example : (+).He writes a letter every week.
(-).He does not write a letter every week.
(?).Does he write a letter every week?
Simple present is used to express:
 Habitual/repeated actions
 General truth (Water consists of oxygen and hydrogen)
 Scheduled activity (The bell in my school rings at 6.45)

2.Present Continuous
Pattern : S + be(am/is/are) + V ing + O
Time Signal : now,at present,at this moment,today,this(week,month),still,look!;be
carefull!;listen!, etc.
Example : (+).She is watching television at this moment.
(-).She is not watching television at this moment.
(?).Is she watching television at this moment?
Present continuous is uused to express:
 An action in progress
 An action happening about this time (She is writing a new novel this month)
Verbs which cannot used in P.continous:
 Verbs of possession: have,possess,belong,own,owe.
 Verbs of mental activity: understand,forget,remember,know,agree,like
 Verbs of sense: see,hear,smell,taste.
 Verbs of “be”
 Consist,contain,seem/look/appear.

3.Present Perfect
Pattern : S + have/has + V3 + O
Time Signal : already,yet,since,for,just,recently,lately.
Example : (+).Tom has read the book already.
(-).Tom has not read the book yet.
(?).Has Tom read the book yet?
Present perfect is used to express: an action that took place in the past, but has a connection
with present situation(there is a RESULT at present),experience,change over time.

4.Present Perfect Continuous

Pattern : S + have/has been + V ing + O
Time Signal : since,for,all morning,the whole week.
Example : (+).Jerry has been playing Playstation for two hours
(-).Jerry has not been playing Playstation for two hours.
(?).Has Jerry been playing Playstation for two hours?
P.P.C is used to express: the duration of an action which began in the past and is still
continuing to the present.
5.Simple Past
Pattern : S + V2 + O
Time Signal : yesterday,last..,ago this morning,just now,once upon a time,in 1995.
Example : (+).Ann saw the contest yesterday.
(-).Ann did not see the contest yesterday.
(?).Did Ann see the contest yesterday?
Simple past is used to express: an action which began in the past and has no connection with
present situation.

6.Past Continuous
Pattern : S + be(was/were) + ing + O
Time Signal : when,as,while,at this time yesterday,at 8 o’clock yesterday,etc.
Example : (+).Vivi was sleeping at 4 o’clock yesterday.
(-).Vivi was not sleeping at 4 o’clock yesterday.
(?).Was Vivi sleeping at 4 o’clock yesterday?
Past continuous is used to express:
 An action which was in progress at specific past time (I was having dinner at 8
o’clock last night)
 Two actions which happened in the past, but one action began earlier and was still in
progress when the other action happened. (she was watching tv when we came)
 Two actions happened simultaneously(bersamaan)

7.Simple Future
Pattern : S + will/shall + V1
Time Signal : tomorrow,next…,tonight,soon.
Example : (+).Rick will repair the car tonight.
(-).Rick will not repair the car tonight.
(?).Will Rick repair the car tonight?
Simple future is used to express: a statement,an assumption or an opinion about the future.
Will is used to express: willingness, promise and intention.
Shall is used to express scheduled activity.
Be going to is used when the speaker feels certain about what is going to happen
immediately/near future. (willingness, promise and intention)

8.Past Perfect
Pattern : S + had + V3
Time Signals : before, by(the time), after
Example : (+) He had written a letter before I came yesterday
(-) He hadn’t written a letter before I came yesterday
(?) Had he written a letter before I came yesterday?
Function : result at the second action in the past

9.Future Continuous
Pattern : S + will+be+ v.ing
Time Signals : at this time
At….. o clock
When he comes/arrives
Example : (+) He will be celebrating his birthday party at this time tomorrow.
(-) He will not be celebrating his birthday party at this time tomorrow.
(?) will he be celebrating his birthday party at this time tomorrow?
Function : an action which will be in progress at a specific time in the future
An action which is scheduled at a specific time in the future.
(don’t ring her at 2 this afternoon! She will be watching cartoon)