TENSES EXAMPLES TRANSLATION

PRESENT VERB “TO BE” I AM MEXICAN

THEY ARE DOCTORS
IT’S HOT IN THE AFTERNOON BUT COOL AT NIGHT
There are 25 people in the class.

SIMPLE PRESENT OTHER VERBS I live in a big house.

My friend lives in a nice apartment.
We don't live in Spain.
Do you live with your parents?
Does she live by herself?

PRESENT CONTINUOUS I'm cooking dinner now.

My friends aren't playing soccer; they're studying.
Is Alice doing her homework right now?

SIMPLE PAST They went to the theater last night.

I didn't go to school yesterday.
Did you go to your sister's house last Sunday?

PAST CONTINUOUS I was watching a movie at 8 PM last night.

They weren't sleeping when I arrived
What were you doing while I was fixing my car?

SIMPLE FUTURE My mom will visit us next week.

This bank won't authorize a new credit for him.
Will you have time to finish all your assignments?

FUTURE CONTINUOUS I'll be attending a meeting tomorrow morning.

They won't be doing anything next Friday night.
Will he be traveling next week?

IDIOMATIC FUTURE She's going to buy a new car next year.

I'm not going to call my friend tonight.
Are you going to sell your country house?

PRESENT CONT. FOR FUTURE I'm going to New York next week.
She isn't meeting her friends later today.
Are you having lunch with your boss tomorrow?

PRESENT PERFECT I have seen that picture three times.

They haven't bought a new house yet.
Have you ever considered changing carreers?

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS I've been working a lot recently.

She's been taking medicine over the past few days.
What have you been doing lately?
PAST PERFECT By 1995, I had graduated.
When we arrived, the movie hadn't started yet.
Had you eaten this food before?

PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS I had been living in Mexico before I moved to USA
She hadn't been feeling well when she had that accident.
How long had they been working here by 1985?

MODALS
ABILITY, OPPORTUNITY, PERMISSION I can swim very well.
PRESENT CAN My sister can't travel with us because she is sick.
Can you help me fix my car?

PAST COULD I could ride a bike when I was 5 years old.

He couldn't buy that car because it was too expensive.
Could you read when you were 4 years old?

PRESENT BE ABLE TO I'm able to speak five languages.

She isn't able to discuss anything seriously.
Are you able to work on weekends?

PAST I was able to run very fast when I was at school.

They weren't able to come with us this time.
Were you able to attend that meeting you told me about?

FUTURE I will be able to open an account when I get my check.

We won't be able to travel next year; I don't have a visa.
Will he be able to walk after the surgery?

PRESENT PERFECT I have been able to speak English since I was 7.

She hasn't been able to attend any concerts this year.
Have you been able to talk to your dad about your grades?

PAST PERFECT Before our meeting, she had been able to read my report.
By 1997, I hadn't been able to get a job.
Had you been able to fix your car when Mike called you?

OBLIGATION AND NECESITY

MUST (only affirmative) I must get to my office at 9 AM.
PRESENT or FUTURE She must pay her credit card next Friday.

HAVE TO
PRESENT OR FUTURE I have to get up at 5 AM from Monday to Friday.
You don't have to eat everything on your plate.
Do you have to work next Saturday?

PAST I had to take my sister to her office last Monday.

They didn't have to rewrite their assignment.

FUTURE
PRESENT PERFECT
UNCERTAINTY IN TE FUTURE
MAY / MIGHT
UNCERTAINTY IN PAST
MIGHT HAVE = MIGHT'VE
PROHIBITION or RESTRICTION
MUST (only negative)
PRESENT OR FUTURE
CAN (only negative)
UNCERTAINTY (ONLY FOR FUTURE)
MAY
MIGHT
UNCERTAINTY ( PAST)
MIGHT HAVE = MIGHT'VE
LOGICAL DEDUCTION (PRESENT)
MUST
LOGICAL DEDUCTION (PAST)
MUST HAVE = MUST'VE
RECOMMENDATIONS
SHOULD (PRESENT AND FUTURE)
REGRETS or CRITICISM (PAST)
Did you have to rent a tuxedo for your friend's wedding?
I will have to work late tomorrow.
I won't have to pay for another ticket; Children don't pay.
Will you have to go back to Canada next summer?
I have had to attend this course 3 times.
He has never had to be operated on.
Have you ever had to take someone to a hospital?
He may have to cancel his trip.
I might have to sell my car.
They might 've had to call off te concert
she might 've had to pawn her stereo.
You must not smoke here.
Students must not leave this room after their test.
Children can't ride a bike without protective equipment.
He may visit his relatives next week.
they may not buy this house.
she might want to go to te movies.
Try this food; you might like it.
They're not home but their car is;
They might've gone to te store
He has a broken leg; He might've fallen
off his bike.
After all this work, you must be tired.
He's bought a new car; He must have a good job.
He's in te hospital; He must have had an accident.
He looks tan; He must've gone to te beach.
your card was declined; you must not have paid it last month.
If you feel sick, you should see a doctor.
They shouldn't drive too fast.
Should I call you before I get to your office?
We should take a vacation next week.
SHOULD HAVE = SHOULD'VE You should've bought that house; it was a good deal.
They shouldn't have eaten too much; they got sick.