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The past continous tense is used to describe actions in the past that continue for some time and do
not have a stated or known begining or end. For example, it is used in descriptions of the 209 Davidson, G. (2003).
background siuation, of what was going on , when some other action or even took place. Verb and Tenses.
Ex: Singapore: Learners Pub.
1. It was raining hevly (=siuation) when we got to the bus stop (=action/event)
2. We were waiting for the bus by the side of the road (=situation) when a car drove past
(=action) and splashed us (= hat happened)
6. Simple What does simple future tense mean: 59-61 Uchiyama, K. (2006).
Future Future tense is pretty straightforward; it means that the action will happen English Verb
in the future, in other words, sometime after this moment. Like simple past, it Tense, Reference
can be used for actions that will for ESL Students.
• happen quickly,
• happen over time, or
• happen repeatedly.
Examples:
1. John’ll be here in a second or two.
2. Tomorrow, Milton will apply for a job at beautiful Chabot College.
3. Norton is probably going to study his math homework for a few hours at the library. (There
action will happen in the future.)
Statements
1. Statements using will
will + simple form
Examples:
John will do his homework after he eats dinner.
I’ll call you tomorrow.
The beatings will continue until morale improves.
2. Statements using be going to
am/is/are going to + simple form
Examples:
John is going to do his homework after he eats dinner.
I’m going to call you tomorrow.
The beatings are going to continue until morale improves.
Negative statements
1. Negative statements using will
will + not + simple form
Examples:
Wayne won’t go to the party because he needs to finish the homework for Basic Stuff about Future
Tense
his Chinese class.
I will not marry you, Beauregard!
Fred and Barney won’t attend the lodge meeting tomorrow.
2. Negative statements using be going to
am/is/are + not going to + simple form
Examples:
Wayne isn’t going to go to the party because he needs to finish the homework for his Chinese class.
I am not going to marry you, Beauregard!
Fred and Barney aren’t going to attend the lodge meeting tomorrow.
Questions
1. Questions using will
(question word) + will + subject + simple form
Examples:
Will you be in class tomorrow?
“When will I find the love of my dreams?” sighed Snow White.
Who will Mortimer ask to the prom?
2. Questions using be going to:
(question word) + am/is/are + subject + going to + simple form
Examples:
Are you going to be in class tomorrow?
“When am I going to find the love of my dreams?” sighed Snow White.
Who is Mortimer going to ask to the prom?
7. Simple Future plans that were made in the past 68 Uchiyama, K. (2006).
Past If we’re talking about a plan that someone made in the past, then it’s best to English Verb
Future use be going to. Tense, Reference
for ESL Students.
Example:
Fred: Got any plans for spring break?
Barney: Yeah, Fred. I will I’m going to paint my house. (Will sounds wrong because Barney is
obviously talking about a plan that he made in the past.)
Example:
Fred and Ethyl have a lot planned for their vacation! First, they’re going to drive down to LA and
visit Disneyland for three days; then they’re going to head east and visit the Grand Canyon. On
their way home, they’re going to stop at Yosemite National Park. Or :
Fred and Ethyl have a lot planned for their vacation! First, they’ll drive down to LA and visit
Disneyland for three days; then they’ll head east and visit the Grand Canyon. On their way home,
they’ll stop at Yosemite National Park. Or even:
Fred and Ethyl have a lot planned for their vacation! First, they’ll drive down to LA and visit
Disneyland for three days; then they’re going to head east and visit the Grand Canyon. On their
way home, they’ll stop at Yosemite National Park.
That’s starting to get a little confusing, If you wantto be safe, remember that be going to always
sounds okay both for predictions and for plans, so if you’re not sure, it’s a very safe bet.
REFERENSI
Aitken, R. (2002). Teaching Tenses: Ideas for Presenting and Practising Tenses in English. Edinburgh: ELB Pubhlising.
Davidson, G. (2003). Verb and Tenses. Singapore: Learners Pub.
Uchiyama, K. (2006). English Verb Tense, Reference for ESL Students.