Past Simple

The simple past tense is used to talk about actions that happened at a specific time in the past. You state when it happened using a time adverb. You form the simple past of a verb by adding -ed onto the end of a regular verb but, irregular verb forms have to be learned.
To be Statements + I was. He was. She was. It was. You were. We were. They were. Regular Verb (to work) Statements + I worked. He worked. She worked. It worked. You worked. We worked. They worked. I wasn't. He wasn't. She wasn't. It wasn't. You weren't. We weren't. They weren't. Regular Verb (to work) Statements I didn't work. He didn't work. She didn't work. It didn't work. You didn't work. We didn't work. They didn't work. To be Statements Was I? Was he? Was she? Was it? Were you? Were we? Were they? Short answer Questions + Did I work? Did he work? Did it work? Did we work? Yes, I did. Yes, he did. Yes, it did. Yes we did. Short answer No, I didn't. No, he didn't. No, it didn't. No, you didn't. No, we didn't. Questions ?

Did she work? Yes, she did. No, she didn't. Did you work? Yes you did.

Did they work? Yes they did. No, they didn't.

For example: "Last year I took my exams." "I got married in 1992." It can be used to describe events that happened over a period of time in the past but not now. For example: "I lived in South Africa for two years." The simple past tense is also used to talk about habitual or repeated actions that took place in the past. For example: "When I was a child we always went to the seaside on bank holidays."

Use
1) action finished in the past
I visited Berlin last week.

2) series of completed actions in the past

First I got up, then I had breakfast

3) together with the Past Progressive/Continuous - The Simple Past interrupted an action which was in progress in the past.
They were playing cards when the telephone rang.

Signal words
yesterday, last week, a month ago, in 2002

Form
- with regular verbs: infinitive + -ed - with irregular verbs: 2nd column of the table of the irregular verbs

Examples
Affirmative sentences:
regular verbs irregular verbs I played football. I went to the cinema. We visited Alaska last year. We were in Rome yesterday.

Negative sentences:
You must not negate a full verb in English. Always use the auxiliary did (Simple Past of to do) for negations. I played football. I didn't play football. He didn't play football.

Questions:
Use the auxiliary did (Simple Past of to do). Did you play football?

Present Simple
The simple present tense is used to discuss permanant situations and the frequency of events.

To have I have he has she has it has you have we have they have Statements + I work. He works. She works. It works. You work. We work. They work. I've he's she's it's you've we've they've

Short form I work He works She works It works you work we work they work Questions Do I work? Does he work? Does she work? Does it work? Do you work? Do we work? Do they work?

Other Verbs (to work)

Statements I don't work. He doesn't work. She doesn't work. It doesn't work. You don't work. We don't work. They don't work.

Short answer + Yes, I do. Yes, he does. Yes, she does. Yes, it does. Yes you do. Yes we do. Yes they do.

Short answer No, I don't. No, he doesn't. No, she doesn't. No, it doesn't. No, you don't. No, we don't. No, they don't.

For example: Q) "Where do you live?" A) "I live in Germany." Q) "Where does he live?" A) "He lives in Germany."

Frequency
The simple present tense is also used to show how often something happens with adverbs of frequency - always, usually, often, sometimes, occasionally, seldom, rarely, never, etc.... And when discussing daily, weekly, monthly etc. routines. For example: "I always get up at 6.00." "Every Monday and Thursday I go to the gym." We also use the simple present to ask for and give instructions or to discuss a series of actions. For example: Q) How do I make pancakes?" A) Well, first you take 4 eggs and crack them into a bowl, then you weigh out 4 oz. of flour and sieve it into the eggs. etc.

Use 1) repeated actions My friend often draws nice posters.

2) things in general The sun rises in the East. 3) fixed arrangements, scheduled events The plane flies to London every Monday. 4) actions in the present - one follows after the other First I get up, then I have breakfast. 5) instructions Open your books at page 34. Signal words every day, often, always, sometimes, never Form infinitive (3rd person singular he, she, it: infinitive + -s) Examples Affirmative sentences: I read books. We sing pop songs. I play handball. Negative sentences: You must not negate a full verb in English. Always use the auxiliary do for negations. I I like computers. like computers at all. likes like computers. computers at all. My brother reads books. She sings pop songs. John plays handball.

don't

My friend My mum doesn't Questions:

Use the auxiliary do. Do you play football? Does he play football?

Past Continuous
We use the past continuous tense to describe a past action over a period of time.

Past Continuous Timeline

For example: Q) "What were they doing yesterday?" A) "They were working all day." It can be used to describe what someone was doing at a particular point in time. For example: Q) "What were you doing at 7.30 last night?" A) "I was watching television." The past continuous can also be used to show that an activity frequently took place over a period of time. Q) "What did you do on holiday?" A) "I went skiing a lot." Often the past continuous is mixed with the past simple to show what was happening when something happened. The past continuous refers to the longer event and the simple past to the event that interrupted it. For example: "I was driving to work when I crashed my car." or As I was driving to work, I crashed my car."

Past Progressive - Use

1) actions were in progress at special time in the past
Peter was reading a book yesterday evening.

2) two actions were happening at the same time (the actions do not influence each other)
Anne was writing a letter while Steve was reading the New York Times.

3) together with the Simple Past

While we were sitting at the breakfast table, the telephone rang.

4) repeated actions irritating the speaker (with always, constantly, forever)

Andrew was always coming in late.

Past Progressive - Signal words

while

Past Progressive - Form

to be (was, were) + infinitive + -ing

Past Progressive - Examples

Affirmative sentences:
I was playing football. You were playing football.

Negative sentences:
I was not playing football. I was't playing football. You were not playing football. You weren't playing football.

Questions:
Was I playing football? Were you playing football?

Present Continuous
When we talk about events that are actually happening now, we use the present continuous tense. This is formed by using the stem of the verb and adding -ing to the end, for example the verb "work" becomes "working". In some cases you need to alter the spelling a bit for example the verb "die" becomes "dying".
Statements + I'm working. He's working. She's working. It's working. Statements I'm not working. He isn't working. She isn't working. It isn't working. Questions Am I working? Is he working? Is she working? Is it working? Short answer + Yes, I am. Yes, he is. Yes, she is. Yes, it is. Short answer No, I'm not. No, he isn't. No, she isn't. No, it isn't.

You're working. We're working. They're working.

You aren'tt working. We aren't working. They aren't working.

Are you working? Are we working? Are they working?

Yes you are. Yes we are. Yes they are.

No, you aren't. No, we aren't. No, they aren't.

For example: Q) "What are you doing?" A) "I'm building a website." We also use the present continuous tense to talk about things that are happening around now but are temporary. For example: Q) "What are you doing these days?" A) "Unfortunately I'm working a lot." It is also used to describe trends or situations that are happening but may be temporary. For example: "Nowadays more and more people are shopping on the Internet." ...and habitual actions (usually negative). For example: "He's always cleaning his car." The present continuous tense can also be used to discuss future events: The present continuous is usually used with doing verbs (verbs of action) not with verbs of state. The following verbs are not used in the continuous form:Conditions: belong, cost, need, own, seem Feelings: like, love, hate, want, wish Beliefs: believe, feel, know, mean, remember, think, understand

Present Progressive - Use

1) actions happening at the moment of speaking
Peter is reading a book now.

2) fixed plan in the near future

She is going to Basel on Saturday.

3) temporary actions

His father is working in Rome this month.

4) actions happening around the moment of speaking (longer actions)

My friend is preparing for his exams.

5) trends
More and more people are using their computers to listen to music.

6) repeated actions which are irritating to the speaker (with always, constantly, forever)
Andrew is always coming late.

Signal words
now, at the moment, Look! Listen!

Form
to be (am, are, is) + infinitive + -ing

Examples
Affirmative sentences:
I am playing football. I'm playing football. You are playing football. You're playing football.

Negative sentences:
I am not playing football. I'm not playing football. You are not playing football. You're not playing football. You aren't playing football.

Questions:
Am I playing football? Are you playing football?

Present Perfect
1) Result of an action in the past is important in the present

I have cleaned my room.

2) Recently completed action

He has just played handball.

3) State beginning in the past and still continuing

We have lived in Canada since 1986.

4) together with lately, recently, yet

I have been to London recently.

Signal words

just, yet, never, already, ever, so far, up to now, recently, since, for

Form
have/has

+ past participle

Examples Affirmative sentences: I have cleaned my room. I've cleaned my room. Negative sentences: I have not cleaned my room. I've not cleaned my room. I haven't cleaned my room. Questions: Have I cleaned my room? Have you cleaned your room? You have not cleaned your room. You've not cleaned your room. You haven't cleaned your room. You have cleaned your room. You've cleaned your room.

Present Perfect Progressive - Use

1) Actions beginning in the past and still continuing (focus is on the action) - mostly with since (point of time) or for (period of time)
I have been waiting for you for three hours. (It was a long time.)

2) Recently completed actions (focus is on the action)

She has been watching too many videos. (It was too much time.)

Signal words
all day, the whole day, since, for Questions with how long

Form
have/has + been + infinitive + -ing

Examples
Affirmative sentences:
I have been playing handball. I've been playing handball. You have been playing handball. You've been playing handball.

Negative sentences:
I have not been playing handball. I've not been playing handball. I haven't been playing handball. You have not been playing handball. You've not been playing handball. You haven't been playing handball.

Questions:
Have I been playing handball? Have you been playing handball?

Past Perfect Past Perfect - Use

1) Together with the Simple Past
Mary had read the book before she watched a film.

2) the past equivalent of the Present Perfect

He had played hockey.

Signal words
no unambiguous ones

Form
had + past participle

Examples
Affirmative sentences:
I had played hockey. You had played hockey. I'd played hockey. You'd played hockey.

Negative sentences:
I had not played hockey. I'd not played hockey. I hadn't played hockey. You had not played hockey. You'd not played hockey. You hadn't played hockey.

Questions:
Had you played hockey? Had you played hockey?

Attention
Past Perfect - Simple Past Simple Past - Simple Past The match had started when he arrived. The match started when he arrived.