Verb forms
English tenses
Present Continuous
* Examples
He is sleeping.
I am visiting grandpa in the afternoon.
You are always coming late for the meetings!
The Present Continuous is mainly used to express the idea that something is happening at the
moment of speaking. The Present Continuous also describes activities generally in progress (this
means that they don't have to take place right now). Another use of the tense is to talk about
temporary actions or future plans.
* USES
• Present actions
• Temporary actions
• Longer actions in progress
• Future (personal) arrangements and plans
• Tendencies and trends (xu hướng, khuynh hướng và chiều hướng)
• Irritation (sự chọc tức; tình trạng bị làm phát cáu, tình trạng bị chọc tức- phàn nàn)
USE 1: Present Actions
Most often, we use the Present Continuous tense to talk about actions happening at the moment of
speaking.
Examples:
He is eating a dinner.
Mary is talking with her friends.
They are swimming in the pool.
Stative (State) Verbs
There is a certain group of verbs that usually does not appear in the Continuous form. They are
called Stative (State) Verbs, and if used in the Continuous form, they have a different meaning.
Examples:
I think you look pretty today! meaning: Opinion
I'm thinking of moving to San Francisco! meaning: Act of thinking

-The Internet is becoming less of a novelty.
-The Universe is expanding .
USE 6: Irritation or Anger
And the last use of this tense is to express irritation or anger over somebody or something in the
present with adverbs such as: always, continually or contantly.
Examples:
-She is continually complaining about everything!
-Johny is always asking stupid questions!
-My boss is contantly critising me!
Present Simple
* Examples
-John lives in New York.
-We play football every day.
-You are really kind.
-The meeting starts at 3 PM
The Present Simple is the most basic and common tense in the English language. Because of its
easy form, it is the best tense to start learning/teaching English tenses. It is also an interesting
tense because it can express both the present and the future. In the below list, there are 7 uses of
this tense. It's a lot, but don't worry: most of them are easy to understand.
*USE
• Facts, generalizations and universal truths (tổng quát, khái quát)
• Habits and routines
• Permanent situations
• Events that are certain to happen
• Arrangements that we can't change (e.g. timetables, official meetings)
• State verbs (e.g. be, have, suppose, know)
• Narrations (e.g. telling a joke), instructions or commentaries
*Note
Apart from the above uses, this tense is also used in:
Zero Conditional — If it rains, I go play football.

usually
seldom/rarely
nowadays
never
every week/year
sometimes/occasionally
from time to time
every now and then
A few examples how to use them in sentences:
-I always go to church on Sundays.
-I never eat anything after 10 PM.
USE 3: Pernament Situations
Use the Present Simple to talk about situations in life that last a relatively long time.
Examples:
-I live in Boston
-He works as a fireman.
-Margaret drives a Volkswagen.
-Jerry doesn't teach maths at highschool.
USE 4: Events Certain to Happen
Lê Thị Thanh Huyền
Use the Present Simple when an event is certain to happen in the future.
Examples:
-My grandmother turns 100 this July.
-Winter starts on 21 December.
USE 5: State Verbs
You should use the Present Simple with state verbs.
Examples:
-I like swimming.
-We know this man.
*Note

he / she / it speaks
we speak
they speak
form of 'be' and verb + ing

I am speaking
you are speaking
he / she / it is speaking
we are speaking
they are speaking
Exceptions
Exceptions when adding 's' :
For can, may, might, must, do not add s.
Exceptions when adding 'ing' :
Silent e is dropped. (but: does not apply for -ee)
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Example: he can, she may, it must
After o, ch, sh or s, add es.
Example: do - he does, wash - she washes
After a consonant, the final consonant y
becomes ie. (but: not after a vowel)
Example: worry - he worries
but: play - he plays
Example: come - coming
but: agree - agreeing
After a short, stressed vowel, the final
consonant is doubled.
Example: sit - sitting
After a vowel, the final consonant l is doubled
in British English (but not in American

first
then
at the moment
at this moment
today
now
right now
Listen!
Look!
Note: The following verbs are usually only used in Simple Present:
be, have, hear, know, like, love, see, smell, think, want
Timetable / Schedule or arrangement?
Do you want to express that something is arranged for the near future? Or do you refer to a time
set by a timetable or schedule?
Simple Present Present Progressive
action set by a timetable or schedule
The film starts at 8 pm.
arrangement for the near future
I am going to the cinema tonight.
Daily routine or just for a limited period of time?
Do you want to talk about a daily routine? Or do you want to emphasis that something is only
going on for a limited (rather short) period of time?
Lê Thị Thanh Huyền
Simple Present Present Progressive
daily routine
Bob works in a restaurant.
only for a limited period of time (does not
have to happen directly at the moment of
speaking)
Jenny is working in a restaurant this week.

-I have already had a breakfast.
-He has been to England.
Remember
You should not use this tense with time expressions like yesterday, a week ago, last year, etc.
USE 2: Effect on the present moment
We also use this tense to when an activity has an effect on the present moment.
Examples:
-He has finished his work. (so he can now rest)
-I have already eaten the dinner. (so I'm not hungry)
-He has had a car accident. (that's why he is in the hospital)
USE 3: Continuation in the present
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We often use the Present Perfect when we want to emphasize that an event continues in the
present.
Examples:
- has worked as a teacher for over 25 years.
-Patrick has achieved a lot in his life.
For and Since
Since and For are very common time expressions used with the Present Perfect.
We use For with a period of time, for example:
I have lived here for 20 years.
When talking about a starting point, we use Since, for example:
I have lived here since 1960.
*FORM
To form a sentence in the Present Perfect, you need:
The proper conjugation of the auxiliary verb "to have".
The Past Participle of your verb.
1. Auxiliary Verb "to have"
We conjugate the auxiliary verb "to have" the same way we would conjugate the normal verb "to
have".

Subject
+
Auxiliary verb
+
Past participle
e.g. I/a
dogetc.
has/have e.g. slept/taken/goneetc.
Examples Use
We have already had breakfast
(Use
1)
I have bought new shades
(Use
2)
I have already been to Paris
(Use
1)
John has been a plumber for 2 years
(Use
3)
Someone has just taken my bag!
(Use
1,2)
Jane has never been so angry
(Use
3)
He has been our most serious partner for
so long that I can assure you he's a very
decent man

come – coming
(but: agree – agreeing)
after a short, stressed vowel, the final consonant is doubled sit – sitting
l as final consonant after a vowel is doubled (in British English) travel – travelling
final ie becomes y lie – lying
Use of Present Perfect Progressive
• puts emphasis on the duration or course of an action (not the result)
Example: She has been writing for two hours.
• action that recently stopped or is still going on
Example: I have been living here since 2001.
• finished action that influenced the present
Example: I have been working all afternoon.
Signal Words of Present Perfect Progressive
all day, for 4 years, since 1993, how long?, the whole week
Present Perfect Simple – Present Perfect Progressive
*Form
Present Perfect Simple Present Perfect Progressive
irregular verbs: form of 'have' + 3rd column of
irregular verbs
Example:
I / you / we / they have spoken
he / she / it has spoken
regular verbs: form of 'have' + infinitive + ed
Example:
I / you / we / they have worked
he / she / it has worked
form of 'have' + been + verb + ing

Example:
I / you / we / they have been speaking

final ie becomes y.
Example: lie - lying
*Use
Both tenses are used to express that an action began in the past and is still going on or has just
finished. In many cases, both forms are correct, but there is often a difference in meaning: We use
the Present Perfect Simple mainly to express that an action is completed or to emphasise the
result. We use the Present Perfect Progressive to emphasise the duration or continuous course of
an action.
• Result or duration?
Do you want to express what has happened so far or how long an action has been going on yet?
Present Perfect Simple Present Perfect Progressive
Result (what / how much / how often)
I have written 5 letters. / I have been to
London twice.
Duration (how long)
I have been writing for an hour.
• Certain verbs
The following verbs are usually only used in Present Perfect Simple (not in the progressive form).
state: be, have (for possession only)
Example: We have been on holiday for two weeks.
senses: feel, hear, see, smell, taste, touch
Example: He has touched the painting.
brain work: believe, know, think, understand
Example: I have known him for 3 years.
• Emphasis on completion or duration?
Do you want to emphasise the completion of an action or its continuous course (how has
somebody spent his time)?
Present Perfect Simple Present Perfect Progressive
Emphasis on completion
I have done my homework. (Meaning: My

hour ago that I started to play that game.)
• Permanent or temporary?
If an action is still going on and we want to express that it is a permanent situation, we would
usually use the Present Perfect Simple. For temporary situations, we would prefer the Present
Perfect Progressive. This is not a rule, however, only a tendency.
Present Perfect Simple Present Perfect Progressive
permanent
James has lived in this town for 10 years.
(Meaning: He is a permanent resident of this
town.)
temporary
James has been living here for a year.
(Meaning: This situation is only temporary.
Maybe he is an exchange student and only here
for one or two years.)
Signal words
Present Perfect Simple Present Perfect Progressive
how often
times
how long
since
for
Simple Past (Past Simple)
The simple past expresses an action in the past taking place once, never, several times. It can also
be used for actions taking place one after another or in the middle of another action.
Form of Simple Past
Positive Negative Question
no differences I spoke. I did not speak. Did I speak?
For irregular verbs, use the past form (see list of irregular verbs, 2nd column). For regular verbs,
just add “ed”.

(but: agree – agreeing)
after a short, stressed vowel, the final consonant is doubled sit – sitting
l as final consonant after a vowel is doubled (in British English) travel – travelling
final ie becomes y lie – lying
Use of Past Progressive
• puts emphasis on the course of an action in the past
Example: He was playing football.
• two actions happening at the same time (in the past)
Example: While she was preparing dinner, he was washing the dishes.
• action going on at a certain time in the past
Example: When I was having breakfast, the phone suddenly rang.
Signal Words of Past Progressive
when, while, as long as
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Simple Past – Past Progressive
• Form
Simple Past Past Progressive
irregular verbs: see 2nd column of irregular
verbs
I spoke
regular verbs: verb + ed
I worked
past form of 'be' + ing form of verb

I was speaking
you were speaking
he / she / it was speaking
we were speaking
they were speaking
Exceptions

after another
She came home, switched on the computer
and checked her e-mails.
at the same time
Simon was playing on the computer while his
brother was watching TV.
2. New action or already in progress?
If you want to express that a new action happened in the middle of another action, you need both
tenses: Simple Past the new action and Past Progressive for the action already in progress.
Simple Past Past Progressive
new action
My mobile rang (when I was sitting in a
meeting.)
action already in progress
While I was sitting in a meeting, (my mobile
suddenly rang.)
3. Only mentioning or emphasising progress?
Do you just want to mention that an action took place in the past (also used for short actions)? Or
do you want to put emphasis on the progress, e.g. that an action was taking place at a certain time?
Simple Past Past Progressive
just mentioning emphasising progress
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Colin played football yesterday. Yesterday at six o'clock, Colin was playing
football.
4. Certain Verbs
The following verbs are usually only used in Simple Past (not in the progressive form).
state: be, cost, fit, mean, suit
Example: We were on holiday.
possession: belong, have
Example: Sam had a cat.

I worked
regular verbs: form of 'have' + infinitive + ed
Example:
I / you / we / they have worked
he / she / it has worked
Exceptions
Exceptions when adding 'ed':
when the final letter is e, only add d
Example:
love - loved
after a short, stressed vowel, the final consonant is doubled
Example:
admit - admitted
final l is always doubled in British English (not in American English)
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Example:
travel - travelled
after a consonant, final y becomes i (but: not after a vowel)
Example:
worry - worried
but: play - played
2. Use
In British English, the use of Simple Past and Present Perfect is quite strict. As soon as a time
expression in the past is given, you have to use Simple Past. If there are no signal words, you must
decide if we just talk about an action in the past or if its consequence in the present is important.
Note that the following explanations and exercises refer to British English only. In American
English, you can normally use Simple Past instead of Present Perfect. We cannot accept this in
our exercises, however, as this would lead to confusions amongst those who have to learn the
differences.
• Certain time in the past or just / already / yet?

I have bought a new bike. (With this sentence I actually
want to express that I have a new bike now.)
3. Signal Words
Simple Past Present Perfect Simple
yesterday
ago
in 1990
the other day
last
just
already
up to now
until now / till now
ever
(not) yet
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so far
lately / recently
Past Perfect Simple
The past perfect simple expresses an action taking place before a certain time in the past.
1. Form of Past Perfect Simple
Positive Negative Question
no differences I had spoken. I had not spoken. Had I spoken?
For irregular verbs, use the past participle form (see list of irregular verbs, 3rd column). For
regular verbs, just add ed.
Exceptions in Spelling when Adding ed
Exceptions in Spelling when Adding ed Example
after final e, only add d love – loved
final consonant after a short, stressed vowel
or l as final consonant after a vowel is doubled

 when the final letter is e, only add d
Example:
love - loved
 after a short, stressed vowel, the final consonant is doubled
Example:
admit - admitted
 final l is always doubled in British English (not in American English)
Example:
travel - travelled
 after a consonant, final y becomes i (but: not after a vowel)
Example:
worry - worried
but: play - played
2. Use
We use Simple Past if we give past events in the order in which they occured. However, when we
look back from a certain time in the past to tell what had happened before, we use Past Perfect.
Normal order in the past or looking back to an event before a certain time in the past?
Do you just want to tell what happened some time in the past or do you want to tell what had
happened before/up to a certain time in the past?
Simple Past Past Perfect Simple
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some time in the past
Example:
Jane got up at seven. She opened her
birthday presents and then the whole
family went to the zoo.
before/up to a certain time in the past
Example:
Before her sixth birthday, Jane had never
been to the zoo.

a certain time in the past, use Past Perfect. Compare the following examples:
Example:
Jane had read a lot about elephants before she went to the zoo.
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Jane went to the zoo before she had finished reading her new book about elephants.
FUTURE SIMPLE TENSE
English does not have a verb form specifically used to express future tense. We have to
choose from a variety of forms (using 'will'/'shall', 'going to', the present continuous, the present
simple, etc.) to talk about future events. The future expressed with the modal auxiliaries will and
shall + the base form of the verb is known as the future simple tense or 'will' future. Keep in
mind, however, that 'will' doesn't always serve to indicate the future. We can use 'will' to talk
about events happening at the present. (For example: This car won't start.)
Structure Examples
We use the Future
Simple Tense:
The future simple tense
is composed of two parts:
will/shall + base verb. Will
and shall are often
contracted to 'll.
Affirmative form
I + shall /
will + work
we
you
he/she/it + will + work
they
1. I shall/will write her
tomorrow.
2. We shall/will go

12. The wedding will take
place on May 8th. The
ceremony will begin at
4pm, followed by a meal
to say that something will
happen in the future.
Adverbs of time that will
indicate such tense may
include, tomorrow, today,
later today, in five
minutes, in two hours, on
Monday, on Saturday
afternoon, next
week/month, this year, etc.
! Note that when we talk
about prior plans, strong
intentions or fixed
arrangements we do not
normally use 'will':
I am going to meet him this
afternoon. ('to be' + 'going
to' + main form of the verb)
I'm going to buy a new car
this year. ('to be' + 'going
to' + main form of the verb)
I am going to a party
tommorrow night. (the
present continuous)
Tina is getting married next
month. (the present

make offers, ask for advices
or suggestions, etc. (mainly
in British English)
1. Shall I close the door?
2. Shall we go to picnic
tomorrow?
3. Shall I study English?
and a big party.
Note: In certain
situations we use 'will' to
emphasize:
13. You will drink your
milk!
14. I will find a job.
continuous)
! Note: 'Will' is used
instead of 'going to' when a
formal style is required,
particularly in the written
language (See 12)
1. I'll close the window.
2. I'll have a cup of tea,
please.
3. - The phone is ringing.
- I'll answer it.
4. - Oops, I dropped my
pencil.
- I'll pick it up.
to express spontaneous
decision /

you did.
to make promises or
threats
1. Will you please help me
to do my homework?
2. That suitcase is too
heavy. I’ll help you.
to request help or to offer
help
1. I'll probably get there by
my car.
2. You must read this book.
I'm sure you'll like it.
with words and
expressions such as:
probably, possibly,
perhaps, (I'm) sure, (I)
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'Shall' is also used as an
imperative in formal or legal
written statements:
1. The Chairman shall be
present at the Company's
general meetings.
2. The accused shall be
present during the trial.
3. I expect Tom will pass
his exam.
expect
1. If it begins to rain, I'll

2. Contracted forms:
I will = I'll he/she/it will = he'll/she'll/it'll
you will = you'll
I will not = I won't he/she/it will not = he won't/she won't/it
won't you will not = you won't
we will = we'll they will = they'll
we will not = we won't they will not = they won't
Examples:
1. I'll be watching TV. 3. They'll be having a lunch.
2. She won't be swimming at the pool. 4. Will you be waiting for me?
3. Using the Future Continuous Tense.The most common use of the Future
Continuous Tense is to describe an activity that will occur in the future and
continue for a certain period of time. We can specify the time when the activity
is going to take place:
Examples:
Tom will be attending the conference next month.
They'll be shopping at the mall all afternoon.
I'll be working late at the office tonight.
We'll be flying over the Atlantic Ocean for three hours.
Tonight at 11 p.m, we will be dancing at the party.
- The Future Continuous is also used when we talk about an activity that will
continue over a period of time from now into the future (expresses an activity in
progress that started at the present moment or at some time around the present
moment):
Examples:
1. They'll be studying until 5 o'clock.
2. She'll be playing tennis until she gets tired.
3. Susan will be waiting for the bus 10 more minutes.
- We can use the Future Continuous to indicate that a longer action in the future
will be interrupted by a shorter action in the future (in this case the shorter action

Remarks:
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Date:………………………………….
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