Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Form
be
affirmative negative question
I am.
I am not.
Am I?
he/she/it
He is.
He is not.
Is he?
Are you?
have
affirmative negative question
I/you/we/they
he/she/it
He has not got. / He does not have. Has he got? / Does he have?
other verbs
affirmative negative question
I/you/we/they I play.
I do not play.
Do I play?
he/she/it
He plays.
Does he play?
Exceptions in Spelling
Exception Example
The verbs can, may, might, must remain the same in all forms. So don't add s.
A final y after a consonant becomes ie before s. (but: don't modify y after a vowel)
Short Forms
affirmative negative
I have not got a dog. = I've not got a dog. / I haven't got a dog.
He has not got a dog. = He's not got a dog. / He hasn't got a dog.
Use
Use Example
I love her.
Form
affirmative negative question
I am playing.
I am not playing.
Am I playing?
he, she, it
He is playing.
He is not playing.
Is he playing?
Exceptions in Spelling
Exeption Example
sit - sitting
final consonant l after vowel is always doubled (in British English) travel - travelling
lie - lying
Short Forms
positiv negativ
Use
Use Example
He is playing football.
actions taking place around now (but not at the moment of speaking) I'm studying for my exams.
no differences I spoke.
For irregular verbs, use the past form (see list of irregular verbs, 2nd column). For regular verbs, just add ed.
final consonant after a short, stressed vowel admit admitted or l as final consonant after a vowel is doubled travel travelled
hurry hurried
Form
Positive Negative Question
I / he / she / it
I was speaking.
Was I speaking?
you / we / they You were speaking. You were not speaking. Were you speaking?
Exceptions in Spelling
Exceptions in spelling when adding ing Example
come coming (but: agree agreeing)
sit sitting
l as final consonant after a vowel is doubled (in British English) travel travelling
final ie becomes y
lie lying
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.
Have I spoken?
he / she / it
For irregular verbs, use the participle form (see list of irregular verbs, 3rd column). For regular verbs, just add ed.
final consonant after a short, stressed vowel admit admitted or l as final consonant after a vowel is doubled travel travelled
hurry hurried
he / she / it
He has been speaking. He has not been speaking. Has he been speaking?
Exceptions in Spelling
Exceptions in spelling when adding ing Example
come coming (but: agree agreeing)
sit sitting
l as final consonant after a vowel is doubled (in British English) travel travelling
final ie becomes y
lie lying
The past perfect simple expresses an action taking place before a certain time in the past.
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.
final consonant after a short, stressed vowel admit admitted or l as final consonant after a vowel is doubled travel travelled
hurry hurried
Signal Words
already, just, never, not yet, once, until that day (with reference to the past, not the present) If-Satz Typ III (If I had talked, )
Form
A: He had been talking. N: He had not been talking. Q: Had he been talking?
Use
action taking place before a certain time in the past sometimes interchangeable with past perfect simple puts emphasis on the course or duration of an action
signal words
for, since, the whole day, all day
Signal Words
in a year, next , tomorrow Vermutung: I think, probably, perhaps
Form
A: He will be talking. N: He will not be talking. Q: Will he be talking?
Use
action that is going on at a certain time in the future action that is sure to happen in the near future
Signal Words
in one year, next week, tomorrow
Form
Simple Present
infinitive (3rd person singular: infinitive + 's') I speak you speak he / she / it speaks we speak they speak
Present Progressive
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. 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 ybecomes ie. (but: not after a vowel) Example: worry - he worries but: play - he plays
Exceptions when adding 'ing' : Silent e is dropped. (but: does not apply for -ee) 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 English). Example: travel - travelling (British English) but: traveling (American English) Final ie becomes y. Example: lie - lying
Use
In general or right now?
Do you want to express that something happens in general or that something is happening right now?
Simple Present
in general (regularly, often, never) Colin plays football every Tuesday. present actions happening one after another First Colin plays football, then he watches TV. right now
Present Progressive
Look! Colin is playing football now. also for several actions happening at the same time Colin is playing football and Anne is watching. Signal words
Note: The following verbs are usually only used in Simple Present: be, have, hear, know, like, love, see, smell, think, want
Simple Present
Present Progressive
arrangement for the near future
action set by a timetable or schedule I am going to the cinema tonight. The film starts at 8 pm.
Simple Present
Present Progressive
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.
Certain Verbs
The following verbs are usually only used in Simple Present (not in the progressive form). state: be, cost, fit, mean, suit Example: We are on holiday. possession: belong, have Example: Sam has a cat. senses: feel, hear, see, smell, taste, touch Example: He feels the cold. feelings: hate, hope, like, love, prefer, regret, want, wish Example: Jane loves pizza. brain work: believe, know, think, understand Example: I believe you. Introductory clauses for direct speech: answer, ask, reply, say
Form
Simple Present
infinitive (3rd person singular: infinitive + 's') Example: I / you / we / they speak he / she / it speaks I / you / we / they have been speaking he / she / it has been speaking Exceptions Exceptions when adding 's': The verbs can, may, might, must remain the same in all forms. Do not add s. Example: he can, she may, it must For verbs ending in o or a sibilant (ch, sh, s, z), add es. Example: do - he does, wash - she washes y as final letter after a consonant becomes ie. (but: not after a vowel) Example: worry - he worries but: play - he plays Exceptions when adding 'ing' : Silent e as final letter is dropped. (does not apply for -ee) Example: come - coming but: agree - agreeing After a short, stressed vowel, the final consonant is doubled. Example: sit - sitting l as final letter after a single vowel is doubled in British English (but not in American English). Example: travel - travelling ie at the end of the word becomes y. Example: lie - lying See also explanations on Simple Present and Present Perfect Progressive Example:
Use
We use Simple Present for general statements about the present and for actions taking place regularly in the present. We use Present Perfect Progressive to express how long an action has been going on.
Simple Present
general statement, when / how often I have been writing for an hour. I write a letter every day.
Signal Words
Simple Present
how often ... times how long since for
Note: The signal words for Simple Present are the same here as for Present Perfect in the explanation on confusing tenses - Present Perfect Simple/Present Perfect Progressive. If we use these signal words for Simple Present, we want to know how often an action usually takes place in the present (not how often it has taken place so far). There is a difference, because you can ask someone how often he plays tennis (in general) or how often he has played tennis (so far).
Form
Present Perfect Simple
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 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) Example: travel - travelled after a consonant, final y becomes i (but: not after a vowel) Example: worry - worried but: play - played See also explanations on Present Perfect Simple and Present Perfect Progressive Exceptions when adding 'ing' : silent e is dropped. (but: does not apply for -ee) Example: come - coming aber: 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 English). Example: travel - travelling final ie becomes y. Example: lie - lying I / you / we / they have been speaking he / she / it has been speaking
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?
Result (what / how much / how often) I have been writing for an hour. I have written 5 letters. / I have been to London twice.
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 I have done my homework. (Meaning: My homework is completed now.) I have been doing my homework. (Meaning: That's how I have spent my time. It does not matter whether the homework is completed now.)
Why are you so wet? - I have been washing the car. (side effect: I became wet when I was washing the car. It does not matter whether the car is clean now.)
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.
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
how often ... times how long since for
Form
Simple Past
irregular verbs: see 2nd column of irregular verbs I spoke regular verbs: verb + ed I worked I was speaking you were speaking he / she / it was speaking we were speaking they were speaking Exceptions Exceptions when adding 'ed' : Exceptions when adding 'ing' :
Past Progressive
past form of 'be' + ing form of verb
silent e is dropped (but: does not apply for -ee) Example: come - coming but: agree - agreeing after a short, stressed vowel, the final consonant is doubled Example: sit - sitting
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
final l is always doubled in British English (not in American English) Example: travel - travelling
after a consonant, final y becomes i. (but: not after a vowel) Example: worry - he worried but: play - he played
Use
After another or at the same time?
Do you want to express that the actions in the past happened one after another or at the same time?
Simple Past
at the same time after another She came home, switched on the computer and checked her e-mails.
Past Progressive
Simon was playing on the computer while his brother was watching TV.
Simple Past
Past Progressive
action already in progress
new action My mobile rang (when I was sitting in a meeting.) While I was sitting in a meeting, (my mobile suddenly rang.)
Simple Past
just mentioning Colin played football yesterday.
Past Progressive
emphasising progress Yesterday at six o'clock, Colin was playing football.
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. senses: feel, hear, see, smell, taste, touch Example: He felt the cold. feelings: hate, hope, like, love, prefer, regret, want, wish Example: Jane loved pizza. brain work: believe, know, think, understand Example: I did not understand him. introductory clauses for direct speech: answer, ask, reply, say Example: I am watching TV, he said.
Signal words
Simple Past
first then If-Satz Typ II (If I talked, ) when while as long as
Past Progressive
Form
Simple Past
irregular verbs: see 2nd column of irregular verbs Example: I spoke I / you / we / they have spoken he / she / it has spoken regular verbs: infinitive + ed Example: I worked 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 regular verbs: form of 'have' + infinitive + ed Example:
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 See also explanations on Simple Past and Present Perfect Simple
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.
Simple Past
certain time in the past Example: I phoned Mary 2 minutes ago.
Simple Past
certain event in the past Example: He went to Canada last summer.
Simple Past
Emphasis on action Example:
I have bought a new bike. (With this sentence I actually want to express that I have a new bike now.)
Signal Words
Simple Past
yesterday ... ago in 1990 the other day last ... just already up to now until now / till now ever (not) yet so far lately / recently
Form
Simple Past
2nd column of irregular verbs Example: I spoke regular verbs: infinitive + ed Example: I 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) Example: travel - travelled after a consonant, final y becomes i (but: not after a vowel) Example: worry - worried but: play - played See also explanations on Simple Past and Past Perfect Simple I had worked I had spoken regular verbs: form of have + infinitive + ed Example:
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
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.
Signal Words
Simple Past
first then
*Note: "After" is only used as a signal word for Past Perfect if it is followed by a subject + verb, meaning that one action had been completed before another action began (the new action is inSimple Past).
Example: After the family had had breakfast, they went to the zoo.
However, if "after" is followed by object + subject + verb, the verb belongs to the new action and is therefore in Simple Past.
Example: When Jane saw the elephants, she was amazed. (at the same time) When Jane had seen the elephants, she wanted to see the giraffes. (second action happened after the first action had been completed) When Jane went to see the elephants, she had already seen the lions. (second action had been completed when the first action took place)
Before "Before" as well can either be used with Simple Past or Past Perfect. If the action after "before" is a new action, use Simple Past. If the action after "before" started (and was not completed) before 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. Jane went to the zoo before she had finished reading her new book about elephants.