Tenses

Tenses

Today, we are going to look at the simple present, simple past, present continuous, past continuous and present perfect tense.

Poll

How confident are you about working with different tenses?

• Very - We've done lots of work on this before

• A bit - I know all of those tenses but I'm not 100%

• Not really - Some of those terms are unfamilar to me

• No hope - I have no idea. Eep.

Simple Present

• We use this tense to talk about habits / routines - I brush my teeth at 8am every morning

• We also use it for instructions and directions - Turn left in 100m

• We use this tense for general facts and information - Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius

Multiple Choice

Which one of these sentences is in the present simple?

• I am using the phone right now

• I haven't been able to get in contact with him

• He works at the gym

• She drank the water from the fridge

• We're going to Bali in June

Present Continuous

• We use this tense to describe what is happening right now - I am eating an apple

• We also use it to describe future actions if we indicate when it will happen - I am going to the dentist's office tomorrow

Multiple Choice

Which of these is an example of present continuous?

• I've not been feeling well recently

• I will go to the bank tomorrow

• She's writing a novel

• It'll all work out in the end

Simple Past

• We use this tense for that which has already happened - I went there yesterday

• The action has to have been completed/finished/done

Multiple Choice

Which of these is an example of the past simple?

• I shouldn't have asked him

• We were watching him all night long

• I am awake now

• I could not believe my eyes

Past Continuous

• This tense is tricky. We use this rather than the past simple usually because we want to talk about two actions. Here's an example:

• I was walking the dog when the crime occurred so I couldn't possibly be guilty.

• I was eating my breakfast while Olivia was brushing her teeth.

Multiple Choice

Which of these is an example of past continuous?

• My wife sleeps silently yet I have a habit of snoring

• I haven't had chance to look at it yet

• She wasn't looking where she was going and fell into a huge puddle

• We didn't bring the car today

Present Perfect Tense

• The important thing to know about this tense is that it is for a specified time that is ongoing. Examples: Today, this morning, this month, this week, this year, this decade, my entire life

• To create a present perfect sentence, you need to use have/has + verb 3.

• Verb 3 is the 'perfect' tense sometimes called the past participle - Swum is verb 3 (swim, swam, swum), Eaten is verb 3 (eat, ate, eaten)

Open Ended

How many other verb 3s can you list? Post one at a time.

Present Perfect Tense

• Examples: I've had two cups of tea so far this morning. I have watched so much basketball this month. (In my life) I haven't been to the Philippines, I hope one day to visit. She has read four or five novels this year. We haven't been interviewed yet. She hasn't eaten anything all day.

Multiple Choice

Which of these is an example of present perfect?

• I couldn't have done it, I was in bed!

• I wouldn't have eaten it had I known

• I have a lot of experience with animals

• I haven't visited Monas, have you?

Poll

Which of these tenses is the most tricky?

• Simple present

• Simple past

• Present continuous

• Past continuous

• Present perfect