English Grammar: Tenses and Usage

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

When talking about the present, what are the two tenses that can be used?

Simple future and present perfect

Simple present and present progressive (correct)

Present perfect and present progressive

Simple past and present progressive

What are the typical signal words associated with the Simple Present Tense?

yesterday/a week ago/in 2018/last month

always/sometimes/often/never/usually (correct)

just/already/not...yet/never/ever

now/at the moment

How do you form negative statements in the Simple Present Tense?

subject + was/were + infinitive + -ing

subject + don't/doesn't + infinitive (correct)

subject + haven't/hasn’t + past participle

subject + didn't + infinitive

What are the typical signal words associated with the Present Progressive Tense?

now/at the moment Signup and view all the answers

How do you form questions in the Simple Present Tense?

(Question word) + do/does + subject + infinitive Signup and view all the answers

How do you form the Present Progressive Tense?

subject + to be + infinitive + -ing Signup and view all the answers

What are the four tenses used to talk about the past?

Simple past, present perfect, past perfect, past progressive Signup and view all the answers

How do you form positive statements in the Simple Past Tense?

subject + infinitive + -ed Signup and view all the answers

What are the typical signal words associated with the Present Perfect Tense?

just/already/not...yet/never/ever Signup and view all the answers

How do you form positive statements in the Present Perfect Tense?

subject + have/has + past participle Signup and view all the answers

How do you form questions in the Present Perfect Tense?

(Question word) + have/has + subject + past participle Signup and view all the answers

What are the typical signal words associated with the Present Perfect Progressive Tense?

for (with time spans)/since (with points in time) Signup and view all the answers

How do you form positive statements in the Present Perfect Progressive Tense?

subject + have/has + been + infinitive + -ing Signup and view all the answers

How do you form questions in the Present Perfect Progressive Tense?

(Question word) + have/has + subject + been + infinitive + -ing Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the Past Progressive Tense?

To describe an action that was in progress at a particular time in the past Signup and view all the answers

Which tense can describe an action that was going on when a second action began?

Past progressive Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Simple Present or Present Progressive

Use the simple present to describe routines.
Typical signal words: always, sometimes, often, never, usually
Negative statements: don't/doesn't + infinitive
Questions: (question word) + do/does + subject + infinitive
Use the present progressive to describe current actions.
Typical signal words: now, at the moment
Formation: form of (to be) + infinitive + -ing

Simple Past, Present Perfect, Present Perfect Progressive, or Past Progressive

Use the simple past to describe a specific event in the past.
Typical signal words: yesterday, a week ago, in 2018, last month
Positive statements: infinitive + -ed (regular verbs)
Negative statements: didn't + infinitive
Questions: (question word) + did + subject + infinitive
Use the present perfect to describe an action that started in the past and continues to the present.
Typical signal words: just, already, not...yet, never, ever
Positive statements: have/has + past participle
Negative statements: haven't/hasn't + past participle
Questions: (question word) + have/has + subject + past participle
Use the present perfect progressive to describe an ongoing action that began in the past and continues into the present.
Typical signal words: for, since
Positive statements: have/has + been + infinitive + -ing
Negative statements: haven't/hasn't + been + infinitive + -ing
Questions: (question word) + have/has + subject + been + infinitive + -ing
Use the past progressive to describe an ongoing action that was happening at a particular time in the past.
If a second action occured at that time, the second action, the simple past tense is used.
Formation: was/were + infinitive + -ing

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

Description

Test your knowledge on the use of simple present, present progressive, simple past, present perfect, and past progressive tenses. This quiz includes questions on signal words, forming negative statements, and constructing questions. Enhance your understanding of English verb tenses and how to use them correctly in different contexts.