English Tenses and Conditionals

A set of vocabulary flashcards focusing on the important terms and concepts related to English tenses and conditionals discussed in the lecture.

Present Tense

Expresses current status, possession, or action through specific structures: State (Is/Am/Are), Possession (Has/Have), Action (V1 or V1 + s/es).

Stative Verbs

Verbs that express a state or condition, such as 'know' or 'love', which typically do not take the -ING form.

Since vs. For

'Since' indicates a specific starting point in time, whereas 'For' indicates a duration of time.

Present Perfect Tense

Tense formed using 'has' or 'have' followed by V3, often indicated by keywords like 'yet', 'just', 'already', or 'so far'.

Future Perfect Tense

Formed with 'will have' plus the past participle, indicating an action that will be completed by a specific future time.

Past Perfect Tense

Formed with 'had' plus the past participle, indicating an action that was completed before another past action.

Conditional Type 1

If clause uses Simple Present (V1/s/es) and the result clause uses Will/Can/May/Should + V1.

Conditional Type 2

If clause uses Simple Past (V2/Were) and the result clause uses Would/Could/Should/Might + V1.

Conditional Type 3

If clause uses Past Perfect (Had + V3) and the result clause uses Would/Could/Should/Might + Have + V3.

The Sequence of Tenses Rule

Ensures that if the main clause is in the past, the subordinate clause must also be in the past unless it states a universal truth.

Verbs of Perception

These include see, hear, smell, and taste, and are generally used in Simple Present rather than Continuous forms.

Action vs. Fact

Distinguishes between actions that can use -ING forms and facts or states that cannot.

Universal Fact

A statement that holds true regardless of context, typically expressed in the present tense.

The "When" Rule

Specifies that when two actions are happening simultaneously, the tense used must align, avoiding past perfect in these instances.