ENG001 VERB TENSES

Present Simple

Habitual actions, facts, routines.

Formula: S + base form (+s/es for 3rd person).

Usage: Habitual actions, facts, general truths, routines.

Signal words: always, usually, sometimes, often, every day, never

Formula:

(+) Subject + Base verb (+s/es for 3rd person singular)

(–) Subject + do/does + not + Base verb

(?) Do/Does + Subject + Ba

se verb?

Present Continuous (Progressive)

Usage: Actions happening right now or temporary situations.

Formula:

(+) Subject + am/is/are + Verb–ing

(–) Subject + am/is/are + not + Verb–ing

(?) Am/Is/Are + Subject + Verb–ing?

Signal words: now, at the moment, currently, today,

right now.

Past Simple

Usage: Completed actions/events in the past.

Formula:

(+) Subject + Past form of verb (V2)

(–) Subject + did not + Base verb

(?) Did + Subject + Base verb?

Signal words: yesterday, last week, in

2005, ago.

Past Continuous (Progressive)

Usage: Actions that were ongoing in the past, interrupted by another event.

Formula:

(+) Subject + was/were + Verb–ing

(–) Subject + was/were + not + Verb–ing

(?) Was/Were + Subject + Verb–ing?

Signal words: while, when, as, at

that time.