Present, past and future tenses

Simple présent vs present progressive

Simple present: work

Present progressive: am/is/are working

The usage of simple present

Indicates général truth, facts, habitual actions, and customs

The keywords of simple present

Always, often, usually, sometimes, seldom, rarely, never, everyday

Question of simple present

Put do or does before the subject. Use the base form of the verb. Do you often travel?

The negative of simple present

Add do or does + not. If the world is be, just add not. They are not happy.

The usage of present progressive

Indicate that an action is happening now or for a present temporary period of time.

Keyword of present progressive

Now, at this moment, currently, today, these days, this week, this month, this morning

Question of present progressive

Put be before the subject. Am I bothering you?

The negative of present progressive

Add not. He is not sleeping right now.

The simple past and the past progressive

Simple past: the fire started

Past progressive: was cleaning

The usage of past progressive

The past progressive show that an action was in progress at a specific time. It can also show that a past action was interrupted.

Keyword of past progressive

As, when, while, during, at “time”

Question of past progressive

Put the proper form of be before the subject.

The usage of past progressive

Add not

The usage of simple past

It indicate that an action was completed at a definite time in the past.

Will + verb

Prediction, spontaneous action or gesture of willingness

Question of simple past

Future: Put did before the subject. Use the base form of the verb

The usage of simple past

Add did + not. If the verb is be, just add not. I was not angry

Be going to + verb

Future: prediction, previously planned actions

Base from to progressive: verbe who end in -e

Drop e and add ing

Base from to past: verbe who end in -e

Add -d

Base from to progressive: one syllable word

When it end in a consonant-vowel-consonant, double the last letter and add -ing

Base from to past: one syllable word

When it end in a consonant-vowel-consonant, double the last letter and add -ed

Exception for one syllable word

Never double for the word who end in -x or -y and double for quiz and quit

Stressed syllable

It’s the part in the word that is the loudest

Base from to progressive/past : two syllable word (not stressed)

When the final syllable is not stressed in verb endings in consonant-vowel-consonant, add -ing or -ed

Base from to progressive/past : two syllable word (stressed)

When the final syllable stressed in verb endings in consonant-vowel-consonant double the last letter and add -ing or -ed

Base from to progressive/past : Verb ending in a vowel + y

Add -ing or -ed

Base from to progressive/past : Verb ending in a consonant + y

Progressive: add -ing

Past: change -y to -I and add -ed

Base from to progressive/past : Verb ending in -ie

Change the -ie to y and add -ing or -d

Using the simple past and past progressive in the same sentence

The past progressive is used to describe the background action that was in progress and the simple past the shorter completed action.

Some verbs are not used in progressing here are the categories…

Preference, mentale state/opinion, possession, perception

Will or be going to

Use will or be going to when you predict the future

Will when the action is unplanned

Be going to when the action ins planned