CHAPTER TWO: VERB TENSES.
2.1THE SIMPLE PRESENT.
The basic use of the Simple Present is to express a habitual action, or a statement of fact.
My little brother eats too much.
Sad films make my sister cry.
I love going to school.
I always do my English homework with a smile on my face.
2.2THE PRESENT PROGRESSIVE.
2.2.1Firstly, we use the Present Progressive for an action which is happening at the moment when we are speaking.
We are now reading an explanation of the Present Progressive tense.
The person next to me is not listening to the teacher.
What are you thinking about, Henry?
2.2.2Secondly, this form can be used with a future sense.
I am leaving for Brazil tomorrow.
She is coming to see me this afternoon.
(Note that in this sort of sentence there is practically always an adverb or some other expression which tells you when the action is going to take place.)
2.2.3Occasionally, progressive forms can be used to express a repeated action, if we want to show that we find its repetition disagreeable or irritating.
My sister is always listening to Tino Rossi records.
(Here there will always be a word, like "always" or "all the time," which clearly shows that the action is repeated.)
2.3A VERY IMPORTANT POINT TO REMEMBER
… is that there are a number of verbs which we practically never put into the progressive forms, (not only in the present, but in all the other tenses too.) These are generally verbs which express emotions, attitudes or states of mind, rather than actions which can be stopped and started at will. The following paragraphs show you different groups of verbs which fall into this category.
2.3.1(Verbs expressing emotions or desires;) to love, to hate, to like, to dislike, to prefer, to want, to wish, to desire, to need.
She loves watching television, but she hates programmes about politics.
Now I want you to learn these examples by heart, please.
2.3.2(Verbs expressing perception;) to see, to hear, to smell, to notice; (these verbs are often used together with the auxiliary "can," instead of in the Simple Present form.)
Can you see that girl in the red dress over there?
I'm sorry, I can't hear what you are saying.
(Note that the same thing happens with the verb "to find.")
I can't find my red pen anywhere.
2.3.3(Verbs expressing things that go on in your mind;) to remember, to forget, to know, to believe, to suppose, to agree, to realize, to understand.
I believe that you all know Miss Penelope Blenkinsop.
Do you remember that charming old man from Glasgow?
They don't agree with me at all.
"To think" can also go in this group, but only when you use it to state an opinion, as in the following example.
I think you are clever enough to understand these explanations.
2.3.4(Verbs expressing appearance;) to resemble, to seem, to appear, (and "to look," when it means "to seem.")
I think she really resembles her sister.
He looks a very dangerous character.
2.3.5(Verbs concerning possession;) to possess, to own, to have, to belong to, to owe.
My uncle owns a big vineyard in Burgundy.
Do you have a video recorder at home?
Patrick owes me 25 dollars.
2.3.6(Verbs expressing other ideas;) to mean, to mind, to matter, to concern, to contain, to consist of, to cost, to depend on, (and "to be," except when it's being used as the auxiliary in a passive sentence.)
Your success depends on the work you do.
What does "to cost" mean, Sir?
Your homework consists of learning all this new theory.
2.4THE SIMPLE PAST.
2.4.1We use the simple past for any action which took place at a known moment in the past: for example, you use it to relate all the separate events in a story you are telling, (and you don't necessarily have to say exactly when each event took place.)
My father got a new job last month.
We went to London for our holidays.
Your brother said you wanted to see me.
He bought a bag of crisps, then sat down to eat them.
2.4.2We also use the Simple Past for a habitual action, or for a statement of fact in the past.
She often told me that she loved me, but I knew it wasn't true.
He caught the same bus as me every day when he went to work.
(Note the invariable form "used to...," which is often used to express a habitual action in the past.)
They used to talk about football all the time.
2.5THE PAST PROGRESSIVE.
2.5.1We use the Past Progressive to show that one action was happening, (and lasting a certain time,) when another, shorter action occurred.
Arthur was walking along the street when a brick fell on his head.
He was still reading his comic when the teacher walked into the room.
2.5.2This form can also be used simply to insist on how long a past action lasted, without necessarily contrasting with another, shorter action.
What were you doing all last week?
He was studying chemistry for ten years.
2.6THE PRESENT PERFECT.
2.6.1We use the Present Perfect for an action which has happened at an unspecified moment in the past, when we simply want to say that it has in fact happened, and the question "When?" has no importance at all.
I have read all Lawrence's novels.
I've already told you not to do that!
She has never been very nice to me.
We've often invited them, but they've never come yet.
I've seen deer in the forest on several occasions.
Have you met my cousin George?
(In cases of this sort, you quite often find adverbial expressions like "already," "often," "several times," "ever" and "never.")
2.6.2The Present Perfect is also used for a past action when you want to establish a link with the present moment, for example when something that you have done has a present consequence.
I've lost all my money.
Nobody has arrived yet.
We haven't had much luck so far.
This link with the present moment can also simply be the fact that the action has happened in a period which has not yet finished.
Has anyone seen Penelope today?
She's knitted three pairs of gloves this week.
There have been more and more terrorist attacks since the beginning of this century.
These links with the present are often (but not always) reinforced by expressions such as "just," "recently," "lately," "up to now," "so far," "yet/not yet," "today," "this week," "this month," and so on.
2.6.3You must pay very particular attention to the following point: the most difficult use of the Present Perfect for French-speaking students is the next one, because it's a case in which the French language uses a present tense.
If an action started in the past, and is still going on now, English uses a Present Perfect to express it.
I have known her for five years.
He has worked with us for six weeks now.
She has had my bicycle since last Tuesday.
We have lived here since 1978.
Note that in these cases, "for" gives you the period of the action, but "since" will tell you exactly when it started. Here are a couple more examples.
He's been in Scotland for six years.
I have liked her ever since I met her.
I've been there every summer since six years ago.
Questions and answers concerning the idea "how long ...?" naturally use this Present Perfect form too.
How long have you been here?
How long have you had that bike?
2.7THE PRESENT PERFECT PROGRESSIVE
2.7.1As usual, the Progressive form introduces the idea of the action lasting for a certain time, in one of the contexts which require a Present Perfect.
I have been reading Joyce lately.
She's been working in the garden this week.
I've been thinking about you a lot lately.
They've been waiting for hours!
How long have you been playing the guitar?
We often use this Perfect Progressive form when we are giving an excuse, or an explanation of what has just been happening.
You must forgive her bad temper, but she's been working terribly hard recently.
Be careful, I've been painting the door.
I think Patrick's been drinking again!
2.7.2With the type of idea that we saw in 2.6.3, (where French uses a present,) the Present Perfect Progressive can be used to suggest that the action is also going to be prolonged into the future.
I've been trying to do this problem for half an hour.
We've been studying English for more than two years now.
She's been staying at my house since last Friday.
2.8THE PLUPERFECT, (PAST PERFECT).
2.8.1The Pluperfect is used for a past action which had already happened before another past action.
He had gone before we arrived.
He had begun to sing his third song when they interrupted him.
I hadn't realized that Penelope was as old as that.
2.8.2The Pluperfect is also used for an action which had started at one moment in the past, and was still going on at another, later moment in the past. This use in fact follows the logic of 2.6.3, and corresponds to an imperfect tense in French.
I had known her for six months when I first saw her smile.
I had worked there since 1947, but in 1963 I lost my job.
(Note again, as with the Present Perfect, the difference between "for" and "since" in cases like this, "for" telling you the period or length of the action, and "since" telling you when it started.)
2.9THE PLUPERFECT PROGRESSIVE, (OR PAST PERFECT PROGRESSIVE.)
2.9.1As usual, the progressive form expresses the idea of the action lasting for a certain time.
They had been working hard before we arrived.
She had been learning her English vocabulary all day.
2.9.2With sentences of the type we saw in 2.8.2, where the corresponding French tense is an imperfect, the Pluperfect Progressive form can also suggest that the action was going to be prolonged into the future.
He had been studying English for three months when he first visited London.
I had been talking to her since three in the afternoon, but I still didn't know what her name was.
2.10THE FUTURE.
2.10.1Theoretically, the Future tense is formed with the auxiliary "shall," first person, or "will," second and third persons, plus the incomplete infinitive.
We shall come and see you tomorrow.
He will probably agree to help you.
2.10.2In fact, modern English often uses "will" for the first person too, and anyway the difference disappears as soon as you use the abbreviated forms, as you normally do in the spoken language.
I will come and visit you next week.
They'll be here at six.
We'll see you later.
2.10.3The forms "Shall I...?" or "Shall we...?" are used when you want to make a suggestion, or when you are asking for advice about something.
Shall we come and give you a hand?
Shall we meet outside the theatre?
Where shall I put this box?
How shall we prepare the meal?
2.10.4The use of "will" with the first person, and "shall" with the two others, can be a way of showing that the person speaking is particularly determined that something is going to happen.
I will pass that exam, even if I have to work till midnight every day.
You shall finish that exercise for tomorrow, without fail!
2.10.5The form "going to" is very common, especially in spoken English, to express the idea of something that is about to happen in the near future.
I'm going to start my new job soon.
He was going to answer, but his brother interrupted him.
This form can also introduce the idea that the person speaking predicts that something is going to happen, or is determined that the action is going to take place, (and so it can be an alternative to 2.10.4.)
I have a feeling that things are going to change soon.
You're going to learn all these examples.
She doesn't want to speak to me, but I'm going to phone her all the same.
2.10.6Don't forget that the Present Progressive form can also be used to express a future action, as we saw in 2.2.2.
Daphne's coming tomorrow.
We're having a party tonight; are you coming?
Naturally, if this sort of future idea is put into a past context, you will use a Past Progressive.
We didn't know that you were coming too.
2.11THE FUTURE PROGRESSIVE.
2.11.1As usual, the Progressive form introduces the idea of an action lasting for a certain time.
At three in the morning they'll be sleeping.
I'll be working in the morning.
2.11.2The Future Progressive is also quite frequently used in spoken English to express more an idea of probability than of real future time.
She'll be watching television now, I imagine.
He'll be doing his homework, if I know him!
2.12THE FUTURE PERFECT.
2.12.1This tense, which tells us that something "will have happened" at some future moment, is formed by using "shall have" or "will have" plus the past participle. The same remarks as in 2.10.1 and 2.10.2 are valid as to the choice between "shall" and "will" in the construction of this form.
He will have finished at ten o'clock.
I shall have read it by Friday.
We will have paid for it by Christmas, I hope.
This time tomorrow they'll already have left for Rio.
2.13THE FUTURE PERFECT PROGRESSIVE.
2.13.1As always, the Progressive forms insist on the idea of the action lasting for a certain time.
They'll have been working for three and a half hours.
2.13.2As in 2.11.2, an idea of probability can also be expressed with this form.
No doubt they'll have been studying hard with that new maths teacher.
2.14CONDITIONAL SENTENCES.
2.14.1The Conditional tense is usually formed by using "would" plus the incomplete infinitive. "Should" can be used as the auxiliary for the first person, like "shall" with the future, but in fact we tend to use "should" far more often as an equivalent of “ought to,” expressing a sort of moral obligation, duty or necessity.
I would lend you some money if I had any.
They would come if they weren’t busy.
I’m sure he’d help you if he could.
She’d do it if you showed her how.
2.14.2The conditional perfect is usually formed by using “would have” plus the past participle. “Should have” is also theoretically possible, with the same reservations as for “should” in 2.14.1.
They would have left if you hadn’t begged them to stay.
I would have told you the answer if I’d known it myself.
She wouldn’t have accepted such impertinence from Henry without slapping his face!
He’d have been with us if his parents had let him come.
2.14.3You must pay attention to the sequence of tenses in conditional sentences: in fact it functions more or less the same way as in French, so look carefully at the following examples.
(a)If she invites me, I’ll accept.
(b)If she invited me, I’d accept.
(c)If she’d invited me, I’d have accepted.
(a)I’ll succeed if you help me.
(b)I’d succeed if you helped me.
(c)I’d have succeeded if you’d helped me.
You can in fact see that examples (a) express what is probable, examples (b) what is possible, and examples (c) what is impossible, or perhaps what it’s too late to do now. Note that the same tense-sequence is observed after “unless,” which corresponds to “if” followed by a negative.
(a)You won’t meet her unless you come with me.
(b)You wouldn’t meet her unless you came with me.
(c)You wouldn’t have met her if you hadn’t come with me.
The following table can help you to memorize thse rules on the sequence of tenses: (the letters a, b & c refer to the examples above:)
(a)(if-clause) present > > >(main clause) future
(b)(if-clause) past > > > > >(main clause) conditional
(c)(if-clause) pluperfect > >(main clause) conditional perfect
2.14.4Don’t forget that, as always, the Progressive forms exist, and introduce the idea of the action lasting for a certain time.
I wouldn’t be eating if I wasn’t hungry.
She’d be crying if she was really sad.
He’d still be waiting at the bus-stop if I hadn’t seen him.
I’d have been spending my summer holidays in Spain if I’d accepted their invitation.
She’d have been dancing in a Broadway show if she hadn’t broken her ankle.
He wouldn’t have been playing for us if they’d listened to me.
2.15THE BIGGEST PROBLEM with future ideas for a French-speaking student of English is the fact that in a subordinate clause which tells you when something is going to happen, you cannot use a future or conditional form in English, (contrary to what happens in French!) Look very carefully at the following examples:
I’ll ring you when I’m in London.
Dinner will be ready when you arrive.
(French would use a future here.)
Will you tell me as soon as he has left?
(In French it would be a future perfect.)
He said he would come when he was ready.
They said they’d be able to change our machine as soon as we chose a new one.
(A conditional in French.)
He asked me to lend him the book as soon as I’d finished it.
She said she’d give me her answer when she’d thought about it a bit more.
(A conditional perfect in French.)
This little table can perhaps help you to remember these important rules for this sort of sentence:
EnglishFrench
simple presentfuture
present perfectfuture perfect
simle pastconditional
pluperfectconditional perfect
In fact this problem is principally posed after “when” and “as soon as,” but it can also be the case in sentences using other time conjuctions, such as “after” and “whenever” for example:
I’ll give you the paper after I’ve read it.
He’ll help us whenever he has the time.
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