The Present Simple

The Present Simple is formed from the infinitive without the particle to. In the third person singular the verb has the suffix –s/-es. The affirmative form of the Present Simple is a synthetic form(e.g. I work, he works, etc.)

We like to do our homework.

In the interrogative form the auxiliary verb to do is placed before the subject:

Do you have free time? Does she have any job?

In the negative form the negative particle not is placed after the auxiliary verb. In the negative form the notional verb suffix –s/ es is dropped, but does not take place with third person singular.

We don’t like hard drinks. He doesn’t work anymore.

The use of the Present Simple

The Present Simple is used to denote :

1. Customary, repeated actions.

The Simpsons go to the seaside every summer. I usually go shopping twice a week.

2. . Universal truths, something which is eternally true.

The stars appear at night.

3. Actions and states characterizing a given person.

She looks well without make-up. She speaks English fluently.

4. Actions going on at the Present moment (with verbs not used in the Continuous form).

I see Mary in the street. Tell her to come in.

I hear somebody knock. Go and open the door.

5. To denote permanent actions:

The U.K. consisits of several islands.

6. A future action:

1. In adverbial clauses of time and condition after the conjunctions when, till, until, before, after, as soon as, as long as, if, unless, on condition that, provided.

Before I go to university I’ll prepare my homework.

2. With verbs of motion (to go, to leave, to come,to arrive etc.)The future action is regarded as something fixed.

The train leaves at 10 o’clock. The bus arrives at 9 tomorrow.

3. To denote immediate future action:

What do we do next? Where do we go now? What happens next? Why don’t you go home?(You look ill)

4. After the expressions – to make sure, to take care, to see (to), to look after etc.

I’ll see that the lady is properly looked after.

7. In stage directions and TV commentators in describing sports events, public functions etc.

She approchies him with the knife.

Here on TV a film about Chi-Chi,the giant panda, who returns home after her stay in the Moscow Zoo.

8. In literary style in past time directions.

The use of the Present Simple is normally associated with such adverbial modifier of frequency as often, seldom, sometimes, occasionally, always, never, ever, every year(week, day, month),usually, once( twice, three times)… a year, daily, on Sundays(Mondays etc.) and the like.

The Past Simple

The Past Simple is formed by adding –ed or –d to the regular verbs, or by changing form of the irregular verb.

The interrogative form the auxiliary verb to do (DID)is placed before the subject .

Did you go to the theatre yesterday?

In the negative form the negative particle not is placed after the auxiliary verb.

I didn’t watch that film.

The use of the Past Simple

The Past Simple is used to denote:

1. An action performed in the past.

I met her 6 months ago.

2. A succession of past actions.

I went downstairs and cooked and served dinner for three.

3. Repeated actions in the past.

He made an entry in his diary every night.(Каждый вечер он делал запись в дневнике.)

4. To express recurrent actions(it’s generally supported by the use of adverbial modifiers such as often, never, again, sometimes, for days, etc.)

You often mentioned her in your letters.

But sometimes he found his work difficult.

5. To express permanent actions which indicate continuous, uninterrupted processes in the past, giving a general characteristic of the person or thing denoted by the subject.

She lived alone in London, and saw no one except me.

I knew they loved each other, but they always quarreled.

She had a large, blunt, knobby nose, and her eyes protruded:

They were light blue, staring and slightly puzzled.

6. To express an action going on at a given past moment.

1. The use of the Past Simple becomes obligatory with stative verbs.

She sipped her coffee and pulled a face. She thought it tasted horrible.

She was ill at ease, and he felt sorry for her. He wanted all her troubles for himself at that moment.

2. The Past Simple may be used instead of Past Continuous with certain durative verbs(to sit, to stand, to lie, to hang, to shine, to gleam, to talk, to speak, to wear, to carry, to walk etc.)

The lights in the house were out, but a rising moon gleamed against one window in the room where little Mary slept.

He walked between us, listening attentively to our conversation.

7. To express a future action viewed from the past. This use is found in reported speech and structurally dependent.

Probably she knew that, whatever happened, he would not give her away.

The use of the Past Simple is normally associated with such adverbial modifier of frequency as yesterday, a week ago, last (week, month, year etc.), etc.

The Present Continuous

The Present Continuous is formed by means of the Present Indefinite ot the auxiliary verb to be and Participle I of the notional verb.

In the interrogative form the auxiliary verb (am, is, are) is placed before the subject.

Is he reading the book now?

In the negative form the negative particle not is placed after the auxiliary verb.

She isn’t working now.

The use of The Present Continuous

The Present Continuous is used to denote:

1. An action going on at the present moment(the term “present moment” is not limited to the actual moment of speaking. The Present Continuous is used when in Russian we can say сейчас(теперь), which refers not only to the moment of speaking, but has wider meaning ).

“My dear”, said Jolyon with gentle exasperation, ”you are talking nonsense”.

2. When there are 2 actions one of which is in progress and the other is an usual action, the first is expressed by the Present Continuous and the second by the Present Simple.

You never open your lips while you are painting.

3. To denote a certain state or quality peculiar to the person at a given moment.

You are being a nuisance.

4. When people are talking about their future arrangements.

5. To express a continual process(with always, constantly, ever).

The earth is always moving.

6. To express an action thought of as a continual process(with always, ever, constantly).

She is always grumbling.

The Past continuous

The Past Continuous is formed by means of the Past Indefinite of the auxiliary verb to be and Participle I of the notional verb.

In the interrogative form the auxiliary verb is placed before the subject.

In the negative form the negative particle not is placed after the auxiliary verb.

The use of the Past Continuous

The Past Continuous is used to denote:

1. An action which was going on a definite moment in the past.

It was twelve and he was still sitting at the piano.

The definite moment can be expressed by another past action by the verb in the Past Simple or by adverbial phrase.

When I returned, she was sweeping the floor.

2. Is used to denote a certain state or quality peculiar to the person at a given moment in the past(in emotional speech).

She was always suffering from a cut or a burn.

3. To indicate future action viewed from the past.

Why didn’t you tell me you were starting?

The Past Continuous can be used with such words as the whole day, all day long, at 5 yesterday etc.

The Present Perfect

The Present Perfect is formed by means of the Present Indefinite of the auxiliary verb to have and Participle to of the notional verb(if it’s irregular) or infinitive form with adding –ed.

In the interrogative form the auxiliary verb is placed before the subject.

In the negative form the negative particle not is placed after the auxiliary verb.

The use of the Present Perfect

The Present Perfect is used to denote:

1. A completed action connected with the present.

I’m upset for I have lost my key.

2. Is used with adverbial clauses of time after the conjunctions when, till, until, before, after, as soon as to denote an action completed before definite moment in the future.

I’m not going till you have answered me.

Note! Verbs of sense perception and motion (to hear, to see, to come, to arrive, to return) in adverbial clauses of time are generally used in the Present Simple and not in the Present Perfect.

I’m sure he will recognize the poem when he hears the first line.(Я уверен, что он узнает стихотворение, когда услышит первую строчку).

But when the completion of the action is emphasized, the Present Perfect is used.

He will know the poem by heart when he has heard it twice.(Он будет знать стихотворение наизусть, когда дважды прослушает его).

3. An action which began in the past, has been going on up to the present and still going on .This use of the Present Perfect is called the Present Perfect Inclusive. The preposition for is used to denote the whole period of duration. Since is used to indicate the starting point of duration.

Where have you been since last Sunday?

The have been engaged these 2 years.

1. with verbs not admitting of the Continuous form.

“She has been dead for hours”, said the doctor.

2. In negative sentences.

I have not slept since that night.

2. With non-terminative verbs such as to live, to work, to study, to teach, to travel.

I have worked upon the problem for a long time.

4. Is used in sentences starting with It’s the first(second,etc.) time…., This is the first (second,etc.) time….:

This is the first time she was driven a car.

The use of the Present Perfect is normally associated with such adverbial modifier of frequency as already, yet, just, lately, recently.

The Past Perfect

The Past Perfect is formed by means of the Past Indefinite of the auxiliary verb to have and Participle II of the notional verb.

In the interrogative form the auxiliary verb is placed before the subject.