basic tenses in active voice

Tenses in Active VoiceBy Piret Lehiste

Present Simple

• Used for scientific facts, permanent truths• Used for habitual or customary actions• Used for future reference (for timetables)

E.g. Water boils at 100 degrees by Celsius. I play tennis every Tuesday.The plane leaves at 14:00 tomorrow.

Present Simple

Positive:I, you, we, they watch TVHe, she, it watches TV

Negative:I, you, we, they do not (don’t) watch TVHe, she, it does not (doesn’t) watch TV

Question:Do you watch TV?Does he watch TV?

Present Simple

Time expressions to use with the Present Simple:

always, usually, normally, sometimes, often, every day, every year, seldom, rarely, at weekends, on Saturdays, etc.

E.g. John tries to exercise every day.I don’t normally drink tea with milk.Does she work on Sundays?

Present Continuous

• Used for actions happening right now or in progress at the moment of speaking• Used for planned actions in the future

E.g. You are reading this sentence right now.

I’m taking English grammar this term.I’m meeting my friends tonight.

Present Continuous

Positive:I am watching TVHe, she, it is watching TVWe, you, they are watching TVNegative:I am not watching TVHe, she, it is not watching TVWe, you, they are not watching TVQuestion:Am I watching TV?Is he watching TV?Are you watching TV?

Present Continuous

Time expressions to use with the Present Continuous:

now, at the moment, at present, today, etc.

E.g. I’m working on my essay today.Listen! They are singing out national

anthem now.It isn’t raining at the moment.

Present Perfect

• Used for actions beginning in the past and continuing to the present moment• Used for actions which happened at an

unspecified time in the past but have present effects

E.g. He has written five novels so far.I have lost my keys. I cannot get into

the house.

Present PerfectPositive:I, we, you, they have + watched (III pf.) TVHe, she, it has + watched (III pf.) TV

Negative:I, we, you, they have not (haven’t) + watched He, she, it has not (hasn’t) + watched

Question:Have you watched TV? Has he watched TV?

Present Perfect

Time expressions to use with the Present Perfect:

already, since, just, yet, for 5 years, never, etc.

E.g. I have just eaten breakfast.She has never been to England.We haven’t packed our bags yet.

Past Simple

• Used to talk about an activity that began and ended at a particular time in the past

E.g. I saw a really good film yesterday.I learnt to swim when I was young.She graduated from university in 2008.

Past Simple

Positive:I, you, he, she, it, we, they watched TV

II pf.Negative:I, you, he, she, it, we, they did not (didn’t) + watch TV

Question:Did you watch TV?

Past Simple

Time expressions to use with the Past Simple:

yesterday, last week, two minutes ago, etc.

E.g. My sister reached home two hours ago.I finished school last summer.He didn’t call me last night.

Past Continuous

• Used to talk about actions in progress in the past• Used to talk about actions which were in

progress when something else happened

E.g. We were playing tennis at 7 p.m. last night.

He was driving very fast when the accident happened.

Past Continuous

Positive:I, he, she, itwas watching TVWe, you, they were watching TV

Negative:I, he, she, itwas not watching TVWe, you, they were not watching TV

Question:Was he watching TV?Were you watching TV?

Past Continuous

Time expressions to use with the Past Continuous:

while, this time yesterday, etc.

E.g. The accident happened while he was driving home.

This time yesterday I was having breakfast.

I wasn’t sleeping when you called.

Past Perfect

• Used with reference to ‘an earlier past’, that is to describe the first of two or more actions

E.g. She suddenly realized that she had left her textbook home.

He got a bad grade because he had made too many mistakes in the test.

Past Perfect

Positive:I, he, she, it, we, you, they had + watched TV

(III pf.)

Negative:I, he, she, it, we, you, they had not (hadn’t) + watched TV

Question:Had she watched TV?

Past Perfect

Time expressions to use with the Past Perfect:

already, for, since, by the time, after, etc.

E.g. By the time we arrived, the meeting had ended.

When I reached home, my brother had already left.

After she had finished her work, she went out.

Future Simple

• Used to make predictions about the future or about people’s plans• Used for promises or on-the-spot decisions

E.g. The weather will probably be sunny tomorrow.

Mum, we haven’t got any milk. – Alright, I will go and buy some.

Future Simple

Positive:I, you, he, she, it, we, they will watch TV

Negative:I, you, he, she, it, we, they will not (won’t) +

watch TV

Question:Will you watch TV?

Future Simple

Time expressions to use with the Future Simple:

tomorrow, next year, soon, in the future, etc.

E.g. Do you think it will rain tomorrow?You will be a great musician one day.I promise I will be back soon.