TENSES

PRESENT SIMPLE It is used for:a) actions that are repeated (every morning,often usually, always);I always get up at 7 o clock.b) for general truths:Osijek is the capital of Slavonia.c) when something stays unchanged for a long time:He lives in Osijek.

Present Simple Interrogative form:How does she get to work?What do you think about it?Is she a reliable person?When can I see him?

Negative form:He does not want to come.We do not need you.He isnt a reliable person.

PRESENT CONTINOUS It is used:a) when something is happening at the time of speaking (now):I am talking to you now.b) when something is happening around the time of speaking:I am reading an interesting book.c) when we talk about changing situation:My English is getting better.d) for future actions that are arranged (near future):He is playing football tomorrow. e) when situation is temporary:I am living with friends until I find a flat.f) when two actions are simultaneous:While I am talking you are writing.

Present ContinuousInterrogative form:Are you studying now?Is your English getting better?

Negative form:We are not talking now.He is not leaving tomorrow.

Present ContinuousList of verbs that are not used in continuous tenses:

want, need, prefer, love, like, hate, belong, see, hear, know, realize, believe, suppose, mean, understand, remember, forget, seem

Do you like London?(not: Are you liking London?)He does not understand it.(not: He is not understanding it).This belongs to me.(not: This is belonging to me.)

PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLEIt is used:a) when there is a connection with the present:Jim has gone to Canada.b) to give new information or to announce a recent happening:They have just arrived.c) when something has happened sooner than expected:When is Tom going to start his new job?He has already started it.d) when we do not specify time of action ( ever, never, this year, since, lately, for):Have you ever visited England?e) when we expect something to happen (only in questions and negative sentences):I have not told him about it yet (jo).Has it stopped raining yet (ve)?f) after a superlative:It is the most boring film I have ever seen.

Present Perfect SimpleInterrogative form:Have you forgotten my name?Has she ever been to China?

Negative form:I have not seen him since Christmas.He has not loved her.

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUSIt is used:a) when we talk about a long action which began in the past and has recently stopped:You are out of breath. Have you been running?b) when the action began in the past and is still happening:It has been raining for two hours.c) when actions repeated over a period of time:She has been playing tennis since she was 8.d) when we stress how long something has been happening:I have been learning English for 10 years but I have not learned it yet.

The verbs BE, HAVE, KNOW are not used in the continuous form.

Present Perfect ContinuousInterrogative form:Has he been watching TV since dinner?Have you been writing this letter the whole morning?How long have you been learning English?

Negative form:I have not been watching TV for hours.She has not been working hard today.

PAST SIMPLEIt is used:a) for events in the past without any connection with the present:I heard the news an hour ago.b) for specific time in the past:The Second World War began in 1941.c) for repeated actions in the past:During the summer he went swimming every day.d) with adverbs of time: yesterday, ago, last week, in 1870.

Past SimpleInterrogative form:When did you hear the news?Did the war begin in 1941?Were you in Paris last week?Could he show you the way?

Negative form:I did not see him yesterday.I was not there last night.We could not help him.

PAST CONTINUOUSIt is used:a) when activity was going on when another activity occurred:It was still raining when he returned.b) when two actions occurred simultaneously:While I was talking she was listening.c) when activity was taking place continuously over a particular period of past time:What were you doing all morning?d) when customary action occurred in the past with the suggestion of annoyance, criticism:She was continually changing her mind.

Past ContinuousInterrogative form:Was she continually changing her mind?What were you doing when he arrived?

Negative form:She was not talking constantly.They were not working all morning.

PAST PERFECT It is used:a) in when clauses the event in the when clause was completed before event in the past simple started:When I had read the letter I started crying.b) in after clauses- the event in the after clause preceded the other event:After we had passed exams, we went to celebrate.c) when we narrate events looking back from the point in the past.d) in reported speech;e) after expressions: I wish, if onlyI wish they had stayed at home.

Past PerfectInterrogative form:Had he finished the work before they returned?Had they passed the exams?

Negative form:I had not finished the work before they returned.They had not passed the exams.

1) WILL , SHALL + INFINITIVEIt expresses neutral future :The holidays will soon be here.I shall be 60 next birthday. It is suitable in prophetic statements:In 20 years the Earth will be terribly polluted.Shall in its future sense is restricted to the first person in Standard British English. Will can be used in all persons.Shall has a modal meaning with the second and third person subjects: You shall die.It is a threat rather than a prediction.Shall is found with the second person subjects in the Bible:Thou shall not kill.Shall is found in legal documents with the third person subjects:A committee shall be appointed to study the matter further.

FUTURE TIME FROM THE PRESENT VIEWPOINTThe most important ways of expressing future time are:1) Will/shall + infinitive2) Be going to + infinitive3) Present Continuous4) Present Simple5) Will/shall + Progressive Infinitive6) Be about to + infinitive7) Be to + infinitive

2) BE GOING TO + INFINITIVEIt is used for future and intention. It refers to the immediate future:

I am going to stay at home.They are going to get married.What are you going to do?

3) THE PRESENT CONTINUOUSIt refers to a future event anticipated in the present. The basic meaning is a fixed arrangement, plan or programme.

The plane is taking off at 10.The President is coming to the UN this week.

4) THE PRESENT SIMPLEIt represents future as a fact:The next semester starts on the 1st of March.Next Christmas falls on Thursday.

It si used to express a plan or arrangement regarded as unalterable: Her case comes before the judge next week.

5) WILL, SHALL + PROGRESSIVE INFINITIVEIt refers to temporary activities in the future, interrupted by another activity or taking place at a specific point in time:Do not phone me at 7, I shall be eating.When I get home my wife will be watching TV.

It is also used for a predicted event without any temporal frame, will or intention:When will you be moving to your new house?

6) BE ABOUT + INFINITIVEIt expresses the immediate future, i.e. Imminent fulfilment:

We are (just) about to leave.He is about to finish his work.

7) BE TO + INFINITIVE

It expresses arrangement, command, or pre-destined future:

There is to be an investigation.You are to be back by 10.If he is to succeed in his new job, he must work hard.