UNIT 2: OVERVIEW OF THE ENGLISH VERB SYSTEM

FOCUS 1: OVERVIEW OF ASPECT

The children played in the field.They were playing when it began

to rain.They hadn’t finished their games

when it began to rain.They had been playing for only a

short time when it began to rain.

What time frame are these sentences set it in?What is the difference between these sentences?

simple

progressiveperfect

perfect progressive

FOCUS 1: OVERVIEW OF ASPECT

Aspect Meaning Example

simple at that time The police arrested the protesters at 2:45 P.M.

progressivein progress during that time

They were blocking the street when they were arrested.

perfect before that time

They had stopped traffic for over an hour.perfect

progressivein progress during and before that time

They had been protesting the president’s decision when the arrests started.

FOCUS 2: SIMPLE TENSES

When do we use the simple present tense?

When do we use the simple past tense?

When do we use the simple future tense?

*Grammar Note*The simple tenses are generally used to express truths, such as facts of nature, or a habitual situation.

The simple present tense can also be used to express the future when referring to things that are scheduled or events that are planned as in the following: The train leaves at 6:00 tonight OR My birthday is on Saturday.

Read grammar chart on Focus 2.

FOCUS 3: PROGRESSIVE ASPECT

He was speaking Spanish when she came into the room.

He spoke Spanish when she came into the room.

Do the sentences have the same meanings? What is the difference?

Look at the grammar chart for Focus 3 (page 17).

FOCUS 3: PROGRESSIVE ASPECT

What is the difference between the following sentence pairs?

Peter was reading a magazine when Denise began talking.

Peter read a magazine when Denise began talking.

Anna was singing when Fred arrived. Anna sang when Fred arrived.

FOCUS 4: PERFECT ASPECT

Max finished his homework when his mom came home from work.

Max had finished his homework when his mom came home from work.

What differences can you see between the sentences?

In which sentence did Max finish his homework first?

FOCUS 4: PERFECT ASPECT

Maria has eaten at that restaurant for many years.

Maria ate at that restaurant for many years.

What differences can you see between the sentences?

Which sentence says that Maria still eats at the restaurant and which sentence says that she doesn’t eat there anymore?

FOCUS 4: PERFECT ASPECT

Have + Verb (past participle usually ends in –ed or –en)

happened before another action uncompleted related to the present moment began in the past but still continues

FOCUS 5: PERFECT PROGRESSIVE ASPECT

Perfect Aspect Perfect Progressive Aspect

have + verb –ed/-en have + been + verb –inghave studied have been studying