11. Verb tenses

11.1 Usage of simple present tense

1) Frequent or habitual actions, often used to express frequency Use adverbials of time together. Time adverbials: every…, sometimes, at…, on Sunday. For example:

I leave home for school at 7 every morning. I leave home at seven every morning.

2) Objective truth, objective existence, scientific fact. For example:

The earth moves around the sun.

Shanghai lies in the east of China. Shanghai lies in the east of China.

3) Represents a motto or aphorism. For example:

Pride goes before a fall. The proud will eventually fall.

Note: If this usage occurs in an object clause, even if the main clause is in the past tense, the predicate of the clause must be in the present tense.

Example: Columbus proved that the earth is round. Columbus proved that the earth is round.

4) The current status, ability, character, and personality. For example:

I don't want so much. I don't want so much.

Ann writes good English but does not speak well. Ann writes good English but does not speak well.

Compare: Now I put the sugar in the cup. Put the sugar in the cup.

I am doing my homework now. I am doing my homework now.

The first sentence uses the present tense, which is used for demonstration actions of operation demonstrations or instructions, expressing the momentary actions of words and deeds. Now in the second sentence is a symbol of the progressive tense, indicating the objective status of the ongoing action, so the simple present tense is used in the second sentence.

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11.2 Usage of simple past tense

1) The action or state of existence that occurred at a certain past time. For example: time adverbials include: yesterday, last week, an hour ago, the other day, in 1982, etc. For example:

Where did you go just now? Where did you go just now?

2) Indicates regular or habitual actions in the past period of time. For example:

When I was a child, I often played football in the street.

Whenever the Browns went during their visit, they were given a warm welcome.

At that time, whenever the Browns went during their visit, they were given a warm welcome.

3) Sentence pattern: It is time for sb. to do sth "It's time for..." "It's time for...". For example: It is time for you to go to bed. It is time for you to go to bed.

It is time that sb. did sth. "It is too late" "It should have been...", for example, It is time you went to bed. You should have gone to bed long ago.

would (had) rather sb. did sth. means 'would rather someone do something'. For example: I'd rather you came tomorrow. Come tomorrow.

4) Wish, wonder, think, hope, etc. are used in the past tense to make tentative inquiries, requests, suggestions, etc. Generally, the actions or states expressed in the past tense have become the past and no longer exist. exist. For example: I thought you might have some. I thought you might have some.

Compare: Christine was an invalid all her life. (Meaning: She is no longer alive.)

Christine has been an invalid all her life. (Meaning: She is still alive)

Mrs. Darby has lived in Kentucky for seven years. (Meaning: Mrs. Darby no longer lives in Kentucky.)

Mrs. Darby has lived in Kentucky for seven years. (Meaning: Still living in Kentucky now, may mean just left)

Note: Use the past tense to express the present, indicating a euphemistic tone.

1) Verbs want, hope, wonder, think, intend, etc. For example:

Did you want anything else? Do you want anything else?

I wondered if you could help me.

2) Modal verbs could, would. For example:

Could you lend me your bike? Could you lend me some of your bikes?

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11.3 used to / be used to

used to do: "Past often" indicates a habitual action or state in the past , but no longer exists. For example:

Mother used not to be so forgetful.

Scarf used to take a walk. Scarf used to take a walk.

be used to doing: have become accustomed to..., or "used to", to is a preposition, and a noun or gerund needs to be added after it. For example:

He is used to a vegetarian diet.

Scarf is used to taking a walk. Scarf is used to taking a walk now.

Typical examples

---- Your phone number again? I ___ quite catch it.

---- It's 69568442.

A. didn't B. couldn't C. don't D. can't

Answer A. Although there is no clear time adverbial in this sentence, it can be seen from the semantics that when listening The person did not understand that the action occurred in the past, so the past tense was used.

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11.4 Simple future tense

1) shall is used in the first person and is often replaced by will. Will is used in declarative sentences and is often used in the second person when asking for opinions. For example:

Which paragraph shall I read first? Which paragraph should I read first?

Will you be at home at seven this evening? Will you be at home at seven this evening?

2) be going to is an infinitive, indicating the future.

a. The intention of the subject is to do something. For example: What are you going to do tomorrow? What are you going to do tomorrow?

b. Plan, arrange what is going to happen. For example: The play is going to be produced next month. The drama starts next month.

c. There are signs of something to come. For example: Look at the dark clouds, there is going to be a storm. Look at the dark clouds, it's going to rain.

3) The infinitive be refers to things that will happen in the future according to plans or formal arrangements. For example:

We are to discuss the report next Saturday. We are to discuss the report next Saturday.

4) be about to is an infinitive, meaning to do something immediately. For example:

He is about to leave for Beijing. He is going to Beijing soon.

Note: be about to do cannot be used with tomorrow, next week and other time adverbials that express a clear future tense.

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11.5 be going to / will When used in conditional sentences, be going to means the future and will means willingness. For example:

If you are going to make a journey, you'd better get ready for it as soon as possible.

Now if you will take off your clothes, we will fit the new clothes on you in front of the mirror.

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11.6 be to and be going to

be to indicates objective arrangements Or to do something under someone's instructions, be going to expresses a subjective intention or plan. For example:

I am to play football tomorrow afternoon. I am going to play football tomorrow afternoon.

(Objective arrangement)

I'm going to play football tomorrow afternoon. I'm going to play football tomorrow afternoon. (Subjective arrangement)

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11.7 Simple present tense refers to the future

1) The following verbs come, go, arrive, leave, start The simple present tense of begin and return can express the future, and are mainly used to express things that have been determined or arranged in time. For example:

The train leaves at six tomorrow morning. The train leaves at six tomorrow morning.

When does the bus star? It stars in ten minutes. When does the bus leave? Ten minutes later.

2) Inverted sentences starting with here, there, etc. indicate that the action is in progress. For example:

Here comes the bus. = The bus is coming. The bus is coming.

There goes the bell. = The bell is ringing. The bell is ringing.

3) In time or conditional sentences. For example:

When Bill comes (not will come), ask him to wait for me. When Bill comes, ask him to wait for me.

I'll write to you as soon as I arrive there.

4) In the object clauses of the verbs hope, take care that, make sure that, etc. For example:

I hope they have a nice time next week. I hope they have a nice time next week.

Make sure that the windows are closed before you leave the room.

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11.8 Use the present continuous tense to express the future

The following verbs come, go, arrive, leave, start, begin, return, etc. The present continuous tense can express the future. For example:

I'm leaving tomorrow. I'm leaving tomorrow.

Are you staying here till next week? Are you staying here till next week?

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11.9 Present perfect tense

The present perfect tense is used to express an action or state that has occurred or been completed before, and the result of The influence still exists; it can also mean an action or state that continues to the present. Its composition: have (has) past participle.

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11.10 Compare the simple past tense and the present perfect tense

1) The simple past tense expresses an action or simple action that occurred at some time in the past Describing past events, emphasizing actions; present perfect tense refers to things that happened in the past, emphasizing the impact of past events on the present, emphasizing the impact.

2) The past tense is often used with specific time adverbials, while the present perfect tense is usually used with vague time adverbials, or without time adverbials.

Time adverbials in the past tense: yesterday, last week,... ago, in1980, in October, just now, etc. are all specific time adverbials.

Time adverbials in the present perfect tense: for, since, so far, ever, never, just, yet, till/until, up to now, in past years, always, etc., all are indefinite time adverbials .

***Same time adverbials: this morning, tonight, this April, now, already, recently, lately, etc.

3) The present perfect tense can express an action or state that continues to the present. The verb is generally continuous, such as live, teach, learn, work, study, know.

Generally commonly used non-continuous verbs in the past tense include come, go, leave, start, die, finish, become, get married, etc. For example:

I saw this film yesterday. (emphasizes that the action of seeing has happened)

I have seen this film. (emphasizes the impact on the present, the content of the film is already known) )

Why did you get up so early? (emphasize that the action of getting up has already happened)

Who hasn't handed in his paper? (emphasize that there are papers that have not been handed in, doubtful) (For unfair competition)

He has been in the League for three years. (Status in the league can be extended)

He has been a League member for three years. (Yes The status of the group members is sustainable)

If there are past tense time adverbs in the sentence (such as yesterday, last, week, in 1960), the present perfect tense cannot be used, and the past tense must be used.

(False) Tom has written a letter to his parents last night.

(True) Tom wrote a letter to his parents last night.

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11.11 Sentence patterns for present perfect tense

1) It is the first / second time.... that... clause part in the structure, use present When completed. For example:

It is the first time that I have visited the city.

This is the first time (that) I've heard him sing.

Note: It was the third time that the boy had been late.

2) This is the superlative form of the adjective that... structure, and the that clause should use the present perfect tense.

For example:

This is the best film that I've (ever) seen.

Typical examples

(1) ---Do you know our town at all?

---No, this is the first time I ___ here .

A. was B. have been C. came D. am coming

Answer B. This is the first time. The clause added after it should be the present perfect tense, so choose B. .

（2） ---Have you ____ been to our town before?

---No, it's the first time I ___ here.

A . even, come B. even, have come C. ever, come D. ever, have come

Answer D. ever means once or whenever, and the opposite is never. These two words are commonly used upon completion.

Note: The negative form of non-continuous verbs can be used with adverbials expressing duration. That is, the state in which action does not occur can be sustained.

(False) I have received his letter for a month.

(True) I haven't received his letter for almost a month.

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11.12 Compare since and for

Since is used to describe the start time of the action, and for is used to describe the duration of the action. For example:

I have lived here for more than twenty years. I have lived here for more than twenty years.

I have lived here since I was born.

Note: Not all sentences with for as a time adverbial use the present perfect tense.

I worked here for more than twenty years. (I no longer work here.)

I have worked here for many years. (I still work here.)

Note: By using sentence pattern conversion, it is easy to eliminate the misuse of non-continuation verbs in perfect tenses with for/since structures.

1) (True) Tom has studied Russian for three years. = Tom began to study Russian three years ago, and is still studying it now.

2) (Wrong) Harry has got married for six years. = Harry began to get married six years ago, and is still getting married now.

Obviously, the second sentence is wrong, it should be changed to Harry got married six years ago. or Harry has been married for six years.

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11.13 Four uses of since

1) since a point in time in the past (such as Specific year, month, date, hour, 1980, last month, half past six). For example:

I have been here since 1989. Since 1989, I have been here.

2) since some time ago. For example:

I have been here since five months ago. I have been here since five months ago.

3) since clause. For example:

Great changes have taken place since you left.

Great changes have taken place since we were here.

4) It is a period of time since clause. For example:

It is two years since I became a postgraduate student.

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11.14 Continuation verbs and momentary verbs

1) Differences in perfect tense

Continuation verbs Expresses experience and experience; Momentary verbs express the results of actions and cannot be used with time adverbials expressing periods. For example:

He has completed the work. He has completed the work. (Table results)

I've known him since then. I've known him since then. (Experience)

2) Differences in till/until clauses

Continuation verbs are used in affirmative sentences, meaning "do...until..." Momentary verbs are used in negative sentences , means "until..., until...". For example:

He didn't come back until ten o'clock. He didn't come back until ten o'clock.

He slept until ten o'clock.

Typical examples

1. You don't need to describe her. I ___ her several times.

A. had met B. have met C. met D. meet

Answer B. First of all, the last sentence of this question emphasizes the impact on the present. I know what she looks like, you don’t need to describe it. Thirdly, several times tells a recurring action, so the present perfect tense is used.

2. ---I'm sorry to keep you waiting.

---Oh, not at all. I ___ here only a few minutes.

A. have been B. had been C. was D. will be

Answer A. The action of waiting starts in the past and continues to the present, applying the present perfect tense.

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11.15 Past perfect tense

1) Concept: expressing the past past

---- |----------|--------|----gt; Its formation is the past participle of had.

Before then, now,

2) Usage

a. The object clause after the verbs such as told, said, knew, heard, thought, etc. For example:

She said (that) she had never been to Paris. She told me that she had never been to Paris.

b. Adverbial clause

Among two actions that happened at different times in the past, if it happened first, use the past perfect tense; if it happened later, use the past simple tense. For example:

When the police arrived, the thieves had run away. When the police arrived, the thieves had run away.

c. Verbs expressing intention, such as hope, wish, expect, think, intend, mean, suppose, etc., use the past perfect tense to express "originally..., could not...". For example:

We had hoped that you would come, but you didn't.

3) Past perfect time adverbials before, by, until, when, after, once, as soon as. For example:

He said that he had learned some English before. He said that he had learned some English before.

By the time he was twelve, Edison had began to make a living by himself. By the time he was twelve, Edison had begun to make a living by himself.

Tom was disappointed that most of the guests had left when he arrived at the party.

Tom was disappointed because when he arrived at the party, most of the guests had left.

Typical examples

The students ___ busily when Miss Brown went to get a book she ___ in the office.

A. had written, left B, were writing, has left C. had written, had left D. were writing, had left

Answer D. "Forgot the book in the office" occurred before the past action of "go to get the book", so The action of "forgetting the book" happened in the past past and uses the past perfect tense. The word "when" in the sentence represents a point in time, indicating that the action guided by "when" occurs in the context of "the students are busy...". Therefore the past continuous tense should be used in the previous sentence.

Note: had hardly… when before… just…. For example:

I had hardly opened the door when I he hit me.

had no sooner…than just… just…. For example:

He had no sooner bought the car than he sold it. He just bought the car and sold it in the blink of an eye.

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11.16 Use simple past tense instead of past perfect tense

1) If two actions occur in order, the order is not emphasized. , or when using conjunctions such as then, and, but, etc., the simple past tense is often used. For example:

When she saw the mouse, she screamed.

My aunt gave me a hat and I lost it.

2) When two actions occur one after another, the past tense can be used; if the first action takes a certain amount of time to complete, the past perfect tense can be used. For example:

When I heard the news, I was very excited.

3) When describing historical facts, you do not need to use the past perfect tense, but only use the simple past tense. For example:

Our teacher told us that Columbus discovered America in 1492.

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11.17 Future perfect tense

1) Composition will have done

2) Concept

a. State completion: It means that something will continue to be in a state until a certain time in the future. For example:

They will have been married for 20 years by then.

b. Action completion: Indicates an action that has been completed or experience gained before a certain time in the future or another future action. For example:

You will have reached Shanghai by this time tomorrow. By this time tomorrow, you will have reached Shanghai.

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11.18 Present continuous tense

Basic usage of present continuous tense:

a. Express now ( refers to what is happening when the speaker is speaking).

For example:

We are waiting for you. We are waiting for you.

b. Habitual progress: Indicates long-term or repetitive actions, which may not be ongoing when speaking. For example:

Mr. Green is writing another novel. He is writing another novel. (You are not writing when you are speaking, you are only in the state of writing.)

c. Indicates a gradual change. Such verbs include: get, grow, become, turn, run, go, begin, etc. For example:

The leaves are turning red. The leaves are turning red.

It's getting warmer and warmer. It's getting warmer and warmer.

d. Used in conjunction with words such as always, constantly, forever, etc., to express recurring actions or persistent states, often with a subjective flavor of the speaker. For example:

You are always changing your mind.

Typical examples

My dictionary ___, I have looked for it everywhere but still___ it.

A. has lost, don't find B. is missing , don't find C. has lost, haven't found D. is missing, haven't found.

Answer D. The previous sentence is a state that is still ongoing. When the application is in progress, because there is no Find, its influence still exists, apply the perfect tense, the momentary verb can be used in the perfect tense when it is used in the negative form.

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11.19 Verbs without continuous tense

1) Verbs that express factual states, such as have, belong, possess, cost, owe, exist, include, contain, matter, weigh, measure, continue, etc. For example: I have two brothers. I have two brothers.

This house belongs to my sister.

2) Verbs expressing mental states, such as know, realize, think see, believe, suppose, imagine, agree, recognize, remember, want, need, forget, prefer, mean, understand, love, hate wait. For example: I need your help. I need your help.

He loves her very much. He loves her very much.

3) Momentary verbs, such as accept, receive, complete, finish, give, allow, decide, refuse, etc. For example:

I accept your advice. I accept your advice.

4) Coupling verbs, such as seem, remain, lie, see, hear, smell, feel, taste, get, become, turn, etc.

For example:

You seem a little tired. You seem a little tired.

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11.20 Past continuous tense

1) Concept: Indicates an ongoing state or action at some time in the past.

2) The main use of the past continuous tense is to describe the background of an event; when a long action continues, another short action occurs.

3) Commonly used time adverbials include this morning, the whole morning, all day yesterday, from nine to ten last evening, when, while, etc. For example:

My brother fell while he was riding his bicycle and hurt himself.

It was raining when they left the station.

When I got to the top of the mountain, the sun was shining.

Typical examples

1) Mary ___ a dress when she cut her finger.

A. made B. is making C. was making D. makes

Answer C. Cutting your finger is something that has happened, so the past tense should be used. At the same time, when expresses the simultaneity of time, and "Mary was making clothes" provides the background of what happened, so the past continuous tense is used.

2) As she ___ the newspaper, Granny ___ asleep.

A. read; was falling B. was reading; fell C. was reading; was falling D. read; fell

Answer B. as = when, while in sentence B. means "when...". When describing the background of an event, use the past continuous; when one long action occurs, another short action occurs. The sentence means "Grandma fell asleep while she was reading the newspaper." The fell (past tense of fall) in the sentence is a linking verb, followed by an adjective, such as: fall sick.

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