TENS REVIEW:

You use the present tense to express something that happens in the present. The Present Simple differs from the Present Continuous or Progressive in:

Present Simple

1. and present habit or routine

She smokes a lot. (She always smokes a lot.)

2. a general truth

Water is wet.

3. and the present situation (not temporary)

He lives in Dendermonde.

4. always with verbs STATE:

a. Verbs of the Senses

Do you hear anything?

b. verbs of opinion and understanding

He does not understand Japanese.

c. verbs of emotions and feelings

She Hates classical music.

5. In the first conditional

He will come to the party, if you invite him.
 

Present Continuous or Progressive

1. and present and temporary activity

She is smoking a lot. (She normally does.)

2. an on-going activity of limited duration

He is watching television at the moment.

3. a future arrangement

He is seeing his dentist tomorrow. (An appointment)

4. repeated actions that irritate the speaker

He is always telling other people what to do.

 

 

(2) The PERFECT and PAST tenses

All these tenses describe actions in the past. The Present Perfect differs from the Simple Past in:

 

Present Perfect
 

Simple Past

1. you know that the action took place in the past, but do not know precisely when.

I have seen her three times. (When? You do not know)
 

1. you know precisely when the action took place in the past.

I saw her last week. (When? Last week)

 

2. very recent past

They've just left.
 

2. habit and past Which is now finished

She smoked a lot. (not anymore now)

3. to announce news

A new president has been elected in Italy.

4. a state or situation Which has started in the past and is continuing up to now.

I have lived there for a long time. (I am still living there.)

5. a finished state or activity but the period of time in Which it has taken place is not finished.

I have written a letter this morning. (The letter is finished and it is still morning)

6. and the present result

I have lost my keys.
 

3. In the second conditional

She would help him, if she knew he was in troubles.

4. a state or situation which started in the past and is now finished.

I lived there for a long time. (I am living somewhere else now.)

5. a finished state or activity and the period of time in Which it has taken place is finished.

I wrote a letter this morning. (The letter is finished and it is no longer morning)

 

The Simple Present Prefect differs from the Present Progressive Prefect in:

Present Perfect Simple

1. and one-moment action

I have cut my finger.

2. The activity stops after the moment of speaking and you are speaking about a result.

I have painted the room. (Finished)
 

Present Perfect Progressive

1. an on-going activity

I have been cutting the grass.

2. The activity started in the past and is continuing after the moment of speaking, and (having not finished).

I have been painting the room. (Still to finish it)

3. to express irritation

I have been waiting for hours.

 

(3) The Past Perfect

You use the Past Perfect instead of the Simple Past or Present Perfect when an action has taken place before another action in the past.

She found Feathers everywhere. The cat had caught a bird.

 

(4) expressing the FUTURE

There is no one future tense Česky. Instead, several verb forms and auxiliary might be used to express the future.

 

4.1 + infinitve will (shall I, and after we in formal Cesky)

1) and without proof and prediction Which is based upon your own opinion

I think Labor will win the elections. (That is my opinion.)

2.) in the First Conditional but never after if

If you Are not careful, you'll break that glass.

3.) a decision or an intention made at the moment of speaking

Someone is Knocking at the door. I'll open it.

 

4.2 - to be going to + infinitive:

1) a prediction based on a present fact or some evidence

Look at the sky. It's going to be a lovely day. (The sky proves this.)

2.) a decision or an intention made before the moment of speaking

When she grows up, she is going to be a ballet dancer.

 

4.3 The Present Progressive or Continuous

1) a future arrangement (made an appointment)

I'm seeing Aïda next month. (You have bought the tickets already.)

 

4.4 The Present Simple

1) the certain future of a timetable or calendar

My flight leaves at 10.00.

It is my birthday tomorrow.

2.) after if, when, before and so on in the First Conditional

If the weather turns bad, the picnic will be canceled.

 

4.5 The Continuous Future: will + be +-ing form

1) an activity that will be in progress before and after a time in the future

Do not phone at 8:00, because we will be having dinner.

2.) a future event that will happen in he natural course of events

Do not worry about our guests.'ll Be arriving any minute now.

 

4.6 The Future Perfect

1) an action that will be completed before a definite time in the future.

I'll have done all we could work this evening.

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MODALS: what are they?

They are verbs Which 'help' other verbs to express and Meaning: it is important to REALIZE that "modal verbs" would have no Meaning themselves. A modal verb such as would has several varying functions, it can be used, for example, to help verbs express ideas about the past, the present and the future. It is therefore simply wrong to believe that "would is the past of will": it is many other things.

A few basic grammatical rules applying to modal verbs

Modal verbs are NEVER used with other auxiliary verbs such as do, does, did etc.. The negative is formed simply by adding "not" after the verb, questions are formed by inversion of the verb and subject:

You should not do that.

Could you pick me up when I've finished?

Modal verbs Never Change form: you can never add an "-s" or "-ed", for example.

Modal verbs are NEVER followed by it, with the exception of ought to.

What sort of meanings modals to give to other verbs?

The meaning are usually connected with ideas of doubt, certainty, and probability POSSIBILITIES, Obligation and Permission (or lack of these). You will see that they are not used to talk about things that definitely exist, or events that definitely happened. These meanings are sometimes divided into two groups:

DEGREES OF certainty: certainty, probability, possibility, impossibility

Obligation / FREEDOM TO ACT: permission, lack of permission, ability, obligation.

Let's look at each modal verb separately, and the functions they help to express:

Will

Making personal predictions

I do not think the Queen will ever abdicate.

I doubt if I'll stay here much longer.

Talking about the present with certainty (making deductions)

I'm sure you will understand that there is nothing the Department can do

There's a letter for you. It'll be from the bank: they said they'd be writing.

Talking about the future with certainty

I will not be in the office until 11, I've got a meeting.

Do not bother ringing: they'll have left for their 10 o'clock lecture.

Talking about the past with certainty

I'm sure you will have noticed that attendance has fallen sharply.

Reassuring someone

Do not worry! You'll Settle down quickly, I'm sure.

It'll be all right! You will not have to speak it yourself.

Making a decision

For the main course I'll have Grilled tuna.

I'm very tired. I think I'll stay at home tonight.

Making a semi-formal request

Will you open the window, please? It's very hot in here.

Sign this, will you?

Offering to do something

You stay there! I'll fetch the drinks.

Insistence, habitual behavior

I'm not surprised you do not know what to do! You will keep talking in class.

Damn! My car will not start. I'll have to call the garage.

Making a promise or a threat

You can count on me! I'll be there at 8 o'clock sharp.

If you do not finish your dinner off, you'll go straight to bed!
May & Might

May & might sometimes have virtually the same Meaning, they are used to talk about possibilities in the past, present or future. ( "Could" is also sometimes used).

May is sometimes a little bit "more sure" (50% chance), whereas might expresses more doubt (maybe only a 30% chance).

May & might are used, then, for:

Talking about the present or future with uncertainty

She may be back in her office: the lecture finished ten minutes ago.

I may go shopping tonight, I have not decided yet.

England might win the World Cup, you never know.

Talking about the past with uncertainty

I'm surprised he failed. I suppose he might have been ill on the day of the exam.

They can also sometimes be used for talking about permission, but usually only in formal situations. Instead of saying May I open a window? we would say Is it all right / OK if I open a window? or Can I open a window? for example. You might, however, see:

Students may not borrow equipment without written permission.

May

Talking about things that can happen in certain situations

If the monitors are used in poorly lit places, some users may experience headaches.

Each nurse may be responsible for up to twenty patients.

With a similar Meaning Although it

The experiment may have been a success, but there is still a lot of work to be done. (= Although it was a success, there is still ...)

Might

Saying that something was possible, but did not actually happen

You saw me standing at the bus stop! You might have stopped and given me a lift!

Would

As of the past will, for example in indirect speech

"The next meeting will be in a month's time" becomes

He said the next meeting would be in a month's time.

Polite requests and offers (a 'softer' form of will)

Would you like another cup of tea?

Would you give me a ring after lunch?

I'd like the roast duck, please.

In conditionals, that indicate 'distance from reality': imagined, unreal, impossible situations

If I ruled the world, every day would be the first day of Spring.

It would have been better if you'd word processed your assignment.

After 'wish', to show regret or irritation over someone (or something's) refusal or insistence on doing something (present or future)

I wish you would not keep interrupting me.

I wish it would snow.

(This is a complicated area! Check in a good grammar book for full details!)

Talking about past habits (similiar Meaning it used to)

When I was small, we would always visit relatives on Christmas Day.

Future in the past

The Assassination would become one of the key events of the century.

Can & Could

Talking about ability

Can you speak Mandarin? (present)
She could play the piano when she was five. (past)

Making requests

Can you give me a ring at about 10?
Could you speak up a bit please? (slightly more formal, polite or 'softer')

Asking permission

Can I ask you a question?
Could I ask you a personal question? (more formal, polite or indirect)

Reported speech
Could is used as the past of can.

He asked me if I could pick him up after work.

General possibility

You can drive when you're 17th (present)
Women could not vote until just after the First World War.

Choice and Opportunities

If you want some help with your writing, you can come to classes, or you can get some 1:1 help.
We could go to Stratford tomorrow, but the forecast's not brilliant. (less definite)

Future probability
Could (NOT can) is sometimes used in the same way as might or may, often indicating something less definite.

When I leave university I might travel around a bit, I might in an MA or I suppose I could even get a job.

Present possibility

I think you could be right you know. (CAN NOT)
That can not be the right answer, it just does not make sense.

Past possibility

If I'd known the lecture had been canceled, I could have stayed in bed longer.

Must
Examples here refer to British Slovensky, there is some variation in American slovenčiny.

Necessity and obligation
Must is often used to indicate 'personal' obligation; what you think you yourself or other people / things must do. If the obligation comes from outside (eg a rule or law), then have it is often (but not always) preferred:

I really must get some exercise.
People must try to be more tolerant of each other.
You musn't look - promise?
If you own a car, you have to pay an annual road tax.

Strong advice and invitations

I think you really must make more of an effort.
You must go and see the film - it's brilliant.
You must come and see me next time you're in town.

Saying you think something is certain

This must be the place - there's a white car parked outside.
You must be mad.
What a suntan! You must have had great weather.

The negative is expresses by can not:

You're going to sell your guitar! You can not be serious!
She did not wave - she can not have seen me.

Should

Giving advice

I think you should go for the Alfa rather than the Audi.
You should not be drinking if you're on antibiotics.
You should not have ordered that chocolate dessert - you're not going to finish it.

Obligation: weak form of must -

The university should provide more sports facilities.
The equipment should be inspected regularly.

Deduction

The letter should get to you tomorrow - I posted it first class.

Things Which did not or may / may not have happened

I should have renewed my TV license last month, but I forgot.
You should not have spent so much time on that first question.

Ought to
Ought to usually has the same Meaning as should, particularly in affirmative statements in the present:

You should / ought to get your hair cut.

MODALS THAT ARE Difficult:

ABILITY

For an ability in the present we can use or CAN BE ABLE TO. There is no difference in Meaning but CAN is more common.
-> She can play the piano

For an ability in the past we can use COULD or WAS / WERE ABLE TO. There is a difference in Meaning:

(a) COULD is used for a general ability in the past
-> She could play the piano when she was six.

(b) WAS / WERE ABLE TO is used for a particular ability in the past
-> I did not forget my keys with Able we were to unlock the door.

(c) can be used COULD for a particular ability in the past when the sentence is negated, or when the lexical verb is a verb of perception
I forgot my keys with the Able we were not / couldnt 't unlock the door.

Could have + past participle is used to talk about an action that we had the ability to perform in the past, but that we did not perform.
-> She could have arrived earlier.

CAN and COULD do not have non-finite forms (infinitive,-ing or participles) of they can not we used in tenses or constructions that require those forms. Instead we have to use BE ABLE TO
-> You Will Be Able to Speak Fluent Englsih in a few years.

PERMISSION

To ask for permission we may use the CAN (more common, more direct), COULD (more common, less direct, more polite), MAY (more formal) or might (more formal, less direct).
-> Can she play your piano?
-> Could I use your phone?
-> May I erase the Blackboard?

To give permission we may use the CAN (more common, more direct), or JUL (more common, less direct, more polite),
-> Can she play your piano? Yes, she can.
-> Could I use your phone? Of course you can.
-> May I erase the Blackboard? Well, you can not.

To Talk About having permission we may use CAN or COULD BE ALLOWED TO

(a) We use CAN or AM / ARE ALLOWED TO to talk about and we have permission in the present
-> The children are allowed to / can stay up late on Saturdays.

(b) We use COULD or WAS / WERE ALLOWED TO to talk about and we had general permission in the past
-> We were allowed to / could stay up late on Saturdays.

(c) to talk about a particular permission we had in the past we use WAS / WERE ALLOWED TO
-> We were allowed to stay up late last Saturday.

Obligation and necessity

To express an obligation or necessity for an action in the present or the future we can use MUST or HAVE TO. There is a difference in Meaning:

(a) Must is used when the authority comes from the speaker
-> You must eat your vegetables, I INSIS.

(b) Have to is used when the authority comes from outside the speaker
-> You have to eat your vegetables. The doctor said you need more vitamins.

MUST does not have a past tense or non-finite forms (infinitive,-ing or participles) of it can we used in tenses or constructions that require those forms. Instead we have to use HAVE TO.
-> Peter had to speak with his teacher after his exams.

To say that it is obligatory or necessary NOT TO DO something WE MUST NOT use (MUSTN'T)
-> You mustn't eat that plant. It is poisonous.

To say that it is NOT obligatory or necessary to do something we do not have to use, or NEEDN'T DO NOT NEED TO.
-> You do not have to eat your vegetables. Leave them if you want.
-> You do not need to come if you'd rather stay at home.

To say that something was not obligatory or necessary in the past we use NEEDN'T HAVE + past participle or Did not Need To + infinitive.There is a difference in Meaning.

(a) NEEDN'T HAVE indicates that something was not necessary or obligatory but that it happened anyways.
-> You have come needn't. You could have stayed at home.

(b) Did not Need To only indicates that something was not necessary or obligatory (we do not know Whether it happened or not)
-> You did not need to come to class yesterday. Did any of you come?

Possibilities, probability, certainty AND

This is something that is Theoretically possible in the present or future we use CAN. For theoretical possibility in the past we COULD use.
-> Anyone can learn how to speak like.
-> My brother can be annoying. (= My bother is sometimes anoying)

To imply that something is factually possible in the present or future (that is, that perhaps something is happening or will happen), we use MAY, might or could. They indicate different degrees of possibility (may more Likely, COULD less likely.)
-> Peter may speak with his teacher after his exams.
-> Peter might speak with his teacher after his exams.

In the negative WE MAY NOT use or Might NOT. In questions we rarely use MAY.
-> You may not be Able to speak to him. I think he was about to leave.

To say that something is factually possible in the past (that is, that perhaps something has happened) We use may / might / could have + Past participle. Tosa something that was possible in the past but did not happen we might use / COULD + HAVE + Past participle
-> They may have arrived by now. (= Maybe they have already arrived)
-> They could have arrived by now, but they have not.

To say that something is probable in the present or future we use SHOULD or OUGHT TO. To say that something was probable in the past we use SHOULD / OUGHT TO + HAVE + Past participle.
-> We should be there by tomorrow morning. (= We'll probably be there tomorrow morning)
-> They ought to have arrived by now. (= Probably they have already arrived)

To say that you are sure that something will happen in the present or future use we must. To say that you are sure that something has happened in the past we use MUST HAVE + Past participle.
-> She must be the doctor. (= I'm sure she is the doctor)
-> They must have arrived by now. (= I'm sure they have already arrived)

To say that you are sure that something will not happen in the present or future we use can not. To say that you are sure that something has not happened in the past we can not use HAVE + Past participle.
-> She can not be the doctor. (= I'm sure she is not the doctor, it is impossible)
-> They can not have arrived by now. (= It's impossible that they have already arrived)
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Action Verbs You Need To Know

Regular Verbs:

base-in paste form the past participle-ing form notes

call called calling calls called
clean cleaned cleaning cleans cleaned

look looks looked looked looking 1
talked talked talk talks talking 1

end ended ending ends ended 2
wait Waits waited waited waiting 2

kiss kisses kissed kissing kissed 3
wash washed washes washing washed 3

live lived lived lives living 4
loved love loved loves loving 4

beg begs begged begged begging 5
sin Sins sinned sinned sinning 5

play played playing plays played
stay stayed staying stays stayed

Cries cried cry crying cried 6
studies studied studied studying 6

die dies dying died died
those ties tying tied tied

Notes:

1. Pronunciation differences in past / past participle after / p, s, k, f / sounds

2. Pronunciation differences in past / past participle after / t, d / sounds

3. Spelling and pronunciation differences with in-form after / s, sh, ch, z / sounds

4. Dropping of "silent e" with-ing endings

5. Doubled consonants after the "short" vowel sounds

6. Spelling differences when "s" is preceded by a consonant

Irregular Verbs

   
base-in paste form the past participle-ing form

cut cut cut cuts cutting
fit fits fit fit fitting
hit hit hit hits Hitting
let lets letting flight flight
put put put puts putting
quits quit quit quit quitting
set set set sets setting
shut shut shut shuts shutting
split split split splits splitting
upsets upset upset upset upsetting

burst burst burst bursting bursts
cast cast cast casting casts
cost cost cost costing costs *
hurt hurt hurt hurting hurts

spread spread spread spreading spreads

knits knit knit / knitted knit / knitted Knitting

sit sat sat sitting SITS
spits back Spit / Spit Spat / Spit spitting

Begun began begin beginning begins
SWAM swum swim swims swimming

ring ringing rings rang Runge
sing sings sang sung singing
Spring Sprang Sprung springs springing

Cling clings clung clung clinging
Fling flung flings flung flinging
sling slung slung slings slinging
stings Sting Stung Stung stinging
swing swung swung swinging swings
wring wrings Wrung Wrung wringing

hang hangs Hung / Hanged ** Hung / Hanged Hanging

drank drink drinks drunk Sinking
shrank shrink shrinks shrunk shrinking
Stank stunk stink stinking stinks

think thinking thinks thought thought
bring brings brought brought bringing

buy bought bought buying buys
seek seeking seeks Sought Sought
fight fought fought fights fighting

catch catches catching caught caught
teach taught taught teaches teaching

Creep Creeping Creeps shiver shiver
keep keeping keeps kept kept
sleep sleeps sleeping Slept Slept
Swept Swept sweep sweeps sweeping
weeps weep wept wept Weeping

bleed bled bled bleeding bleeds
Breed Bred Bred breeding breeds
feed feeds fed fed feeding
fleet flees Fleda Fleda Fleeing
Leads lead led led leading
speeds speed sped / speeded sped / speeded speeding

meet met met meeting meets

bends bent bend bending bent
lend lent lent lending lends
send sent sent sending sends
spend spends spent spent spending

deal deal deal dealing deals
feel feeling feels felt felt
Kneel kneels kneeling knelt knelt

dream dreams dream / dreamed dream / dreamed dreaming
means mean meant meant Meaning

spills spil spill / spilled spil / spilled spilling

build builds built building built

Burnie Burns burnt / burned burnt / burned burning

hold held held holding company holds

sell sold sold selling sells
tell told told telling tells

find found found finding finds
grind grinds grinding ground ground
wind wound wound winding winds

break breaks broke broken breaking
choose chooses choosing chose chosen
freeze froze frozen freezing freezes
speak spoke spoken speaks speaking
steal stealing steals stolen desk
wake wakes Woke woken waking
Weave weaves wove woven Weaving

Arosa arise arisen arises arising
drive drives driving drove driven
gender-ridden ride rides riding
rise rises rising rose Risen
write writes wrote written writing

bit bite bites biting Bitten
hid hidden hide hides hiding
slide slides sliding Slid Slid

get gets getting got gotten
forget forgets forgot forgotten Forgetting

gave give given gives giving
forgives forgive forgave forgiven forgiving
forbids forbid forbade / forbad forbidden forbidding

fall fell fallen falling falls

Swollen swell swelled swelling swells

dive dives dove / dived dived diving

blow blowing blown blows Blew
fly flying flies flew FLOWN
grow growing grown grows GREWIS
knows the know knew known knowing
throw throws throwing Threw Thrown

draw draws drew drawn drawing
withdraw withdrawing withdrawn withdraws withdrew

show showed shown shows showing

eat eats eating ate eaten

beat beat beaten beating beats

take took taken takes taking
forsake forsakes forsook Forsaken forsaking
mistake mistakes mistaking mistook mistaken
Shook shake shaken shakes shaking

make makes making

swear swears swore Sworn swearing
Wear Wears Worn wore wearing
Tear Tore Torn tears tearing
Bears bear bore born bearing

stand standing stands stood stood
understand understanding understands understood understood

become became become becomes becoming
come came come coming comes
run runs ran run running

dig dug dug digging digs
spin spins spun spun spinning
stick sticking sticks stuck stuck

strike strikes struck struck / stricken striking

the does did done doing
go goes went gone going

have had has had having

Hears hear heard heard hearing

lay laid laid lays LAYING
pay paid paid paying pays
say said said saying says

lie lies lying Lay Lain

light lights lit / lit Lighted / Lighted Lighting

lose loses losing lost lost

leave leaves left left leaving

bow proves proved proven / proved proving

read read read reads reading

see saw seen seeing sees

sews sew sewed sewn / sewed sewing

shaves shave shaven Shaved / Shaved Shaving

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