2. Present Verb Tenses
- Not as easy as one might assume.
Simple Present
1) Actions that happen repeatedly - _________________
2) Actions that are happening right now - _____________
Present Progressive
3) Actions that began in the past and are still happening
now - ________________
Present Perfect
Typical ELL Errors (Can you correct them?)
- I am in this city for all my adult life.
- The solution to my problem isn’t depend on another person.
- Is working your uncle at the bank now?
- Modern cars are having much better tires than in the past.
- Do you have worked at this bank since the last time I saw
you?
3. Present Verb Tenses
Verb Tense Example Meaning
Simple I study Chinese every day. a habitual or repeating action
Present
Present I am studying Chinese today. a current action
Progressive
Present I have studied Chinese since an action that began in the past
Perfect 2006. and continues to be true
Present I have been studying an action that began in the past
Perfect Chinese all morning. and is continuing now (with
Progressive emphasis on the fact that it is
still happening now.
- Simple Present* Present Progressive*
In what order are they taught to ELLs?
Present Perfect Present Perfect Progressive
- What’s the other possible use of the simple Future Meaning*
Simple Present / Present Progressive – present and the
present progressive?
- What’s the other possible use of the present perfect?
Present Perfect – Unspecified Past*
4. Simple Present
Verb Tense Example Meaning
Simple I study Chinese every day. a habitual or repeating action
Present
Past Now Future
X X X X X I X X X X X
Singular Plural What ELLs Should Know
I walk we walk
- -s in the third person singular
you walk you walk
- irregular forms (-ies / -es / has)
he/she/it walks they walk
Typical ELL Errors (Can you correct them?)
- Laura cook scrambled eggs for breakfast every day.
- My baby sister crys when she is hungry.
- I am walk to school every day.
5. Present Progressive
Verb Tense Example Meaning
Present I am studying Chinese today. a current action
Progressive
Past Now Future
X IX
Singular Plural What ELLs Should Know
I am walking we are walking - am/is/are + present
participle
you are walking you are walking
- Formation of present
he/she/it is walking they are walking participles*
Typical ELL Errors (Can you correct them?)
- We study very hard for tomorrow’s test.
- The earth is going around the sun once a year.
- My baby brother crying now.
- He is siting on the table.
- I am having two cars.* What is the mistake here?
6. Present Perfect
Verb Tense Example Meaning
Present I have studied Chinese since an action that began in the past
Perfect 2006. and continues to be true
Past Now Future
X X X X X I
Singular Plural What ELLs Should Know
I have walked we have walked - has / have + past participle
you have walked you have walked - formation of past
he/she/it has walked they have walked participles*
Typical ELL Errors (Can you correct them?)
- I lived here my whole life.
- Sarah have rented the same apartment since 2005.
- Sarah has already complete all the homework.
- Macy has putted the book on the teacher’s table.
7. Present Perfect Progressive
Verb Tense Example Meaning
Present I have been studying an action that began in the past and is
Perfect Chinese all morning. continuing now (with emphasis on the
Progressive fact that it is still happening now).*
Past Now Future
X X X X X I
Singular Plural What ELLs Should
Know
I have been walking we have been walking
- has / have + been
you have been walking you have been walking + present
participle
he/she/it has been walking they have been walking
Typical ELL Errors (Can you correct them?)
- I been waiting for the bus for almost 45 minutes.
- I am waiting for the bus for almost 45 minutes.
8. Negative Forms
Tense Negative Form
Simple Present I/you/we/they + do + not + verb
he / she / it + does + not + verb
Present I am + not + present participle
Progressive you/we/they + are + not + present participle
he / she / it + is + not + present participle
Present Perfect I/you/we/they + have+ not + past participle
he / she / it + has + not + past participle
Present Perfect I/you/we/they + have+ not + been + present participle
Progressive he / she / it + has + not + been + present participle
What ELLs Should Know
- Most difficult – Present Simple*
Typical ELL Errors (Can you correct them?)
- I no speak French well. // The soup doesn’t smells good.
- The man is not like this food. // We don’t have eaten yet.
9. Contractions
Tense Affirmative Negative
Simple Present ----- do not – don’t
does not – doesn’t
Present I am – I’m am not - ---
Progressive he/she/it is – he’s/she’s/ it’s is not – isn’t (he’s not...)
you/we/they are – you’re, are not – aren’t (you’re not...)
we’re, they’re
Present Perfect I/you/we/they have – I’ve / I/you/we/they have not –
+ Present you’ve / we’ve / they’ve haven’t (I’ve not...)
Perfect he / she / it has – he’s / he / she / it has not – hasn’t
Progressive she’s / it’s* (he’s not...)
Typical ELL Errors (Can you correct them?)
- I amn’t from northern India.
- Linda’s bought a new car. It’s an amazing sound system.
10. Forming Questions
Tense Negative Form
Simple Present do + I/you/we/they + verb
does + he / she / it + verb
Present am + I + present participle
Progressive are + you/we/they + present participle
is + he / she / it + present participle
Present Perfect have + I/you/we/they + past participle
has + he / she / it + past participle
Present Perfect have + I/you/we/they + been + present participle
Progressive has + he / she / it + been + present participle
What ELLs Should Know
- Most difficult – Present Simple*
Typical ELL Errors (Can you correct them?)
- Do Luke like hockey? // Does Valery goes to class every day?
- Is Mary have a sports car? // Do you wearing a new tie today?
- How many international trips did you have taken in your life?
11. Present Tenses
Portuguese Interference Common Errors
English Present Perfect tense can be 1. “I live here all my life.”
rendered in Portuguese by the 2. “I already watched this film.”
present form or the past form.
Portuguese speakers frequently use 1. “If you need a ride to the
the simple present to talk about the store, I take you.”
future. 2. “In a little while, I cook
dinner.”
In Portuguese, the ending of verbs
change according to the subject.
Students might get confused.
In Portuguese, there are no auxiliary 1. “___You want to go?”
verbs used to form questions or to 2. “I no want to go.”
form negative sentences in the
Simple Present.
12. Past Verb Tenses
- In some languages there are no verb tenses. Time is
indicated by the use of adverbials.
- In some others, the past verb tenses may have different
uses.
How many past forms are there? Can you list them?
Typical ELL Errors (Can you correct them?)
- According to the report, dozens of people did not received
their tax information.
- When I ate dinner last night, my uncle called me.
- How many people did you talked to at the party?
- By the time I was old enough to vote, I participated in two
local campaigns.
- Do you have ever flown on a 747 jumbo jet?
13. Past Verb Tenses
- Match the different tenses / forms to their
corresponding uses.
Verb Tense Use
1) Simple Past 2
____ a past action in progress at a specific
point in the past
2) Past Progressive 4
____ a past action completed before another
past action
3) Present Perfect ____ an action beginning before another past
5
action (emphasis on the duration)
4) Past Perfect ____ a single past event (definite time)
1
5) Past Perfect ____ an action happening many times in the
6
Progressive past but no longer being true
6) Used To / Would 3
____ a past action (indefinite time) that could
happen again
14. Simple Past
Verb Tense Example Meaning
Simple Past I ate dinner at 8 PM. a single past event (definite time)
Past Now Future
8 PM
X I
Singular Plural
What ELLs Should Know
I walked we walked
you walked you walked - Formation of the past form*
he/she/it walked they walked
Typical ELL Errors (Can you correct them?)
- Laura cooks scrambled eggs for breakfast yesterday.
- I was walk to school yesterday.
- My baby sister cryed last night.
- She stoped the car to answer her cell phone.
15. Past Progressive
Verb Tense Example Meaning
Past I was eating dinner a past action that was happening
Progressive when you called. (when it was interrupted by another)
Past interruption Now Future
X X X X I I
Singular Plural What ELLs Should Know
I was walking we were walking - was/were + present
participle
you were walking you were walking
- formation of present
he/she/it was walking they were walking participles
Typical ELL Errors (Can you correct them?)
- When I got my first job, I was live in Los Angeles.
- I cut the onions. Then I was putting them in the soup.
- From 2000 to 2007, I was owning two cars.*
16. Present Perfect
Singular Plural What ELLs Should Know
I have walked we have walked - has / have + past participle
you have walked you have walked - formation of past
participles*
he/she/it has walked they have walked
Usage 1
Verb Tense Example Meaning
Present I have studied Chinese since an action that began in the past
Perfect 2006. and continues to be true
Past Now Future
X X X X X I
Key Words
how long for + time since + time
17. Present Perfect
Usage 2
Verb Tense Example Meaning
Present I have just finished typing my recent past action that is
Perfect reports. relevant to the current situation
Past Now Future
X I
Key Words: just already
Usage 3
Verb Tense Example Meaning
Variations
Present Perfect I have already been there. past experience (indefinite time)
- Yet (questions / negatives)
Past Now - Superlatives Future
? I - The first, the second...
Key Words: ever never many times before already
18. Present Perfect
Usage 4
Verb Tense Example Meaning
Present I have watched E.T. five times repetition of an action before
Perfect now
Past Now Future
X X X X X ... I
Key Words: six...so far one...this semester a lot
Typical ELL Errors (Can you correct them?)
- I was born here and will die here. I been here my whole life.
- Sarah have already completed all the homework.
- I have gone to Mexico several times when I was in college.
- I lived in this same apartment since 1996.
19. Past Perfect
Verb Tense Example Meaning
Past Perfect I had eaten dinner a past action that was completed before
before you called. a second past action (or time)
Past Now Future
X X I
Singular Plural What ELLs Should Know
I had walked we had walked - context (before, after)
you had walked you had walked - formation of past
he/she/it had walked they had walked participles
Typical ELL Errors
- I had work for the bus for almost 20 years.
- When the company went bankrupt, I worked there for 20 years.
20. Past Perfect Progressive
Verb Tense Example Meaning
Past Perfect I had been eating an action that began in the past before
Progressive dinner before you a second past action (emphasis in the
called. duration of the action)
Past Now Future
X X X X I I
Singular Plural What ELLs Should
I had been walking we had been walking Know
- had + been +
you had been walking you had been walking
present participle
he/she/it had been walking they had been walking
Typical ELL Errors (Can you correct them?)
- I been waiting for the bus for almost 45 minutes when you arrived.
- I was waiting for the bus for almost 45 minutes when you arrived.
21. Used to and Would
Used To What ELLs Should Know
Singular Plural 1. past action happening
I used to walk we used to walk repeatedly, but no
you used to walk you used to walk longer true
he/she/it used to walk they used to walk 2. past fact no longer true
Would
Singular Plural What ELLs Should Know
I would walk we would walk 1. past action happening
you would walk you would walk repeatedly, but no
he/she/it would walk they would walk longer true
What’s the difference?
“Would” is only used to decribe actions, while “used to” can be used
to describe both actions and facts (or states).
22. Negative Forms
Tense Negative Form
Simple Past subject + did + not + verb
Past I / he / she / it was + not + present participle
Progressive you/we/they + were+ not + present participle
Past Perfect subject + had + not + past participle
Past Perfect subject + had + not + been + present participle
Progressive
Used to subject + did + not + use to + verb
Would subject + would + not + verb
What ELLs Should Know
- Most difficult – Past Simple / Used to
23. Negative Forms
Typical ELL Errors (Can you correct them?)
- I not understand the directions well.
- The man was not like the food because it was too salty.
- The man did not liked the food because it was too salty.
- We don’t have eaten at that restaurant yet.
- When we met you, we didn’t have lived in this house for vey long.
- I didn’t used to like animals, so my parents did not get any pets for
me.
24. Contractions
Tense Affirmative Negative
Simple Past ----- did not – didn’t
Present Perfect I/you/we/they have – have not – haven’t
I’ve/you’ve/we’ve/they’ve has not – hasn’t (he’s not...)
he/she/it has – he’s/she’s/it’s
Past Perfect + I/you/he/she/it/we/they had – had not – hadn’t
Past Perfect I’d/you’d/he’d/she’d/it’d*/we’d
Progressive /they’d
Used to ----- did not – didn’t
Would I/you/he/she/it/we/they would would not – wouldn’t
– I’d/you’d/he’d/she’d/it’d*/
we’d /they’d
What ELLs Should Know
- “´d” can mean “had” or “would”
- How can we tell the difference?
25. Forming Questions
Tense Negative Form
Simple Past did + subject + verb
Past Progressive was + I/he/she/it + present participle
were + you/we/they + present participle
Present Perfect have + I/you/we/they + past participle
has + he / she / it + past participle
Past Perfect had + subject + past participle
Past Perfect Progressive had + subject + been + present participle
Used to did + subject + use to + verb
Would would + subject + verb
Typical ELL Errors (Can you correct them?)
- Did Valerie attended class yesterday? // Was Mary own a sports car?
- Did you wearing a new tie when you met your new boss yesterday?
- How many international trips did you have taken in your life?
- Did you have finished the project before your boss called?
- How many children did families used to have a century ago?
26. Past Tenses
Portuguese Interference Common Errors
English Present Perfect tense can 1. “I live here all my life.”
be rendered in Portuguese by the 2. “I already watched this film.”
present form or the past form.
In Portuguese, the ending of verbs
change according to the subject.
Students might get confused.
In Portuguese, there are no 1. “___You wanted to go?”
auxiliary verbs used to form 2. “I no wanted to go.”
questions or to form negative
sentences in the Simple Past.
Portuguese-speaking ELLs have 1. “I had a car.” “I hadn’t a car.”
difficulty understanding the 2. “I had studied.” “I didn’t have
difference in negating the verb studied.”
“have” in simple past tense and a
verb in the past perfect thense.
27. Future Verb Tenses
- The first future tense ELLs learn (will + verb) is among
the least used ones.
- Some present verb tenses (Simple Present, Present
Progressive) can also be used to refer to the future time.
Typical ELL Errors (Can you correct them?)
- If you don’t have received an e-mail from my boss by
tomorrow afternoon, call me and I will talk to him
personally.
- Tomorrow, we go to the beach with some friends.
- I promise to call you just as soon as I will get home tonight.
- Several of my friends going to help me.
- I will write a letter to my grandparents, and I want to mail it
right away.
28. Future Verb Tenses
- Match the different tenses / forms to their
corresponding uses.
Verb Tense Use
1) Be going to 2
____ an action in the future describing a
decision made at the time of speaking
2) Simple Future 4
____ an action finished by a specified time in
the future
3) Future Progressive ____ how long an action has been happening
5
at a future point (focus on the duration)
4) Future Perfect ____ an event in the future, especially one
1
already planned
5) Future Perfect ____ an action taking place at some point in
3
Progressive the future
29. Be going to
Verb Tense Example Meaning
Be going to We are going to fly to New an event in the future, especially
York tomorrow. one already planned
Past Now Future
I X
Singular Plural What ELLs Should
I am going to walk we are going to walk Know
you are going to walk you are going to walk - also for predictions
he/she/it is going to they are going to walk
based on concrete
walk
evidence
Typical ELL Errors (Can you correct them?)
- Laura going to cook scrambled eggs for breakfast tomorrow.
- Our boss is going miss work tomorrow.
- I believe that Olga’s going to studies with me.
30. Simple Future Tense
Verb Tense Example Meaning
Simple Don’t worry. I will an action in the future describing a
Future answer the phone. decision made at the time of speaking
Past Now Future
I X
Singular Plural What ELLs Should Know
I will walk we will walk
- Also for predictions and
you will walk you will walk requests
he/she/it will walk they will walk
Typical ELL Errors (Can you correct them?)
- Andrea will to study more if she has more free time.
- Shawn will helps Jim with the work.
- Sorry, but I can’t help you tomorrow. I will visit my aunt at the
hospital.
31. Future Progressive
Verb Tense Example Meaning
Future I will be eating dinner a action that will be in progress at a
Progressive when you call. specific time in the future
Past Now Future
I X X XIX X
Singular Plural What ELLs Should Know
I will be walking we will be walking - will be + present
you will be walking you will be walking participle
he/she/it will be they will be walking - formation of present
walking participles
Typical ELL Errors (Can you correct them?)
- When you call tomorrow, I will studying for my test.
- If you will be needing help tomorrow, I will assist you.
32. Future Perfect
Verb Tense Example Meaning
Future By this time tomorrow, I will an action finished by a specific
Perfect have finished studying. time in the future
Past Now Future
I X X
Singular Plural What ELLs Should Know
I will have walked we will have walked - will have + past
you will have walked you will have walked participle
he/she/it will have they will have walked - formation of past
walked participles*
Typical ELL Errors (Can you correct them?)
- I will have taken my driver’s license test.
- By the time that you will have completed this task, it will be almost
midnight.
33. Future Perfect Progressive
Verb Tense Example Meaning
Future I had been eating how long an action has been
Perfect dinner before you happening at a future point (emphasis
Progressive called. in the duration of the action)
Past Now Future
I X X X X I
Singular Plural What ELLs Should
I will have been walking we will have been walking Know
you will have been you will have been
- will have
walking walking
+ been + present
he/she/it will have been they will have been participle
walking walking
Typical ELL Errors (Can you correct them?)
- As of next Friday, I will be working here for 20 years.
34. Present Simple / Present Progressive
Verb Tense Example Meaning
Simple The plane departs at 7 pm events on a definite schedule or
Present tomorrow. timetable
What ELLs Should Know
1. Also in time clauses in the future
Verb Tense Example Meaning
Present I are watching the new Star a scheduled event or definite
Progressive Wars movie tomorrow. intention
What ELLs Should Know
1. Future time expressions
Typical ELL Errors (Can you correct them?)
- Tomorrow we cooking red beans and rice.
- I leave for Miami.
- As soon as you will arrive, please call me and I’ll pick you up.
35. Negative Forms
Tense Negative Form
I am not + going to + verb
Be going to you/we/they are not + going to + verb
he/she/it is not + going to + verb
Simple Future subject + will not + verb
Future Progressive subject + will not be + present participle
Future Perfect subject + will have not + past participle
Future Perfect Progressive subject + will have not + been + present participle
Contractions
Tense Affirmative Negative
Be going to I am going – I’m going I am not – -------
he/she/it is going – he/she/it is not going –
he’s/she’s/it’s going he/she/it isn’t going
you/we/they are going – you/we/they are not going
you’re/we´re/they’re going – you/we/they aren’t going
36. Contractions
Tense Affirmative Negative
Simple Future I/you/he/she/it/we/they will – will not –
Future Progressive I’ll/you’ll/he’ll/she’l/it’ll/we’ll/they’ll won’t
Future Perfect
Future Perfect Progressive
Forming Questions
Tense Questions
Be going to am + I + going to + verb
is + he/she/it + going to + verb
are + you/we/they + going to + verb
Simple Future will+ subject + verb
Future Progressive will + subject + be + present participle
Future Perfect will + subject + have + past participle
Future Perfect will + subject + have + been + present participle
Progressive
37. Future Tenses
Portuguese Interference Common Errors
Portuguese does not have a single 1. “He will arrives tomorrow.”
word for “will”. Instead, word 2. “I go watch this film tomorrow.”
endings on the verbs indicate the
future tense. “Go” conjugated in
the present also serves as an
indication of future.
In Portuguese, the ending of verbs
change according to the subject.
Students might get confused.
In Portuguese, there are no 1. “___You will go with us?”
auxiliary verbs used to form 2. “I no will go.”
questions or to form negative
sentences in the Simple Past.