2. Structure 1
• At all times, remember the basic structure
of a question and a sentence:
Peter Mangiaracina
3. Structure 1
• At all times, remember the basic structure
of a question and a sentence:
Sentence: Subject + Verb + (Object)
Peter Mangiaracina
4. Structure 1
• At all times, remember the basic structure
of a question and a sentence:
Sentence: Subject + Verb + (Object)
The doctors treat the patients
Subject Verb Object
Peter Mangiaracina
5. Structure 1
• At all times, remember the basic structure
of a question and a sentence:
Sentence: Subject + Verb + (Object)
Question: (Q word + (obj)) + Auxiliary + Subject + (Verb)?
The doctors treat the patients
Subject Verb Object
Peter Mangiaracina
6. Structure 1
• At all times, remember the basic structure
of a question and a sentence:
Sentence: Subject + Verb + (Object)
Question: (Q word + (obj)) + Auxiliary + Subject + (Verb)?
The doctors treat the patients What time does this class begin?
Subject Verb Object QW QW Obj Auxiliary Subject Verb
Peter Mangiaracina
9. Structure 2
Exception:
*When “who” is the subject in a question, the question looks like
a sentence:
Peter Mangiaracina
10. Structure 2
Exception:
*When “who” is the subject in a question, the question looks like
a sentence:
Who speaks English?
Subject Verb Object
Peter Mangiaracina
11. Structure 2
Exception:
*When “who” is the subject in a question, the question looks like
a sentence:
Who speaks English?
Subject Verb Object
*”Who” does follow the question rule when it is the object of the
answer:
Peter Mangiaracina
12. Structure 2
Exception:
*When “who” is the subject in a question, the question looks like
a sentence:
Who speaks English?
Subject Verb Object
*”Who” does follow the question rule when it is the object of the
answer:
Who does Peter speak English to?
QWord Auxiliary Subject Verb Object
Peter Mangiaracina
13. Simple Present
Use: Habit and custom
Auxiliaries : Do, Does
Usually, always, sometimes,
Time Markers:
frequently, seldom, every day, ever? etc.
Peter Mangiaracina
14. Examples
I
You
walk on the beach every day.
We
They
He
She rarely walks on the beach.
It
Do you ever walk on the beach?
QuestionS: When does he usually walk on the
beach?
Peter Mangiaracina
15. Examples
time
I marker
You
walk on the beach every day.
We
They
He
She rarely walks on the beach.
It
Do you ever walk on the beach?
QuestionS: When does he usually walk on the
beach?
Peter Mangiaracina
16. Examples
time
I marker
You
walk on the beach every day.
We
They
He
She rarely walks on the beach.
It time
marker
Do you ever walk on the beach?
QuestionS: When does he usually walk on the
beach?
Peter Mangiaracina
17. Present Progressive
Use : Actions happening now or these days.
Auxiliaries : is, am, are (+gerund)
: now, these days, frequently
Time Markers
follows an imperative.
Peter Mangiaracina
18. Examples
I am learning English now.
He
She is learning English these days.
It
You
We are learning English
They
Is he learning English these days?
QuestionS: Are they learning English now?
Why am I learning English?
Peter Mangiaracina
19. Examples time
marker
I am learning English now.
He
She is learning English these days.
It
You
We are learning English
They
Is he learning English these days?
QuestionS: Are they learning English now?
Why am I learning English?
Peter Mangiaracina
20. Examples time
marker
I am learning English now.
time
marker
He
She is learning English these days.
It
You
We are learning English
They
Is he learning English these days?
QuestionS: Are they learning English now?
Why am I learning English?
Peter Mangiaracina
21. Simple Past
: (1). Actions that completed at a
Use
specific time in the past. (2). Repeated
past actions.
Auxiliaries : Did
yesterday, last (week, month,
Time Markers:
year, etc.), ago, in (+year, month, date in
past)
Peter Mangiaracina
22. Examples
Completed definite time in past
I walked on the beach yesterday.
Repeated past action
grandmother visited him every week
His
when he was sick.
QuestionS:
Did you watch the presentations for class?
How long ago did you finish medical school?
Peter Mangiaracina
23. Examples
Completed definite time in past
time
I walked on the beach yesterday.
Repeated past action
grandmother visited him every week
His
when he was sick.
QuestionS:
Did you watch the presentations for class?
How long ago did you finish medical school?
Peter Mangiaracina
24. Examples
Completed definite time in past
time
I walked on the beach yesterday.
Repeated past action
grandmother visited him every week
His
when he was sick.
QuestionS:
Did you watch the presentations for class?
How long ago did you finish medical school?
time
marker
Peter Mangiaracina
25. Past Progressive
Use: (1).Ongoing actions in the past at a specific hour. (2).
Ongoing actions interrupted by another action in the past.
(3) also used with the word "while" to indicate concurrent
actions in the past.
Auxiliaries: was, were (+gerund)
Time Markers: specific
hour (1 pm, 5 o’clock, etc.), interrupted
action, concurrent ongoing actions in past.
Peter Mangiaracina
26. Examples
Ongoing action at specific hour
I was walking on the beach yesterday at 5 o’clock.
Ongoing action interrupted by another (past) action
was having dinner when his mother
He called.
QuestionS:
What were you doing at 3 pm yesterday?
Who was singing when I came into the room?
Peter Mangiaracina
27. Examples
time
Ongoing action at specific hour marker
I was walking on the beach yesterday at 5 o’clock.
Ongoing action interrupted by another (past) action
was having dinner when his mother
He called.
QuestionS:
What were you doing at 3 pm yesterday?
Who was singing when I came into the room?
Peter Mangiaracina
28. Examples
time
Ongoing action at specific hour marker
I was walking on the beach yesterday at 5 o’clock.
Ongoing action interrupted by another (past) action
was having dinner when his mother
He called.
Interruption
QuestionS:
What were you doing at 3 pm yesterday?
Who was singing when I came into the room?
Peter Mangiaracina
29. Present Perfect
Use: For Unfinished time. The action is not important,
the time frame in which the action occurs is important.
Auxiliaries : has (3rd person singular); have (the rest)
today, this week, this month, in my life,
Time Markers:
a time of day that is not finished. Various adverbs
of time (to be continued).
Peter Mangiaracina
30. Contrasting past with Present Perfect
Finished Time:
I had four lessons last week.
Unfinished Time:
I have had four lessons today.
Peter Mangiaracina
31. Examples
Unfinished time
I have visited the hospital this week.
He has visited Rome three times (in his life).
QuestionS:
How long have you lived in Las Palmas?
How many patients have you treated in the past year?
Has John taken his medicine today?
Peter Mangiaracina
32. Examples
Unfinished time time
marker
I have visited the hospital this week.
He has visited Rome three times (in his life).
QuestionS:
How long have you lived in Las Palmas?
How many patients have you treated in the past year?
Has John taken his medicine today?
Peter Mangiaracina
33. Examples
Unfinished time time
marker
I have visited the hospital this week.
He has visited Rome three times (in his life).
time marker
QuestionS:
How long have you lived in Las Palmas?
How many patients have you treated in the past year?
Has John taken his medicine today?
Peter Mangiaracina
34. Important Time Markers
Present Perfect
yet so far just
already up to now always*
recently ever?* since (+ point in time)
for (+ duration of
lately never
time)
Peter Mangiaracina
35. Adverbs of Frequency
Examples
•Have you eaten lunch yet?
- Yes, I’ve eaten lunch already.
•Have you seen any good movies recently/lately?
•I have just started the class. It started a few minutes ago.
•Have you enjoyed your English classes so far?
•I have enjoyed his jokes up to now, but his last joke went too far.
•Have you ever taken English classes from Peter?
- No, I have never had the pleasure.
•Have you always wanted to be a doctor?
•I have lived in Las Palmas for 17 years.
•I have lived in Las Palmas since 1995.
Peter Mangiaracina
36. Present Perfect Progressive
Use: 1). Indicates a duration of an activity that began in
the past and has continued up to now without
interruption. When it has this meaning, time markers
such as for, since, all morning, all day, all week etc. are
used. 2). When there is no specific mention of time, the
meaning is recently or lately. 3). With certain verbs,
notably live, work, teach, no difference in meaning
between pres. perf. and pres. perf. prog. 4). Stative
meanings are not used in the pres. perf. prog.
Auxiliaries : has been + gerund (3rd person singular);
have been + gerund (the rest)
same as pres. perf. with conditions
Time Markers:
stated above.
Peter Mangiaracina
37. Examples
It has been snowing all day.
has been ringing for almost a
The telephone
minute.
QuestionS:
How long have you been living (lived) in Las Palmas?
Have you been waiting long?
What have you been doing lately?
Peter Mangiaracina
38. Examples
time
marker
It has been snowing all day.
has been ringing for almost a
The telephone
minute.
QuestionS:
How long have you been living (lived) in Las Palmas?
Have you been waiting long?
What have you been doing lately?
Peter Mangiaracina
39. Examples
time
marker
It has been snowing all day.
has been ringing for almost a
The telephone
minute.
time marker
QuestionS:
How long have you been living (lived) in Las Palmas?
Have you been waiting long?
What have you been doing lately?
Peter Mangiaracina
Notes de l'éditeur
We are going to be concentrating on how to organize your English better. To do that, you must have a good handle on using the tenses. Our major work in this 1st 3-month session, is going to be how to use the tenses effectively. Of course we will learn vocabulary and other important things, too.\n
Before we go into the specific tenses, I want to tell you a little bit about English structure. You should at all times remember the basic structure of a question and a sentence, because nearly every sentence in English and nearly every question follow one of the formulas I’m going to show you. When I say “sentence” I really mean clause. A clause is one configuration of the subject and verb. An actual sentence can have many clauses. \n\n(click)\n\nThe formula for sentence is subject plus verb plus object. Here is an example :\n\n(click). \n\nTry to locate the subject, verb and object in any sentence. The more you recognize this basic structure, the easier it will be for you to use it in your own English.\n\n(click)\n\nHere is the formula for a question. First look at the elements that are not in parentheses. The auxiliary determines tense in a question. The subject is the first word you’re going to use when you answer, the SUBJECT of a sentence.\n\n(click)\n\nHere is an example. Remember that Everything you say before the auxiliary is part of the question word object\n
Before we go into the specific tenses, I want to tell you a little bit about English structure. You should at all times remember the basic structure of a question and a sentence, because nearly every sentence in English and nearly every question follow one of the formulas I’m going to show you. When I say “sentence” I really mean clause. A clause is one configuration of the subject and verb. An actual sentence can have many clauses. \n\n(click)\n\nThe formula for sentence is subject plus verb plus object. Here is an example :\n\n(click). \n\nTry to locate the subject, verb and object in any sentence. The more you recognize this basic structure, the easier it will be for you to use it in your own English.\n\n(click)\n\nHere is the formula for a question. First look at the elements that are not in parentheses. The auxiliary determines tense in a question. The subject is the first word you’re going to use when you answer, the SUBJECT of a sentence.\n\n(click)\n\nHere is an example. Remember that Everything you say before the auxiliary is part of the question word object\n
Before we go into the specific tenses, I want to tell you a little bit about English structure. You should at all times remember the basic structure of a question and a sentence, because nearly every sentence in English and nearly every question follow one of the formulas I’m going to show you. When I say “sentence” I really mean clause. A clause is one configuration of the subject and verb. An actual sentence can have many clauses. \n\n(click)\n\nThe formula for sentence is subject plus verb plus object. Here is an example :\n\n(click). \n\nTry to locate the subject, verb and object in any sentence. The more you recognize this basic structure, the easier it will be for you to use it in your own English.\n\n(click)\n\nHere is the formula for a question. First look at the elements that are not in parentheses. The auxiliary determines tense in a question. The subject is the first word you’re going to use when you answer, the SUBJECT of a sentence.\n\n(click)\n\nHere is an example. Remember that Everything you say before the auxiliary is part of the question word object\n
Before we go into the specific tenses, I want to tell you a little bit about English structure. You should at all times remember the basic structure of a question and a sentence, because nearly every sentence in English and nearly every question follow one of the formulas I’m going to show you. When I say “sentence” I really mean clause. A clause is one configuration of the subject and verb. An actual sentence can have many clauses. \n\n(click)\n\nThe formula for sentence is subject plus verb plus object. Here is an example :\n\n(click). \n\nTry to locate the subject, verb and object in any sentence. The more you recognize this basic structure, the easier it will be for you to use it in your own English.\n\n(click)\n\nHere is the formula for a question. First look at the elements that are not in parentheses. The auxiliary determines tense in a question. The subject is the first word you’re going to use when you answer, the SUBJECT of a sentence.\n\n(click)\n\nHere is an example. Remember that Everything you say before the auxiliary is part of the question word object\n
(click)\n\nThere is an exception to this rule.\n\n(click)\n\n Questions that begin with “who.” If you ask the question “who speaks English” then you do not follow the question formula. But, it will follow the regular sentence formula, sub. + verb + obj\n\n(click)\n\nBut ...\n\n(click)\n\nWhen who is not the subject of the answer, then the question rule applies. Here is an example.\n\n(click)\n
(click)\n\nThere is an exception to this rule.\n\n(click)\n\n Questions that begin with “who.” If you ask the question “who speaks English” then you do not follow the question formula. But, it will follow the regular sentence formula, sub. + verb + obj\n\n(click)\n\nBut ...\n\n(click)\n\nWhen who is not the subject of the answer, then the question rule applies. Here is an example.\n\n(click)\n
(click)\n\nThere is an exception to this rule.\n\n(click)\n\n Questions that begin with “who.” If you ask the question “who speaks English” then you do not follow the question formula. But, it will follow the regular sentence formula, sub. + verb + obj\n\n(click)\n\nBut ...\n\n(click)\n\nWhen who is not the subject of the answer, then the question rule applies. Here is an example.\n\n(click)\n
(click)\n\nThere is an exception to this rule.\n\n(click)\n\n Questions that begin with “who.” If you ask the question “who speaks English” then you do not follow the question formula. But, it will follow the regular sentence formula, sub. + verb + obj\n\n(click)\n\nBut ...\n\n(click)\n\nWhen who is not the subject of the answer, then the question rule applies. Here is an example.\n\n(click)\n
(click)\n\nThere is an exception to this rule.\n\n(click)\n\n Questions that begin with “who.” If you ask the question “who speaks English” then you do not follow the question formula. But, it will follow the regular sentence formula, sub. + verb + obj\n\n(click)\n\nBut ...\n\n(click)\n\nWhen who is not the subject of the answer, then the question rule applies. Here is an example.\n\n(click)\n
When you learn a tense, you need to know three things about it in order to use it effectively in communication.\n\nYou need to know when the tense is used, the auxiliaries associated with it, and the time markers that are frequently used with that tense.\n\nThe present tense is for habit and custom, its auxiliaries are do for first person and second person singular and plural, and does for third person singular.\n\nThe time markers have the effect of limiting or controlling the habits and customs of the present tense. When you use words like usually, frequently, rarely, you are controlling the limits of the tense.\n
\n
\n
The present progressive is used for actions that are happening at the moment or are happening in and around the present. For example I’m not exercising in the gymnasium NOW, but I am visiting the gymnasium a lot THESE DAYS. When you use THESE DAYS it’s like using the present tense for habit and custom, but more limited, like an action you started last month and are still doing.\n\nThe auxiliaries are the conjugations of the present stative verb “to be.” \n\nIs for the third person singular, am for the first person singular, are for second person and for everything else (We are, they are, etc.)\n\nThe time markers ar “now” for actions that are happening in this moment, and “these days” for actions that are happening in your life within a limited time, as I explained before.\n