Site Dedicated to my pupils Madaoui school

Present Simple Tense
(example : to play)

Affirmative

Negative

Interrogative

Long Form

Contracted Form

I play

I do not play

I don't play

Do I play?

You play

You do not play

You don't play

Do you play?

He/she/it plays

He/she/it does not play

He/she/it doesn't play

Does he/she/it play?

We play

We do not play

We don't play

Do we play?

You play

You do not play

You don't play

Do you play?

They play

They do not play

They don't play

Do they play?

     The Present Simple is used :

      ►To talk about regular activities, routine, habits:
           - John plays tennis once a week.
           - We start work at 9 a.m. every day.
          - Mary eats fish on Fridays.

      ►To talk about tastes:
          - Peter likes Chinese food.
            - Julie doesn't like fish.
           - Their children love chocolate.

      ► To talk about facts:
           - The sun rises in the east.
           - In Europe, the weather is cold in winter.
           - Authors write books.

Present Continuous Tense (example : to play)
Affirmative	Negative		Interrogative
	Long Form	Contracted Form
I am playing	I am not playing	I'm not playing	Am I playing?
You are playing	You are not playing	You're not playing	Are you playing?
He/she/it is playing	He/she/it is not playing	He/she/it's not playing	Is he/she/it playing?
We are playing	We are not playing	We aren't playing	Are we playing?
You are playing	You are not playing	You're not playing	Are you playing?
They are playing	They are not playing	They aren't playing	Are they playing?

                           The Present Continuous is used :

                             ● To talk about continuous activities :
                                  1)  at the time of speaking :
                                       - I am reading this page now.
                                  2)  around now, in a more general sense :
                                        - I am learning English this year

                             ● To talk about planned future arrangements :
                                      - Next month I am spending my holidays in Australia.
                                        I have already booked my flight.

                                      - Our neighbours are coming to dinner tomorrow.
                                         They have accepted our invitation.

Past Simple Tense (example : to play) ♦ The Past Simple tense of regular verbs is formed by adding -ed to the infinitive : (example: Infinitive : to play Past Simple : I played.) ♦ The auxiliary did is used to form the negative and interrogative forms. ♦ For irregular verbs, please see the irregular verbs table.
Affirmative	Negative		Interrogative
	Long Form	Contracted Form
I played	I did not play	I didn't play	Did I play?
You played	You did not play	You didn't play	Did you play?
He/she/it played	He/she/it did not play	He/she/it didn't play	Did he/she/it play?
We played	We did not play	We didn't play	Did we play?
You played	You did not play	You didn't play	Did you play?
They played	They did not play	They didn't play	Did they play?
The Past Simple is used to talk about finished actions in a finished period of time. example : ◊ Yesterday evening, I played tennis with a friend. ◊ In 2005, I started taking tennis lessons. ◊ When I was at school, I hated history. ◊ Five minutes ago, I finished the report for my boss. ◊ Last week I attended a meeting in Tokyo.

Past Continuous Tense (example : to play)
Affirmative	Negative		Interrogative
	Long Form	Contracted Form
I was playing	I was not playing	I wasn't playing	Was I playing?
You were playing	You were not playing	You weren't playing	Were you playing?
He/she/it was playing	He/she/it was not playing	He/she/it wasn't playing	Was he/she/it playing?
We were playing	We were not playing	We weren't playing	Were we playing?
You were playing	You were not playing	You weren't playing	Were you playing?
They were playing	They were not playing	They weren't playing	Were they playing?

                                       ◊ The Past Continuous tense is used to talk about a continuous action which took place at
                                          a specific time in the past.

                                          ● Yesterday evening, at 9 o'clock, I was watching television.

                                       ◊ It is also used, in sentences with when or while, to refer to an action which was taking place
                                          when a shorter, brief action took place.

                                          ● Yesterday evening, while I was watching television, the phone rang.
                                          ● When my husband arrived home yesterday evening, I was cooking dinner.

Present Perfect Tense (example : to do)
Present Perfect Simple
Affirmative	Negative		Interrogative
	Long Form	Contracted Form
I have done	I have not done	I haven't done	Have I done?
You have done	You have not done	You haven't done	Have you done?
He/she/is has done	He/she/it has not done	He/she/it hasn't done	Has he/she/it done?
We have done	We have not done	We haven't done	Have we done?
You have done	You have not done	You haven't done	Have you done?
They have done	They have not done	They haven't done	Have they done?

Present Perfect Continuous
Affirmative	Negative		Interrogative
	Long Form	Contracted Form
I have been doing	I have not been doing	I haven't been doing	Have you been doing?
You have been doing	You have not been doing	You haven't been doing	Have you been doing?
He/she/it has been doing	He has not been doing	He hasn't been doing	Has he been doing?
We have been doing	We have not been doing	We haven't been doing	Have we been doing?
You have been doing	You have not been doing	You haven't been doing	Have you been doing?
They have been doing	They have not been doing	They haven't been doing	Have they been doing?

                                 The Present Perfect Continuous is used to refer to an action started in the past which continues today.
                                  ex : I have been learning English since September.
                                        (I started in September and I continue to take lessons today.)

                                 The Present Perfect Simple is used to refer to the finished part of a continuous action.
                                 ex : So far in my English course I have learnt new vocabulary.
                                        I have revised some grammar rules.
                                        (My English course is not finished, but I have finished some of the lessons)

                                 The Present Perfect is used to refer to actions which take place in an unfinished time period up to now.

                                 Example :       Today, it is now 2 p.m.
                                                        At 9 o'clock this morning you started revising your English.

                                                       Today is not finished, so you can say "I have been revising my English since 9 o'clock."
                                                       (You are still revising, so the continuous form is used.)

                                                       You have done part of the revision work, which is not finished, so at 2 p.m. you can say:
                                                        "So far today, I have revised tenses and irregular verbs."
                                                       (You do not mention any specific time; you refer to today which is not finished.)

                                                       N.B. If you refer now (2 pm) to the morning, for example, which is finished, you must use
                                                               the Past Simple.
                                                               ex : This morning I revised tenses and irregular verbs.

PRESENT PERFECT

The Present Perfect is used to link the present and the past.

The Present Perfect is used :

          1. To talk about an action which started in the past and continues today.
               For and since are used to express duration.
             ◊ I have lived here for 10 years.   I have lived here since 1998.
                 (I arrived here 10 years ago and I am still here.)

          2. To refer to past events in an unfinished period of time :
               ◊ I have written two letters today.
               (Two letters are written but today is not finished.)

          3. To talk about recent events that have just happened or been announced :
               ◊ There has been a plane crash near the coast.
                  (We know the event took place but we don't know when.)

4. To talk about a past action with a result in the present :
◊ I've broken my arm. I can't drive. (= because my arm is broken now)

         5. To talk and ask about experiences or accomplishments
               up to the time of speaking, but at no specific time.
               " I'm a writer. I've written 9 books."
             " Have you ever written a biography?"   "No never."

PAST SIMPLE

          The Past Simple is used to talk about past events which happened
          in a finished period of time.

             The Past Simple is used :

1. When the period of time is finished :
◊ I wrote two letters yesterday. (Yesterday is finished.)

          2. When the time is mentioned, either a precise time in the past,
               or a time expression which clearly situates the event in the past:

               ◊ I lived in the country          ...    until the age of 6
                                                        ...    when I was young
                                                        ...    from 1985 to 1992
                                                        ...    before we moved to London
                                                        ...    a long time ago

NB : As a general rule, if you can answer the question "when?", use the Past Simple

Past Perfect Tense (example : to play)
Past Perfect Simple
Affirmative	Negative		Interrogative
	Long Form	Contracted Form
I had played	I had not played	I hadn't played	Had I played?
You had played	You had not played	You hadn't played	Had you played?
He/she/it had played	He had not played	He hadn't played	Had he played?
We had played	We had not played	We hadn't played	Had we played?
You had played	You had not played	You hadn't played	Had you played?
They had played	They had not played	They hadn't played	Had they played?

Past Perfect Continuous
Affirmative	Negative		Interrogative
	Long Form	Contracted Form
I had been playing	I had not been playing	I hadn't been playing	Had I been playing?
You had been playing	You had not been playing	You hadn't playing	Had you been playing?
He had been playing	He had not been playing	He hadn't been playing	Had he been playing?
We had been playing	We had not been playing	We hadn't been playing	Had we been playing?
You had been playing	You had not been playing	You hadn't been playing	Had you been playing?
They had been playing	They had not been playing	They hadn't been playing	Had they been playing?

                                              ◊ The Past Perfect is used to refer to actions which took place before a specific time in the past.
                                                  ex : Yesterday, between 4 pm and 6 pm, Paul played a game of tennis with a friend.
                                                          His mother arrived at 6 pm. When his mother arrived, Paul had finished the game.

                                             ◊ The Past Perfect Continuous (had been playing) is used to refer to a past continuous action.
                                                  ex : Before his mother arrived, Paul had been playing tennis with a friend.

Present and Past Tense Revision
Present Simple (ex: I play)	Routine, habits, repetitive actions : - I play tennis every Saturday. Tastes : - I like chocolate, I hate doing homework Facts : The sun rises in the east.
Present Continuous (ex : I am playing)	Continuous action : - at the time of speaking : ex : I am reading this explanation now - around now : ex : I am learning English this year. Planned future arrangement : - I am visiting Rome next Monday.
Past Simple (ex : I played)	*A finished* action at a specific finished time in the past.** - In 1997 I bought a new car. - When I was young, I rode a bicycle to school. - I saw your dog 5 minutes ago.
Present Perfect - Continuous (ex : I have been playing) - Simple (ex : I have played)	Continuous or finished actions in unfinished time. Continuous : - An action which started in the past and continues today : ex : I have been learning English since September. (The year is not finished; I am still learning). Simple : - The completed or finished part of a continuous action : ex : So far this year, we have learned new vocabulary we have revised some grammar rules we have watched several films. (The programme is not finished, but we have done part of it.)

Present Perfect

♦ Past Simple

♦ Past Continuous

♦ Past Perfect

     Present Perfect

      - Continuous
           (ex : I have been playing)

      - Simple
           (ex : I have played)

Continuous or finished actions in unfinished time.

Continuous :
- An action which started in the past and continues today :
   ex : I have been learning English since September.
   (The year is not finished; I am still learning).

Simple :
- The completed or finished part of a continuous action :
   ex : So far this year, we have learned new vocabulary
                                   we have revised some grammar rules
                                   we have watched several films.
   (The programme is not finished, but we have done part of it.)

Past Simple
(ex : I played)

A finished action at a specific finished time in the past.

- Last year I bought a new car.
- When I was young, I lived in the country.
- I saw your dog 5 minutes ago.
- Yesterday Paul played a game of tennis.

Past Continuous
(ex: I was playing)

Continuous actions in the past.

- Paul was playing tennis when he fell.
- He fell twice while he was playing tennis.

. Continuous
(ex : I had been playing)

. Simple
(ex: I had played)

Past Perfect

Actions which took place before a specific time in the past.

- Continuous : ex : Before his mother arrived, Paul had been playing tennis.

- Simple : When his mother arrived, Paul had finished the game.a completed action before a past event
a continuous action before a past event

Future Simple
Affirmative	Negative		Interrogative
	Long Form	Contracted Form
I will go	I will not go	I won't go	Will I go?
You will go	You will not go	You won't go	Will you go?
He/she/it will go	He/she/it will not go	He/she/it won't go	Will he/she/it go?
We will go	We will not go	We won't go	Will we go?
You will go	You will not go	You won't go	Will you go?
They will go	They will not go	They won't go	Will they go?

Future Continuous
Affirmative	Negative		Interrogative
	Long Form	Contracted Form
I will be going	I will not be going	I won't be going	Will I be going?
You will be going	You will not be going	You won't be going	Will you be going?
He will be going	He will not be going	He won't be going	Will he be going?
We will be going	We will not be going	We won't be going	Will we be going?
You will be going	You will not be going	You won't be going	Will you be going?
They will be going	They will not be going	They won't be going	Will they be going?

                                            ◊ The Future Simple (I will go) is used :
                                             * for predictions : what you think will happen or what is certain to happen :
                                               You are going on a long flight. You can say: "I will be tired after my long journey".

                                             * for spontaneous decisions or offers (a decision made at the time of speaking):
                                               With a group of friends, the phone rings. You say: "I'll answer it!"

                                           ◊ The Future Continuous (I will be going) is used to refer to a future continuous action.
                                             * You are going on a long flight. You can say, for example:
                                                In two hours' time, I will be having lunch on the plane/ I will be flying over London/
                                                I will be reading a newspaper/ I will be sleeping/ I will be watching a film, etc.

Conditional Tense (example : to call)
Affirmative	Negative		Interrogative
	Long Form	Contracted Form
I would call	I would not call	I wouldn't call	Would I call?
You would call	You would not call	You wouldn't call	Would you call?
He/she/it would call	He would not call	He wouldn't call	Would he call?
We would call	We would not call	We wouldn't call	Would we call?
You would call	You would not call	You wouldn't call	Would you call?
They would call	They would not call	They wouldn't call	Would they call?

1) The conditional: would + verb, is used to refer to an imaginary or hypothetical situation,
with an 'if' clause in the past.

                                                 Ex : ◊ If I saw an accident, I would call an ambulance.
                                                        ◊ I would call an ambulance if I saw an accident.
                                                           It is possible that you will never see an accident, but here you are describing
                                                           your probable reaction in such circumstances.

Tom is not rich but he likes fast cars.
◊ If Tom had more money, he would buy a fast car.

2) In English, there are different conditional structures :

Present + Present (what is recommended in this situation)	If you see an accident, call a doctor!
Present + Future (possible future situation)	If I see an accident, I will call a doctor.
Past + Conditional (imaginary situation)	If I saw an accident, I would call a doctor.
Past Perfect + Conditional Perfect (the accident occurred but I didn't see it)	If I had seen the accident, I would have called a doctor.

gerund - infinitive

One of the difficulties of the English language is that
some verbs are followed by the gerund (ex : doing)
and others are followed by the infinitive (ex : to do).

Below you will find a table to help you :

When do you use the GERUND? (ex : doing)

When do you use the INFINITIVE? ( ex : to do)

      ● After verbs that express likes/dislikes :

           like, love, enjoy
           dislike, hate
           don't mind, can't stand ..... doing

After certain other verbs, such as :

          admit             imagine
          appreciate     involve
          avoid             keep (on)
          consider        mention
          delay             miss
          deny              postpone
          finish             suggest ........ doing
After prepositions :

          interested in ...
          instead of ...
          good at ...
          before ...
          after ................................... doing
After certain expressions :

          it's no use ...
          it's no good ...
          there's no point in .............. doing

   ● After verbs that refer to a future event :

            want, hope, intend
            would like,    promise ......... to do

   ● After certain other verbs, such as :

            afford           help
           agree           learn
            arrange        manage
            choose         offer
            fail               refuse
            happen        seem ..............   to do

After adjectives :

  glad (ex : glad to know...)
  pleased (ex : pleased to meet you...)
  disappointed (ex : disappointed to hear...)
After "too" & "enough":

   too difficult
   easy enough ..................... to do

The verbs : begin/start/continue can be followed by the gerund or the infinitive
with little or no change in meaning.
The verbs : stop/try/remember can also take both, but the meaning changes.

Here are a few guidelines:

                         In normal everyday English, inversion is used :

                              ► to make questions :       does he?   can you?
                              ► after so, neither, nor :     so do I, neither do I, nor do I.

In written English, as well as in a very formal style, inversion is used in the following cases :

                              1. ◊ After negative adverbial expressions :
                                      ▪ Under no circumstances can we accept cheques.
                                      ▪ In no way can he be held responsible.
                                      ▪ At no time did she say she would come.

                              2. ◊ After adverbial expressions of place :
                                    ▪ Round the corner came the postman.
                                    ▪ On the doorstep was a bunch of flowers.

                              3. ◊ After seldom, rarely, never, in comparisons :
                                     ▪ Seldom have I seen such a beautiful view.
                                     ▪ Rarely did he pay anyone a compliment.
                                     ▪ Never had I felt so happy.

                              4. ◊ After hardly, scarcely, no sooner, when one thing happens after another.
                                     ▪ Hardly had I begun to speak when I was interrupted.
                                     ▪ Scarcely had we started our meal when the phone rang.
                                     ▪ No sooner had I arrived than they all started to argue.

5. ◊ After adverbial expressions beginning with 'only'.
▪ Only after the meeting did I realize the importance of the subject.

                              6. ◊ After exclamations with here and there.
                                      ▪ Here comes the winner!
                                      ▪ There goes all our money!

IRREGULAR VERBS

Verb	Past Simple	Past Participle
be	was/were	been
beat	beat	beaten
become	became	become
begin	began	begun
bend	bent	bent
bite	bit	bitten
blow	blew	blown
break	broke	broken
bring	brought	brought
build	built	built
buy	bought	bought
catch	caught	caught
choose	chose	chosen
come	came	come
cost	cost	cost
cut	cut	cut
dig	dug	dug
do	did	done
draw	drew	drawn
dream	dreamt	dreamt
drink	drank	drunk
drive	drove	driven
eat	ate	eaten
fall	fell	fallen
feel	felt	felt
fight	fought	fought
find	found	found
fly	flew	flown
forget	forgot	forgotten
forgive	forgave	forgiven
freeze	froze	frozen
get	got	got
give	gave	given
go	went	gone
have	had	had
hear	heard	heard
hit	hit	hit
hold	held	held
hurt	hurt	hurt
keep	kept	kept
kneel	knelt	knelt
know	knew	known
lay	laid	laid
lead	led	led
learn	learnt	learnt
leave	left	left
lend	lent	lent
let	let	let
lie	lay	lain
light	lit	lit
lost	lost	lost
make	made	made
mean	meant	meant
meet	met	met
pay	paid	paid
put	put	put
read	read	read
ride	rode	ridden
ring	rang	rung
rise	rose	risen
run	ran	run
say	said	said
see	saw	seen
sell	sold	sold
send	sent	sent
set	set	set
shake	shook	shaken
shine	shone	shone
shoot	shot	shot
show	showed	shown
shut	shut	shut
sing	sang	sung
sink	sank	sunk
sit	sat	sat
sleep	slept	slept
speak	spoke	spoken
spell	spelt	spelt
spend	spent	spent
spill	spilled/spilt	spilled/spilt
stand	stood	stood
steal	stole	stolen
stick	stuck	stuck
swim	swam	swum
take	took	taken
teach	taught	taught
tear	tore	torn
tell	told	told
think	thought	thought
throw	threw	thrown
understand	understood	understood
wake	woke	woken
wear	wore	worn
win	won	won
write	wrote	written