Moulay Ismail University

School of Arts and

Humanities

Department of English

Grammar
Semester 1
CHAPTER ONE : TENSES
CHAPTER TWO : PARTS OF SPEECH

Academic Year

2021 – 2020

Prof. Youssef Laabidi

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 SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE
1. Repeated Actions
Use the Simple Present to express the idea that an action is repeated or usual. The action
can be a habit, a hobby, a daily event, a scheduled event or something that often happens. It
can also be something a person often forgets or usually does not do.
Examples : I play tennis.
The train leaves every morning at 8 am.
She always forgets her purse.
Every twelve months, the Earth circles the sun.
Q) ‘‘What does he do ?’’ A) ‘‘he is a teacher’’.
2. Facts or Generalizations
The Simple Present can also indicate the speaker believes that a fact was true before, is true
now, and will be true in the future. It is not important if the speaker is correct about the fact.
It is also used to make generalizations about people or things.
Examples : Cats like milk.
California is not in the United Kingdom.
Windows are made of glass.
New York is a small city. (It is not important that this fact is untrue).
I live in Morocco.
3. Now (Non-continuous verbs)
Sometimes speakers use the Simple Present to express the idea that an action is
happening or is not happening now. This can only be done with Non-continuous Verbs.
I am here now.
She is not here now.
He needs help right now.
He has a car.
4. Active/Passive (Simple Present)
Once a week, Tom cleans the car. (Active)
Once a week, the car is cleaned by Tom. (Passive)
5. For instructions or directions
Open the packet and pour the contents into hot water.
6. For fixed arrangements
His mother arrives tomorrow.
Our holiday starts on the 26th Marc
7. In conditional sentences
If you study hard, you will pass the test.
Unless she works hard she will not succeed.

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 PRESENT CONTINUOUS TENSE
1. Now
Use the Present Continuous with Continuous Verbs to express the idea that something is
happening now, at this very moment. It can also be used to show that something is not
happening now.
Examples : You are learning English now.
We are not swimming now.
I am sitting.
They are not watching television.
What are you doing ?
2. Longer Actions in Progress Now.
In English, now can mean ‘‘this second’’, ‘‘today’’, ‘‘this month’’, ‘‘this year’’, ‘‘this
century’’ and so on. Sometimes we use the Present Continuous to say that we are in the
process of doing a longer action which is in progress ; however, we might not be doing it
at this exact second. In other words, we use present continuous for an action happening
about this time but not necessarily at the moment of speaking.
Examples : (All of these sentences can be said while eating dinner in a restaurant)
I am studying to become a doctor.
I am not reading any books right now.
Are you working on any special projects at work ?
Aren’t you teaching at the university now ?
3. Near Future
We can also use the present continuous tense to talk about the future – if we add a
future word. We must add (or understand from the context) a future word. ‘‘Future
wors’’ include, for example, tomorrow, next year, in June, at Christmas etc. we only use
the present continuous tense to talk about the future when we have planned to do
something before we speak. We have already made a decision and an immediate plan
before speaking.
Examples : We’re eating in a restaurant tonight. We’ve already booked the table.
I am not going to the party tonight.
Isn’t he coming with us tonight ?
4. Repetition and Irritation with ‘‘Always’’
The Present Continuous with words such as ‘‘always’’ or ‘‘constantly’’ expresses the idea
that something irritating or shocking often happens. Notice that the meaning is like
Simple Present but with negative emtion. Remember to put the words ‘‘always’’ or
‘‘constantly’’ between ‘‘be’’ and ‘‘verb+ing’’. The form is used chiefly in the affirmative.
Examples : She is constantly coming to class late.
I don’t like them because they are always complaining.
He is always talking. (I wish he would shut up). Present continuous in this sentence
would imply that he is talkative, probably very talkative in the speaker’s opinion. But it
does not necessarily mean that he talks a lot. It is not a literal statement. Compare with
always+simple present :
He always talks (literal statement)
Non-Continuous verbs

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It is important to remember that Non-continuous Verbs such as believe, dislike, doubt,
imagine, konw, etc. cannot be used in any ‘‘continuous’’ tenses. To express the idea of
‘‘happening now’’, you must use Simple Present.
Examples : She loves chocolate. NOT She is loving chocolate.
You astonish me ! NOT You are astonishing me !
I’m afraid I disagree with you. NOT I’m afraid I am disagreeing with
you.
Active/Passive (Present Continuous)
Examples : Right now, Susan is writing the letter. Active.
Right now, the letter is being written by Susan. Passive.

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 SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE
versus PRESENT CONTINUOUS TENSE

(PRACTICE)

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I- Complete the passage, using the present simple tense of the verbs in the list. Use each verb
once only.

be release buy scan leave show let suck record take

When you ……………………………….. a ticket you ……………………………….. it to a machine which

……………………………….. it in, ……………………………….. it, ……………………………….. it, and
……………………………….. a barrier for you – in about a third of a second. And when you
……………………………….. a station a similar gate ……………………………….. your ticket from you (always
assuming you’ve got the correct ticket) and ……………………………….. you out, returning your ticket if it
……………………………….. a season.
II- Choose one verb to make each sentence negative (present simple)
e.g. It …………..doesn’t snow…..….. very often in San Francisco (snow, sing, play)
1. I like football, but I ............................................ cricket at all. (think, like, remember)
2. She lives in Japan, but she ...................................... a word of Japanese (sing, work, speak)
3. I’m sorry – I ................................. your name. (eat, remember, work)
4. He works in New York, but I .................................... what he does. (know, use, come)
5. Mary’s really tired, but she ...................................... to go to bed. (help, want, walk)
6. We .......................................... a big flat – just one bedroom. (work, play, want)
7. Phil ..................................... very hard, but he makes a lot of money. (work, stand, stop)
8. Ann’s parents ................................... I’m the right man for their daughter. (write, read, think)

III- Complete these sentences so that they represent a universal truth or a situation that may
be regarded as permanent, using the present simple of the verbs in the list. Add any other
words that may be needed to complete the sentences, e.g., a, the, at, on, etc.

believe make exist rise float sell flow set generate stand indicate treat work

1. The sun ……………………………….. east, and ……………………………….. west.

2. A tobaconist ……………………………….. cigarettes.
3. The Thames ……………………………….. London.
4. London ……………………………….. Thames.
5. Water ……………………………….. moon. (negative)
6. Jet aircraft ……………………………….. lot of noise.
7. Combustion ……………………………….. heat.
8. Hospitals ……………………………….. sick.
9. A drop in barometric pressure ……………………………….. change in the weather.
10. Computers ……………………………….. great speed.
11. Oil ……………………………….. water.
12. An atheist ……………………………….. God. (negative)

IV- Put each verb in brackets into the present simple or present continuous.
I work in a large office with about thirty other people, most of whom I ................................... (know)
quite well. We ................................... (spend) most of the day together, so we have all become
friends. In fact, most of my colleagues are so interesting, that I ................................... (think) of
writing a book about them! ................................... (take) Helen Watson, for example. Helen

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................................... (run) the accounts department. At the moment she ................................... (go
out) with Keith Ballantine, one of the sales representatives, and they ................................... (seem)
very happy together. But everyone - except Helen apparently - ................................... (know) that
Keith ................................... (fancy) Susan Porter. But I ................................... (happen) to know that
Susan ................................... (dislike) Keith. 'I can't stand people who never ...................................
(stop) apologising all the time!’. When you ................................... (realise) that someone in your
office is a thief, it ................................... (upset) you at first. But I ................................... (also/try) to
catch whoever it is before the police are called in. I'm not going to tell you who I
................................... (suspect). Well, not yet anyway!
V- Put the verbs in the PRESENT SIMPLE or the PRESENT CONTINUOUS
1. Vegetarians are people who .................................................. (not / eat ) meat.
2. Look out! My father ........................................... (come)
3. Some people still ................................... (think) the sun ............................. (go) round the earth.
4. I .................................. (play) tennis every weekend.
5. Who .................................... (sit) in my chair?
6. What ........................................... (happen) in golf if you ............................. (lose) the ball?
7. Look! She ............................................ (wear) the same shoes as me.
8. a: What ................................................ (you/look) at? B: A strange bird!
9. I ........................................ (stay) with John for a few weeks until my flat is ready.
10. We ....................................................... (usually/stay) with Peggy when we go to Chicago.
11. What time .................................................. (you/go) to bed on Saturdays?
12. Why ............................................. (you/wait) outside the door.
13. Don’t ask Tim. He ...................................... (not/know) the answer.
14. Excuse me, ............................................ (you/know) the time?
15. a:What ......................................... (you/do) here? B: Nothing.
16. a: What time ............................................ (the sun/rise)? B: It ............................... (rise) at
7.30.
17. We ......................................... (not/watch) videos at school.
18. a: ...................................................... (you/wear) a uniform at your school? B: Yes, ........................

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 SIMPLE PAST AND PAST CONTINUOUS

SIMPLE PAST TENSE

A. It is used for actions completed in the past at a definite time. It is therefore used :
1. When the time is given (the car exploded at 9.30 a.m. yesterday)
2. When the time is asked about (when did she talk to them ?)
3. When the action clearly took place at a definite time even though this time is not
mentioned (Shauna studied Japanese for five years)
B. The simple past tense is used for an action whose time is not mentioned but which :
1. Occupied a period of time now terminated,
She worked in that company for ten years, (but she does not work there now)
I lived in that house when I was young.
2. Occurred in a a period of time now terminated, (They once went to the opera.)
C. The simple past tense is used in a series of completed actions :
we use the simple past to list a series of completed actions in the past. These actions
happened 1st, 2nd , 3rd, 4th, ……
I finished work, walked to the beach, and found a nice place to swim.
He arrived from the airport at 8 :00, checked into the hotel at 9 :00, and met the
others at 10 :00.
D. The simple past tense is used for past habits :
The simple past can also be used to describe a habit which stopped in the past. It can
have the same meaning as ‘‘used to’’. To make it clear that we are talking about a
habit we often use expressions such as ‘‘always,’’ ‘‘often,’’ ‘‘usually,’’ ‘‘never,’‘
‘‘…when I was a child’’ or ‘‘…when I was younger’’ in the sentence.
I studied French when I was a child.
They never went to school, they always skipped.
E. The simple past tense is used in the conditional sentences type 2.
If they had enough money, they would buy a new house.

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 PAST CONTINUOUS TENSE
A. The past continuous tense is mainly used to talk about past actions that lasted for a
certain time and whose limits are not known.
a. Used without time expression it can indicate gradual development :
The sun was getting brighter.
It was getting darker.
b. Used with a point in time, it expresses an action which began before that time and
probably continued after it :
I was watching TV (implies that he was in the middle of the action of
watching.)
B. We often use the past continuous tense to ‘‘set the scene’’ in stories. We use it to
describe the background situation at the moment when the action begins. Often, the
story starts with the past continuous tense and then moves into the simple past tense.
Here is an example :
‘‘James was driving through town. It was raining. The wind was blowing hard. Nobody was
walking in the streets. Suddenly, James saw the killer in a telephone box….’’
C. If we replace the time expression with the verb in the simple past :
When he called I was having a shower.
(we convey the idea that the action in the past continuous started before the action in the
simple past and probably continued after it.)
We often use the past continuous tense with the simple past tense. We use the past
continuous tense to express a long action. And we use the simple past tense to express a
short action that happens in the middle of the long action. We can join the two ideas with
when or while.
In the following example we have two actions :
1. Long action (watching TV), expressed with past continuous tense.
2. Short action (telephoned), expressed with simple past tense.
We can join these two actions with when :
I was watching TV when you telephoned.
(Notice that ‘‘when you telephoned’’ is also a way of defining the time (8pm).
We use : (when + short action (simple past tense)
While + long action (past continuous tense)
D. The past continuous tense is used with always to talk about frequently repeated
actions that annoyed the speaker :
He was always playing the guitar early in the morning.
She was always making noise.
E. Just as the present continuous can be used to express a definite future arrangement :
I’m leaving tonight. I have got my plane ticket.
So the simple past tense can be used to express this sort of future in the past.
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 He was busy packing, for he was leaving that night (the decision to leave had
been made some time previously).
F. The past continuous tense is used in the indirect speech :
Direct speech : he said, ‘‘I am a student’’
Indirect speech : he said he was a student.
This tense is normally used for uninterrupted actions :
I was painting the house.
But if we mention the times the action was done, we have to use the simple
past tense : I painted two rooms.
Verbs not used in the continuous tenses
These verbs are verbs of the senses : feel, smell, hear, notice and observe, etc.
Verbs expressing feelings and emotions cannot be used in the continuous form : wish, love,
hate, desire, appreciate, adore, value, fear, care, want, etc.
Verbs of mental activity : Agree, appreciate, believe, expect, feel (think) certain/sure, know,
mean, remember, recall, perceive, realize, recollect, trust (believe/have confidence in),
understand, etc.
Verbs of possession : Own, possess, belong, owe.
And the other verbs : consist, hold (contain), concern, matter, signify, appear (seem), keep
(continue), seem.

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SIMPLE PAST AND PAST CONTINUOUS
(PRACTICE)

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 I. Put the verbs in brackets into the simple past or the past continuous tense.

1. When I arrived the lecture had already started and the professor ………………...... (write) on
the overhead projector.
2. I ………………...... (make) a cake when the light went out. I had to finish it in the dark.
3. He always ………………...... (wear) a raincoat and…………………...... (carry) an umbrella
when he walked to the office.
4. I ………………...... …just (open) the letter when the wind………………...... (blow) it out of
my hand.
5. You looked very busy when I ………………...... …(see) you last night. What you
….………………...... (do)?
6. The boys…………………...... (play) cards when they …………………...... (hear) their
father's step. They immediately ………………...... …(hide) the cards and ………………......
…(take) out their lesson books.
7. He …………………...... (clean) his gun when it accidentally ………………........(go) off
and ………………...... … (kill) him.
8. As I ……………….....(cross) the road I ………………….....…(step) on a banana skin
and…………………...... (fall) heavily.
9. When I ………………...... (hear) his knock I ………………...... …(go) to the door and
………………...... …(open) it, but I ………………......…(not recognize) him at first because
I ………………...... …(not wear) my glasses.
10. Her mother often …………………...... … (tell) her that she ………………….....…(spend)
too much money but she never …listened…(listen).

II. Complete the dialogue with the past simple or the progressive of the words in brackets

Olivia : Hey, Jane. Where (1) ……………………...... …….(be) you yesterday ?

Jane : I (2) …….………………...... … (not/feel) well in the morning so I (3) ………………......
…(stay) at home.
Olivia : (4) ………………...... …you ………………...... ….(hear) about the fire ?
Jane : Fire ? What fire ?
Olivia : we (5) ………………...... ….(have) our Maths lesson when suddenly the fire alarm (6)
………………...... ….(go) off.
Jane : Really ?
Olivia : Yeah. Mr Morris (7) ………………...... … (tell) us all to leave the classroom and wait
outside.
Jane : then what ?
Olivia : well, as we (8) ……………………...... .(wait) in the playground, I (9) ………………......
….(see) smoke coming from the 3rd floor. Luckily, there was nobody up there.
Jane : what happened then ?
Olivia : the fire brigade (10) ………………....….(arrive) very quickly and put out the fire.
Jane : Wow, I (11) ………………...... …..(hear) a fire engine yesterday morning as I (12)
………………...... …(lie) in bed.
Olivia : (13) ……………………...... …it ………………...... ….(go) down Maple Road ?
Jane : Yes.
Olivia : Well, that was it then.

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III. Put the verbs in brackets into the correct tense: simple past or past continuous.

1 Peter and Ann…………………...... (decide) to redecorate their sitting-room themselves. 2 They

…………........(choose) cream paint for the woodwork and apricot for the walls. 3 When John
……………….....… (look) in to see how they …………………....… (get) on, Ann
………………….....…(mix) the paint, and Peter .. ……………….....…(wash) down the walls. 4
They ………………….....…(be) glad to see John and ………………....…(ask) if he
………………….....…(do) anything special that day. 5 He hastily ………………....… (reply) he
………………….....…(go) to the theatre and …………………....…(go) away at once, because he
………………....… (know) they …were looking…(look) for someone to help them. 6
They…began… (begin) painting, but …………………....….(find) the walls
………………….....…(be) too wet. 7 While they …..………………........(wait) for the walls to
dry, Ann ………………….….(remember) she ………………….…(have) a phone call to make. 8
Peter ………………........(start) painting while she …………………........(telephone), and ..
………………..…(do) a whole wall before Ann ……………(come) back. 9 He
…………………….(grumble) that she always …………………...... …(telephone). 10 Ann
………………….....…(retort) that Peter always …………………...... …(complain). 11 They
….……………….….(work) in silence for some time. 12 Just as they ………………….…(start)
the third wall, the doorbell ………………...…(ring). 13 It …………………..…(be) a friend of
Peter's who ………………….....(want) to know if Peter …………………..…(play) golf the
following weekend. 14 He …………………..… (stay) talking to Peter in the hall while Ann ..
………………...... … (go) on painting. 15 At last he …………………....…(leave). 16 Peter
…………………...…(return), expecting Ann to say something about friends who
…………………...…(come) and ….………………..…(waste) valuable time talking about golf.
17 But Ann nobly …………………..…(say) nothing. 18 Then Peter …………………...…(think)
he would do the ceiling. 19 He just .. ………………...... …(climb) the step ladder when The
doorbell …………………..…(ring) again. 20 Ann …………………(say) she
…………………...... …(get) tired of interruptions but …………………..…(go) and
…………………....(open) the door. 21 It …..………………..…(be) the postman with a letter
from her aunt Mary, saying she ….………………..…(come) to spend the weekend with them and
arriving that evening at 6.30.

IV. Complete the sentences with the past simple or the past progressive of the verbs in
brackets.

1. Who was the girl you…………………...... … (talk) to when I ….………………...... …(pass)

you in the street ?
2. He ………………...... …(sleep) soundly when he …………………...... …(awaken) by noise.
He …………………...... …(go) downstairs to find out what …………………...... …(happen).
He …………………...... …(know) something must be wrong because the dog
….………………...... …(bark) furiously.
3. He …………………...... …(not/take) my remarks seriously. In fact, he …………………......
…(think) I …………………...... …(joke).
4. A storm …………………...….(break) while the golfers ….………………...... …(approach)
the half way stage in the competition. They ….………………....…(take) shelter in the
clubhouse, and play …………………...... …(restart) as soon as the rain
…………………....….(stop).
5. The men ….………………...…(drink) together when an argument ………………......
…(break out). The men soon…………………...... … (come) to blows, and the publican
………………...... …(call) the police. The situation just ………………...... …(begin) to get
out of hand, when the police …………………........(arrive) and …………………...... …(take)
the two men to the police station. While they …were getting…(get) out of the police car, one

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 man ….………………...... …(make) a break for it, and …………………...... …(succeed) in
getting away. They still …………………...... …(look) for the man two hours later.
6. One of the airliner’s tyres ….………………...... …(burst) as it ….………………...... …(taxi)
along the runway. Fortunately, no one …………………...... …(injure)
7. What …………………...... …(go on) in your house when I …………………........(call) on
you last night ? I …………………...... … (ring) the bell three times, but you
…………………........(not answer) the door. Judging by the noise
that ….………………..…(come) from the sitting room, I ………………...... …(think) you
must be having a party.
8. I …………………...... …(look) for you in the theatre all the evening. Where you
…………………...... …(sit) ?
9. When I …………………...... (leave) the airport, John and his wife still
………………........(talk) to the customs official. They ………………...... …(seem) to be
having some difficulty over their passports.
10. It’s odd you should mention seeing him last night. I just …………………...... …(wonder)
what had become of him. I suppose you …………………...... …(not/ask) where he
…………………...... …(live) these days ?

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 PRESENT PERFECT TENSE
The present perfect used for past actions whose time is not definite

We use the present perfect to say that an action happened at an unspecified time before
now. The exact time is not important. You CANNOT use the present perfect with specific
time expressions such as: yesterday, one year ago, last week, when I was a child, when I
lived in Japan, at that moment, that day, one day, etc. We CAN use the present perfect with
unspecific expressions such as: ever, never, once, many times, several times, before, so far,
already, yet, etc.

Examples:

 I have seen that movie twenty times.

 There have been many earthquakes in California.
 Nobody has ever climbed that mountain.

1 Experience

You can use the present perfect to describe your experience. It is like saying, "I have the
experience of..." You can also use this tense to say that you have never had a certain
experience. The present perfect is NOT used to describe a specific event.

Examples:

 I have been to France. (This sentence means that you have had the experience of
being in France. Maybe you have been there once, or several times.)
 I have been to France three times.(You can add the number of times at the end of
the sentence.)
 I have never been to France. (This sentence means that you have not had the
experience of going to France.)
 He has never traveled by train.
 Joan has studied two foreign languages.
 A: Have you ever met him?
B: No, I have not met him.

2 Change Over Time

We often use the present perfect to talk about change that has happened over a period of
time.

Examples:

 You have grown since the last time I saw you.

 The government has become more interested in arts education.
 My English has really improved since I moved to Australia.

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3 Accomplishments

We often use the present perfect to list the accomplishments of individuals and humanity.
You cannot mention a specific time.

Examples:

 Man has walked on the Moon.

 Our son has learned how to read.
 Doctors have cured many deadly diseases.

4 An Uncompleted Action You Are Expecting

We often use the present perfect to say that an action which we expected has not
happened. Using the present perfect suggests that we are still waiting for the action to
happen.

Examples:

 James has not finished his homework yet.

 Susan hasn't mastered Japanese, but she can communicate.
 The rain hasn't stopped.

5 Multiple Actions at Different Times

We also use the present perfect to talk about several different actions which have occurred
in the past at different times. Present perfect suggests the process is not complete and more
actions are possible.

Examples:

 The army has attacked that city five times.

 I have had four quizzes and five tests so far this semester.
 She has talked to several specialists about her problem, but nobody knows why she
is sick.

The present perfect used with ‘for’ and ‘since’

A - for is used with a period of time: for six days, for a long time.
for used with the present perfect denotes a period of time extending into the
present:
We have lived in London for ten years. (and still live there)
since is used with a point in time and means 'from that point to the time of
speaking'.
She has been here since six o'clock. (and is still here)
We've been friends since our schooldays.

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 PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS
Examples :

 I have been waiting here for two hours.

 She has only been studying English for two years.

NOTE: When you are using a verb tense with more than one part such as Present Perfect
Continuous (has been studying), adverbs often come between the first part and the second
part (has only been studying).

1 Duration from the Past Until Now

We use the present perfect continuous to show that something started in the past and has
continued up until now. "For five minutes," "for two weeks," and "since Tuesday" are all
durations which can be used with the present perfect continuous.

Examples:

 They have been talking for the last hour.

 She has been working at that company for three years.
 James has been teaching at the university since June.

2 Recently, Lately

You can also use the present perfect continuous WITHOUT a duration such as "for two
weeks." Without the duration, the tense has a more general meaning of "lately." We often
use the words "lately" or "recently" to emphasize this meaning.

Examples:

 Recently, I have been feeling really tired.

 She has been watching too much television lately.
 Mary has been feeling a little depressed.

IMPORTANT

Remember that the present perfect continuous has the meaning of "lately" or "recently." If
you use the present perfect continuous in a question such as "Have you been feeling
alright?", it suggests that the person looks sick or unhealthy. A question such as "Have you
been smoking?" suggests that you can smell the smoke on the person. Using this tense in
a question suggests you can see, smell, hear or feel the results of the action.

IMPORTANT Non-Continuous Verbs/ Mixed Verbs

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It is important to remember that non-continuous verbs cannot be used in any continuous
tenses. Also, certain non-continuous meanings for mixed verbs cannot be used in
continuous tenses. To express the idea of Present Perfect Continuous with these exception
verbs, you must use present perfect.

Examples:

 Sam has been having his car for two years. Not Correct
 Sam has had his car for two years. Correct

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PRESENT PERFECT TENSES
(PRACTICE)

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I. Complete the dialogue with the present perfect or the present perfect continuous tense of
the verbs in brackets.

Robin: I think the waiter (forget) ……………………………… us. We (wait) ……………………………… here for
over half an hour and nobody (take) ……………………………… our order yet.
Michele: I think you're right. He (walk) ……………………………… by us at least twenty times. He probably
thinks we (order, already) ……………………………… .
Robin: Look at that couple over there, they (be, only) ……………………………… here for five or ten
minutes and they already have their food.
Michele: He must realize we (order, not) ……………………………… yet! We (sit) …………………………… here
for over half an hour staring at him.
Robin: I don't know if he (notice, even) ……………………………… us. He (run) ……………………………… from
table to table taking orders and serving food.
Michele: That's true, and he (look, not) ……………………………… in our direction once.

II. Put the verbs in brackets into the present perfect or the present perfect continuous tense.

1. Judy: How long (be) ……………………………… in Canada?

Claude: I (study) ……………………………… here for more than three years.
2. I (have) ……………………………… the same car for more than ten years. I'm thinking about buying a
new one.
3. I (love) ……………………………… chocolate since I was a child. You might even call me a "chocoholic."
4. Matt and Sarah (have) ……………………………… some difficulties in their relationship lately, so they
(go) ……………………………… to a marriage counselor. I hope they work everything out.
5. John (work) ……………………………… for the government since he graduated from Harvard University.
Until recently, he (enjoy) ……………………………… his work, but now he is talking about retiring.
6. Lately, I (think) ……………………………… about changing my career because I
(become) ……………………………… dissatisfied with the conditions at my company.
7. I (see) ……………………………… Judy for more than five years and during that time I have
(see) ……………………………… many changes in her personality.

III. Put the verbs in brackets into the present continuous or the present perfect tense.
1. It (rain) ……………………………… all week. I hope it stops by Saturday because I want to go to the
beach.
2. Sid: Where is Gary?
Sarah: He (study, at the library) ……………………………… for his German test on Wednesday. In fact,
he (review) ……………………………… for the test every day for the last week.
3. You look really great! (You, exercise) ……………………………… at the fitness center ?
4. Frank, where have you been? We (wait) ……………………………… for you since 1 PM.
5. Tim: What is that sound?
Nancy: A car alarm (ring) ……………………………… somewhere down the street. It
(drive) ……………………………… me crazy - I wish it would stop! It (ring) ……………………………… for
more than twenty minutes.
6. Joseph's English (improve, really) ……………………………… , isn't it? He
(watch) ……………………………… American television programs and (study) ……………………………… his
grammar every day since he first arrived in San Diego. Soon he will be totally fluent.

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7. Dan: You look a little tired. (You, get) ……………………………… enough sleep lately?
Michelle: Yes, I (sleep) ……………………………… relatively well. I just look tired because I
(feel) ……………………………… a little sick for the last week.

Dan: I hope you feel better soon.

Michelle: Thanks. I (take, currently) ……………………………… some medicine, so I should feel better
in a couple of days.
IV. Complete the dialogue with the present continuous or the present perfect continuous
tense of the verbs in brackets.

Mr. Smith: So tell me a little bit about yourself, Mr. Harris. I would like to find out a little bit more
about your background.
Mr. Harris: I (work) ……………………………… in the insurance industry for over ten years. I worked for
Met Life for six years and World Insurance for four and a half. During that time, I heard many good
things about Hollings Life Insurance and that's why I (apply) ……………………………… for the new sales
position.
Mr. Smith: Tell me a little about your hobbies and interests.
Mr. Harris: In my spare time, I hike in the mountains outside of town, volunteer at the Sierra Club
and play tennis. In fact, I (compete) ……………………………… in a tennis tournament this weekend.
Mr. Smith: Really, how long (you, play) ……………………………… tennis ?
Mr. Harris: I (play) ……………………………… since high school. I love the sport.
Mr. Smith: Great! We like dedication here at Hollings Life. You mentioned you volunteer at the Sierra
Club. I (work, currently) ……………………………… with them on the sea turtle project. We
(try) ……………………………… to create a wildlife sanctuary near the bay.
Mr. Harris: Do you know Frank Harris? He's my brother. He (work, presently) ……………………………… on
the same project.
Mr. Smith: I know Frank quite well. Any brother of Frank's would be a welcome addition to Hollings
Life. Just one more thing, we (look) ……………………………… for somebody who is fluent in Spanish;
many of our clients are from Mexico.
Mr. Harris: No problem. I (study) ……………………………… Spanish since elementary school.
Mr. Smith: Sounds like you are the perfect candidate.

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 PAST PERFECT TENSE
Examples : I had studied for my test, but I forgot a lot.
I had been in Amsterdam until I was 18 years old.
I had had some unhappy times, and then I met your mother.

The past perfect tense, like the present perfect, is made with two cooperating verbs. Unlike
the present perfect, both verbs are in the past tense.

 The auxiliary verb (‘‘to have’’) is in the simple past tense.

 The main verb is a past participle.

Past+past is not only how the tense is formed, it is a clue to its meaning. An event or state
started at one point in the past and ended at another point in the past.

In the first example, ‘‘I had studied for my test, but I forgot a lot,’’ the studying started in
the past but the effects of the studying are no longer there. The speaker is saying that he
does not remember what he studied. If he just said ‘‘I studied for my test,’’ then may be he
remembers, or may be he doesn’t. The simple past does not tell you, but the past perfect
does. The last example, similarly, says that the unhappy times started at one point in the
past and finished at another point (‘‘….when I met your mother’’). This tense is used to
emphasize that something happened but is not true anymore.

1 Completed Action Before Something in the Past

The past perfect expresses the idea that something occurred before another action in the
past. It can also show that something happened before a specific time in the past.

Examples: - I had never seen such a beautiful beach before I went to Kauai.
- A: Had you ever visited the U.S. before your trip in 2006?
B: Yes, I had been to the U.S. once before in 1999.

Duration Before Something in the Past (Non-Continuous Verbs)

With non-continuous verbs and some non-continuous uses of mixed verbs, we use the past
perfect to show that something started in the past and continued up until another action in
the past.

Examples: - We had had that car for ten years before it broke down.
-By the time Alex finished his studies, he had been in London for over eight years.

NOTE : If the past perfect action occurred at a specific time, the simple past can be used
instead of the past perfect when "before" or "after" is used in the sentence. The words
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"before" and "after" actually tell you what happens first, so the past perfect is optional. For
this reason, both sentences below are correct.

Examples: - She had visited her Japanese relatives once in 1993 before she moved
in with them in 1996.
She visited her Japanese relatives once in 1993 before she moved in with them in 1996.

HOWEVER

If the past perfect action did not happen at a specific time, past perfect MUST be used at all
times. Compare the two sentences below :

Examples: - She never saw a bear before she moved to Alaska. Not Correct
- She had never seen a bear before she moved to Alaska. Correct

ACTIVE / PASSIVE

Examples: George had repaired many cars before he received his mechanic's
license. Active
Many cars had been repaired by George before he received his mechanic's
license. Passive

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 PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS
Examples : - I had been waiting there for two hours before she finally arrived.
She had only been studying English for two years before she got the job.

NOTE : When you are using a verb tense with more than one part such as Past Perfect
Continuous (had been studying), adverbs often come between the first part and the second
part (had only been studying).

1 Duration Before Something in the Past

We use the past perfect continuous to show that something started in the past and
continued up until another time in the past. "For five minutes" and "for two weeks" are
both durations which can be used with the past perfect continuous. Notice that this is
related to the present perfect continuous; however, the duration does not continue until
now, it stops before something else in the past.

- Examples: They had been talking for over an hour before Tony arrived.
- She had been working at that company for three years when it went out of
business.
- James had been teaching at the university for more than a year before he left for
Asia.

2 Cause of Something in the Past

Using the past perfect continuous before another action in the past is a good way to
show cause and effect.

- Examples: Jason was tired because he had been jogging.

- Sam gained weight because he had been overeating.

IMPORTANT If you do not include a duration such as "for five minutes," "for two
weeks" or "since Friday," many English speakers choose to use the past
continuous. There is also a difference in meaning. Compare the examples below.

Examples : - I was reading when my roommate returned. (Emphasizes the

interruption of ‘‘reading’’.
- I had been reading for an hour when my roommate returned. (Emphasizes the
amount of time ‘‘for an hour’’.

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 FUTURE FORMS
I- FUTURE SIMPLE

A . Form

 Will + verb ( infinitive)

B. Uses

 It is used for something certain in the future, a fact.

1. The store will be closed on Sunday.
2. She’ll be thirty next week.
 But usually the future is not certain, and instead we have to make a prediction based
on our opinions and beliefs. So, the future simple is used for predictions
1. It will snow tomorrow.
2. I think our party won't win the next election.
3. I hope they’ll agree to the deal.
 It is used to express a spontaneous decision or intention made at the moment of
speaking. ( instant decisions)
1. I’ll phone you back in a minute.
2. I’ll wait for you outside.
 It is used for scheduled events
1. The concert will begin at 8 o'clock.
2. When will the train leave?
 It is used for promises
1. Will you marry me?
2. I'll help you with your homework after class
 It is used for offers
1. I'll make you a sandwich.
2. They'll help you if you want.
 It is used for requests.
1. Will you get me an espresso, please?
2. Will you open the window?
 It is used in combination with time clauses (as soon as, when, before, after)
1. He will telephone as soon as he arrives.
2. Will you visit me when you come next week?

C. Time expressions

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  Tomorrow, next weed, next month, next year, when , as soon as, before, after, etc

II- FUTURE CONTINUOUS

A . Form

 Will + be + verb ( infinitive) + ing

B. Uses

 We use the future continuous to talk about an activity that will be in progress at a
specific time in the future.
1. This time next week, she’ll be flying to Rome.
2. This time next Monday, I’ll be teaching Applied Linguistics.
3. It’s better not to call him tomorrow at 10 a.m. He’ll be working.
C. Time expressions

 Tomorrow, next weed, next month, next year

III- FUTURE PERFECT SIMPLE

A . Form

 Will + have + Past Participle

B. Uses

 We use the Future Perfect to say that something will be ended, completed or
achieved by a particular point in the future.
1. By the time you get home, the maid will have cleaned the house from top to
bottom.
2. By the end of June, he will have paid his debt
3. In 5 years time I will have finished university and I will be able to earn some
money at last.
C. Time expressions

 We often use the future perfect with ‘by’ or ‘in’. ‘By’ means ‘not later than a
particular time’ and ‘in’ means 'within a period of time’. We don’t know exactly when
something will finish.

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 IV- FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS

A . Form

 Will + have + been + verb ( infinitive) + ing.

B. Uses

 We use the Future Perfect Continuous to emphasize the duration of an activity in

progress at a particular point in the future.
1. They’re moving to Paris next year. By 2017, they will have been living there
for several years.
2. You’ll have been speaking French for ten years by then.

C. Time expressions

 We often use the future perfect with ‘by’ .

V- be going to +verb ( base form)

 The future with 'going to' is used to express planned events or intentions. These
events or intentions are decided on before the moment of speaking.
1. Frank is going to study Medicine.
2. Where are they going to stay when they come?
3. She isn't going to buy the new house after all.
 It is used for future predictions based on physical (usually visual) evidence.
1. Oh no! Look at those clouds. It's going to rain.
2. Be careful! You're going to drop those dishes!

VI- PRESENT CONTINUOUS

 It is used for planned or personally scheduled events. Usually used with principle verbs such
as: come, go, begin, start, finish, have, etc.
1. He's coming tomorrow afternoon.
2. What are we having for dinner?
3. I'm not seeing the doctor until Friday.

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 VII- PRESENT SIMPLE

 We can often use either the Present Simple or will to talk about future events that
are part of some timetabled or programmed arrangement or routine. However, we
prefer the Present Simple for fixed, unchangeable events.
1. The class begins at 11.30.
2. The plane leaves at 6 o'clock.

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