Table of English words in different tenses. Use of tenses in English

Already in the first lessons foreign language, students are taught the simplest verbal constructions, because action is the basis of our life. The English tense system has many branches, so each category is usually analyzed separately. Today we will look at the simplest temporary form, which is called the simple present (Present Simple / Indefinite). This aspect is very easy and simple to learn; it is even taught to children in a playful way. primary school. The present will help us study simple table, in which we will analyze various designs and situations for using this time.

English perception of the present tense

To begin with, let us note the difference between our understanding of the present and the criteria of the British. Russian grammar classifies this temporary category as actions occurring at the moment of speech, or periodically repeating events. The English language demarcates time intervals more narrowly, so it has four subdivisions of the present tense. At this point, you should not overload yourself with complex information across all categories just yet, but it is important to understand that the present indefinite we are studying today is just one aspect of the present, and not a full-fledged group of time. Let's consider the structure and use of this subspecies.

Present simple construction tables

Before studying specific situations typical for present simple, Let's learn how to construct the verb construction itself so that later we can independently compose several example sentences.

When composing statements that convey events and actions in the present simple, the predicates receive a simple infinitive form, but without using a particle to. In other words, the dictionary form of the verb is taken, from which it is discarded to.

Everything would be very simple, but there is one catch. Predicates relating to nouns and third-person pronouns require the addition of the endings s or es. The shape of the ending depends on the letters preceding it: es is added after o, sh, s, x, ch, ss; in other cases, a simple s is used. Let's pay attention to their pronunciation: es - IZ, s after voiceless ones - C, s after voiced consonants and vowels - Z.

Please note, verbs with final unreadable e, retain it when adding a third person ending s, But e still remains unreadable! That is, this is by no means es (from), but an ordinary s (c/z). It is worth clarifying that only pronouns are used in the table, but the rules are also valid for nouns in the role of 3rd person.

Particularly difficult for beginners is creating interrogative and negative sentences in the present simple tense. To construct such expressions, you must use the auxiliary word do.

When composing questions, do is placed at the beginning of the sentence, followed by the subject, and the main verb in third place. And again let us dwell in more detail on the 3rd person construction, for which the auxiliary do turns into does. This transformation is not accidental, since this is still the same ending, characteristic of the indefinite tense, which we used in the statements. And here we come to study the most common mistake: no endings are added to the main verb in negatives and questions. Only the verb do takes on the role of adding an ending.

And once again we urge you to pay attention to the last column of the table: in the third person, verbs do not have any additional endings.

In negative phrases present indefinite, the same do/does are used, only the particle not is added to them. In writing you can often find the abbreviated constructions don’t and doesn’t. The negation is located in the sentence immediately before the main verb.

And again we repeat the golden rule that when negating and questions in the present simple, the main predicate does not have any additional endings. Please pay close attention to this information so as not to make serious mistakes in your speech.

Present simple table of cases of use and circumstances-markers

The time has come to consider directly the situations of using this aspect. Learn basic meanings present simple will help table given below. Note that in English language With a certain category of time, corresponding adverbs of time are often used. They are also indicated in the table, since you can easily navigate from them which design needs to be used.

Here you can find English tenses in tables with examples / Tenses in English in tables with examples.

1. The Present Perfect Tense

The Present Perfect is formed using the auxiliary verb have/has and the past participle form of the verb (Past Participle). The ways of forming sentences with regular and irregular verbs are different.

• With regular verbs

• With irregular verbs.

Please note these rules in the examples in the table below.

2.The Past Perfect Tense

The Past Perfect is formed using the auxiliary verb had and the past participle form of the verb (Past Participle). The ways of forming sentences with regular and irregular verbs are different.

• With regular verbs

The ending -ed is added to the infinitive form.

• With irregular verbs.

The Past Participle form is used (third column of the table of irregular verbs).

3. The Future Perfect Tense

The Past Perfect is formed using the auxiliary verb have in the form of the future tense (will have) and the past participle form of the verb (Past Participle). The ways of forming sentences with regular and irregular verbs are different.

• With regular verbs

The ending -ed is added to the infinitive form.

• With irregular verbs.

The Past Participle form is used (third column of the table of irregular verbs).

Perfect Continuous Times

1. The Present Perfect Continuous Tense

This tense is formed using the verb to be in the Present Perfect form (have been/has been) and the present participle form of the verb (Present Participle). In other words, the Present Perfect Continuous is formed by using the auxiliary verb have/has been and adding the ending -ing to the semantic verb.

2. The Past Perfect Continuous Tense

This tense is formed using the verb to be in the Past Perfect form (had been) and the present participle form of the verb (Present Participle). In other words, the Present Perfect Continuous is formed by using the auxiliary verb had been and adding the ending -ing to the semantic verb.

Table. 12 verb tenses in English.

English tenses in tables with examples/Tenses in English in a table with examples/Tenses

Here you can find English tenses in tables with examples/ Tenses in English in tables with examples/ Tenses

The English language has a number of features that are often incomprehensible to Russian-speaking students. A striking example is the presence of a large number of tenses, whereas we are accustomed to only three: past, present and future.

In order not to get confused in the ways of forming each tense and the cases of its use, study the tables in this lesson. All of them are compiled in accordance with groups of tenses: - Indefinite group; - group Continuous; - group Perfect; - group Perfect Continuous.

TimegroupsIndefinite.

1. The Present Indefinite (Simple) Tense.

When composing a sentence in the Present Indefinite tense, the verb coincides with the infinitive form (without the particle to), with the exception of the 3rd person singular - in this case the ending –s (-es) is added to the verb. In interrogative and negative sentences, the auxiliary verb do/does is used.

2. The Past Indefinite (Simple) Tense.

Before studying this tense, it is necessary to learn the table of irregular verbs, since the ways of forming sentences with regular and irregular verbs are different.

With regular verbs

The ending -ed is added to the infinitive form.

With irregular verbs.

The Past Simple form is used (second column of the table of irregular verbs).

In interrogative and negative sentences, the auxiliary verb did is used (regardless of whether the verb is regular or irregular).

Please note these rules in the examples in the table below.

Oh, the times! Oh, morals! Tenses in the English language are considered to be the most difficult section of grammar. But this is one of the most common misconceptions. Along with the fact that the majority distinguishes a dozen tenses in English, and three in Russian. So: don’t trust anyone :) In the English language, experts will highlight more than 12 tenses (take at least Future-in-the-Past for warming up). And in Russian, in theory, there are also more than three. Need proof? Yes please.

Times in the Great and Mighty

Only a first grader thinks that we have past, present and future tense. But at the same time, everyone will feel the difference in these proposals:

I was walking home through the park yesterday.
I walked home through the park yesterday

Immediately a quick question: what is the tense in the sentences? Yeah, past. What verb did “went” come from? Well, yes, from the verb “to go.”

The English language also has tricky irregular verbs, which in the past tense take on such a form that you can try to guess the original one. So the myths that camouflage is practiced only in the English language can already be safely considered debunked.

Let's go back to "went" and "went". Can we smell the difference? In the first case, we are talking about some long time: I walked to myself and walked through the park, without touching anyone. And in the second - about what has already happened. The questions answered by “went” and “went” are also different: “what did you do?” and “what did you do?” Such forms of verb tenses in Russian are usually called imperfect/non-perfect form (what to do) and perfect/perfect (what to do).

And that is not all. For example, when we want to emphasize the duration of an action, we become more sophisticated and use synonyms of verbs that are very close in meaning. For example:

Yesterday I walked through the park in in a great mood.

Now you can imagine how difficult it is for a foreigner when he wants to convey a long action using the verb “go”. Surely he will come up with something like “Yesterday I walked... mmm... walked... walked... through the park in a great mood.” And try to explain to him that to convey a long-term action, it is better to take the verb “to walk” and put it in the past tense in the non-perfect form.

Whose tense system is easier?

This is ours:

Moreover, in order to denote the present continuous or past imperfect tense, we will have to explain this further. Compare:

I play the guitar (that is, in principle I know how to play this instrument).
And
I'm currently playing the guitar (that is, I'm sitting and playing right now, I have nothing else to do).

Tenses in English

While we are getting more sophisticated with perfect/non-perfect forms of the verb, and also practicing finding synonyms, the English have created a completely logical and understandable system of tenses. Each verb easily forms 12 main groups. Let’s take the same “walk” (walk) and use it by default with the pronoun I (I).

Table of tenses in English with examples

Thus, when reading a sentence in English, one can easily understand what the person means. While in our country the use of explanatory words is mandatory. While we need to use explanatory words for this. For example, to convey the Future Perfect tense, we will add “I’ll finish” to the main semantic verb: “I’ll finish doing my homework by 5 pm.” These are the simple rules of English tenses that, thanks to exercises, are quickly memorized.

And whose tense system is ultimately easier?

The main difficulty of the English language for beginners is tenses. There are only 12 tenses in the English language, but due to the specifics of some tenses, confusion occurs. In this article I will tell you in detail about the tenses of the English language with an example of use.

From the article you will learn:

English tenses with examples and translation into Russian

In English, there are traditionally 12 tenses. English tenses are divided into 3 groups:

1. Simple (Indefinite),
2. Continuous (Progressive),
3. Perfect.

They, in turn, in combination with the main temporary forms Present, Past and Future form corresponding tenses. Let's start with the group Indefinite.

Present Simple (Presen Indefinite) - Present Simple

How is it formed:

I form of the verb. This form is used in all persons and numbers, except for the third person singular: then the endings – s, -es – are added.

When to use:

1. The action occurs with a certain frequency. Used with such adverbs as always (always), rarely (rarely), often (often), usually (usually), never (ever), etc., in addition, with the word every (every day, every month, every year etc.)

She never listens to me.- She never listens to me.

I always go abroad in summer.— In the summer I always go abroad.

He goes to the theater every weekend.— He goes to the theater every weekend.

2. The effect is scientifically proven.

Water boils at 100 degrees.— Water boils at 100 degrees.

3. The sequence of actions is described.

I get up, wash my hands and face, have breakfast etc.— I get up, wash, have breakfast, etc.

Present Continuous - Present Continuous

It should be noted that some English present tenses can indicate the future.

How is it formed:

verb to be + I form of the verb + ing ending.

When used: 1. the action is happening at the moment.

I am watching TV now.- I'm watching TV now.

2. the action will take place in the near future, which is planned (!).

I am flying to New York next month.— Next month I'm flying to New York.

Present Perfect - Present Perfect

The peculiarity is that the English tenses of the Perfect group can denote the past, although they are called present.

Formation: have / has + III form of the verb.

When to use the present perfect tense:

1. the action happened today, this year, this week, etc., i.e. the period has not yet ended.

Has not written 10 books and he is just twenty!- He wrote 10 books, and he’s only twenty! (Life is going)

We have met this month.— We saw each other this month (the month has not ended)

He has met me today.- Today he met me.

2. with adverbs yet (yet), just (only), recently (recently), ever (always), never (never), already (already), etc.

I have just found out about this.- I just found out about this.

I've never been to England.- I have never been to England.

She has already done this work.- She has already done this work.

3. Action in the past affects the present state

We have gone to the forest and now he has a cold.— We went to the forest, and he caught a cold.

Past Simple - Past Simple

How to form the past simple tense:

II form of the verb, i.e. verb+ending –ed ( regular verbs), or II form of an irregular verb.

When to use:

1. The presence of a time marker yesterday (yesterday), last (past, last) or other.

He visited doctor last week.— Last week he visited the doctor.

I met him when I studied at the University.— I met him when I was at university.

2. The action happened in the past without any conditions.

I knew you would come.- I knew you would come.

3. Sequence of actions.

He took the taxi, asked to stop at the Time Square, looked through the window etc.— He took a taxi, asked to stop at Time Square, looked out the window, etc.

Past Continuous - Past Continuous

How to form the past continuous tense:

Verb to be in 2nd form + verb+ ing ending.

When to use:

1. The process lasted for a long time without interruption.

For example.

He was playing the piano the whole evening.— He played the piano all evening.

2. The process was interrupted by another activity.

They came in when she was speaking by the phone.— They came in while she was talking on the phone.

Past Perfect - Past Perfect

How is it formed:

2nd form of the verb have + 3rd form of the verb.

When to use:

1. When agreeing on times.

He said that he had not noticed you.- He said he didn't notice you.

2. One action happened before the other.

Example: He had left before I could figure out something.“He left before I could understand anything.”

3. There is a temporary excuse by.

He had made his decision by summer.— By the summer he made a decision.

Future Simple - Future Simple

How is it formed:

Shall (used only with 1st person) will+I form of the verb.

When to use:

The action will take place in the future. Used with time markers tomorrow, next, or a deadline is indicated.

I will call you tomorrow.- I'll call you tomorrow.

He will visit us in 3 weeks.— He will visit us in 3 weeks.

Future Continuous - Future Continuous

How it is formed.

Auxiliary verb will/shall+be+1 verb form+ing

When used. The process continues into the future.

She will be dancing the whole day tomorrow.- Tomorrow she will dance all day.

Present Perfect Continuous - Present Perfect Continuous

How is it formed:

Have/has + been + verb+ing

When to use:

1. The action lasts from a moment in the past to a moment in the present (translated by the present)

I have been waiting for this moment all my life.“I’ve been waiting for this moment all my life.”

2. with the preposition since (s).

Their family has been owning this castle since 17th century.— Their family has owned this castle since the 17th century.

Past Perfect Continuous - Past Perfect Continuous

How is it formed:

Had + been + verb+ing

When to use:

One action is interrupted by another or is its cause.

I had been working hard the whole year, so I was exhausted. “I worked hard all year and was just exhausted.

Future Perfect Continuous - Future Perfect Continuous

English tenses such as Future Perfect Continuous Past Perfect Continuous are used extremely rarely.

How is it formed:

Will/shall + have + been + verb+ ing

When to use:

The period of past and future is affected, the preposition of time by.

For example: I will have been working in this company for 10 years by 1st May.— By May 1, it will be 10 years that I have been working in this company.

Thus, we looked at 10 tenses of the English language (all based on 3 main ones).