Tenses and the exercise

Present Tense

The simple present tense in English is used to describe an action that is regular, true or normal.

We use the present tense:

1. For repeated or regular actions in the present time period.

• I take the train to the office.
• The train to Berlin leaves every hour.
• John sleeps eight hours every night during the week.

2. For facts.

• The President of The USA lives in The White House.
• A dog has four legs.
• We come from Switzerland.

3. For habits.

• I get up early every day.
• Carol brushes her teeth twice a day.
• They travel to their country house every weekend.

4. For things that are always / generally true.

• It rains a lot in winter.
• The Queen of England lives in Buckingham Palace.
• They speak English at work.

Verb Conjugation & Spelling

We form the present tense using the base form of the infinitive (without the TO).

In general, in the third person we add 'S' in the third person.

Subject	Verb	The Rest of the sentence
I / you / we / they	speak / learn	English at home
he / she / it	speaks / learns	English at home

The spelling for the verb in the third person differs depending on the ending of that verb:

1. For verbs that end in -O, -CH, -SH, -SS, -X, or -Z we add -ES in the third person.

• go – goes
• catch – catches
• wash – washes
• kiss – kisses
• fix – fixes
• buzz – buzzes

2. For verbs that end in a consonant + Y, we remove the Y and add -IES.

• marry – marries
• study – studies
• carry – carries
• worry – worries

NOTE: For verbs that end in a vowel + Y, we just add -S.

• play – plays
• enjoy – enjoys
• say – says

Negative Sentences in the Simple Present Tense

To make a negative sentence in English we normally use Don't or Doesn't with all verbs EXCEPT To Be and Modal verbs (can, might, should etc.).

• Affirmative: You speak French.
• Negative: You don't speak French.

You will see that we add don't between the subject and the verb. We use Don't when the subject is I, you, we or they.

• Affirmative: He speaks German.
• Negative: He doesn't speak German.

When the subject is he, she or it, we add doesn't between the subject and the verb to make a negative sentence. Notice that the letter S at the end of the verb in the affirmative sentence (because it is in third person) disappears in the negative sentence. We will see the reason why below.

Negative Contractions

Don't = Do not

Doesn't = Does not

I don't like meat = I do not like meat.

There is no difference in meaning though we normally use contractions in spoken English.

Word Order of Negative Sentences

The following is the word order to construct a basic negative sentence in English in the Present Tense using Don't or Doesn't.

Subject	don't/doesn't	Verb*	The Rest of the sentence
I / you / we / they	don't	have / buy eat / like etc.	cereal for breakfast
he / she / it	doesn't

* Verb: The verb that goes here is the base form of the infinitive = The infinitive without TO before the verb. Instead of the infinitive To have it is just the have part.

Remember that the infinitive is the verb before it is conjugated (changed) and it begins with TO. For example: to have, to eat, to go, to live, to speak etc.

Examples of Negative Sentences with Don't and Doesn't:

• You don't speak Arabic.
• John doesn't speak Italian.
• We don't have time for a rest.
• It doesn't move.
• They don't want to go to the party.
• She doesn't like fish.

Questions in the Simple Present Tense

To make a question in English we normally use Do or Does. It has no translation in Spanish though it is essential to show we are making a question. It is normally put at the beginning of the question.

• Affirmative: You speak English.
• Question: Do you speak English?

You will see that we add DO at the beginning of the affirmative sentence to make it a question. We use Do when the subject is I, you, we or they.

• Affirmative: He speaks French.
• Question: Does he speak French?

When the subject is he, she or it, we add DOES at the beginning to make the affirmative sentence a question. Notice that the letter S at the end of the verb in the affirmative sentence (because it is in third person) disappears in the question. We will see the reason why below.

We DON'T use Do or Does in questions that have the verb To Be or Modal Verbs (can, must, might, should etc.)

Word Order of Questions with Do and Does

The following is the word order to construct a basic question in English using Do or Does.

Do/Does	Subject	Verb*	The Rest of the sentence
Do	I / you / we / they	have / need want etc.	a new bike?
Does	he / she / it

*Verb: The verb that goes here is the base form of the infinitive = The infinitive without TO before the verb. Instead of the infinitive To have it is just the have part.

Remember that the infinitive is the verb before it is conjugated (changed) and it begins with TO. For example: to have, to eat, to go, to live, to speak etc.

Examples of Questions with Do and Does:

• Do you need a dictionary?
• Does Mary need a dictionary?
• Do we have a meeting now?
• Does it rain a lot in winter?
• Do they want to go to the party?
• Does he like pizza?

Short Answers with Do and Does

In questions that use do/does it is possible to give short answers to direct questions as follows:

Sample Questions	Short Answer (Affirmative)	Short Answer (Negative)
Do you like chocolate?	Yes, I do.	No, I don't.
Do I need a pencil?	Yes, you do.	No, you don't.
Do you both like chocolate?	Yes, we do.	No, we don't.
Do they like chocolate?	Yes, they do.	No, they don't.
Does he like chocolate?	Yes, he does.	No, he doesn't.
Does she like chocolate?	Yes, she does.	No, she doesn't.
Does it have four wheels?	Yes, it does.	No, it doesn't.

However, if a question word such as who, when, where, why, which or how is used in the question, you can not use the short answers above to respond to the question.

Past Tense

The PAST TENSE indicates that an action is in the past relative to the speaker or writer.

·         when the time period has finished: "We went to Chicago last Christmas."

·         when the time period is definite: "We visited Mom last week."

·         with for, when the action is finished: "I worked with the FBI for two months."

Regular verbs use the verb's base form (scream, work) plus the -ed ending (screamed, worked). Irregular verbs alter their form in some other way (slept, drank, drove).

Students for whom English is a second language sometimes (quite understandably) have trouble distinguishing between the Simple Past and the Present Perfect tenses. There is more information about the difference between these two tenses available under the Present Perfect description.

Singular	Plural
I walked	we walked
you walked	you walked
he/she/it walked	they walked

Singular	Plural
I slept	we slept
you slept	you slept
he/she/it slept	they slept

Singular	Plural
I was	we were
you were	you were
he/she/it was	they were

Future Tense

The FUTURE TENSE indicates that an action is in the future relative to the speaker or writer. There are no inflected forms for the future in English (nothing like those -ed or -s endings in the other tenses). Instead, the future tense employs the helping verbs will or shall with the base form of the verb:

·         She will leave soon.

·         We shall overcome.

The future is also formed with the use of a form of "go" plus the infinitive of the verb:

·         He is going to faint.

English can even use the present to suggest the future tense:

·         I am leaving later today."

Singular	Plural
I will walk	we will walk
you will walk	you will walk
he/she/it will walk	they will walk

Singular	Plural
I will sleep	we will sleep
you will sleep	you will sleep
he/she/it will sleep	they will sleep

Singular	Plural
I will be	we will be
you will be	you will be
he/she/it will be	they will be

Perfect Present Tense

The PRESENT PERFECT TENSE is formed with a present tense form of "to have" plus the past participle of the verb (which can be either regular or irregular in form). This tense indicates either that an action was completed (finished or "perfected") at some point in the past or that the action extends to the present:

·         I have walked two miles already [but I'm still walking].

·         I have run the Boston Marathon [but that was some time ago].

·         The critics have praised the film Saving Private Ryan since it came out [and they continue to do so].

Singular	Plural
I have walked	we have walked
you have walked	you have walked
he/she/it has walked	they have walked

Singular	Plural
I have slept	we have slept
you have slept	you have slept
he/she/it has slept	they have slept

Singular	Plural
I have been	we have been
you have been	you have been
he/she/it has been	they have been

EXERCISE

 

1.      I spend my money

a.       I spent my money

b.      I will spend my money

c.       I have spent my money

2.      They use that one

a.       They used that one

b.      They will use that one

c.       They have used that one

3.      We study english together

a.       We studied english together

b.      We will study english together

c.       We have studied english together

4.      They discuss their work

a.       They discussed their work

b.      They will discuss their work

c.       They have discussed their work

5.      They have enough time

a.       They had enough time

b.      They will have enough enough time

c.       They have had enough time

6.      I do all of the lessons

a.       I did all of the lessons

b.      I will do all of the lessons

c.       I have done all of the lessons

7.      He sits in that row

a.       He sat in that row

b.      He will sits in that row

c.       He has sat in that row

8.      I drive my car

a.       I drave my car

b.      I will drive my car

c.       I have driven my car

9.      She hides her money

a.       She hid her money

b.      She will hides her money

c.       She has hidden her money

10.  We go to school

a.       We went to school

b.      We will go to school

c.       We have gone to school

11.  He takes much time

a.       He took much time

b.      He will takes much time

c.       He has taken much time

12.  Does he eat there

a.       Did he eat there ?

b.      Will he eat there ?

c.       Has he eaten there ?

13.  Do you enjoy that work ?

a.       Did you enjoy that work?

b.      Will you enjoy that work?

c.       Have you enjoyed that work?

14.  Does he write many letters?

a.       Did he write many letters?

b.      Will he write many letters?

c.       Has he written many letters?

15.  Do you send many letters?

a.       Did you send many letters?

b.      Will you send money letters?

c.       Have you sent many letters?

16.  Do they explain everything?

a.       Did they explain everything?

b.      Will they explain everything?

c.       Have they explained everything?

17.  Does she attend that class?

a.       Did she attend that class?

b.      Will she attend that class?

c.       Has she attend that class?

18.  Do you have enough time?

a.       Did you have enough time?

b.      Will you have enough time?

c.       Have you had enough time?

19.  Do they copy the sentences?

a.       Did they copy sentences?

b.      Will they copy the sentences?

c.       Have they copied the sentences?

20.  Does she have much trouble?

a.       Did she have much trouble?

b.      Will she have nuch trouble?

c.       Has she had much trouble?

21.  Does she do good work?

a.       Did she do good work?

b.      Will she do good work?

c.       Has she done good work?

22.  Do the students practice?

a.       Did the students practice?

b.      Will the students practice?

c.       Have the students practiced?

23.  I don’t stay there

a.       I didn’t stay there

b.      I won’t stay there

c.       I haven’t stayed there

24.  He doesn’t work hard

a.       He didn’t work hard

b.      He won’t work hard

c.       He hasn’t worked hard

25.  I don’t have any energy

a.       I didn’t have any energy

b.      I won’t have any energy

c.       I haven’t had any energy

26.  He doesn’t pay his bills

a.       He didn’t pay his bills

b.      He won’t pay his bills

c.       He hasn’t paid his bills

27.  We don’t see that fellow

a.       We didn’t see that fellow

b.      We won’t see that fellow

c.       We haven’t seen that fellow

28.  She doesn’t use this one

a.       She didn’t use this one

b.      She won’t use this one

c.       She hasn’t used this one

29.  They don’t remember it

a.       They didn’t remember it

b.      They won’t remember it

c.       They haven’t remembered it

30.  I don’t do much work here

a.       I didn’t do much work here

b.      I won’t do much work here

c.       I haven’t done much work here

31.  He doesn’t listen cerefully

a.       He didn’t listen carefully

b.      He won’t listen carefully

c.       He hasn’t listenes carefully

1.      Mr. Harris taught English at this school for five years.

2.      I have written three or four letters to that company.

3.      The students in this class have done those two lessons already.

4.      I have known Professor Moore for more than twelve years.

5.      Richard has taken three courses in English at this school.

6.      These steps are dangerous. I have fellen on them several times.

7.      Mr. Kramer has been in the United States for three years.

8.      The janitor has already shut the back door.

9.      The students have read all of the stories in that book.

10.  Marjorie has choosen a pretty dress for the party.

11.  I have spoken to my boss about the problem several times.

12.  That tree has grown at least five feet since last year.

13.  Miss King has spent over eighteen hundred dollars since May.

14.  Mr. and Mrs. Smith have bought a new house in North Plains.

15.  The real estate agent has sold the Smith’s old house.

16.  Charles has had a bad cold for a whole week.

17.  I’m sorry. I have forgotten the name of taht book.

18.  We have already heard that new song several times.

19.  Mr. Wilson isn’t here. He has gone out of town for the weekend.

20.  Mr. Kennedy has worn his blue suit to the office only twice.

21.  I have sat in this same seat since the first day of classes.

22.  The money isn’t in this drawer. Someone has stolen it!

23.  Up to now, i have understood every lesson in the book.

24.  We have had absolutely no trouble with our car so far.

25.  No one has found that girl’s purse and gloves yet.

26.  The weather has been very warm ever since last Thursday.

27.  Mr. Anderson and Mr. Brown have had lunch already.

28.  I have seen the Empire State Building hundreds of times.

29.  We have already spoken to the director and given him the message.

30.  Grandmother has never flown in an airplane before.

31.  You have torn your shirt! There’s a hole in the left sleeve.

32.  I have already read the customer’s letter and written a reply to him.

 

Sumber :

http://www.grammar.cl/Present/Simple.htm

http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/tenses/simple_past.htm

http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/tenses/simple_future.htm

http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/tenses/present_perfect.htm