2. Summary of Verb Forms | Advance grammar | Đại học Khoa học Xã hội và Nhân văn, Đại học Quốc gia Thành phố HCM

lOMoAR cPSD| 40749825 2. Summary of Verb Forms
Advanced Grammar (Đại học Khoa học Xã hội và Nhân văn, Đại học Quốc gia Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh) lOMoAR cPSD| 40749825 VERB FORMS Verb form Uses Examples Notes
Repeated or habitual events/ actions
She has a shower every morning. (in the present)
Permanent states/ situations
My parents live in Ho Chi Minh City.
NOT My parents are living … I study at USSH.
or I am studying … General facts
The earth rotates around the sun. Present Simple Schedules
The train leaves at 9.30 p.m. … although the action has a future reference. Declarations
We apologize for any inconvenience. Newspaper headlines
Fire breaks out in city center! Live sports commentaries
He shoots! He scores!
Plots of films, stories or jokes
In the end Rose is recused, but Jack dies. lOMoAR cPSD| 40749825
Actions in progress at the moment of She is playing the piano, and it sounds “
You are always coming speaking really great.
late” is different from “You
Actions in progress around the
You are spending a lot these days.
always come late.” The
former entails the speaker’s
moment of speaking (not exactly the negative attitude (annoyance, time of speaking) or complaint).
Temporary situations (in the
She’s staying with us until she finds “
She always helps other present) another place to live. Present
people” is different from Progressive
She’s usually happy, but she’s being a
“She is always helping other little upset today.
people.” The former involves
Changing/developing situations
It’s getting colder and colder. ‘something happening more than expectation’.
Annoying/Amusing actions that
Tim is always losing his keys.
happen very often (with adverbs of frequency) Future plans/ arrangements
They’re visiting us next week. lOMoAR cPSD| 40749825
Completed states/ actions (occurring in I lived in London when I was a child. ➔ no present reference the past) ➔ a definite past time
States/ actions occurring at a definite
I lived in London in 1992. past time
Repeated or habitual states/ actions in
I used to swim very well. (Now I’m the past
not a good swimmer any more.) Past Simple
A present supposition (unreal), a polite
Would you mind if I borrowed your request car today?
A series/narration of past actions
This morning I got up early, brushed
my teeth, went out for a walk, had
breakfast outside and came back
home to get ready for work. lOMoAR cPSD| 40749825
Actions in progress at a past time
I was watching TV at 8 o’clock last
(The action had started but it had not night. finished at that time.) To emphasize the duration or
The kids were playing outdoors all
continuation of an action in progress at Sunday afternoon. a past time
Actions/situations described as
I was talking to John yesterday and
background to a more important event
he told me about his new job. Past Progressive
Temporary/developing/changing
I the summer of 1987, I was working actions in the past for a law firm.
Annoying/amusing past habits (with
When we were at school, Andrew adverbs of frequency)
was always forgetting his lunch. Plans that did not happen
I was expecting to hear from you by
Expectations that were not fulfilled Sunday.
To describe past arrangements that
I was meeting Sally in town so I may (not) have taken place
didn’t go to the lecture. lOMoAR cPSD| 40749825
States/ Actions occurring in the past
I have learned English for ten years. ➔ with present reference
and continuing up to the present
➔ at an indefinite past time
States/ Actions occurring in the past
Look at the glass on the floor.
The focus is on the result of the Present Perfect
whose result is in the present
Somebody has broken the window.
action/state (to answer questions
with How many, How much,
States/ Actions occurring at an
She’s been to Canada twice. How far, How often). indefinite past time To emphasize the duration/
The council has been debating
The focus is on the process of
continuation/ process of an action
proposals for a new road for years.
the action (to answer questions
(actions that happened in the past but with How long). Present Perfect have not yet been completed) Progressive
Repeated or continuing activities,
The cast has been rehearsing hard
relevant to the present or about to for the production. change
have been vs. Todd has been to that resort – why don’t you ask him what it was like? (has visited and returned) NOTE have gone
“Where’s Jen?” --- “Oh, she’s gone to the library to study.” (went there but hasn’t returned yet) lOMoAR cPSD| 40749825
States/ Actions occurring/completing
Had you got a driver’s license
It is not necessary to use Past before a past time
before you moved to Sydney? Perfect when a sequence of
events is related in the order the
To make sequence of events clear
When Jane had checked her (emphasize the order)
composition, she printed it out again. events occur or if the
chronological order is clear. Past Past Perfect
Unfulfilled wishes/plans (with hope,
We’d meant to go and see my aunt Simple is preferred for two
plan, wish, expect, want, think about,
but we didn’t have time. actions when the second is a mean to) result of the first.
The curtain rose and the show
began. (NOT had risen ) Similar to Past Perfect
She’d been running the whole To emphasize the duration/
afternoon before she came home. Past Perfect
continuation/ process of an action Progressive
Causes of past actions/ states
When I saw her this morning, her
eyes were red. I think she had been crying. lOMoAR cPSD| 40749825 used + to-Inf
This place used to belong to the royal family.
repeated actions/states/habits in the past that contrast with the present would + Inf
When I was a kid, my gran would bake delicious
repeated actions in the past (not states) biscuits.
OTHER FORMS future in the past FOR THE PAST
When talking about the past, we use past forms of
structures when we want to refer to the future. ¥ will ➔ would
¥ I realized I would need more money.
¥ am/is/are going to-Inf ➔ was/were going to-Inf ¥ Karen was going to fax me the details.
¥ Present Progressive ➔ Past Progressive
¥ Jim was playing football later that evening.
¥ am/is/are about to-Inf ➔ was/were about to-Inf ¥ They were about to leave when they got the message. FUTURE EXPRESSIONS
Formal arrangements, formal schedules
The president is to meet the prime minister tomorrow.
Future obligation, plan, instruction
All the students are to assemble in the hall at 9 be + to-Inf a.m.
Newspaper headlines – future event possible (without
BECKHAM TO ASK FOR NEW PAY DEAL! BE) Schedules (fixed)
The flight takes off at 10 a.m. Present Simple
Fixed events that are not the speaker’s wishes
Tim retires in three years. In future time clauses
We’ll have dinner when we get there. lOMoAR cPSD| 40749825
BUT: We’ll go out when we’ve had a rest. Calendar references
Christmas is on a Tuesday next year. Present Progressive Future plans/ arrangements
I’m going to Paris next week. BE GOING + to- Future intentions
I’m going to be a doctor when I grow up. Infinitive
Prediction: with clear evidence
Decisions, offers, etc. made at the time of speaking
The phone’s ringing. I’ll answer it. Supposition
Prediction: without clear evidence
The company will make a profit next year. WILL + Infinitive Events considered certain
This year’s festival will last three weeks.
With expressions such as I think/hope/promise, I’m
sure, definitely, probably
They will probably show up late, as usual.
Actions in progress at a specific time in the future
We’ll be staying in Hanoi at this time next week.
Planned actions (= Present Progressive)
We’ll be interviewing candidates tomorrow. WILL + BE + V-ing
What is expected to happen at the moment of speaking
The company chair will be arriving on Thursday. or soon after
Polite requests about somebody’s plans
Will you be attending the wedding?
(prediction) actions completing before a specific time
She’ll have been married for 40 years next in the future month. WILL + HAVE + past
Period of time that will be completed at a specific time participle in the future
We’ll have known each other for ten years next
What we expect or know to have happened already month.
The film will have started by now. lOMoAR cPSD| 40749825
Actions completing before a specific time in the future, We’ll have been working here for ten years next
with an emphasis on the duration of the actions week. WILL + HAVE + BEEN + V-ing
Causes of future actions/ states
He’ll be exhausted when he comes home, for
he’ll have been working for 24 hours then. OTHER EXPRESSIONS Be (just) about to-Inf For the (very) near future
Hurry up! The train is about to leave.
= going to happen very soon
Be (just) on the point/verge of V-ing For the (very) near future
I’m just on the point/verge of asking for my pay rise.
= likely to happen soon Be due to-Inf For formal arrangements
I’m due to meet my boss at 11 a.m. today. = expected