TENSE AND TIME A tense is an inflectional (флективная) form of a verb expressing a specific time distinction. Time is a measurable period during which an action, process, condition exists or continues. Merriam Webbsters Collegiate Dictionary

The three tenses are past present future

Groups of English Tenses Indefinite/ Simple; Continous/ Progressive; Perfect; Perfect Progressive.

Meaning: actions happening regularly, at certain intervals (routine) or successions of actions (narration); General formula: to V

Meaning: actions happening at certain moments/ periods of time; General formula: to be Ving.

Meaning: actions completed by certain moments/periods of time; General formula: to have Ved/3.

Meaning: actions partially completed by certain moments of time and still going on at those periods of time; actions recently completed by certain moments of time and having evident results; General formula : to have been Ved/3.

Simple Progressi -ve Perfect Perfect Progressive Infinitive to V to be Ving to have Ved/3 to have been Ved/3 PastVed was/were Ving had Ved/3 had been Ving Present V (s) am/ is/ are Ving have/ has Ved/3 have/ has been Ving Future shall*/ will V will be Ving will have Ved/3 will have been Ving

Meaning: past routines,narration in the past; Auxiliary verb: did; Tense Markers (Adverbial Modifiers): yesterday, last year, a week ago, when, in 1999; first, then, after that;

+ I passed the test yesterday. - I did not fail the test yesterday. ? Did I fail the test yesterday? No, I did not. ? When did I pass the test? I passed the test yesterday. ? Who passed the test yesterday? I did.

+ He went to the cinema last week. - He did not go to the theatre last week. ? Did he go to the cinema? Yes, he did. ? Where did he go last week? He went to cinema last week. ? Who went to the cinema? He did.

Meaning: routine; a universal truth; a succession of actions; a universal truth; a future action in if-, when- clauses; Auxiliary verbs: do, does (he, she, it); Markers: every day, sometimes, always, seldom, often, usually, on Sundays; first, then, after that. Example: do; Example: Example: does; Example:

+ I often listen to the music in summer. - I do not ski in summer. ? Do I listen to the music in summer? Yes, I do. ? When do I listen to the music? - In summer. ? Who listens to the music in summer? I do.

+ He goes to the gym on Sundays. - He does not go to the stadium. ? Does he go to the stadium? No, he does not. ? Why does he go to the gym? He goes to the gym to be fit. ? Who goes to the gym? He does.

Meaning: plans for the future (at the moment of speech, not quite sure); predictions and foretelling; Auxiliary verbs: shall (I, we) – outdated, will; Markers: tomorrow, next week, in a month, in 2010;

+ I will run tomorrow. - I will not ski tomorrow. ? Will I ski tomorrow ? No, I will not (wont). ? What will I do tomorrow ? I will run tomorrow. ? Who will run tomorrow ? I will.

Meaning: an action happening at a certain moment in the past/ simultaneously (одновременно) with another past action; Auxiliary verbs: was (I, he, she, it), were ; Markers: at 5 oclock/ at that time yesterday, while, when he came;

+ He was reading when I came. - He was not sleeping when I came. ? Was he sleeping? No, he was not (wasnt). ? What was she doing when I came? She was watching TV when I came. ? Who was watching TV when I came? She was.

Meaning: an action happening at the moment of speech; Auxiliary verbs: am (I), is (he, she, it), are (you, we, they); Markers: now, at the moment, at this moment

+ I am writing now. - I not reading now. ? Am I reading now? No, I am not (arent). ? What am I doing now? I am writing now. ? Who is writing now? I am.

Meaning: an action that will be happening at a certain moment in the future; Auxiliary verbs: shall*/ will; Markers: at 5 oclock/ at this time tomorrow,while, when he comes;

+ I will be cooking dinner while you will be watching TV. - I will not be reading a book. ? Will I be reading a book at that moment? No, I wont. ? What will I be doing? I will be cooking dinner. ? Who will be cooking dinner? I will.

Meaning: an action completed by a certain moment/ another action in the past; Auxiliary verb: had; Markers: by 5 oclock/ that time yesterday, when he came;

+ She had built the wall when the teacher came. - She had not written the letter. ? Had she written the letter? No she hadnt. ? What had she done when the teacher came? ? Who had built the wall when the teacher came? They had.

Meaning: a recent action in the past (time period is unknown), the result is connected with the present; an action taking place in some period of time, not completed (with non-continous verbs); Auxiliary verbs: have, has (he, she, it); Markers: already, so far, recently, this week, today, just (+), yet (-,?), never, ever; since, for; Example.

+ I have recently bought a new coat. - I have not bought a new hat yet. ? Have I bought a new hat yet? No, I havent. ? When have I bought a new coat? ? Who has bought a new coat? I have.

Meaning: an action that will be completed by a certain moment/ another action in the future; Auxiliary verbs: shall*/ will; Markers: by 5 oclock/ that time tomorrow, when he comes; Example.

+ I will have written the letter when you come. - I will not have posted it. ? Will I have written the letter? Yes, I will. ? What will I have written? I will have written the letter. ? Who will have written the letter? I will.

Meaning: a past action partially completed by a certain moment/ another action in the past and still going on at that moment; Auxiliary verb: had; Markers: by 5 oclock/ that time yesterday, when he came; for, since; Example.

+ I had been doing housework for an hour when they came. - I had not been reading a book. ? Had I been doing housework for an hour? Yes, I had. ? How long had I had been doing housework when they came? ? Who had been doing housework for an hour? I had.

Meaning: an action has been partially completed by the moment of speech and still going on at that moment; a recently completed action which results are connected with the present; Auxiliary verbs: have, has; Markers: for (в течение), since (с тех пор, как); How long; Since when; Example.

+ I have been reading the book since 2 oclock. - I have not been sleeping. ? Have I been sleeping? No, I havent. ? Since when have I been reading the book? I have been reading the book since 2. ? Who has been reading the book? I have.

Meaning: an action will be partially completed by a certain moment/ another action in the future and will be still going on at that moment; Auxiliary verbs: shall*/ will; Markers: by 5 oclock/ that time tomorrow, when he comes; for, since; Example.

+ I will have been smimming for an hour when you come. - I will not have been running. ? Will I have been running for an hour when you come? No, I wont. ? How long will I have been swimming when you come? ? Who will have been smimming for an hour? I will.