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Tenses for Speaking
All rights reserved. You are permitted to print and photocopy this book for your
own personal use. You may not reproduce, distribute, share or publish the
material on any website without the prior written permission of the author,
except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain
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write to the author.
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The aim of this book 4
Tips for learning tenses 5
COMMON TENSES
AND STRUCTURES
6
Present simple/continuous 7
Past simple/continuous 9
Present perfect simple 11
Present perfect simple/continuous 14
Going to/will + infinitive 17
Used to + infinitive 19
ADVANCED TENSES 21
Past perfect simple 22
Past perfect simple/continuous 25
Future continuous 28
Future perfect simple/continuous 30
ANSWERS 33
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The aim of this book
This book is designed to improve your understanding of English tenses. There
are 10 units in total. In each unit, I explain the use of a structure or pair of
structures. I give examples from spoken English and you can also find some
exercises for practice.
ADVANCED TENSES
This section is for learners who have a good understanding of the structures in
the first section of the book. You dont need to use these tenses to do well in
English speaking tests, but they can help you sound very proficient if you are
able to use them appropriately. If you have diculty understanding some of the
structures in the first section, then dont study this section.
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Tips for learning tenses
Develop intuition
In total, there are 15 structures presented in this book. That might sound like a
lot, especially if your native language only has three tenses. However, you should
not think that you need to learn 15 dierent individual structures and their uses.
Instead, you should try to notice patterns and develop a grammatical intuition.
For example, try to notice the similarities between the present perfect, past
perfect and future perfect. If you understand the concept of the present perfect,
its easy to grasp the idea of the past perfect and future perfect. Similarly,
understanding the dierence between the simple and continuous forms for one
tense can help you intuitively use the same forms for other tenses.
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COMMON TENSES
AND STRUCTURES
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1 Present simple/continuous
We use the present simple to talk about repeated actions or permanent
situations in the present:
We use the present continuous (be + -ing) to talk about actions happening now
or around the present time:
We also use the present continuous to talk about plans for the future:
Only verbs of action can be used in the continuous form, e.g. I'm working, she's
singing, etc. Some verbs such as believe, know and love are states, not actions.
State verbs can normally only be used in the simple form (I love, not I'm loving).
Examples of state verbs: want, like, love, hate, prefer, know, realise, understand,
believe, remember, seem, suppose, mean...
STATES
I think you need to relax more. (= I believe, in my opinion)
I see that you are very tired. (= my observation)
She is stupid. (= her general character)
I have a lot of work to do. (= I possess)
ACTIONS
What are you thinking about? (think = use your brain)
Where is Anne? I'm seeing her right now. (= I'm meeting her)
She is being stupid. (= she is behaving in this way right now)
Im having lunch with Michael right now. (= eating)
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Exercises
1.1 Complete the sentences below with the verbs in the correct tense.
1. I believe/m believing that the best way to learn a language is to live in the
country where it is spoken.
2. I love/Im loving my country but I think/Im thinking about moving
somewhere else for work.
3. Many scientists believe/are believing that global temperatures rise/are rising.
4. Do you think/Are you thinking that we have/are having a healthier lifestyle
than in the past?
5. I realise/Im realising that I need/Im needing a lot of time to learn a
language fluently.
6. My son understands/is understanding Arabic, but he doesnt speak/isnt
speaking it too well.
7. Joanne is/is being very selfish at the moment. She isn't usually/isnt usually
being like this.
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2 Past simple/continuous
The past simple and the past continuous tenses are used to talk about the past.
We use the past simple to talk about a completed event in the past:
We use the past continuous to talk about a past activity that was in progress at a
particular time in the past:
We use the past simple and past continuous to talk about a completed past
event that happened when another activity was in progress.
NOW
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Exercises
2.1 Complete the sentences about Dan.
2.2 Complete the sentences with the verb in the past simple or past continuous.
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3 Present perfect simple
The present perfect simple is used to talk about past actions or situations that
have a connection with the present. It is formed from the verb have + past
participle, for example:
New information
We often use the present perfect simple to give new information, for example
when we want to report an event that happened a short time ago:
Ouch! I've hurt my leg. Has Michael arrived yet? Spain have won!
NOTE: If we say when something happened in the past, we cannot use the
present perfect. We use the past simple:
???
NOW
BUT: when there is no possibility that the event will happen again in the future,
we use the past simple:
NOW (2016)
2006
3.2 Put the verbs in the correct form, past simple or present perfect simple.
3.3 Make true statements by putting the verbs in the correct tense (past simple or
present perfect simple) and in the correct form, positive or negative.
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4 Present perfect simple/continuous
We use the present perfect simple (have/has + past participle) to talk about
completed actions (but we do not say when they happened):
We use the present perfect continuous (have/has been + -ing) to talk about
unfinished activities that started in the past and are still in progress in the
present:
I've been working for the same company for over 5 years.
When we use the present perfect simple, we focus on a completed activity or the
result of the activity:
We can use the present perfect continuous to focus on a recent activity. It is not
important if the activity is finished or unfinished:
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We use the present perfect simple to say how much or how many:
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Exercises
4.2 Cross out the wrong answers to complete the following sentences.
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5 Going to/will + infinitive
We use going to + infinitive to talk about intentions or decisions for the future.
We make the decisions before the moment of speaking.
DECISION MADE
We use going to + infinitive to predict future events that are very near or certain
to happen, often because of something we can observe in the present moment.
Will/wont + infinitive is often used with I think, I don't think, I'm sure, probably,
perhaps, maybe, etc.
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Exercises
5.2 Complete the dialogues using will or going to + infinitive:
5.3 Cross out the wrong answers to complete the following sentences.
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6 Used to + infinitive
We say I used to do something when we talk about a past situation or habit that
is dierent now. In the negative, we say I didn't use to do something:
Think of used to + infinitive as the past of the present simple for talking about
habits or long-term situations:
I get up early every morning to go to work. It isn't something new or strange for
me. I am used to getting up early.
John is from England. He is used to driving on the left.
I live near a busy street, so Im not used to quiet places.
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Exercises
6.1 Ben is a top manager. Ten years ago, he was just a junior accountant. Write
about how his lifestyle has changed using used to/didn't use to + infinitive or
the present simple.
1. He (not/be) so busy.
2. He (have) a lot of paperwork these days.
3. He (have) more free time, but now he (work) nearly ten
hours a day.
4. He (wear) black ties every day. Nowadays, he .. (prefer) brown
ties.
5. He .. (earn) less money than today.
6. His desk (be) full of papers and folders. It .. (be) almost
empty.
7. He . (have) a manager, but now he .. (manage) a team of
workers.
8. He .. (go out) a lot, but now he (not/have) any time.
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ADVANCED TENSES
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7 Past perfect simple
The past perfect simple (had/hadnt + past participle) is used to talk about past
actions or situations that happened before a specific time in the past.
11AM NOW
The bus left at 10.55. I arrived at the bus stop at 11am. When I arrived, the bus
had already left.
We often use the past perfect simple with time expressions such as already, just
(= a moment ago), since, for, never, etc.:
We got divorced last year. We'd been married for nearly ten years.
When I called Josie, she'd just finished her homework.
I sold my car yesterday. I'd had it since 2005.
We often use the past perfect simple with the past simple to talk about
something that happened before an event in the past:
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NOTE: The past perfect simple is the past of the present perfect simple (have/
has + past participle). We use the present perfect simple to talk about actions or
situations that happened before or up to now:
NOW (11am)
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Exercises
7.1 Put the verbs in brackets in the correct form, past perfect simple, present perfect
simple or past simple:
7.2 Last summer, Jake visited Japan for the first time. A lot of things were new for
him. Write sentences like in the example.
1. eat sushi
.
2. use chopsticks
.
3. drink Japanese wine
.
4. travel on the metro
.
5. visit a Buddhist temple
.
6. see tall skyscrapers
.
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8 Past perfect simple/continuous
We use the past perfect simple (had/hadnt + past participle) to talk about
completed actions (but we do not say when they happened):
We use the past perfect continuous (had/hadnt been + -ing) to talk about
unfinished activities that started before a specific time in the past:
In 2011, I received my first promotion. I'd been working at the company for
over 5 years.
When we use the past perfect simple, we focus on a completed activity or the
result of the activity:
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We use the past perfect simple to say how much or how many:
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Exercises
8.1 Cross out the incorrect structure to complete the following sentences:
1. It wasnt my first time in Berlin. I'd visited/I'd been visiting the city three
times before then.
2. When I met Abdul, I was a student. I'd studied/Id been studying in Cairo
for nearly two years.
3. I felt very sick. It was the first time I'd ever eaten/I'd ever been eating food
like that.
4. I was nearly ready for my test. Id studied/Id been studying since early
morning.
5. I checked my phone an hour ago. I hadnt received/I hadnt been receiving
any text messages.
6. Until 2010, Spain had never won/had never been winning the world cup.
7. Karen looked tired yesterday. I think shed worked/shed been working too
hard.
8. I was getting tired of Moscow. Id lived/Id been living there for almost 30
years.
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9 Future continuous
The future continuous has two forms: will be + -ing and be going to + -ing. We
use the future continuous to talk about an activity that will be in progress at a
particular time in the future:
We use a time clause (with the present simple) and the future continuous to
talk about a future event that will happen when another activity is in progress.
NOW
This is the same structure as the first conditional (if/when + present, will +
infinitive), but with the future continuous instead of will + infinitive.
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Exercises
9.1 Complete the sentences below. Put the verbs in brackets in the future simple
(will + infinitive) or future continuous (will be + -ing).
9.2 Cross out the incorrect structure to complete the following sentences:
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10 Future perfect simple/continuous
The future perfect simple (will have + past participle) is used to talk about actions
or situations that will be complete before a specific time in the future:
NOW TOMORROW
The future perfect is the future of the present perfect (have/has + past participle).
We use the present perfect to talk about actions or situations that happened
before or up to now:
We often use the future perfect with time expressions such as by and by the time,
by this time next ...:
By this time next year, we'll have been married for nearly ten years.
By the time you get there, she'll have gone home.
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Simple vs. continuous
Compare the future perfect simple with the future perfect continuous (will have
+ been + -ing).
By this time next year, I'll have been working in London for almost a decade.
We use the future perfect simple to say how much or how many:
By the end of the year, I'll have been to Greece five times.
By August, we'll have been living here for almost six months.
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Exercises
10.1 Karen has a lot of plans and ambitions. Complete her thoughts with the verbs
below.
1. I my English.
2. I to Australia.
3. I .. my car.
4. I .. lots of new clothes.
5. I my future husband.
6. I .. my own business.
7. I . lots of new cities.
10.2 Put the verbs in brackets in the future perfect. Use the future perfect continuous
where possible.
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ANSWERS
1.1 3.2
1. usually wake up 1. met
2. works; is developing 2. 've been
3. usually travel; 'm taking 3. hasn't rained
4. 'm taking 4. has improved
5. enjoy; 'm learning 5. haven't had
6. 'm meeting; see 6. tried; forgot
7. don't have; eat 7. 've never visited; went
8. live; are building 8. made; have you eaten
9. is studying; doesn't have 9. has lost
1.2 3.3
1. I believe 1. didn't win
2. I love; I'm thinking 2. has acted
3. believe; are rising 3. became
4. Do you think; have 4. have never walked
5. I realise; I need 5. haven't been
6. understands;doesn't speak
7. is being/isn't usually 4.2
1. I've been studying
2.1 2. I've ever taken
1. he was having breakfast 3. has visited
2. he was working in the office 4. has she been working
3. he was sleeping 5. hasn't eaten
4. he was having lunch 6. They've been living
5. he was watching a documentary 7. has interviewed
6. he was brushing his teeth 8. have you been swimming
7. he was studying in Japan 9. have you seen; has changed
8. he was drinking coffee in his favourite cafe 10. I've visited
2.2 5.2
1. was making; called 1. 'm going to improve; 'll help
2. met; were working 2. are you going to tidy; 'll do
3. decided; was still shining 3. 'm going to buy; 'll ask
4. wasn't watching; was studying 4. are you going to do; 'll visit
5. nearly had; was driving 5. are you going to come; 'll call
6. started; was attending 6. are you going to do; 'm going to organise
7. finished; forgot; called; was leaving 7. 'm going to sleep; won't disturb
8. went; was still sleeping 8. are going to have; 'm not going to eat
9. broke; was playing
5.3
3.1 1. is going to be
1. has become 2. I will be
2. have risen 3. I'm going to be
3. has become 4. it will snow
4. have changed 5. is going to have
5. has become 6. will drive
6. hasn't become 7. are going to fly
7. hasn't decreased 8. I'm going to have
8. has changed 9. you're going to love
10. I'll let you know
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6.1 9.1
1. didn't use to be 1. 'll be having lunch
2. has 2. will go
3. used to have; works 3. 'll be working; will change
4. used to wear; prefers 4. won't go out
5. used to earn; 5. 'll be waiting
6. is; used to be 6. 'll wait
7. didn't use to have; manages 7. 'll start
8. used to go out; doesn't have 8. will be shining
9. need; 'll be staying
6.2 10. will feel
1. isn't used to 11. won't be watching; 'll be working
2. are used to
3. 'm used to 9.2
4. is used to 1. Im going to be relaxing
5. aren't used to 2. I'll tell
6. 'm used to 3. Im going
4. you arrive
7.1 5. hell call
1. had already left 6. will you be doing
2. has hardly ever rained 7. You'll recognise; I'll be wearing
3. started
4. visited 10.1
5. was 1. 'll have improved
6. 'd never been 2. 'll have emigrated
7. 've never eaten 3. 'll have sold
8. 'd just finished 4. 'll have bought
9. hasn't eaten 5. 'll have met
10. hadn't eaten 6. 'll have started
11. didn't see 7. 'll have visited
12. 've been
13. didn't want 10.2
1. will have already started
7.2 2. 'll have been waiting
1. He'd never eaten sushi before. 3. will have met
2. He'd never used chopsticks before. 4. will you have been living
3. He'd never drunk Japanese wine before. 5. will you have read
4. He'd never travelled on the metro before. 6. 'll have divorced
5. He'd never visited a Buddhist temple before. 7. will have finished
6. He'd never seen tall skyscrapers before. 8. 'll have been travelling
8.1
1. I'd visited
2. I'd been studying
3. I'd ever eaten
4. I'd been studying
5. I hadn't received
6. had never won
7. she'd been working
8. I'd been living
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