VERBAL TENSES

1. SIMPLE PRESENT 1.1 Meanings referring to the present 1.1.1 State or single action in the present: She looks very tired today. The teacher enters the classroom. 1.1.2 Habitual and repeated actions in the present: (adverbial modifiers of frequency) ever, never, sometimes, usually, often, always, rarely, generally; - I usually have breakfast at 7 oclock in the morning. - She doesnt always make her bed in the morning. once/twice/three times (thrice)/four times a day/week/month/year; - She goes to the supermarket twice a week. every day/week/month/year. - The Browns go on holiday to Greece every year. 1.1.3 General statement: I prefer coffee to tea. I dont like watching horror movies. 1.1.4 General truth (or scientific truth): Most birds fly. The earth moves round the sun. Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius. 1.1.5 Verbs that cannot be used in continuous tenses: Verbs expressing physical perception: to hear, to see, to smell, to taste, to feel; Verbs expressing thoughts: to know, to understand, to think, to believe, to forget, to remember, to recognise; Verbs expressing emotions: to like, to love, to hate, to prefer, to dislike; Verbs expressing wish: to want, to wish, to mean; to have, to belong to, to be, to mind, to need. 1.1.6 Radio commentators: John passes the ball to Hunter he shoots its a goal. Jackson hits a homerun. 1.1.7 The speaker shows how something is done: I put the sugar to the cream.

I drill two holes into the board. (DIY) Paradise

1.1.8 Describing works of arts: The painting portrays Milton dictating Lost. /At the table stand his two daughters./

1.1.9 Remarks of playwrights: (The telephone rings, Blanche picks it up and listens carefully.) 1.1.10After here and there: Here comes Joe. There goes our train. 1.2 Expressing future with simple present: 1.2.1 Departure and arrival of means of transport; beginning and end of programmes (radio, TV, theatre, cinema, meetings, conferences, exhibitions): My bus leaves at 3 oclock tomorrow. The film starts on TV at 9 tonight. The exhibition opens on 3 May and finishes on the 12 June. 1.2.2 Adverbial sub-clauses of time (introduced by when, before, after, till, until, as soon as): He will be very happy when he hears the good news. I wont leave till/until she speaks to me. As soon as I get home I will call you. (see also 7.3 and 9.8) 1.2.3 Probable conditions: I will buy a car if I manage to save enough money. She wont let you go to the party unless you clean your room. 2. SIMPLE PAST 2.1 An action completed at some point of the past; finished action in a finished period of time (state or single action in the past): AdvM of time: yesterday, the day before yesterday; yesterday afternoon, morning etc; last week/month/year/century; a week/month/year ago, the other day. They broke the window yesterday. My parents visited me two weeks ago. I didnt want to go to school last September. You looked very disappointed yesterday afternoon.
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2.2 Habitual or repeated actions in the past: (See: adverbial modifiers of frequency, Simple Present, 1.1.2) During my summer holiday I went swimming every day. My grandfather always carried an umbrella when he lived in London. 2.3 Continuous action in the past (stated as a fact without emphasising the continuity and length of the action): How long did you read this book? We lived in the country for a long time. I cleaned my flat from 9 to 10. Actions closely following one another (story telling): I finished my work, went home and sat down to watch TV. Then I heard a strange noise

2.4

3. SIMPLE FUTURE (what we think is probable to happen) 3.1 State or single action in the future: AdvM of time: tomorrow, tomorrow morning etc.; the day after tomorrow; next week/month/year; soon, then; in a week/a month/two years. Well speak to Tom tomorrow. They will be tired next week. I will get the result in a week. 3.2 Habitual and repeated actions (see adverbial modifiers Present, 1.1.2) He will visit you every other I will always help you if you in the future: of frequency, day. want me to. Simple

3.3 3.4

Permanent characteristic to the Subject: After finishing medical school he will make a very good doctor. After certain verbs about the future): 3.4.1to think and expressions (speculation

I think I will go to the cinema tonight. I dont think I will buy your old car.
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3.4.2 perhaps/probably/certainly I will perhaps probably certainly will perhaps do sg. = may (might, could) do sg. I may/might/could visit you the day after tomorrow. visit you tomorrow.

will probably do sg. = am/is/are likely to do sg Im likely to visit you the day after tomorrow. 3.4.3 to promise I promise I wont ask stupid questions any more. 3.4.4 to hope I hope you will like the present I have bought for your birthday. 3.4.5 to be sure Im sure you will like Kate when you meet her. 3.4.6 to expect 3.5 I expect Tom will know the answer to the question.

The future action is decided at the moment of speaking or writing (the future action is neither decided nor arranged by the moment of speaking): Your bags look so heavy. I will carry them for you. You look pale. I will open the window. (See also 5.5.2 & 5.6.2) We use the Shall I/we structure to express offer, request for suggestion: Where shall we put this big box? Shall I help you pack? Shall we meet in front of the theatre? Refusal to perform an action in the future: I dont like that man. I wont help him. I wont have that boy in my class. Hes far too noisy. future. (llapot a

3.6 3.7

4. Similar meanings of the simple tenses 4.1 State in the present, past or
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jelenben, mltban, jvben.) She doesnt look very pleased today. You seemed rather disappointed yesterday. You will feel better after a drink. 4.2 4.3 Single action in the present, past or future. (Egyedi cselekvs a jelenben, mltban, jvben.) The teacher enters the classroom. We cleaned the living-room the day before yesterday. I will read out the letter if you are interested. Repeated action in the present, past or future.(Ismtld cselekvs a jelenben, mltban, jvben.) My mother doesnt usually help me do my homework. When I was at grammar school I went to England at least three times a year. I will always remember talking to the Queen. speaking or

5. PRESENT CONTINUOUS 5.1 An action going on at the moment of writing: AdvM of time: now; at the moment; at present; just. Im doing the washing up at the moment. Tom is just having breakfast. 5.2

Temporary habit in the present: Hes working hard this term but he is basically lazy. My friend is staying at my place until he finds a flat for himself. Tom is being very friendly to me today. I wonder what he wants. (EGU 4)

5.3 Constant repetition of an event that annoys the speaker (often used with always); to express negative emotional colouring: Shes always losing her key and waking me up in the middle of the night. Im always buying lottery tickets but I never win anything. 5.4 When the speaker wants to emphasise the continuity and length of the action (an action filling up a whole period of time in the present): Its raining all/the whole day today and we cannot go
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out to the park. 5.5 AM/IS/ARE GOING TO DO SG 5.5.1 Prediction, when the future action or event comes from the present situation: Look at the man. Hes going to step into the hole. Those clouds are so dark. It is going to rain. 5.5.2 Strong future intention (the future already been decided but not arranged): Im going to buy a new car next year. Are you going to be at home tonight? (See also 3.5 & 5.6.2) action has

5.5.3 Certainty: Shes going to regret this day. It is going to be very painful. (at the dentist) Hes not going to pass the exam. 5.6 Expressing future with Present Continuous (these three meanings can be expressed by Future Continuous as well) 5.6.1 To express near future: Are you ready? The guests are coming any minute. 5.6.2 Future action that has already been decided and arranged by the moment of speaking: Im playing tennis with Tom on Monday afternoon. Im having dinner with Kate at 7 oclock on Friday. (See also 3.5 & 5.5.2)

5.6.3 Refusal with negative emotional colouring: You are not using my car again. (after a total loss) (See also 13.2) 5.7 Comparing ways of expressing future: DECIDED Simple Future will/shall do sg am/is/are going to do sg Present Continuous am/is/are doing sg ARRANGED

+ +

6. PAST CONTINUOUS 6.1 An action going on at a given past moment:

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What were you doing at 9 oclock yesterday morning? I was watching TV at 3 last Friday. This time last year I was preparing for my exams.

6.2 An action was going on when something else happened: She was reading a book when I entered the room. They were watching TV when the telephone rang. 6.3 An action filling up a whole period of time in the past: I was taking notes during the whole lecture. It was raining all day yesterday. 6.4 Parallel actions in the past: While I was crying she was laughing. I was doing the rooms while she was making dinner. 6.5 To express certain negative feeling (anger) in the past: I thought you were never coming. We thought they were never leaving. Tom was always asking stupid questions at the party yesterday. 6.6 Unfulfilled past intention: I was going to invite them to the party but I changed my mind. She was flying to Rome but finally went by car. I was hoping to be back by 9 oclock, but I missed the train. 6.7 6.8 To express cause or She had an accident She had a bad fall she was going. (See reason in the past: because she was driving too fast. because she wasnt looking where also 7.5)

Temporary action in the past: He was trying hard to do well at school at the beginning of the term but after a few weeks he gave it up. I was busy in May because I was preparing for my exam.

7. FUTURE CONTINUOUS 7.1 An action going on at a given future moment: What will you be doing (at) this time tomorrow?
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I will be working in the garden. This time next week I will be swimming in the sea. What will you be doing when I get home from work?

7.2 An action filling up a whole period of time in the future: I will be reading a book the whole/all day tomorrow. 7.3 Parallel actions in the future (with adverbial subclause of time): I will be watching TV while you are writing a letter. (See also 1.2.2, 9.8) Temporary habit in the future: Tom usually drives me home, but tomorrow we will be going home by train as Toms car is being repaired. To express normal course of events: He has broken his leg, so he wont be playing football tomorrow. She did the washing up yesterday, so she wont be doing it today. (See also 6.7) Polite question or request: Will you be staying here long? Will you be using your car this afternoon?

7.4 7.5 7.6

7.7 Future without intention: I can give the book to Tom, because I will be meeting him at the bus stop tomorrow morning. You know we usually take the same bus to school. I can post the letter, because I will be walking the dog anyway. 7.8 To express negative emotional colouring in the future: Why did you take his razor? He will be looking for it everywhere and shouting at everyone. Im sure Kate will be talking about her new boy friend at the party.

8. Similar meanings of the Continuous Tenses 8.1 An action going on at a given present, past or future moment. (A cselekvs a jelen, mlt v. jv egy adott idpontjban ppen tart.) The children are playing in the garden at the moment.
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 8.2

This time last month I was preparing for my exam. This time next month I will be preparing for my exam. An action filling up a whole period of time in the present, past or future. (A cselekvs egy egsz idperidust fellel a jelenben, mltban, jvben.) My mother is cooking all day for tonights party. He was reading during the whole lecture. I will be lying in bed and reading all day tomorrow.

8.3

Parallel actions in the past and future. (Prhuzamos cselekvsek a mltban s jvben.) Tom will be reading while we are swimming in the sea. I was doing the washing up while Kate was laying the table. Temporary habit in the present, past and future. (tmeneti cselekvs a jelenben, mltban, jvben.) Tom usually drives me home, but today we are going home by bus as Toms car is being repaired. Tom usually drives me home, but yesterday we were going home by bus as Toms car was being repaired. Tom usually drives me home, but tomorrow we will be going home by bus as Toms car is being repaired.

8.4 8.5

To express cause or reason in the past and future. (Ok-okozat kifejezse a mltban s a jvben.) Wages have gone up, so I suppose prices will be going up too. Tom had a bad fall yesterday because he was thinking and wasnt looking where he was going. To express negative emotional colouring in the present, past and future. (Negatv rzelmi tlts kifejezse a jelenben, mltban s jvben.) Pete is always having stupid remarks about my car. I thought you were never cleaning your room. Why did you break the window? Dad will be yelling at us!

8.6

8.7

An action going on in the past or future when another short action takes place. (Egy cselekvs folyamatban van a mltban vagy a jvben, amikor egy msik pillanatnyi cselekvs megy vgbe.) What will the children be doing when we get home? What were the children doing when you got home? They will be watching TV when we get home from work.
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9. PRESENT PERFECT 9.1 Present result or experience of a past action: I have closed the door. I have seen this film. 9.2 An action started in the past and continued up to or into the present moment (how long?, since, for): How long have you been ill? I have been ill since Monday. for two weeks. for the last month. (Compare with 2.3, Simple Past) She has wanted to buy a new car for a long time. (See V-s that cannot be used in the continuous 1.1.5) Past action which has just finished, with result in the present: I have just had breakfast. pp most reggeliztem. (Compare: Im just having breakfast. pp most reggelizem.) Past action whose time is not given, with result in the present: Where have you been? ~ I have been to the shop. He has been to Oxford. We have been invited to Toms party. Past action whose time is not definite (with result in the present): 9.5.1ever ~ valaha Have you ever been to England? 9.5.2 never I have never been to England. 9.5.3 already (+) ~ mr (kijelentsben) I have already done my homework. 9.5.4 yet (?) ~ mr (krdsben) Have you done your homework yet? 9.5.5 not...yet ~ mg nem I havent done my homework yet. 9.5.6 so far ~ eddig They have repaired only half of the road so far. 9.5.7 recently, lately Have you seen any good films recently? lately? (But: the other day a mltkor, a napokban I met Tom the other day. Simple Past
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9.3

9.4 9.5

nowadays manapsg Simple Present these days Many people read this paper nowadays these days.) 9.6 Past action whose time is definite, but the time period is not finished: She has phoned twice today. I have been to the theatre three times this week. I have drunk three coffees today. (see also 2.1 Simple Past) is + ordinal numeral + time + Present Perf. will be It is the first time I have driven a BMW. will be Will it be the third time you have seen this film? (see also 10.5) Expressing future with Present Perfect in adverbial sub-clauses of time - the fulfilment of the action in the main-clause depends on the fulfilment of the action in the adverbial sub-clause of time): As soon as I have saved enough money I will buy a car. I will go to the cinema after I have done my homework. (See also 1.2.2 and 7.3)

9.7 It

9.8

9.9

Different structures with similar meaning (EGU 12C): It is/has been two years since I last saw Tom. ~ Kt ve van annak, hogy utoljra tallkoztam Tommal. How long is it/has it been since you last saw Tom? ~ Mennyi ideje van (annak), hogy utoljra tallkoztl Tommal? The last time I saw Tom was two years ago. ~ Az utols alkalom, hogy tallkoztam Tommal kt ve volt. When was the last time you saw Tom? Mikor volt az utols alkalom, hogy tallkoztam Tommal? I havent seen Tom for two years. ~ Nem tallkoztam Tommal kt ve. How long have you not seen Tom?
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9.10 Differences between the been to structures been in gone to 9.10.1 I have been to the shop. (Im back, but theres a result.) A: Where have you been? B: I have been to the garden. A: What have you been doing? B: I have been picking apples. 9.10.2 I have been in France for 5 years. (Im still in France; time period) 9.10.3 Tom has gone to the dentist. (Hes there now.) 9.11 Present Perfect is frequently used in news broadcast or when the statement expresses new information for the listener. Once we start speaking about the circumstances of the action, we shift into Simple Past: Six people have been killed in the explosion. I have cut my finger rather badly. ( ~ Really, how did it happen) There has been an accident. ( ~ When did it happen?) 10. PAST PERFECT 10.1 An action started before a given past moment and completed by that given past moment: I was angry with him because he had forgotten to post the letter. He had prepared everything by 5 oclock yesterday. 10.2 Model sentences: By the time the bell rang we had done all the exercises. After I had done all my homework I went out with my friends. The concert had started before we got to the concert hall. When all the guests had arrived we sat down to have dinner. (see also 9.8) He liked the soup as soon as he had tasted it. She didnt understand my question until I had told it to her three times. It wasnt until I had told her my question three times that she understood it. No sooner had I got into bed than the phone rang.
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Hardly had I got into bed when the phone rang. (I had just got into bed when the phone rang.)

10.3 An action started before a given past moment and continued up to or into that given past moment: She had been ill for two weeks when I learnt about it. 10.4 An action was stopped before it was completed: The teacher cleaned the blackboard before I finished copying the new words. had

10.5 It was + ordinal numeral + time + Past Perfect It was the third time I had seen the sea. (see also 9.7) 11. FUTURE PERFECT 11.1 An action started before a given future moment and completed by that future moment: They will have repaired your car by three oclock tomorrow. By this time tomorrow we will have crossed the English Channel. 11.2 An action begun before a given future moment and continued up to or into that given future moment: By next Monday we will have been here for two and a half weeks. 12. Similar meanings of the Perfect Tenses 12.1 An action completed by a given moment in the past, present or future (usually with a result of the action). A cselekvs a jelen, mlt vagy jv egy adott konkrt idpontjra valsul meg (s legtbbszr eredmnye van): I have done my homework (by now). Tom had done his homework by 6 oclock yesterday. I will have done my homework by 6 oclock tomorrow. By the time the bell rang I had done my homework. By the time the bell rings I will have done my homework. 12.2 An action completed just before a given moment in the present or past. A cselekvs a jelen vagy mlt egy adott pillanata eltt kzvetlenl rt vget: Kate has just cleaned her room. Kate had just gone to bed when the phone rang.
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Hardly had Kate gone to bed when the phone rang. No sooner had Kate gone to bad than the phone rang.

12.3 An action started before a given moment in the present, past or future, and still going on (the verb cannot be used in the continuous aspect). A cselekvs a jelen, mlt vagy jv egy adott idpontja eltt kezddtt, s a jelen, mlt vagy jv ezen idpontjban is tart (az lltmnyban szerepl ige legtbbszr nem llhat folyamatosban): I have wanted to buy a new car for 2 years. Kate had been in hospital for 2 weeks when I first visited her. Kate will have been in hospital for two weeks when I can first visit her. 12.4 It It It It It is ordinal numeral + will be was ordinal numeral + is the third time I have seen will be the third time I have was the third time I had seen time + Present Perfect time this seen this + Past Perfect film. this film. film.

12.5 The fulfilment of the action in the adverbial sub-clause of time is the condition of the fulfilment of the action in the main clause in the past and future. Az idhatrozi mellkmondatban lv cselekvs megvalsulsa a felttele a fmondatban lv cselekvs megvalsulsnak a jvben s a mltban: As soon as I had tasted the wine I liked it. When/As soon as all the guests had arrived we sat down to have dinner. When all the guests have arrived we will sit down to have dinner. When I have passed my driving exam I will buy a car. 13. PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS 13.1 To express and emphasise the continuity and length of the action that started in the past and still going on: How long have you been waiting for me? I have been waiting for you for three hours. My sister has been learning English for six years. 13.2 To express negative emotional colouring in the statement: Oh, my God. What have you been doing to my car?
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(see 5.6.3 - Present Continuous for the future; Refusal with negative emotional colouring You are not using my car again.) Joe has been drinking all evening. You have been smoking too much recently. Thats why you are coughing so badly. 13.3 To explain a present action or state, which is the result of an action in the past: Im tired because I have been working in the garden. You have a black eye. Have you been fighting? (see 14.2) 14. PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS 14.1 An action started before continued up to or into emphasising the continuity By last September we had years. a given past moment and that given past moment, and length of the action: been living here for 12

14.2 To explain a past action or state, which was the result of an earlier action in the past: (see 13.3) I was tired because I had been playing football. 15. FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS 15.1 An action begun before a future moment and continued up to or into that given future moment emphasising the continuity and length of the action: By next year I will have been working for the same company for 25 years. 16. Similar meanings of the Perfect Continuous Tenses 16.1 An action started before a given moment in the present, past or future and continued up to that moment emphasising the continuity and length of the action. A cselekvs a jelen, mlt vagy jv egy adott idpontja eltt kezddtt, s a jelen, mlt vagy jv ezen idpontjig tartott, vagy ezen idpontjban is folytatdik, hangslyozva a cselekvs hosszantartssgt s folytonossgt. How long have you been waiting? ~ I have been waiting for two hours. I had been learning English for 2 years, when I first went to England. I will have been living here for 6 months when my parents first visit me. 16.2 To explain an action or state in the present or past
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which is the result of an earlier action. Egy jelen vagy mltbeli cselekvs vagy llapot magyarzata, amely egy korbbi cselekvs megvalsulsnak eredmnye: What have you been doing? Have you been fighting? She is tired because she has been working too hard recently. She was tired because she had been working too hard recently.

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