RELC LANGUAGE TEACHING INSTITUTE (A Subsidiary of SEAMEO Regional Language Centre) USE OF TENSES SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE vs PRESENT

PROGRESSIVE TENSE Simple Present 1. Express repeated action (includes the present, past and future) The earth revolves around the sun. (general truth) I go there very often. (custom) 2. Express non-action (state or condition) He seems tired. She loves her children. I remember him. I hear some music. (vs I am listening to some music.) 3. Express future action (especially with verbs of arriving and departing) We leave tomorrow. The ship sails next week. Present Progressive 1. Expresses one action in the present a. Of short duration Hes studying the lesson. Hes writing a letter. b. Of long duration Hes studying English. Hes writing a book. 2. Expresses future action Hes giving a lecture tomorrow. The ship is sailing next week. 3. Expresses the beginning, progression or end of an action It is beginning to snow. My cold is becoming worse.

Supply the simple present or the present progressive form of the verb. In a few sentences either form may be used. Example: a. The milk (taste) tastes sour. b. She (taste) is tasting the soup to see if it needs more spice. c. The wind (blow) is blowing very hard outside. 1. The play (begin) _________________ now. 2. She (try) _________________ to finish her work early today. 3. It (get) _________________ colder and colder.

SIMPLE PAST TENSE vs PAST PROGRESSIVE TENSE Both forms of the past tense represent definite past. They refer to events that were completed before the statement is made. They are often accompanied by such expressions of definite past as yesterday, last year, two weeks ago. The past progressive emphasizes duration of an action in the past What were you doing all day yesterday? The past action may be of short duration What were you doing at ten oclock last night? Use the simple or progressive form for the past tense. In some sentences both past tense forms are possible. Example: a. Just as he (reach) _________________ the bus stop, the bus (pass) _________________ by him. b. He (work) _________________ in a restaurant the last time I (see) _________________him. 1. The minute we (receive) _________________ his gift, we (write) _________________ him a note of thanks. 2. When they (hear) _________________ the burglar alarm go off, they (call) _________________ the police. 3. They (eat) _________________ dinner in the cafeteria a few minutes ago. 4. At 7 oclock last night I (eat) _________________ dinner. 5. Everyone (enjoy) _________________ himself at the party. 6. Shakespeare (write) _________________ his great plays many years ago. 7. All last year he (prepare) _________________ for the bar examination. 8. After the movie (be) _________________ over, they (go) _________________ to the restaurant for coffee. 9. Where is the dog? I (see) _________________ him only a few minutes ago. 10. As soon as he (open) _________________ the door, his son (run over) _________________ to greet him. 11. The guards quickly (catch) _________________ the prisoner who (try) _________________ to escape. 12. We reached the lake just as the sun (set) _________________.

PAST PROGRESSIVE TENSE Wherever possible, change the verbs to progressive form. Keep in mind that the progressive emphasizes duration of a single event. Example: a. What did he think about my plan? No change possible b. She thought about the accident all night long. She was thinking about the accident all night long. c. The driver stopped the bus very quickly. No change possible 1. We watched television last night. ______________________________________________ 2. They opened the new store last week. ______________________________________________ 3. They borrowed some money from the bank. ______________________________________________ 4. The telephone rang all day. ______________________________________________ 5. He got to the platform just as the train left. ______________________________________________

PAST PROGRESSIVE WITH TIME CLAUSES One continuous past action may be a non-continuous past action. She was washing the dishes when the phone rang. The past progressive form is used for the continuous action. A. Combine each set of sentences so that the second sentence becomes a when clause. Use the required verb forms. Example: I (cross) the street. I (see) an accident. I was crossing the street when I saw an accident. 1. She (do) her homework. She (become) very sleepy. ______________________________________________________ 2. The refugees (walk) along the road. Some planes (appear) overhead. ______________________________________________________ 3. She (prepare) dinner. A quarrel (break out) among the children. ______________________________________________________ 4. They (eat) breakfast. They (hear) someone knock at the door. ______________________________________________________ 5. She (put) some water in the coffee pot. She (notice) a leak in the pot. ______________________________________________________ B. Many of the sentences of the form I was doing something when something happened may also take the form While I was doing something, something happened. She was washing the dishes when the phone rang. While she was washing the dishes the phone rang.

Note that no matter which statement becomes the time clause, past progressive form is used for the continuous action. As or just as may be alternatives for while in this kind of time clause. Just as we were sitting down to dinner, the phone rang. Combine the sets of sentences in A so that the first sentence becomes a while or (just) as clause. Example: While I was crossing the street, I saw an accident.