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Types of Verbs
Types of Verbs
Before you begin the verb tense lessons, it is extremely important to understand that NOT all English verbs are the same. English verbs are divided into three groups:
Group I Continuous Verbs
The first group, called "Continuous Verbs", contains most English verbs. These verbs are usually physical actions which you can see somebody doing. These verbs can be used in all tenses.
Continuous Verbs
to run, to walk, to eat, to fly, to go, to say, to touch etc.
Examples:
I eat dinner every day. Correct
I am eating dinner now. Correct
Group II Non-continuous Verbs
The second group, called "Non-continuous Verbs", is smaller. These verbs are usually things you cannot see somebody doing. These verbs are rarely used in "continuous" tenses. They include:
Abstract Verbs
to be, to want, to cost, to seem, to need, to care, to contain, to owe, to exist...
Possession Verbs
to possess, to own, to belong...
Emotion Verbs
to like, to love, to hate, to dislike, to fear, to envy, to mind...
Examples:
He is here now. Correct
He is being here now. Not Correct
He wants a drink now. Correct
He is wanting a drink now. Not Correct
Group III Mixed Verbs
The third group, called "Mixed Verbs", is the smallest group. These verbs have more than one meaning. Some meanings behave like "Non-continuous Verbs", while other meanings behave like "Continuous Verbs."
Mixed Verbs
to have, to appear, to see, to hear, to feel, to weigh, to look ...
List of Mixed Verbs with Examples and Definitions:
to appear:
Donna appears confused. Non-continuous Verb
(Donna seems confused.)
My favorite singer is appearing at the jazz club tonight. Continuous Verb
(My favorite singer is giving a performance at the jazz club tonight.)
to have:
I have a dollar now. Non-continuous Verb
(I possess a dollar.)
I am having fun now. Continuous Verb
(I am experiencing fun now.)
to hear:
She hears the music. Non-continuous Verb
(She hears the music with her ears.)
She is hearing voices. Continuous Verb
(To hear something others cannot hear. She is hearing voices in her mind.)
to miss:
John misses Sally. Non-continuous Verb
(He is sad because she is not there.)
Debbie is missing her favorite TV program. Continuous Verb
(She is not there to see her favorite program.)
to see:
I see her. Non-continuous Verb
(I see her with my eyes.)
I am seeing the doctor. Continuous Verb
(To visit or consult with a doctor, dentist, or lawyer.)
I am seeing her. Continuous Verb
(I am having a relationship with her.)
He is seeing ghosts at night. Continuous Verb
(To see something others cannot see. For example ghosts, aura, a vision of the future etc.)
to smell:
The coffee smells good. Non-continuous Verb
(The coffee has a good smell.)
I am smelling the flowers. Continuous Verb
(I am sniffing the flowers.)
to taste:
The coffee tastes good. Non-continuous Verb
(The coffee has a good taste.)
I am tasting the cake. Continuous Verb
(I am trying the cake to see what it tastes like.)
to think:
He thinks the test is easy. Non-continuous Verb
(He considers the test to be easy.)
She is thinking about the question. Continuous Verb
(She is pondering the question, going over it in her mind.)
to weigh:
The table weighs a lot. Non-continuous Verb
(The table has a great weight.)
She is weighing herself. Continuous Verb
(She is determining her weight.)
Some Verbs Can Be Especially Confusing:
to be:
Joe is American. Non-continuous Verb
(Joe is an American citizen.)
Joe is being very American. Continuous Verb
(Joe is behaving like a stereotypical American.)
Joe is being very rude. Continuous Verb
(Joe is behaving very rudely. Usually he is not rude.)
Joe is being very formal. Continuous Verb
(Joe is behaving very formally. Usually he is not formal.)
NOTICE: Only rarely is "to be" used in a continuous form. This is most commonly done when a person is temporarily behaving badly or stereotypically. It can also be used when someone's behavior is noticeably different.
to feel:
The massage feels great. Non-continuous Verb
(The massage has a pleasing feeling.)
I don't feel well today. Continuous or Non-continuous Verb
I am not feeling well today.
(I am a little sick.)
NOTICE: Feel is very flexible and there is no difference in meaning in the two sentences above.)
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To do and to make
The verbs do and make are often confused by
nonnative speakers.
- do
often has the meaning of “perform a routine or assigned activity.”
- make
usually has the sense of producing or creating something.
do your homework
do your best
do business with
do the ironing, washing, cleaning, housework
do the dishes
do exercises
do a favor
do research
do your job
but…
make a donation—make a contribution (in class)
make a mistake--make an error
make friends with
make money
make a noise
make peace—make war
make a plan
make a promise
make a speech
make a turn
make a comparion
make a decision (the British “take” decisions)
make a discovery
and…
To make matters worse, one expression has both! “Make do”
means to manage with what is available. (I couldn’t find any cous cous in the
store, so I had to make do with rice. I
can’t afford to buy a new car this year, so I’m going to have to make do with
my old Ford for another year.)
Two
idiomatic expressions:
When
you ask someone what they do, you are asking what their job is. (I asked
Anwar what he does and he said he works at Dunkin’ Donuts.)
When
you ask someone what they make or how much they make, you are
asking how much money they earn. (How much do you make at the doughnut shop?)
By the way, it is very rude to ask an American directly how much they make. You
can ask them what they do, but not what they make!
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To Be
The verb to be has three forms: am,
is, are.
|
Singular |
Plural |
| 1st Person |
I am student. |
We are students. |
| 2nd Person |
You are a student |
You are students |
| 3rd Person |
He is a student.
She is a student.
It is a book. |
They are students.
They are books. |
Use am in a sentence about yourself.
I am a doctor.
I am hungry.
I'm a student.
I'm too hot.
| Hint: |
Always capitalize I. |
Use is in sentences about a third
person or thing.
He is a doctor.
He's tall.
She is a teacher.
She's intelligent.
It is a book
It's sunny today.
| Hint: |
Native speakers of English often use contractions with to
be.
I'm, You're, He's, She's, It's, We're, They're |
Use are in sentences about a second person (you)
singular and all plural subjects.
You are a doctor.
You are tall.
You are doctors.
You (plural) are tall.
We are students.
We are too cold.
They are teachers.
They are too hot.
| Reminder: |
The pronoun you can refer to a plural or singular noun. It is
sometimes difficult to know which it is. |
The verb to be can be followed by
- an adjective
- an object
- here or there
Adjective
Object
here/there
| I'm hot. |
I am a teacher |
I am here. |
| You're very smart. |
You are a musician. |
You're there. |
| He's handsome. |
She's a pilot. |
It's there. |
| We're exhausted. |
We're the leaders. |
We're here. |
| You're finished. |
You're taxi drivers. |
You're here. |
| They are blue. |
They are new cars. |
They're over there |
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Simple Present
Simple Present
FORM Simple Present
EXAMPLE: [ to run]
I run
you run
he runs
she runs
it runs
we run
they run
USE 1 Repeated Actions
Use the Simple Present to express the idea that an action is repeated or usual. The action can be a habit, a hobby, a daily event, a scheduled event or something that often happens. It can also be something a person often forgets or usually does not do.
EXAMPLES:
I play tennis.
She does not play tennis.
The train leaves every morning at 8 am.
The train does not leave at 9am.
She always forgets her purse.
He never forgets his wallet.
Every twelve months, the Earth circles the sun.
The sun does not circle the Earth.
USE 2 Facts or Generalizations
The Simple Present can also indicate the speaker believes that a fact was true before, is true now, and will be true in the future. It is not important if the speaker is correct about the fact. It is also used to make generalizations about people or things.
EXAMPLES:
Cats like milk.(It is not important that this fact is untrue.)
Birds do not like milk.
California is in America.
California is not in the United Kingdom.
Windows are made of glass.
Windows are not made of wood.
New York is a small city.
USE 3 Now (Non-Continuous Verbs)
Sometimes speakers use the Simple Present to express the idea that an action is happening or is not happening now. This can only be done with Non-continuous Verbs and certain Mixed Verbs.
EXAMPLES:
I am here now.
She is not here now.
He needs help right now.
He does not need help now.
He has a car.
ACTIVE / PASSIVE Simple Present
EXAMPLES:
Once a week, Tom cleans the car. ACTIVE
Once a week, the car is cleaned by Tom. PASSIVE
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Simple Future
Simple Future
The Simple Future has two different forms in English, "will" and "be going to." Although the two forms can sometimes be used interchangeably, they often express two very different meanings. These different meanings might seem too abstract at first, but with time and practice the differences will become clear. Both "will" and "be going to" refer to a specific time in the future.
FORM Will
[WILL] + [VERB]
EXAMPLES:
I will help him later.
I will never help him.
NOTE: When you are using a verb tense with more than one part such as Simple Future (will help), adverbs usually come between the first part and the second part (will never help).
FORM Be Going To
[AM / IS / ARE] + [GOING TO] + [VERB]
EXAMPLES:
He is going to meet Jane tonight.
He is definitely going to meet Jane tonight.
NOTE: When you are using a verb tense with more than one part such as Simple Future (is going to meet), adverbs usually come between the first part and the second part (is definitely going to meet).
IMPORTANT No Future in Time Clauses
Like all future forms, the Simple Future cannot be used in clauses beginning with "when", "while", "before", "after", "by the time," "as soon as," "if" and "unless." In this lesson, all verbs in Time Clauses are italicized.
EXAMPLES:
When you arrive tonight, we will go out for dinner. Correct
When you will arrive tonight, we will go out for dinner. Not Correct
USE 1 "Will" to Express a Voluntary Action
"Will" often suggests that a speaker will do something voluntarily. A voluntary action is one the speaker offers to do for someone else. Often we use "will" to respond to someone else's complaint or request for help.
EXAMPLES:
A: I'm really hungry.
B: I'll make some sandwiches.
A: I'm so tired. I'm about to fall asleep.
B: I'll get you some coffee.
A: The phone is ringing.
B: I'll get it.
USE 2 "Will" to Express a Promise
"Will" is usually used in promises.
EXAMPLES:
I will call you when I arrive.
If I am elected President of the United States, I will make sure everyone has access to inexpensive health insurance.
I promise I will not tell him about the surprise party.
USE 3 "Be going to" to Express a Plan
"Be going to" expresses that something is a plan. It expresses the idea that a person intends to do something in the future.
EXAMPLES:
He is going to spend his vacation in Hawaii.
We are going to meet each other tonight at 6:00 PM.
A: Who is going to make John's birthday cake.
B: Sue is going to make John's birthday cake.
USE 4 "Will" or "Be Going to" to Express a Prediction
Both "will" and "be going to" can express the idea of a general prediction about the future. Predictions are guesses about what might happen in the future. In "prediction" sentences, the subject usually has little control over the future and therefore USES 1-3 do not apply. In the following examples there is no difference in meaning.
EXAMPLES:
The year 2222 will be a very interesting year.
The year 2222 is going to be a very interesting year.
John Smith will be the next President.
John Smith is going to be the next President.
The movie "Zenith" will win several Academy Awards.
The movie "Zenith" is going to win several Academy Awards.
IMPORTANT
In the Simple Future, it is not always clear which USE the speaker has in mind. Often, there is more than one way to interpret a sentence's meaning.
ACTIVE / PASSIVE FORMS Simple Future
EXAMPLES:
John will certainly finish the work by 5:00 PM. ACTIVE
The work will certainly be finished by 5:00 PM. PASSIVE
Sally is going to make a beautiful dinner tonight. ACTIVE
A beautiful dinner is going to be made by Sally tonight. PASSIVE
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Principal parts of verbs--with present participle
Verbs
This lesson will concentrate on the principal parts of the verb
and then we will focus on using the simple present and the present
continuous forms.
Most grammar teachers talk about three principal parts of the
verb:
| Present |
Past |
Past Participle |
| ask |
asked |
asked |
I like to think of four principal parts of a verb:
| Present |
Past |
Present Participle |
Past Participle |
| ask |
asked |
asking |
asked |
| need |
needed |
needing |
needed |
| scrape |
scraped |
scraping |
scraped |
| run |
ran |
running |
run |
| give |
gave |
giving |
given |
| go |
went |
going |
gone |
Spelling is a consideration when we talk about all these verb parts.
Look at the chart above and think about this rule:
Double the final
consonant when you add -ed or -ing
to a verb that ends with one vowel followed by
one consonant.
Don't double the final consonant when you add -ing to need
or ask, but double it when adding -ing to trap or
run.
When a verb ends
with an e, you must drop the e before adding -ing
and you should only add a d for the regular past tense or past participle.
Drop the final e in give and scrape before adding
the -ing and only add a -d when you make scrape a
past tense verb.
Remember: ask, need, and scrape are regular
verbs and run, give, and go are irregular verbs.
Regular verbs always have -ed as a past tense ending.
Irregular verbs have various (irregular)
past tense endings.
Be careful not to overuse the present participle.
Use the present participle only with the progressive tenses and participial
adjectives. Note the difference between the present tense and the
present progressive tense.
| Present Tense |
Present Progressive (Continuous) Tense |
| Example |
Bob runs every morning before work. |
Example |
Bob is running to catch the bus. |
| Explanation |
Use the present tense to indicate that something happens on
a regular basis. The present tense is used for habitual actions. |
Explanation |
Use the present progressive tense to indicate that something
is happening right now. The progressive tense is sometimes called
the continuous tense because it describes something that is continuing. |
Note: Certain verbs cannot be used in the present progressive
tense. These are verbs that indicate conditions or states.
These verbs don't express action, so they cannot be in the present progressive.
They are called stative verbs. They include:
Stative Verbs
| Descriptions |
Possession |
Measurement |
Senses |
Emotions/
attitudes |
Ideas |
| seem |
have |
weigh |
feel |
love/need |
know |
| be |
own |
measure |
hear |
like/want |
think |
| look like |
possess |
equal |
see |
care/prefer |
believe |
| sound like |
belong to |
cost |
taste |
hate/dislike |
recognize |
| involve |
owe |
amount to |
smell |
mind/value |
remember |
| consist of |
depend on |
|
hurt |
appreciate |
understand |
| contain |
|
|
|
|
mean |
Some of these verbs have a non-stative meaning also.
Stative: I feel sad about your brother's problems.
The soup tastes too salty.
Non-stative: The doctor is feeling my arm to see if it is broken.
David is tasting the soup. He doesn't want it to taste too salty
03:09 - 30/3/2009 - {0} -
Present Continuous Questions - What are you doing?
Remember It
Questions
| Who? |
People |
| What? |
Things |
| Where? |
Places |
Present Continuous
Present continuous form=am/is/are + verb + ing (something is
happening NOW)
You can use the short
forms.
Learn It
What am I doing? What is he/she/it doing? What are we/you/they
doing?
Am/Is/Are
doing |
 |
What am I doing? |
"I'm standing. I'm not
sitting." |
 |
What is he doing? |
"He's sitting. He's not (He
isn't) standing." |
 |
What is she doing? |
"She's walking. She's not
(She isn't) running." |
 |
What is it doing? |
"It's running. It's not (It
isn't) walking." |
 |
What are they doing? |
"They're playing. They're not
(They aren't) working." |
 |
What are we doing? |
"We're surfing the Internet.
We're not (We aren't) watching
television." |
Try to guess what Mr Bean is doing (requires
Macromedia Shockwave Player.)
Click on Mr Bean
What to say - Open and closed questions
Answering Yes
| Closed Question - answer = yes or no |
Long answer |
Short answer |
| "Am I learning English?" |
"Yes, you're learning
English." |
"Yes, you are." or
"Yes." |
| "Is he/she learning English?" |
"Yes, he/she's learning English." |
"Yes, he/she is." or "Yes." |
| "Are you learning English?" |
"Yes, I'm learning English." |
"Yes, I am." or "Yes." |
| "Are we learning English?" |
"Yes, we're learning English." |
"Yes, we are." or "Yes." |
| "Are they learning English?" |
"Yes, they're learning
English." |
"Yes, they are." or "Yes." |
Answering No
| Closed Question - answer = yes or no |
Long answer |
Short answer |
| "Am I learning German?" |
"No, I'm not learning
German." |
"No, I'm not." or
"No." |
| "Is he/she learning German?" |
"No, he/she's not (he/she isn't) learning
German." |
"No, he/she's not (he/she isn't)." or "No." |
| "Are you learning German?" |
"No, you're not (you aren't)
learning German." |
"No, you're not (you aren't)."
or "No." |
| "Are we learning German?" |
"No, we're not (we aren't) learning German." |
"No, we're not (we aren't)." or "No." |
| "Are they learning German?" |
"No, they're not (they
aren't) learning German." |
"No, they're not (they aren't)."
or "No." |
Answering in full
| Open Question - can't answer yes or no |
Long answer |
Short answer |
| "What are you doing?" |
"I'm learning English." |
"Learning English." |
| "What is he doing?" |
"He's learning English." |
"Learning English." |
| "What is she doing?" |
"She's learning English." |
"Learning English." |
| "What are we doing?" |
"We're learning English." |
"Learning English." |
| "What are they doing?" |
"They're learning English." |
"Learning English." |
Naturally speaking:-
You:- "Are you learning English?"
Me: - "No, I 'm not."
You:- "What are you doing?"
Me: - "I 'm teaching English."
You:- "What language are you learning?"
Me: - "I 'm learning German."
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Present Continuous Negative
Present Continuous Negative
Present continuous form=am/is/are + verb + ing (something is
happening NOW)
You can use the short
forms.
Learn It
In the negative=add not after am/is/are (something is not happening
NOW).
I'm not ......ing. | He/she/it isn't .....ing. | You/we/they aren't .....ing.
 |
"I'm not sitting. I'm standing." |
 |
"He's not (he isn't) standing. He's sitting." |
 |
"She's not (she isn't) running. She's walking." |
 |
"It's not (it isn't) walking. It's running. " |
 |
"They're not (they aren't) working. They're playing.
" |
 |
"We're not (we aren't) watching television. We're surfing
the Net." |
Opposites
|
|
|
stand
|
|
sit
|
|
|
walk
|
|
run
|
|
|
play
|
|
work
|
Spelling
Tip:
Using a dictionary
Dictionaries come in many sizes and kinds. Small dictionaries are called
pocket or compact, larger dictionaries are often called shorter and very large
dictionaries are often called greater.
Small dictionaries are useful for finding everyday spellings and meanings.
Some dictionaries have pictures to show the meanings of words. They are good
for checking words that can be confused:-
horse n a four-legged animal with hooves ....
hoarse adj. of the voice, rough or croaking. |
In a dictionary after the word they tell you what kind of word it is in
italics:-
03:08 - 30/3/2009 - {0} -
Present continuous form
Present continuous form=am/is/are + verb + ing (something is
happening NOW)
You can use the short forms.
| Am/Is/Are doing |
| "What am I doing?" |
 |
|
"I'm standing. |
| "What is he doing?" |
 |
|
"He's sitting. |
| "What is she doing?" |
 |
|
"She's walking. |
| "What is it doing?" |
 |
|
"It's running. |
| "What are they doing?" |
 |
|
"They're playing." |
| "What are we doing?" |
 |
|
"We're surfing the Internet.
|
Try to guess what Mr Bean is doing (requires
Macromedia Shockwave Player.)
Click on Mr Bean
Spelling
Tip:
| Words ending in two consonants - add ing |
To walk |
walk + ing |
walking |
| Words ending in two vowels + consonant. |
To sleep |
sleep + ing |
sleeping |
| Words ending in vowel + g |
To jog |
jog + ging |
jogging |
| Words ending in vowel + m |
To swim |
swim + ming |
swimming |
| Words ending in vowel + n |
To run |
run + ning |
running |
| Words ending in vowel + p |
To shop |
shop + ping |
shopping |
| Words ending in vowel + t |
To put |
put + ting |
putting |
| Words ending in ie |
To die |
d + ying |
dying |
| Words ending in e |
To phone |
phon + ing |
phoning |
Pronunciation
- Short forms
Click on each word to hear the sound (requires
Real Player Basic .)
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Past Perfect Continuous
Past Perfect Continuous
FORM Past Perfect Continuous
[HAD BEEN] + [VERB+ing]
EXAMPLES:
I had been waiting there for two hours before she finally arrived.
She had only been studying English for two years before she got the job.
NOTE: When you are using a verb tense with more than one part such as Past Perfect Continuous (had been studying), adverbs often come between the first part and the second part (had only been studying).
| USE 1 Duration Before Something in the Past |
|
We use the Past Perfect Continuous to show that something started in the past and continued up until another time in the past. "For five minutes" and "for two weeks" are both durations which can be used with the Past Perfect Continuous. Notice that this is related to the Present Perfect Continuous; however, the duration does not continue until now.
EXAMPLES:
They had been talking for over an hour before Tony arrived.
She had been working at that company for three years when it went out of business.
James had been teaching at the University for more than a year before he left for Asia.
USE 2 Cause of Something in the Past
Using the Past Perfect Continuous before another action in the past is a good way to show cause and effect.
EXAMPLES:
Jason was tired because he had been jogging.
Sam gained weight because he had been overeating.
IMPORTANT
If you do not include a duration such as "for five minutes," "for two weeks" or "since Friday", many English speakers choose to use the Past Continuous. There is also a difference in meaning. Compare the examples below.
EXAMPLES:
I was reading when my roommate returned.
Emphasizes the interruption of "reading."
I had been reading for an hour when my roommate returned.
Emphasizes the amount of time "for an hour."
ACTIVE / PASSIVE FORMS Past Perfect Continuous
EXAMPLES:
Chef Jones had been preparing the restaurant's fantastic dinners for two years, before he moved to Paris. ACTIVE
The restaurant's fantastic dinners had been being prepared by Chef Jones for two years before he moved to Paris. PASSIVE
NOTE: Passive forms of the Past Perfect Continuous are not common.
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Past Perfect
Past Perfect
FORM Past Perfect
[HAD] + [PAST PARTICIPLE]
Examples:
NOTE: When you are using a verb tense with more than one part such as Past Perfect (had met), adverbs often come between the first part and the second part (had never met).
I had studied a little English when I came to the U.S.
They had never met an American until they met John.
| USE 1 Completed Action Before Something in Past |
|
The Past Perfect expresses the idea that something occurred before another action in the past. It can also show that something happened before a specific time in the past.
EXAMPLES:
I had never seen such a beautiful beach before I went to Kauai.
Had you ever visited the U.S. before your trip in 1992?
Yes, I had been to the U.S. once before in 1988.
| USE 2 Duration Before Something in the Past (Non-continuous Verbs) |
|
With Non-progressive Verbs and some non-progressive uses of Mixed Verbs, we use the Past Perfect to show that something started in the past and continued up until another action in the past.
EXAMPLES:
We had had that car for ten years before it broke down.
By the time Alex finished his studies, he had been in London for over eight years.
IMPORTANT Specific Times with the Past Perfect
Unlike the Present Perfect, it is possible to use specific time words or phrases with the Past Perfect. Although this is possible, it is usually not necessary.
EXAMPLE:
She had visited her Japanese relatives once in 1993 before she moved in with them in 1996.
If the Past Perfect action did occur at a specific time, the Simple Past can be used instead of the Past Perfect when before or after is used in the sentence. The words before and after actually tell you what happens first so the Past Perfect is optional. Both sentences below are correct.
EXAMPLE:
She had visited her Japanese relatives once in 1993 before she moved in with them in 1996.
She visited her Japanese relatives once in 1993 before she moved in with them in 1996.
HOWEVER
If the Past Perfect action did not happen at a specific time, Past Perfect MUST be used at all times. Compare the two sentences below.
EXAMPLE:
She had never seen a bear before she moved to Alaska. Correct
She never saw a bear before she moved to Alaska. Not Correct
ACTIVE / PASSIVE FORMS Past Perfect
EXAMPLES
George had repaired many cars before he received his mechanics license. ACTIVE
Many cars had been repaired by George before he received his mechanics license. PASSIVE
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Past Continuous
Past Continuous
FORM Past Continuous
[WAS / WERE] + [VERB+ing]
EXAMPLES:
I was studying when she called.
I was carefully picking up the snake when it bit me.
NOTE: When you are using a verb tense with more than one part such as Past Continuous (was picking), adverbs often come between the first part and the second part (was carefully picking).
IMPORTANT
Clauses are groups of words which have meaning but are not complete sentences. Some clauses begin with the word when such as "...when she called " or "...when it bit me." Clauses with the Past Continuous usually start with while. While expresses the idea "during the time." Study the examples below. They have the same meaning.
EXAMPLES:
I was studying when she called.
While I was studying, she called.
USE 1 Interrupted Action in the Past
Use the Past Continuous to indicate that a longer action in the past was interrupted. The interruption is usually an action in the Simple Past. Remember this can be a real interruption or just an interruption in time.
EXAMPLES:
I was watching TV when she called.
When the phone rang, she was writing a letter.
While we were having a picnic, it started to rain.
Sally was working when Joe had the car accident.
While John was sleeping last night, someone stole his car.
USE 2 Specific Time as an Interruption
In USE 1, described above, the Past Continuous is interrupted by an action in the Simple Past. However, you can also use a specific time as an interruption.
EXAMPLES:
Last night at 6 p.m., I was eating dinner.
At midnight, we were still driving through the desert.
IMPORTANT
In the Simple Past a specific time is used to show when an action began or finished. In the Past Continuous a specific time only interrupts the action.
EXAMPLES:
Last night at 6 p.m., I ate dinner.
(I started eating at 6 p.m.)
Last night at 6 p.m., I was eating dinner.
(I started earlier and at 6 p.m. I was in the process of eating dinner.)
USE 3 Parallel Actions
When you use the Past Continuous with two actions in the same sentence, it expresses the idea that both actions were happening at the same time. The actions are parallel.
EXAMPLES:
I was studying while he was making dinner.
While Ellen was reading, Tim was watching television.
They were eating dinner, discussing their plans and having a good time.
USE 4 Atmosphere
In English we often use a series of Parallel Actions to describe atmosphere in the past.
EXAMPLE:
When I walked into the office, several people were busily typing, some were talking on the phones, the boss was yelling directions, and customers were waiting to be helped. One customer was yelling at a secretary and waving his hands. Others were complaining to each other about the bad service.
USE 5 Repetition and Irritation with "Always"
The Past Continuous with words such as always or constantly expresses the idea that something irritating or shocking often happened in the past. The concept is very similar to the expression used to but with negative emotion. Remember to put the words always or constantly between "be" and "verb+ing."
EXAMPLES:
She was always coming to class late.
He was constantly talking. He annoyed everyone.
I didn't like them because they were always complaining.
IMPORTANT Non-Continuous Verbs/ Mixed Verbs
It is important to remember that Non-Continuous Verbs cannot be used in any "continuous" tenses. Also, certain "non-continuous" meanings for Mixed Verbs cannot be used in "continuous" tenses. To express the idea of Past Continuous with these verbs, you must use Simple Past.
EXAMPLES:
Jane was being at my house when you arrived. Not CorrectCorrect
Jane was at my house when you arrived.
ACTIVE / PASSIVE Past Continuous
EXAMPLES:
The salesman was helping the customer when the thief came into the store. ACTIVE
The customer was being helped by the salesman when the thief came into the store. PASSIVE
03:04 - 30/3/2009 - {0} -
Parts of Speech - Verbs
Parts of Speech - Verbs
Verbs are the most important words in a sentence. Verbs are the first of the eight parts of speech that we will be studying. Most verbs are action words, but a few verbs indicate state of being or existence. The first lessons will be about verbs, and how they are recognized and used.
Find the verbs in the following sentences. They are action verbs.
The wolf ran across the sand.
Sit down.
The dog barked at the man.
Answer:
The verbs in the sentences are ran, sit, and barked. All three verbs are action verbs since they show action. Action verbs are the most common verbs.
Lesson 2
Parts of Speech - Verbs
Find the verbs in these sentences. These verbs will be state of being verbs.
My uncle is a pilot.
The pie looks good.
You seem upset.
Answer:
The verbs in the sentences are is, looks, and seem. These verbs are state of being or linking verbs. Some common linking verbs are is, am, are, was, were, be, being, been, seem, look, feel, and become. They do not show action. They just show that something exists.
Parts of Speech - Verbs
Pick out the verbs in these sentences and tell whether they are action verbs or linking verbs.
Suddenly someone sneezed loudly.
There are holes in my shirt.
He appears happy.
The image appeared in the mirror.
Answer:
The verbs are sneezed, are, appears, and appeared. Sneezed and appeared are action verbs. Are and appears are linking or state of being verbs. Some verbs like appear can be either action or linking verbs. It depends on whether it shows action or not. Appears above is like saying seems which shows no action while appeared above shows the action of the image.
Lesson 4
Parts of Speech - Verbs
Sometimes a verb can be more than one word. When a verb is more than one word, it is called a verb phrase. Verb phrases can be two, three, or four words. Verb phrases are made by using auxiliary or helping verbs. What are the verb phrases in these sentences?
You are going to Seattle.
You have been resting too much.
We must be early.
I will be finished shortly.
Answer:
The verb phrases are are going, have been resting, must be, and will be finished. These sentences all have what are called auxiliary or helping verbs. I will refer to them as helping verbs. There are twenty-three (23) helping verbs that should be memorized since they are used so often. If you will memorize them, it will make knowing and understanding verbs much easier. They are usually grouped in the following five groups:
Group 1: is, am, are, was, were, be, being, been
Group 2: has, have, had
Group 3: do, does, did
Group 4: shall, will, should, would
Group 5: may, might, must, can, could
Lesson 5
Parts of Speech - Verbs
Some of the helping verbs can be used alone as the main verb. Is, am, are, was, and were can be used alone as linking or state of being verbs. Has, have, had, do, does, and did always show action when used alone. Be, being, and been can be used with other verbs either to show action or state of being. The other helping verbs cannot be used alone but only as helping verbs.
Find the verb or verb phrases in these sentences.
She has too many friends.
You do beautiful work.
I was in Canada last week.
You are being very stubborn.
Answer:
The verb and verb phrases were has, do, was, and are being. Has and do are action verbs, and was and are being are state of being verbs.
Quiz for Lessons
List the verbs or verb phrases in the sentences, and tell whether they are action verbs or state of being verbs. For extra credit, find the helping verbs.
1. Jim plays basketball.
2. They will return on the airplane.
3. Badger is a funny dog.
4. I have been here a long time.
5. I should have been playing the drum.
6. Go home.
Answers:
1. plays - action
2. will return - action
3. is - linking or state of being
4. have been - state of being
5. should have been playing - action
6. go -action
The helping verbs are will, have, should, have, and been. The been in sentence 4 is not a helping verb because it is the main verb. The last verb in a verb phrase is always the main verb.
03:03 - 30/3/2009 - {0} -
Future Perfect Continuous
Future Perfect Continuous
IMPORTANT No Future in Time Clauses
Like all future forms, the Future Perfect Continuous cannot be used in clauses beginning with "when," "while," "before," "after," "by the time," "as soon as," "until," "if" and "unless". In this lesson, all verbs in Time Clauses are italicized.
EXAMPLES:
I won't tell the student the answer until he has been working on the math problem for more than an hour. Correct
I won't tell the student the answer until he will have been working on the math problem for more than an hour. Not Correct
FORM Future Perfect Continuous
[WILL HAVE BEEN] + [VERB+ing]
EXAMPLE:
I will have been waiting for two hours when her plane finally arrives.
[AM / IS / ARE] + [GOING TO HAVE BEEN] + [VERB+ing]
EXAMPLE:
I am going to have been waiting for two hours when her plane finally arrives.
NOTE: It is possible to use either "will" or "going to" to create the Future Perfect Continuous with little or no difference in meaning.
| USE 1 Duration Before Something in the Future |
|
We use the Future Perfect Continuous to show that something will continue up until a particular event or time in the future. "For five minutes," "for two weeks" and "since Friday" are all durations which can be used with the Future Perfect Continuous. Notice that this is related to the Present Perfect Continuous and the Past Perfect Continuous, however the duration stops in the future.
EXAMPLES:
They will have been talking for over an hour by the time Tony arrives.
She is going to have been working at that company for three years when it finally closes.
James will have been teaching at the University for more than a year by the time he leaves for Asia.
USE 2 Cause of Something in the Future
Using the Future Perfect Continuous before another action in the future is a good way to show cause and effect.
EXAMPLES:
Jason will be tired when he gets home because he will have been jogging for over an hour.
Claudia's English will be perfect when she returns to Germany because she is going to have been studying English in the United States for over two years.
IMPORTANT
If you do not include a duration such as "for five minutes," "for two weeks" or "since Friday", many English speakers choose to use the Future Continuous. There is also a difference in meaning. Compare the examples below.
EXAMPLES:
I will be reading when my roommate returns.
The reading will be interrupted.
I will have been reading for an hour when my roommate returns.
The reading will stop just before my roommate returns.
ACTIVE / PASSIVE Future Perfect Continuous
EXAMPLES:
The famous artist will have been painting the mural for over six months by the time it is finished. ACTIVE
The mural will have been being painted by the famous artist for over six months by the time it is finished. PASSIVE
NOTE: Passive forms of the Past Perfect Continuous are not common.
03:02 - 30/3/2009 - {0} -
Future Continuous
Future Continuous
IMPORTANT No Future in Time Clauses
Like all future forms, the Future Continuous cannot be used in clauses beginning with "when", "while", "before", "after", "by the time", "as soon as", "if" and "unless". In this lesson, all verbs in Time Clauses are italicized.
EXAMPLES:
While I am finishing my homework, she is going to make dinner. Correct
While I will be finishing my homework, she is going to make dinner. Not Correct
FORM Future Continuous
[WILL BE] + [VERB+ing]
EXAMPLE:
When your plane arrives tonight, I will be waiting for you.
[AM / IS / ARE] + [GOING TO] + [VERBing]
EXAMPLE:
When your plane arrives tonight, I am going to be waiting for you.
NOTE: It is possible to use either "will" or "going to" to create the Future Continuous with little or no difference in meaning.
USE 1 Interrupted Action in the Future
Use the Future Continuous to indicate that a longer action in the future will be interrupted. The interruption is usually an action in the Simple Future. Remember this can be a real interruption or just an interruption in time.
EXAMPLES:
I will be watching TV when she arrives tonight.
I will be waiting for you when your bus arrives.
While I am working, Steve will make dinner. (NOTICE "am working" because of "while.")
I am going to be staying at the Madison Hotel, if anything happens and you need to contact me.
He will be studying at the library tonight, so he will not see Jennifer when she arrives.
NOTE: No future tenses can be used in Time Clauses therefore you must say "While I am working... ." See the warning at the top of the page.
USE 2 Specific Time as an Interruption
In USE 1, described above, the Future Continuous is interrupted by an action in the Simple Future. However, you can also use a specific time as an interruption.
EXAMPLES:
Tonight at 6 p.m., I am going to be eating dinner.
At midnight tonight, we will still be driving through the desert.
IMPORTANT
In the Simple Future a specific time is used to show the time an action will begin. In the Future Continuous, a specific time only interrupts the action.
EXAMPLES:
Tonight at 6 p.m., I am going to eat dinner.
I am going to start eating at 6 p.m.
Tonight at 6 p.m., I am going to be eating dinner.
I am going to start earlier and I will be in the process of eating dinner at 6 p.m. .
USE 3 Parallel Actions
When you use the Future Continuous with two actions in the same sentence, it expresses the idea that both actions will be happening at the same time. These are Parallel Actions.
EXAMPLES:
I am going to be studying while he is making dinner.
While Ellen is reading, Tim will be watching television.
Tonight, they will be eating dinner, discussing their plans, and having a good time.
USE 4 Atmosphere
In English we often use a series of Parallel Actions to describe atmosphere in the future.
EXAMPLE:
When I arrive at the party everybody is going to be celebrating. Some will be dancing. Others are going to be talking. A few people will be eating pizza and several people are going to be drinking beer. They always do the same thing.
IMPORTANT Non-Continuous Verbs / Mixed Verbs
It is important to remember that Non-Continuous Verbs cannot be used in any "continuous" tenses. Also, certain "non-continuous" meanings for Mixed Verbs cannot be used in "continuous" tenses. To express the idea of Future Continuous with these verbs, you must use Simple Future.
EXAMPLES:
Jane will be being at my house when you arrive. Not Correct
Jane will be at my house when you arrive. Correct
ACTIVE / PASSIVE FORMS Future Continuous
EXAMPLES:
At 8:00 PM tonight, John will be washing the dog. ACTIVE
At 8:00 PM tonight, the dog will be being washed by John. PASSIVE
NOTE: Passive forms of the Future Continuous are not common.
03:01 - 30/3/2009 - {0} -
Forming the Perfect Tenses
Perfect Tenses
in an Imperfect World
I use this title because I
want to emphasize that perfect tenses have
absolutely nothing to do with perfection...as
we know it.
------------X---------------------Now---------------------->
1. We use the Present
Perfect to indicate that something in the past is
connected to something
in the present.
The child has learned fractions.
|
The child knows fractions now. The
child had a lesson in fractions in
the past.
(Fractions are parts of a number:
one half, one quarter, one eighth.)
Jian-Hui: Have you seen Gone with the Wind, Eileen?
Eileen: Yes, I have. I liked it very much. |
Eileen has seen the movie and is
familiar with it. She did not specify
WHEN she saw it.
2. We use the Present
Perfect with a repeated activity before now.
I have taken the TOEFL test three
times. |
This is the third time I have taken
the TOEFL. |
I took the test three times before
right now. I am taking
the test now.
I am not not necessarily
taking the test now.
3. We use the Present
Perfect with "for" or "since" for an activity or
action that starts in the past and continues into the present.
Ahmed has lived in Cairo for six
years. |
It's been raining for six days. |
(He still lives there.)
(It's still raining.)
I've been staying at the Hilton
since Tuesday. |
The temperature has been above 30
degrees Centigrade since June 01. |
(I stayed there last night and every
night
(It's still very hot.)
since Tuesday.)
The words "for" and "since" indicate
that an action is unfinished.
Use "for" to express a period of
time.
Use "since" to indicate the start
of an action or activity.
Past Perfect
4. When we speak
in the past perfect, we are talking about at least
two
events in the past.
---------X----------X-----------Now--------------->
The the door on the freezer had
been open for 24 hours when we discovered
it. All the food had gone bad. |
When Juan arrived at the party,
I had already gone home. |
These two examples indicate
that one event in the past occurred before
the other.
Note: the bold-face type
indicates the Past Perfect. Use the Past Perfect to indicate the action
that happened first.
5. We also use the
Past Perfect to indicate actions that happen repeatedly
in the past.
He had been to Cairo several times
before he was appointed Public
Affairs Officer
at the Cairo USIA post. |
This is something that happened several
times in the past before a different,
more recent, action happened.
Past Perfect Progressive
6. When we speak in
the past perfect progressive, we emphasize the duration
of an event.
The man had been waiting to see
a doctor for two hours. |
Walter had been taking Spanish lessons
since he was in high school, so
he should have been pretty good. |
The past perfect progressive
also may express an activity in progress for
a reason in the past.
Sandra was exhausted because she
had been running to catch the bus. |
The children were dirty because
they had been playing in the mud. |
Sometimes we use the Past Perfect
Progressive for minor detective work!
I came home and saw that the pillows
were on the floor, so I knew
that my dog, Homer, had been lying on the sofa. |
Mrs. Brown saw cookie crumbs on
the counter, so she knew that
her husband had been snacking. |
Forming the Perfect
Tenses
To form the Present Perfect, you
need the past participle form of the verb
preceded
by have or has.
For regular verbs, this is the simple form
plus -ed. Click here to find a very complete list of the
past participles of irregular verbs. .
| Regular Verbs: |
Irregular Verbs: |
I have walked to work this
week. |
I have eaten at this restaurant
many times. |
Eva has learned the periodic
table of elements. |
He's flown American Airlines
every time he's gone to Rome. |
Aditya had reminded me twice before I finally fixed the washing
machine. |
They had met each other three
years before college. |
03:01 - 30/3/2009 - {0} -
English Grammar : Future Perfect Tense
Future Perfect
IMPORTANT No Future in Time Clauses
Like all future forms, the Future Perfect cannot be used in clauses beginning with "when," "while," "before," "after," "by the time," "as soon as," "if" and "unless". In this lesson, all verbs in Time Clauses are italicized.
EXAMPLES:
I am going to see a movie when I have finished my homework. Correct
I am going to see a movie when I will have finished my homework. Not Correct
FORM Future Perfect
[WILL HAVE] + [PAST PARTICIPLE]
EXAMPLE:
I will have perfected my English by the time I come back from the U.S.
[AM / IS / ARE] + [GOING TO HAVE] + [PAST PARTICIPLE]
EXAMPLE:
I am going to have perfected my English by the time I come back from the US.
NOTE: It is possible to use either "will" or "going to" to create the Future Perfect with little or no difference in meaning.
| USE 1 Completed Action Before Something in the Future |
|
The Future Perfect expresses the idea that something will occur before another action in the future. It can also show that something will happen before a specific time in the future.
EXAMPLES:
By next November, I will have received my promotion.
By the time he gets home, she is going to have cleaned the entire house.
| USE 2 Duration Before Something in the Future (Non-continuous Verbs) |
|
With Non-continuous Verbs and some non-continuous uses of Mixed Verbs, we use the Future Perfect to show that something will continue up until another action in the future.
EXAMPLES:
I will have been in London for six months by the time I leave.
By Monday, Susan is going to have had my book for a week.
ACTIVE / PASSIVE Past Perfect
EXAMPLES:
The Post Office will have returned my package before I can pick it up. ACTIVE
My package will have been returned by the Post Office before I can pick it up. PASSIVE
03:00 - 30/3/2009 - {0} -
Countable nouns and Uncountable nouns
Count and
Non-count nouns
also known as
Countable nouns and Uncountable
nouns
You can count how many you have.
You can't count how much you have.
| chairs |
hair |
| boys |
water |
| computers |
coffee |
| cars |
sand |
| pictures |
milk |
| houses |
transportation |
| pencils |
communication |
| radios |
news |
| newspapers |
information |
| bottles |
wine |
Some nouns are countable. You can add an s to plural countable
nouns: cars, pencils, boys.
You can add a or an to a singular countable noun: a
car, an egg, a boy. You can use the word many with countable
nouns: many cars.
Some nouns are uncountable (noncount). Uncountable nouns don't
have plurals. You can't add an s to uncountable nouns: information,
transportation, milk. You can't add a or an to uncountable nouns.
You can use much, a lot of, a little with uncountable
nouns: much traffic, a lot of information, a little milk.
With count nouns, you can use certain determiners such as a few
or several. You can also use some. You can also use some
with uncountable nouns, but you cannot use a few or several
with uncountable nouns.
Yes: There were several new chairs in the room.
Yes: There were a few new chairs in the room.
Yes: There were some new chairs in the room.
Yes: There was some new information in the report.
No: There were some new information in the report.
No: There were several new information in the report
No: There was some new informations in the report.
02:59 - 30/3/2009 - {0} -
Capital Letters: When and Why to use them
Capital Letters: When and Why
to use them
Use capital letters (large letters) as the first letter of
people's first and last (family) names (Celine
Dion, David A.
Tillyer, Abraham
Lincoln)
the pronoun I (English grammar is difficult,
but I love it.)
brand names of products (Ford Taurus,
Chicago Bulls,
Inca Kola)
days of the week
| Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
| Friday |
Saturday |
Sunday |
|
| January |
February |
March |
April |
| May |
June |
July |
August |
| September |
October |
November |
December |
holidays (Ramadan, Christmas,
Tet, Yom Kippur,
Fourth of July)
first letter of the first word of a sentence (The
cat chased the mouse.)
names of cities, states, countries and continents (Boston,
Massachusetts; Paris
France; Europe)
languages and adjectives from country names (the English
language, Portuguese, the Japanese,
Spanish, Arabic,
Arabs)
titles and courtesy titles (President Clinton
[but, the president], Prince Charles, Mr.,
Mrs., Ms.)
02:59 - 30/3/2009 - {0} -
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Description
KURAN I KERİM DİNLE HER DİLDE
« March 2010 »
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 |
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Ana Sayfa
Profilim
Arşiv
Arkadaşlarım
Son Yazılar
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