The grammar tenses - Überblick

Here is a brief overview of the grammar tenses. When you subscribe to a course with Abridge English, you will be given access to a range of supplementary material that will help you from your journey from A1 to B2, and in a lot of cases, help you to fill in the missing blanks that grammar books haven't so far been able to offer in your overall understanding of grammar.

A key to understanding images

The Present Simple

Statement = Subject + infinitive verb+ object

Question = Do/Does + subject + infinitive/main verb

Statement: I read books every day

He reads books every day

Negative: I don’t (do not) read books everyday

He doesn’t (does not) read books every day

Question: Do you read books everyday? - Yes, I do/No, I don’t

Does he read books everyday? - Yes, he does/No, he doesn’t

Statement: You have a BMW

She has a BMW

Negative: You don’t (do not) have a BMW

She doesn’t (does not) have a BMW

Question: Do you have a BMW? Yes, I do/No, I don’t

Does she have a BMW? – Yes, she does/No, she doesn’t

The Past Simple

Statement = Subject + past form verb+ complement

Question = past form of 'do' + subject + infinitive/main verb+complement

Statement: They met him at 8 last night

He met him at 8 last night

Negative: They didn’t meet him at 8 last night

He didn’t meet him at 8 last night

Question: Did they meet him at 8 last night? - Yes, they did/No, they didn’t

Did He meet him at 8 last night? – Yes, he did/No, he didn’t

The Future Simple (a 'helping verb/auxiliary verb' tense)

Statement = Subject +auxiliary verb*+ infinitive verb+ complement

Question = auxiliary verb*+ subject + infinitive/main verb+complement

Statement: They will meet at 8 tonight

He will meet at 8 tonight

Negative: They won’t (will not) meet at 8 tonight

He won’t (will not) meet at 8 tonight

Question: Will they meet at 8 tonight? - Yes, they will/No, they won’t

Will he meet at 8 tonight? - Yes, he will/No, he won’t

*Auxiliary verbs include; will, could, should, may etc.

The Present continuous (a 'be'+'ing' tense)

Statement = Subject +am/is/are+ verb+ing+ complement

Question =am/is/are+ Subject + verb+ing+ complement

Statement: We are studying English

She is studying English

Negative: They aren’t (are not) studying English

She isn’t studying English

Question: Are you studying English? - Yes, I am/No, I’m not

Is she studying English? - Yes, it is/No, it isn’t

Statement: We are running very fast

It is running very fast

Negative: They aren’t (are not) running very fast

It isn’t running very fast

Question: Are you running very fast? - Yes, I am/No, I’m not

Is it running very fast? - Yes, it is/No, it isn’t

Statement: I am leaving in 10 minutes

It is leaving in 10 minutes

Negative: I'm (I am) not leaving in 10 minutes

It isn't (is not) leaving in 10 minutes

Question: Are you leaving in 10 minutes? - Yes, I am/No, I’m not

Is it leaving in 10 minutes? - Yes, it is/No, it isn’t

Present Perfect (a 'have' tense)

Statement = Subject + have/has + participle verb + complement

Question = have/has + subject + participle verb + complement

Statement: I have played golf before

She has played golf before

Negative: I haven’t (have not) played golf before

She hasn’t (has not) played golf before

Question: Have you played golf before? - Yes, I have/No, I haven’t

Has she played golf before? - Yes, she has/No, she hasn’t

How many times have you played golf? I’ve played a few times

How many times has she played golf? She’s played quite a few times

Past continuous

Statement = was/were + present participle

Question = was/were +subject+verb+ing+complement

Statement: We were cooking TV when he called

He was cooking when she came home

Negative: We weren't (were not) cooking TV when he called

He was cooking when she came home

Question: Were you/they cooking TV when he called? -

Yes, they were/No, they weren't

Was he cooking when she came home? -

Yes, he was/No, he wasn’t

(singular) What were you doing when he called? - I was cooking

(plural) What were you doing when he called? -We were cooking

The Present Perfect continuous (a 'have' 'be verb' tense)

Statement = subject + has/have+ been + present participle + complement

Question = has/have + subject + been + present participle + complement

Statement: I have been waiting for 20 mins

It has been waiting for 20 mins ('it' = ‘the bus’ z.b.)

Negative: I haven't (have not) been waiting long

It hasn't been waiting long

Question: Have you been waiting long? - Yes, I have/No, I haven't

Has it been waiting long? - Yes, it has/No, it hasn’t

How long have you been waiting? - I've (I have) been waiting 20 mins

How long has it been waiting? - Its (it has) been waiting 20 mins