Simple Tenses

Simple Present Tense

Simple present tense is used to:

 * relate a fact----The earth is round. OR I don't know the answer.

* to talk about a habit----I talk to my parents on Sundays.

NOTE: To make a negative in simple present you must add the auxiliary verb "do" + "do not"---- unless you are using the verb "to be"

Time indicators: usually, always, frequently, seldom, never, two times a week, every other day

@To show same-time action, use the present tense

  ex: I am eager to the concert because I love the Wallflowers.

@To show earlier action, use past pense

ex:I know that I made the right choice.

@To show a period of time extending from some point in the past to the present, use the present perfect tense.

ex:They be;ieve that they have elected the right candidate

@To show action to come, use the future tense.

  ex:The President says that he will veto the bill. 

Simple Past Tense

Simple past tense is used to talk about events that began and ended at PARTICULAR time in the past. (Even if the time is not indicated, the assumption is that the event took place at a specific time.)

EX: I attended college from 1989-1994.

    I didn't clean my house yesterday.

NOTE: To make a negative in simple past tense use "did" + "not" + simple  form of the verb---- unless using the "to be" verb.

Time indicators: yesterday, last week, last month, two days ago etc.

@To show same-time action, use the present tense

  ex: I am eager to go to the concert because I love the Wallflowers.

@To show earlier action, use the past perfect tense

ex: she knew she had made the right choice.

@To state a general truth, use the present tense

  ex: The Deists believed that the universe is like a giant clock.

Simple Future Tense

Simple present tense is used to express future time.

Note: The differences between the forms using "will" and "is going to." Use either "will" or "is going to" to make predictions.

Example: It will rain tomorrow. OR  It is going to rain tomorrow.

   # Use "is going to" to express the idea that you have made a "prior plan."

Example: I am going to go to the gym tomorrow morning.

        (I have already made the plan to do so).

    Use "will" to express willingness.

Example: I will answer the telephone. OR  I will drive you home from school today.

Time indicators: tomorrow, later, next week, in two hours etc.

@To show action happening at the same time, use the present tense

  ex: I will be so happy if they fix my car today.

@To show an earlier action, use the past tense.

  ex:You will surely pass this exam if you studied hard.

@To show future action earlier than the action of the independent clause, use the present perfect tense.

  ex: The colloge will probable close its doors next summer if enrollments have not increased.

 Simple Present

**To show same-time action, use the present tense

  EX: I am eager to go to the concert because I love the Wallflowers. 

**To show earlier action, use past tense 

  EX: I know that I made the right choice. 

**To show a period of time extending from some point in the past to the        present, use the present perfect tense. 

  EX: They believe that they have elected the right candidate. 

**To show action to come, use the future tensyes"> 

  EX: The President says that he will veto the bill. 

Simple Past

 **To show another completed past action, use the past tense.

   EX: I wanted to go home because I missed my parents. 

 **To show an earlier action, use the past perfect tense.

   EX: She knew she had made the right choice. 

 **To state a general truth, use the present tense. 

   EX: The Deists believed that the universe is like a giant clock. 

Present Perfect or Past Perfect---- For any purpose, use the past tense.      EX: She has grown a foot since she turned nine.

Future 

**To show action happening at the same time, use the present tense.

  EX: I will be so happy if they fix my car today. 

**To show an earlier action, use the past tense. 

  EX: You will surely pass this exam if you studied hard. 

**To show future action earlier than the action of the independent clause, use the present perfect tense.

  EX: The college will probably close its doors next summer if  enrollments have not increased. 

Future Perfect 

For any purpose, use the present tense or present perfect tense. 

EX: a. Most students will have taken sixty credits by the time they  graduate.

    b. Most students will have taken sixty credits by the time they have   graduated. 

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