Present Perfect or Past Simple
The past simple is used to talk about actions in the past that have finished. It talks about 'then' and definitely excludes 'now'.
The present perfect simple to look back on actions in the past from the present. It always includes 'now'.
These sentences are in the past with no connection to the present.
I first got to know him 10 years ago.
I started work here in 1989.
I had too much to eat at lunchtime.
Now look at these same situations seen from the present.
I've known him for 20 years.
I've worked here since 1988.
We use time expressions like 'yesterday', 'ago', 'last year', 'in 1999' with the past simple.
We spoke to him yesterday.
She joined the company in 1989.
Future
Going to
There is no one 'future tense' in English. There are 4 future forms. The one which is used most often in spoken English is 'going to', not 'will'.
They're going to launch it next month.
I'm not going to talk for very long.
Notice that this plan does not have to be for the near future.
When I retire I'm going to go back to Barbados to live.
In ten years’ time, I'm going to be boss of my own successful company.
We use 'going to' when we want to make a prediction based on evidence we can see now.
Look out! That cup is going to fall off.
We can replace 'going to go' by 'going'.
They are going out later.
He's going to the exhibition tomorrow.
Will (shall)
Some people have been taught that 'will' is 'the future' in English. This is not correct. Sometimes when we talk about the future we cannot use 'will'. Sometimes when we use 'will' we are not talking about the future.
We can use 'will' to talk about future events we believe to be certain.
The sun will rise over there tomorrow morning.
Next year, I'll be 50.
That train will be late. It always is.
Often we add 'perhaps', 'maybe', 'probably', 'possibly' to make the belief less certain.
I'll probably come back later.
He'll possibly find out when he sees Jenny.
Maybe it will be OK.
The -ing form
When it is used like a noun it may or may not have an article before it.
Marketing is a very inexact science.
The marketing of the product will continue for a few months yet.
It can also be part of a 'noun phrase'.
Speaking to an audience is always stressful.
Swimming after work is very relaxing.
In formal English, we would use a possessive with the –ing form. In informal English, many people do not.
I'm angry about his missing the meeting.
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Do you mind my coming?
As an adjective, the –ing form can be used before a noun.
I was met by a welcoming party at the airport.
Let's go to the meeting room.
The –ing form is used after prepositions.
Before leaving, you need to speak to Sarah.
After discussing it with her, I've changed my mind.
Instead of feeling sorry for yourself, do some work for charity.
There are many verb + -ing combinations. Here are some common ones:
I consider blowing your nose in public to be wrong.
I delayed coming until the last possible moment.
He denied telling her.
I detest going to parties.
I enjoy dancing.
I feel like having a party.
I've finished writing the report.
I've given up going to the gym.
I can't help thinking about it.
I can't imagine ever leaving this company.
I don't mind doing that.
He put off talking to her as long as he could.
I can't stand drinking beer.
Some verbs can be followed by either the infinitive or –ing form but with different meanings. Here are some common ones:
I stopped smoking last month. (I no longer smoke.)
I stopped to smoke a cigarette. (I stopped what I was doing and had a cigarette.)
I remember telling him. (A memory of the past.)
I must remember to tell him. (Something to remember for the future.)
I'm interested in finding out more details. (Interested about the future.)
I was interested to read his report. (Interested in the past.)
Some verbs can be followed by either the infinitive or –ing form but with the same meaning.
Here are some common ones:
I love to go shopping. I love going shopping.
I'm afraid to fly. I'm afraid of flying.
I started to learn English 5 years ago. I started learning English 5 years ago.
THE PASSIVE
We use the passive form to say what happens to people and things, to say what is done to them.
For example:
English is spoken here.
We use the passive form when we don't know who did the action.
For example:
The car was damaged while it was parked on the street.
| subject | verb | object | |
| active | John | charged | the battery. |
| subject | verb | Agent | |
| passive | The battery | was charged | by John. |
When we use an active verb, we say what the subject does:
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He presented the following hypothesis for discussion.
They examine the technique and the methods employed in details.
When we use a passive verb, we say what happens to the subject:
The following hypothesis was presented for discussion.
The technique and the methods employed are examined in details.
It is often unknown, unimportant or obvious WHO or WHAT causes the action, when we use the passive:
Computer techniques are widely used nowadays. (some people or a lot of people use them, everybody uses them)
In case we need to say WHO does or WHAT causes the action, we use BY:
Conferences of this kind are held by the University regularly.
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