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ESL PAGE (1) --  ESL (1) 

 English as  a Second Language





Texts in English and Russian --- T     



All MY PAGES ARE UNDER VIRTUAL UPDATING______________
LAST UPDATES NOVEMBER 2, 1996 









            ,     ESL.   (   )   . 
 ,   ESL    . ,    .

 

When I was an ESL student, I compiled these tables from some published in the USA textbooks of English Grammar.  As to me, an arrangement of the material helps the student to remember it. 
I hope that the ESL Pages would be useful for you.

Please mailme your comments.
 




  







 
CONDITIONS  
 
TENSE
 
SAMPLES 

KEYWORDS









 F  A  C  T S 






 
General Statement  of fact
 
Present Simple
 
The word is round.

.





 N E V E R --    E V E R --   A L W A Y S 





 
Something have ever (always) happened or have never happened before now
 
Present Perfect
 
 Have  you ever  visited  Kiev?

I have  already  seen  that movie.

 I have  never  seen  snow.		

Ever

Already

Never














 S P E C I F I E D _   T I M E  _ I N _ T H E _ P A S T






 
An activity or situation  began and ended at a particular time    in the past

 
Past Simple

 
I  walked   to school    yesterday.   

 He  lived  in Paris for ten years, but now he is living in Edison.

 I  bought  a new car two days ago 		


Yesterday


For...but
 now


N days ago




 

In some cases, Past Progressive gives almost  the same meaning as Past Simple

 

Past Progressive = Past Simple

 

 It rained (was raining)      this morning.   



 .




 
One action or event began earlier then other and, perhars, caused it.

 
Past Simple in both sentenses + "when" for event occured earlier.

 

  I  stood under a tree  when it  began to rain.

  When I  dropped my cup, the coffee  spilled on my lap.		

 
PastSimple in  "when" clause.





 
One action began earlier and was in progress  when the other action occured.

 
Past Progressive + Past Simple.

 

 I  was standing under a tree when it began to rain.

  While  I  was walking  down the street, it began to rain.		

 
When



While.






 
Two action are in progress simultaneously. 

 
Past Progressive in both sentenses.

 

While I   was studying in one room, my roommate  was having  a party in the other room.

 
While.
PastProgr + PastProg





 
One activity was completed before beginning of the another activity or time in the past.  

 
Past Perfect.

 

 My parents  had   already    eaten   by  the time I got home.

 Until  yesterday, I  had   never  heard  about it.

 The thief simply walked in.   Someone  had forgotten  to lock the door.		

 
Already..by



Until




 
If either before or after .  is used.

 
Past Simple may be used instead Past Perfect.

 

 Sam  had   already    left  when we got  there.

 Sam  had left (left)       before   we got there.

 After   the gueste  had left ( left),   I went to bed.		

 


Before


After





 
 Activity was in progress (How long?) immediately  before, up to, until another  time or event in the past [not before right now].
  Emphasis is  on duration   of an activity.

 
Past Perfect Progressive.

 

  I  had been studying   for   two hours    before   my frend came.

 He finally came at six o'clock. I  had been waiting for him  since  four-thirty.		

 
For

Before




Since





 
 An activity in progress     recent to another time or activity    in the past  [not before right now].

 
Past Perfect Progressive.

 

  When Judy got home, her hair was    still   wet because she  had been swimming. 

 Her eyes were red because she  had been crying

 
Still


Recently


Lately













 UNSPECIFIED  TIME   IN  THE PAST






 
 Something happened or not happened  before now, at an unspecified time in the past.

 The exact time when it happened is not important   		

 
Present Perfect

 
 They  have moved   into a new appartment. (means before now)


Without time words




 
  Repetition     of an activity before now.
 The exact time when it happened is not important. 

 
Present Perfect.

 

We  have had  four tests so far this semester.

 I  have flown  on a jet many times.

 I  have met  many people    since    I came here in June.

 I  have written  she a letter every other day for  the last year.


 
So far

Many times

Since


For





 TIME   IMMEDIATELY   BEFORE    RIGHT NOW
 




 
  General activity in progress  recently, lately..    
 
Present Perfect Progressive.

 

I  have been thinking   about changing my major.

 My back hurts, so I  have been sleeping   on the floor    lately.    		
 
Without time words
or  with

Recently
Lately




 
 Activity is in progress  immediately      before, up to, until now.
 
Present Perfect Progressive.

 
I  have been studying   English.

(means: before now)		

 
 Without time words  




 
  Activity is in progress (How long?) immediately      before, up to, until another time or event that have been recently.   

 
Present Perfect Progressive.

 

 I  have been studying   English for two hours until noon.

 

For		


 
Duration      of an activity that began in the past and continues to the present. 

 
Present Perfect Progressive.

 

 I  have been sitting   here    since four o'clock/ for two hours.

It  has been raining   all day long. (means: up to now)		
 
Time words:Since / For
All morning, day. week...


 
  Activity began in the recent past, is continuing in present,      and will probably end at some point in the future.
 
Present Progressive.

 

John  is sleeping   right now.

 I need an umbrella because it  is raining. 		

 
Right now


 
  With verbs:

to Live,

to Work,

to Teach     		
 
Present Perfect may be used instead of      Present Perfect Progressive .

 

 I  have lived (have been living)   here    since     1991.

 He  has worked (has been working)   at the same firm for  thirty years.		

 
Since or For
+ to Live, to Work, to Teach











 P  R  E  S  E  N  T  _   T  I  M  E







 
 Habitual
or
 Everyday  activities

 
Present Simple

 
I  study   for two hours every night.

 My classes  begin  at nine.

 He always  eats  a sandwich for lunch.



 Every  day, week...



Always




 

General activity  in progress  this week, month, year.

 

Present Progressive

 

 I am taking   five courses this semester.

 She is writing   another book this year.		

 This week, month...



 
Situation exists right now and needs  Nonprogressive Verbs

 
Present Simple
instead of using of Nonprogressive verbs

 
I  have   only a dollar right now.

 I  don't recognize   that man.		


 Right now   




 

A speaker expresses  annoyance  or  anger.  

 

Present Progressive instead of
Present Simple

 

 Mary is always leaving   her dirty socks on the floor for me to pick up!

 Pres.Progr. +
"Always" 



 
A speaker expresses  annoyance. 

 
Present   Progressive  instead of 
Present Simple

 
I  am always 
(or forever, 
or constantly) 
  picking up Mary's dirty socks!		


Pres.Progr. +
 "Always" or "Forever" or
"Constantly












 F U T U R E _ T I M E





 
Prediction

 
Future Simple

 
 According to the weather report,  it   will  (is going to)  be    raining tomorrow.


Will
or

Be going to





 
  Prior plan
 
Future Simple

 
I  am going to fly   to Paris tomorrow.

 
Be going to





 

Prior plan  in progress 

 
Progressive form of  be going to

 
Don't call me at nine because I won't be home. I am going to be studying   at the library.

 
Be going to
+ be + ing


 
Planned event or definite intension.

 
Present Progressive  =

Future Simple		

 
 My wife has an appointment with a doctor. She  is seeing     Dr. Who  next Monday. 


Future time words




 
  Events that are definite schedule or timetable.
 
Present Simple  instead of   Future Simple

 
Classes  begin    next week. 

 Plane  arrives   at 6:09 P.M.   tomorrow  morning.  .		

 
Future Time words +
 Open,Close
Begin, End, Start,Finish Arrive,Leave Come,Return





 
 Present Simple  or, occassionally,  Present Perfect,  are used in the  Time clauses.
 Present Perfect emphasises on the completion of the act in the time clause.

 
Present Simple
instead of
Future Simple.

Present Perfect = Future Simple.		


 
 Bob  will come  soon.  When   Bob comes,  we will see him.

 I  will  go to bed  after I  finish (have finished)  my work.		

 
Time words:  When, After, Before, Until, As soon as
 



 
  Willingness.
 
Future Simple

 
A: The phone's ringing.

B:  I'll get it.  		

 
Will





 
An activity that  will be in progress at a definite time in the future. 

 
Future Progressive

 
 I  will be studying    when   you come.

 Right now I am sitting in  class.   At this same time tomorrow, I  will be sitting in class.


 
Will +When
 



 
The future event will occur at  an indefinite time   in the future.

 
Future Simple = Future Progressive


 
 Don't get impatient.. 
She  will be coming (will come)    soon.


 
Will +Indefinite time words
 



 
  Activity  completed before   another time or event in the future..
 
Future Perfect

 
I  will have finished my homework  by the time .  I go out on a date tonight

 
Will + By the time




 
 Activity will be in progress (How long?)  immediately.  before, up to, until another time or event in the future.
 Emphasis the  duration . of an activity.

 
Future Perfect Progressive

 
I  will have been studying     for   two hours  by the time  you arrive. 

 
For + By the time
 



 
 Sometimes the Future Perfect and the Future Perfect Progressive give  the same meaning.  

 
Future Perfect = Future Perfect Progressive

 
When Professor Jones retires next month, he  will have tought (will have been teaching)    for    45 years


 
For
 










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