Past and Future Tenses

This page covers the Past Simple tense and two forms of expressing future actions: Will and Going to.

Past Simple

The Past Simple is used to talk about events that happened in the past.

Structure:

• Affirmative: Subject + verb $-ed/2nd column for irregular verbs$
• Negative: Subject + didn't + base verb
• Interrogative: Did + Subject + base verb + ?

Example: Yesterday we went to the countryside.

Highlight: The Past Simple often uses time expressions like 'yesterday', 'last week', or 'two days ago' to indicate when the action occurred.

Future Expressions

Will

Will is used for spontaneous decisions and predictions.

Structure:

• Affirmative: Subject + will + base verb
• Negative: Subject + won't + base verb
• Interrogative: Will + Subject + base verb + ?

Example: I don't like this meal, I won't eat it.

Going to

Going to is used for plans or intentions.

Structure:

• Affirmative: Subject + am/is/are going to + base verb
• Negative: Subject + am/is/are not going to + base verb
• Interrogative: Am/Is/Are + Subject + going to + base verb + ?

Example: We are going to travel to NY next weekend.

Highlight: The choice between 'will' and 'going to' often depends on how certain or planned the future action is.

Present Tense Overview

The present tense in English is divided into two main forms: Present Simple and Present Continuous. Each has distinct structures and uses.

Present Simple

The Present Simple is used for habitual actions, routines, and permanent situations.

Structure:

• Affirmative: Subject + verb $-s/-es for he/she/it$
• Negative: Subject + don't/doesn't $he/she/it$ + base verb
• Interrogative: Do/Does + Subject + base verb + ?

Example: She always does her homework.

Highlight: Adverbs of frequency are often used with Present Simple to indicate how often an action occurs. These include: always, often, usually, sometimes, and never.

Present Continuous

The Present Continuous is primarily used for actions happening at the moment of speaking.

Structure:

• Affirmative: Subject + am/is/are + verb-ing
• Negative: Subject + am not/isn't/aren't + verb-ing
• Interrogative: Am/Is/Are + Subject + verb-ing + ?

Example: My sister is reading her favourite book.

Vocabulary: Present Continuous is also known as Present Progressive.