56
VERBS: TENSES
Tenses are the forms of verbs which show the time of an action or a state of being. In other words, tenses can be defined as changes of verb forms that are caused by the changes of
the time reference present: He does, We do; past: He did, We did; future: He will do, We will do. Those three tenses can be expanded in detail.
The present tense can be divided into the simple present, present continuous, present perfect, and present perfect continuous tenses. The past tense is divided into the simple past,
past continuous, past perfect, and past perfect continuous tenses. Meanwhile the future is divided into the simple future, future continuous, future perfect, and future perfect
continuous tenses. In this book, the present tense is represented by V
1
; the past tense is
represented by V
2
; the present participle is represented by V
ing
, and the past participle is
represented by V
3
.
A. PRESENT
1. Simple Present
Formula: The simple present types:
General truth - A square has four equal sides.
- The earth revolves around the sun. - The sun rises in the east.
Habit - I usually get up at 4 o’clock in the morning.
- Ann takes a shower every day. - The merchants go to the market early in the morning.
S + V
1
C
HAPTER
7
57 Present conditionspresent actual
- I love her. - She likes fast food very much.
- His company makes a lot of profit recently.
Future - I hope it does not rain tonight.
- I go to Bali tomorrow morning. - The president arrives at 9 tomorrow.
Adverbs which are usually used in the simple present are every day, every week, every month, at night, today, tonight, once a week, in the morning, generally, usually,
seldom, sometimes, occasionally, nowadays, habitually, frequently.
2. Present Continuous Formula:
The present continuous represents: Activities which are going on or in progress when the thought is expressed.
- Tom and Ann are talking and drinking in Java Café now. - Robert is washing his clothes now.
Activities in periods. - The students are studying English this year.
- Bob is building his own house. Situations which are changing.
- Is your English getting better? - The population of the world is rising very fast.
Activities which have already been arranged. - I’m having a test next Monday morning.
- We are meeting the rector tomorrow.
Adverbs which are usually used are now, at present, at this moment, right now, today, this morning, this afternoon, this evening, and tonight.
S + am is are + V
ing
58 Although the present continuous expresses activities which are going on or in
progress, some words cannot be used in that way. The intended words are believe, forget, hate, have, hear, know, like, love, need, remember, require, see, understand,
want, etc. e.g. - She understands what I mean. Right
- She is understanding what I mean. Wrong - I like her. Right
- I am liking her. Wrong - I love her. Right
- I am loving her. Wrong
3. Present Perfect
