Introduction to verbs
1. Principal parts of the active verb
Affirmative
Negative
Present infinitive
to work
not to work
Present continuous infinitive
to be working
not to be working
Perfect infinitive
to have worked
not to have worked
Perfect continuous infinitive
to have been working
not to have been working
Present participle and gerund
working
not working
Perfect participle and gerund
having worked
not having worked
Participle
worked
2. Forming active tenses
2.1. Present Simple
o Positive forms: we use the verb without the ending, but in the third person singular (after
he, she, it, your friend, etc) the verb ends in s or es.
Most children like ice cream.
My husband thinks so, too.
o Negatives and questions: we use an auxiliary verb do (don’t), except in the third person
singular, where we use does and doesn’t (and an infinitive form of the main verb!).
We don’t live far away.
He doesn’t want to go shopping.
Do you live here?
What does he want?
2.2. Present Continuous
o Positive forms: the present tense of the auxiliary verb be (am, is, are) + the present
participle (-ing form)
I’m waiting for the train.
It’s coming now.
o Negatives: not between auxiliary and main verb (notice the possible contracted forms!)
Rachel isn’t wearing her new dress. (Rachel’s not wearing…)
We aren’t working on the new project at the moment. (We’re not working…)
o Questions: inversion of subject and auxiliary
What are you doing?
Who is Vicky dancing with?
2.3. Past Simple
o Positive forms: a regular past form ends in ed; some verbs have an irregular past form
(revise a list of irregular verbs!)
It happened very quickly.
We once owned a caravan.
I won the game.
We took some photos.
o Negatives and questions: we use the past simple of the auxiliary verb do – did + infinitive
The car did not stop.
The driver didn’t look to his right.
What did you tell the police?
Did you ring home?
2.4. Past Continuous
o Positive forms: the past tens of be (was, were) + the present participle (-ing form)
People were walking in the park.
It was raining.
o Negatives: not between auxiliary and main verb
I was not (wasn’t) dreaming.
We were not (weren’t) helping Mike.
o Questions: inversion of subject and auxiliary
What were you thinking of?
Was Matthew already waiting for you when you got
there?
2.5. Present Perfect Simple
o Positive forms: the present tense of have + a past participle (regular forms end in ed;
some participles are irregular)
We have (We’ve) washed the dishes.
The aircraft has (The aircraft’s) landed safely.
o Negatives: not between auxiliary and main verb
The students have not (haven’t) finished their exams.
She has not (hasn’t) drunk her coffee.
o Questions: inversion of subject and auxiliary
How many points has Matthew scored?
Have you opened your letter?
2.6. Present Perfect Continuous
o Positive forms: the present tense of have + been + the present participle (-ing form)
We have (We’ve) been waiting here for 20 minutes.
She has (She’s) been standing here for ages.
o Negatives: not after the auxiliary have
Our team has not (hasn’t) been doing very well lately.
o Questions: inversion of subject and auxiliary
Have you been waiting long?
What have you been doing lately?
2.7. Will for the future (Future Simple)
o Positive forms: will + infinitive
I’m thirsty. I think I will (I’ll) make some tea.
o Negatives: will not (won’t)
I will not (won’t) have time for a meal.
o Questions: inversion of will and subject
Will you be at home this evening?
2.8. Future Continuous
o Positive forms: will be + the present participle (-ing form)
I’ll be working all day tomorrow.
o Negatives: will not (won’t) be + the present participle (-ing form)
You won’t be working on Saturday evening, surely.
o Questions: inversion of will and subject
What will we be doing in ten years’ time, I wonder?
2.9. Going-to Future
o Positive forms: the present tense of be + going to + a verb
I’m going to watch the next program.
o Negatives: not after auxiliary be
Vicky is not (isn’t) going to have any lunch.
o Questions: inversion of be and subject
Is Daniel going to apply for the job?
When are you going to pay this bill?