English Conversation Skills TIMEFRAME TENSES AND TIME WORDS

English Conversation Skills TIMEFRAME, TENSES, AND TIME WORDS

Timeframe o When communicating, it is important to show the order of events, or when something happened o In English, the form of the word is different depending on the time frame • o Sometimes the same timeframe can be expressed in different ways • o o Example: I am going, I will go, I went I eat, I am eating, I have been eating = Present If you do not know the correct rule, make sure to include timeframe another way to avoid confusion • I am eating I eat now Now • I will eat I eat soon Future • I was eating I eat already Past However, if you do know the correct rule, make sure to use it

Tense o The correct way to use grammar in English to show the timeframe, or the order of events, is to use the correct TENSE of the word o The tense changes the form of the verb to indicate the time frame o There are many different tenses and each of them can be used to indicate the past, present, or future • It is not important to remember the names of the tenses, only the usage o This lesson will cover Simple, Continuous, and Perfect tenses o Each of these different tenses is used to indicate different situations • Simple refers to an entire event • Continuous refers to an event that is ongoing • Perfect tenses refer to an event from a different reference point

Overview

Tense Overview o Simple Tense: • o Use this tense when referring to an entire event Continuous/Progressive Tense: Events that occur over a time period • o Events that have a specific time Use this tense when you are referring to being in the middle of an ongoing event Perfect Tense: • An event that happened in the past compared to a reference point Use this tense when: • Referencing an event that has already occurred/has been occurring • Referencing an event that had already occurred/had been occurring • Referencing an event that will already have occurred/will have been occurring

Types of Tenses

Simple Tense o This tense is used for events that have a specific time • o This tense refers to the entire event • o o I played football for two hours Simple present is used for events that occur regularly or for stating facts • o I will play football tomorrow at 6 pm I always eat dinner at 7 pm, Wednesday I cook very well, I play football every Simple Past: add “ed” at the end of the word • Many words have a different form for simple past • Example: “I ate” is correct, “I eated” is incorrect Simple Future: add “will” in front of the word • I will eat, I will play, I will drive

Continuous/Progressive Tense o This tense is used for events that occur over a time period • o o This tense refers to an event that is ongoing • It is a tense that puts you in the middle of an event that is occurring • Example: I am playing football, I was cooking a meal, I will be flying Continuous Past: add “was” before the word and “ing” after • o I was eating, She was eating Continuous: add “am” or “is” before the word and “ing after • o I was playing football from 6 pm to 8 pm I am eating, She is eating Continuous Future: add “will be” before the word and “ing” after • I will be eating, She will be eating

Perfect Tenses o Perfect tenses refer to two points in time: 1. The point that the event occurred 2. The reference point o The reference point will be in the past, the present or the future o The event has always occurred before the reference point o Therefore, perfect tense is referring to an event from the perspective of a reference point o Example: By the time I finished the game, I had scored 20 points. o • 1. Event occurred: You scored 20 points • 2. Reference point in the past: When you finished the game Example: I have worked for 45 minutes already • 1. Event that occurred: Started working 45 minutes ago • 2. Reference point in the present: Now

Perfect Tense Diagram

Perfect Simple Tense o o Perfect Simple Present refers to an event in past from the present • She has finished her assignment already • Event that occurred: Finished her assignment • Reference point: Now The present form usually gets shortened to “I’ve” “You’ve” “She’s” • o o Example: She’s finished her assignment, I’ve never been to Italy Perfect Simple Past refers to a event in the past from the past • She had finished her assignment already when the teacher arrived • Event that occurred: Finished her assignment • Reference point: When the teacher arrived Perfect Simple Future refers an event from the future • She will have finished her assignment by the time the teacher gets here • Event that occurred: Finishing her assignment • Reference point: When the teacher will arrive

o Perfect Continuous/Progressive This tense is the same as the. Tense perfect simple except it refers to events that are or had been occurring at the time of the reference point o o Example: When I heard the news, I had been working for 2 hours. • Event that was occurring: Working • Reference point: When I heard the news Past: I had been working • o Present: I have been working • o I had been working for 2 hours already before I was able to start writing the paper I have been working since 7 am Future: I will have been working • When you get here, I will have been working for 16 hours

Examples

Simple Past vs Perfect Present o Examples o I played football vs. I have played football o o o • I played football yesterday Specific time • I have played football At some point in the past I worked vs. I have worked • I worked on the project yesterday Specific time • I have worked on this type of project before At some point in the past I ate vs. I have eaten • I ate some noodles before I came here • I have eaten horse, and I enjoyed it Specific time At any point in the past Did you play football? vs. Have you played football? • Did you play? Specific time • Have you played? At any point in the past

Perfect Past vs Perfect Present o Examples o I had played football vs. I have played football o • I had already played football when she arrived Before she arrived • I have played football Before now I had worked vs. I have worked • • o I had worked on the project for 2 hours already when my group members finally came Before group arrived I have worked on this type of project before Before now Had you played football? vs. Have you played football? • Had you played football yet? Before past event • Have you played? Before now

Simple Present vs. Continuous Present o Examples o I do my homework vs. I am doing my homework o o o • I usually do my homework in the afternoon Regular occurrence • I am doing my homework right now Currently I play football vs. I am playing football • She plays football Statement of fact • She can’t talk right now, she is playing football Currently I drive vs. I am driving • I drive a motorcycle Statement of fact • I am driving to work Currently Do you eat? vs. Are you eating? • Do you eat beef? Regular occurrence • Are you eating noodles? Currently

Time Words

Indicating a Time o There are correct ways and words to use to indicate a time o If you use the incorrect tense but you use the correct time words, you should still be able to communicate clearly o • Correct Grammar: I went to the store last Tuesday • Incorrect Grammar: I go to the store last Tuesday Using the correct tense is still very important to be able to communicate clearly • Incorrect Grammar: I go to the store on Tuesday • • Correct Grammar: • • Is it last Tuesday or next Tuesday? Is going to happen in the future Correct Grammar: • I am going to the store on Tuesday I went to the store on Tuesday Already happened in the past

Time Words o Ago: 2 days ago, 6 years ago, 2 minutes ago • o Just recently a while ago a long time ago • o o Ago means in the past A small amount, medium amount, and large amount of time in the past Last: Last Wednesday, last night, last week • The time before this, the Wednesday before now, the week before now • Do not use last day, use yesterday Next: Next Thursday, next year, next Christmas • Do not next afternoon, use tomorrow afternoon o Soon: A short time in the future o In a few: In a few weeks, in a few years, in a few minutes • “In a few” is in the future, “In just a few” is a short time in the future