Simple Tense

Group Members :
Lee Ling Fang
Lee Wei Ling
Liew Yin Zhen
Lim Jie Ying
Neo Sau Rou
Ong Ping Yeow
Pow Wei Joy
Tan Cheng Yee
SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE
We usually use the Simple Present Tense to
show present time.

The present tense conveys immediate
factuality (Lewis 1986):
I skim the New York Times at breakfast.
The earth rotates around the sun.
My mother loves daisies.
It is a beautiful day.


The forms of simple present
tense
Subject Verb
He / She / It

I / You / We / They
eats

eat

chicken
Subject do/does not Base form
He / She / It

I / You / We /
They

does not

do not


eat


chicken

Do / Does Subject Base form
Does

Do
he / she / it

I/ you / we / they

eat


chicken?
Subject Verb
I am (not)

hungry?
He/ She/ It is (not)
You/ We/ They are (not)

Verb Subject
Am I
hungry?
Is he/ she/ it
Are you/ we/ they
Let us now show how the core meanings of the simple
present, its complete or unchanging nature, and its
immediate factuality, apply.

Habitual actions in the present:
He walks to school everyday.

General timeless truths, such as physical laws or customs:
Water freezes at 0 degrees centigrade.
Spaniards eat dinner late.



With be and other stative verbs to indicate states:
There is a large house on the corner.
I know Mr. Jackson.
The car belongs to Bill.
Or even the inception of states:
Now, I understand.

In the subordinate clauses of time or condition when the
main clause contains a future-time verb:
After he finishes work, hell do the errands.
If Cindy passes the bar exam, shell be able to
practice law.



Expresses future ( when a schedualed event is
involved, usually with a future-time adverbial ) :
I have a meeting next Wednesday at that time.

Present event/ action (usually in sporting events
or demonstrations/ procedures of some sort.) :
Here comes the pitch; Lim swings and misses.
Now I add three eggs to the mixture.


Present speech acts (where the actions is
accomplished in the speaking of it) :
I resign from the commission.

Conversational historical present (used to refer to
certain past event in narration) :
So he stands up in the boat and the waves
his arms to catch our attention.

Simple Past Tense
USE 1 Completed Action in the
Past

Use the Simple Past to express the idea that an
action started and finished at a specific time in the
past. Sometimes, the speaker may not actually
mention the specific time, but they do have one
specific time in mind.
Examples:
I saw a movie yesterday.
I didn't see a play yesterday.
Last year, I traveled to Japan.
Last year, I didn't travel to Korea.
Did you have dinner last night?
She washed her car.
He didn't wash his car.


USE 2 A Series of Completed
Actions

We use the Simple Past to list a series of
completed actions in the past. These actions
happen 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and so on.
Examples:
I finished work, walked to the beach, and found a nice
place to swim.
He arrived from the airport at 8:00, checked into the
hotel at 9:00, and met the others at 10:00.
Did you add flour, pour in the milk, and then add the
eggs?


USE 3 Duration in Past

The Simple Past can be used with a duration which
starts and stops in the past. A duration is a longer
action often indicated by expressions such as: for
two years, for five minutes, all day, all year, etc.
Examples:
I lived in Brazil for two years.
Shauna studied Japanese for five years.
They sat at the beach all day.
They did not stay at the party the entire time.
We talked on the phone for thirty minutes.
A: How long did you wait for them?
B: We waited for one hour.

USE 4 Habits in the Past

The Simple Past can also be used to
describe a habit which stopped in the
past. It can have the same meaning as
"used to." To make it clear that we are
talking about a habit, we often add
expressions such as: always, often,
usually, never, when I was a child, when I
was younger, etc.

Examples:
I studied French when I was a child.
He played the violin.
He didn't play the piano.
Did you play a musical instrument when you
were a kid?
She worked at the movie theater after school.
They never went to school, they
always skipped class.

USE 5 Past Facts or
Generalizations
The Simple Past can also be used to describe past
facts or generalizations which are no longer true.
As in USE 4 above, this use of the Simple Past is
quite similar to the expression "used to."
Examples:
She was shy as a child, but now she is very outgoing.
He didn't like tomatoes before.
Did you live in Texas when you were a kid?
People paid much more to make cell phone calls in the
past.

Simple Future has two different forms in
English:
1. "will"
2. "be going to"
Although the two forms can sometimes be
used interchangeably, they often express
two very different meanings. These
different meanings might seem too
abstract at first, but with time and
practice, the differences will become clear.
Both "will" and "be going to" refer to a
specific time in the future.
FORM Will
[will + verb]
Examples:
You will help him later.
Will you help him later?
You will not help him later.

FORM Be Going To
[am/is/are + going to + verb]
Examples:
You are going to meet Jane tonight.
Are you going to meet Jane tonight?
You are not going to meet Jane tonight.

USE 1: "Will" to Express a Voluntary
Action
"Will" often suggests that a speaker will do
something voluntarily. A voluntary action is
one the speaker offers to do for someone
else. Often, we use "will" to respond to
someone else's complaint or request for
help. We also use "will" when we request
that someone help us or volunteer to do
something for us. Similarly, we use "will
not" or "won't" when we refuse to
voluntarily do something.

Examples:
I will send you the information when I get it.
I will translate the email, so Mr. Smith can read it.
Will you help me move this heavy table?
Will you make dinner?
I will not do your homework for you.
I won't do all the housework myself!

USE 2 : "Will" to Express a Promise
"Will" is usually used in promises.
Examples:
I will call you when I arrive.
If I am elected President of the United States, I will
make sure everyone has access to inexpensive
health insurance.
I promise I will not tell him about the surprise
party.
Don't worry, I'll be careful.
I won't tell anyone your secret.

USE 3 :"Be going to" to Express a Plan

"Be going to" expresses that something is a plan. It
expresses the idea that a person intends to do something
in the future. It does not matter whether the plan is
realistic or not.
Examples:
He is going to spend his vacation in Hawaii.
She is not going to spend her vacation in Hawaii.
A: When are we going to meet each other tonight?
B: We are going to meet at 6 PM.
I'm going to be an actor when I grow up.
Michelle is going to begin medical school next year.
They are going to drive all the way to Alaska.
Who are you going to invite to the party?

USE 4 "Will" or "Be Going to" to
Express a Prediction
Both "will" and "be going to" can express
the idea of a general prediction about the
future. Predictions are guesses about what
might happen in the future. In "prediction"
sentences, the subject usually has little
control over the future and therefore USES
1-3 do not apply. In the following examples,
there is no difference in meaning.

Examples:
The year 2222 will be a very interesting year.
The year 2222 is going to be a very interesting
year.
John Smith will be the next President.
John Smith is going to be the next President.
The movie "Zenith" will win several Academy
Awards.
The movie "Zenith" is going to win several
Academy Awards.