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SIMPLE VERB TENSES

By: B.K. MUDGAL

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SIMPLE TENSES

SIMPLE PRESENT
SIMPLE PAST
SIMPLE FUTURE

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A. Simple present

= base form: I work.
OR base form + -s: He works.

She works.

It works.

OR base form + -es : I watch / she watches.

I study / he studies.

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GENERAL RULES

1. A general truth.

e.g. The sky is blue.

2. A typical activity.

e.g. I always brush after I eat.

Bob watches TV every night.

Sara works 5 days a week.

3. A statement of something existing at the time of speaking.

e.g. I hear the train coming.

I smell smoke.

4. A scheduled event or activity.

e.g. My plane leaves at 8:30 tomorrow.

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EXERCISE

Choose the correct form of the following verbs:

open(s) - speak(s) - take(s) - do(es) - cause(s) - live(s) - play(s) - close(s)

Ann _____ hand ball very well.
The swimming pool _____at 7:00 in the morning.
It ______at 9:00 in the evening.
Bad driving _____ many accidents.
My parents ______in a very small flat.
The Olympic Games _____ place every four years.
They are good students. They always ______ their homework.
My students ______a little English.

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EXERCISE & ANSWER

Choose the correct form of the following verbs:

open(s) - speak(s) - take(s) - do(es) - cause(s) - live(s) - play(s) - close(s)

Ann plays hand ball very well.
The swimming pool _____at 7:00 in the morning.
It ______at 9:00 in the evening.
Bad driving _____ many accidents.
My parents ______in a very small flat.
The Olympic Games _____ place every four years.
They are good students. They always ______ their homework.
My students ______a little English.

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EXERCISE & ANSWER

Choose the correct form of the following verbs:

open(s) - speak(s) - take(s) - do( es) - cause(s) - live(s) - play(s) - close(s) - live(s)

Ann plays hand ball very well.
The swimming pool _opens _ at 7:00 in the morning.
It ______at 9:00 in the evening.
Bad driving _____ many accidents.
My parents ______in a very small flat.
The Olympic Games _____ place every four years.
They are good students. They always ______ their homework.
My students ______a little English.

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EXERCISE & ANSWER

Choose the correct form of the following verbs:

open(s) - speak(s) - take(s) - do( es) - cause(s) - live(s) - play(s) - close(s) - live(s)

Ann plays hand ball very well.
The swimming pool _opens_ at 7:00 in the morning.
It _closes_ at 9:00 in the evening.
Bad driving _____ many accidents.
My parents ______in a very small flat.
The Olympic Games _____ place every four years.
They are good students. They always ______ their homework.
My students ______a little English.

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EXERCISE & ANSWER

Choose the correct form of the following verbs:

open(s) - speak(s) - take(s) - do(es ) - cause(s) - live(s) - play(s) - close(s) - live(s)

Ann plays hand ball very well.
The swimming pool _opens_ at 7:00 in the morning.
It _closes_at 9:00 in the evening.
Bad driving causes many accidents.
My parents ______in a very small flat.
The Olympic Games _____ place every four years.
They are good students. They always ______ their homework.
My students ______a little English.

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EXERCISE & ANSWER

Choose the correct form of the following verbs:

open(s) - speak(s) - take(s) - do(es) - cause(s) - live(s) - play(s) - close(s) - live(s)

Ann plays hand ball very well.
The swimming pool _opens_at 7:00 in the morning.
It _closes_at 9:00 in the evening.
Bad driving causes many accidents.
My parents lives in a very small flat.
The Olympic Games _____ place every four years.
They are good students. They always ______ their homework.
My students ______a little English.

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EXERCISE & ANSWER

Choose the correct form of the following verbs:

open(s) - speak(s) - take(s) - do( es ) - cause(s) - live(s) - play(s) - close(s)

Ann plays hand ball very well.
The swimming pool _opens_ at 7:00 in the morning.
It _closes_ at 9:00 in the evening.
Bad driving causes many accidents.
My parents lives in a very small flat.
The Olympic Games __take___ place every four years.
They are good students. They always ______ their homework.
My students ______a little English.

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Choose the correct form of the following verbs:

open(s) - speak(s) - take(s) - do( es ) - cause(s) - live(s) - play(s) - close(s)

Ann plays hand ball very well.
The swimming pool _opens_ at 7:00 in the morning.
It _closes_ at 9:00 in the evening.
Bad driving causes many accidents.
My parents lives in a very small flat.
The Olympic Games __take___ place every four years.
They are good students. They always ___do___ their homework.
My students ______a little English.

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EXERCISE & ANSWER

Choose the correct form of the following verbs:

open(s) - speak(s) - take(s) - do( es ) - cause(s) - live(s) - play(s) - close(s)

Ann plays hand ball very well.
The swimming pool _opens_ at 7:00 in the morning.
It _closes _at 9:00 in the evening.
Bad driving causes many accidents.
My parents lives in a very small flat.
The Olympic Games __take___ place every four years.
They are good students. They always ___do___ their homework.
My students __speak__ a little English.

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SIMPLE PAST

= base form + -ed for regular verbs :

I worked yesterday.

The simple past for irregular verbs varies :

He ate lunch at noon. (irregular verb)

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GENERAL RULES

1. An activity begun and completed at a particular time in the past.

e.g. I went to work yesterday morning.

2. Commonly used with “after” and “before” clauses.

e.g. After Bob ate dinner, he drove to CEC.

The students arrived in class before the teacher.

3. “Used to” = past habits (used to + base form)

e.g. I used to ride horses when I was a kid.

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EXERCISE

Give the correct form of the following verbs:

(Present Tense)

1 . I ______ to the mall after school. ( go )

2. My brother ______ a bear an hour ago. ( see )
3 . _____Mike visit his grandmother last night? ( do )
4. Alex did not _____ last weekend. ( work )
5. ____Judy and Liz at last month's meeting? ( is )
6.We ____ not happy after the sad ending. ( are )
7. _____you see Jody's new dog yesterday? ( are )
8. Sorry, I ____ hear you at the door. ( do )
9. I _______ English for two years. ( study )
10.What _____ you eat for lunch yesterday? ( do )

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EXERCISE & ANSWER

Give the correct form of the following verbs:

(Present Tense)

1 . I _went___ to the mall after school. ( go )
2. My brother ______ a bear an hour ago. ( see )
3 . _____Mike visit his grandmother last night? ( do )
4. Alex did not _____ last weekend. ( work )
5. ____Judy and Liz at last month's meeting? ( is )
6.We ____ not happy after the sad ending. ( are )
7. _____you see Jody's new dog yesterday? ( are )
8. Sorry, I ____ hear you at the door. ( do )
9. I _______ English for two years. ( study )
10.What _____ you eat for lunch yesterday? ( do )

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EXERCISE & ANSWER

Give the correct form of the following verbs:

(Present Tense)

1 . I _went___ to the mall after school. ( go )
2. My brother _saw___ a bear an hour ago. ( see )
3 . _____Mike visit his grandmother last night? ( do )
4. Alex did not _____ last weekend. ( work )
5. ____Judy and Liz at last month's meeting? ( is )
6.We ____ not happy after the sad ending. ( are )
7. _____you see Jody's new dog yesterday? ( are )
8. Sorry, I ____ hear you at the door. ( do )
9. I _______ English for two years. ( study )
10.What _____ you eat for lunch yesterday? ( do )

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EXERCISE & ANSWER

Give the correct form of the following verbs:

(Present Tense)

1 . I _went___ to the mall after school. ( go )
2. My brother _saw___ a bear an hour ago. ( see )
3 . __Did_ Mike visit his grandmother last night? ( do )
4. Alex did not _____ last weekend. ( work )
5. ____Judy and Liz at last month's meeting? ( is )
6.We ____ not happy after the sad ending. ( are )
7. _____you see Jody's new dog yesterday? ( are )
8. Sorry, I ____ hear you at the door. ( do )
9. I _______ English for two years. ( study )
10.What _____ you eat for lunch yesterday? ( do )

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EXERCISE & ANSWER

Give the correct form of the following verbs:

(Present Tense)

1 . I _went___ to the mall after school. ( go )
2. My brother _saw___ a bear an hour ago. ( see )
3 . __Did_ Mike visit his grandmother last night? ( do )
4. Alex did not _work__ last weekend. ( work )
5. ____Judy and Liz at last month's meeting? ( is )
6.We ____ not happy after the sad ending. ( are )
7. _____you see Jody's new dog yesterday? ( are )
8. Sorry, I ____ hear you at the door. ( do )
9. I _______ English for two years. ( study )
10.What _____ you eat for lunch yesterday? ( do )

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EXERCISE & ANSWER

Give the correct form of the following verbs:

(Present Tense)

1 . I _went___ to the mall after school. ( go )
2. My brother _saw___ a bear an hour ago. ( see )
3 . __Did_ Mike visit his grandmother last night? ( do )
4. Alex did not _work__ last weekend. ( work )
5. Were__ Judy and Liz at last month's meeting? ( is )
6.We ____ not happy after the sad ending. ( are )
7. _____you see Jody's new dog yesterday? ( are )
8. Sorry, I ____ hear you at the door. ( do )
9. I _______ English for two years. ( study )
10.What _____ you eat for lunch yesterday? ( do )

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EXERCISE & ANSWER

Give the correct form of the following verbs:

(Present Tense)

1 . I _went___ to the mall after school. ( go )
2. My brother _saw___ a bear an hour ago. ( see )
3 . __Did_ Mike visit his grandmother last night? ( do )
4. Alex did not _work__ last weekend. ( work )
5. Were__ Judy and Liz at last month's meeting? ( is )
6.We _were_ not happy after the sad ending. ( are )
7. _____you see Jody's new dog yesterday? ( are )
8. Sorry, I ____ hear you at the door. ( do )
9. I _______ English for two years. ( study )
10.What _____ you eat for lunch yesterday? ( do )

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EXERCISE & ANSWER

Give the correct form of the following verbs:

(Present Tense)

1 . I _went___ to the mall after school. ( go )
2. My brother _saw___ a bear an hour ago. ( see )
3 . __Did_ Mike visit his grandmother last night? ( do )
4. Alex did not _work__ last weekend. ( work )
5. Were__ Judy and Liz at last month's meeting? ( is )
6.We _were_ not happy after the sad ending. ( are )
7. _Did_ you see Jody's new dog yesterday? ( do )
8. Sorry, I _didn’t___ hear you at the door. ( don’t )
9. I _______ English for two years. ( study )
10.What _____ you eat for lunch yesterday? ( do )

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EXERCISE & ANSWER

Give the correct form of the following verbs:

(Present Tense)

1 . I _went___ to the mall after school. ( go )
2. My brother _saw___ a bear an hour ago. ( see )
3 . __Did_ Mike visit his grandmother last night? ( do )
4. Alex did not _work__ last weekend. ( work )
5. Were__ Judy and Liz at last month's meeting? ( is )
6.We _were_ not happy after the sad ending. ( are )
7. _Did_ you see Jody's new dog yesterday? ( do )
8. Sorry, I _didn’t___ hear you at the door. ( don’t )
9. I _studied____ English for two years. ( study )
10.What _____ you eat for lunch yesterday? ( do )

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EXERCISE & ANSWER

Give the correct form of the following verbs:

(Present Tense)

1 . I _went___ to the mall after school. ( go )
2. My brother _saw___ a bear an hour ago. ( see )
3 . __Did_ Mike visit his grandmother last night? ( do )
4. Alex did not _work__ last weekend. ( work )
5. Were__ Judy and Liz at last month's meeting? ( is )
6.We _were_ not happy after the sad ending. ( are )
7. _Did_ you see Jody's new dog yesterday? ( do )
8. Sorry, I _didn’t___ hear you at the door. ( don’t )
9. I _studied___ English for two years. ( study )
10.What __did__ you eat for lunch yesterday? ( do )

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PRESENT OR FUTURE

= will + base form: I will work tomorrow.

He will eat dinner later.

OR am / is / are + (going to + base form):

I am going to work tomorrow.

She is going to eat dinner at Al’s Restaurant.

We are going to study Unit 1 tonight.

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RULES

1. A future event or activity.

e.g. Our break will begin at 8:10.

I will study later.

I’m going to study later.

2. Use will (not: going to) to volunteer.

e.g. Wait a second. I will help you with that sofa. If you try to move it by yourself, your back will be out for a week.

3. Use going to (not: will) with a preconceived plan.

e.g. I’m going to mow my lawn tomorrow.

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EXERCISE

Using the words in parentheses, complete the text below with the appropriate tenses.

1. A: Why are you holding a piece of paper? � B: I (write) ______ a letter to my friends back home in Texas. ��2. A: I'm about to fall asleep. I need to wake up! � B: I (get) ______ you a cup of coffee. That will wake you up. ��3. A: I can't hear the television! � B: I (turn) ________it up so you can hear it. ��4. We are so excited about our trip next month to France. We (visit) _____ Paris, Nice and Grenoble.��5. Sarah (come) ________to the party. Oliver (be) _______there as well. ��6. Ted: It is so hot in here! �Sarah: I (turn)______ the air-conditioning on. ��

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EXERCISE & ANSWER

Using the words in parentheses, complete the text below with the appropriate tenses.

1. A: Why are you holding a piece of paper? � B: I (write) am going to write a letter to my friends back home in Texas. �

2. A: I'm about to fall asleep. I need to wake up! � B: I (get) ______ you a cup of coffee. That will wake you up. ��3. A: I can't hear the television! � B: I (turn) ________it up so you can hear it. ��4. We are so excited about our trip next month to France. We (visit) _____ Paris, Nice and Grenoble.��5. Sarah (come) ________to the party. Oliver (be) _______there as well. ��6. Ted: It is so hot in here! �Sarah: I (turn)______ the air-conditioning on. ��.

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EXERCISE & ANSWER

Using the words in parentheses, complete the text below with the appropriate tenses.

1. A: Why are you holding a piece of paper? � B: I (write) am going to write a letter to my friends back home in Texas. ��2. A: I'm about to fall asleep. I need to wake up! � B: I (get) will get you a cup of coffee. That will wake you up.

3. A: I can't hear the television! � B: I (turn) ________it up so you can hear it. ��4. We are so excited about our trip next month to France. We (visit) _____ Paris, Nice and Grenoble.��5. Sarah (come) ________to the party. Oliver (be) _______there as well. ��6. Ted: It is so hot in here! �Sarah: I (turn)______ the air-conditioning on. �

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EXERCISE & ANSWER

Using the words in parentheses, complete the text below with the appropriate tenses.

1. A: Why are you holding a piece of paper? � B: I (write) am going to write a letter to my friends back home in Texas. ��2. A: I'm about to fall asleep. I need to wake up! � B: I (get) will get you a cup of coffee. That will wake you up. ��3. A: I can't hear the television! � B: I (turn) will turn it up so you can hear it.

4. We are so excited about our trip next month to France. We (visit) _____ Paris, Nice and Grenoble.��5. Sarah (come) ________to the party. Oliver (be) _______there as well. ��6. Ted: It is so hot in here! �Sarah: I (turn)______ the air-conditioning on. �

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EXERCISE & ANSWER

Using the words in parentheses, complete the text below with the appropriate tenses.

1. A: Why are you holding a piece of paper? � B: I (write) am going to write a letter to my friends back home in Texas. ��2. A: I'm about to fall asleep. I need to wake up! � B: I (get) will get you a cup of coffee. That will wake you up. ��3. A: I can't hear the television! � B: I (turn) will turn it up so you can hear it. ��4. We are so excited about our trip next month to France. We (visit) are going to visit Paris, Nice and Grenoble.

5. Sarah (come) ________to the party. Oliver (be) _______there as well. ��6. Ted: It is so hot in here! �Sarah: I (turn)______ the air-conditioning on. �

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EXERCISE & ANSWER

Using the words in parentheses, complete the text below with the appropriate tenses.

1. A: Why are you holding a piece of paper? � B: I (write) am going to write a letter to my friends back home in Texas. ��2. A: I'm about to fall asleep. I need to wake up! � B: I (get) will get you a cup of coffee. That will wake you up. ��3. A: I can't hear the television! � B: I (turn) will turn it up so you can hear it. ��4. We are so excited about our trip next month to France. We (visit) are going to visit Paris, Nice and Grenoble.��5. Sarah (come) will come to the party. Oliver (be) _______there as well. ��6. Ted: It is so hot in here! �Sarah: I (turn)______ the air-conditioning on. �

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EXERCISE & ANSWER

Using the words in parentheses, complete the text below with the appropriate tenses.

1. A: Why are you holding a piece of paper? � B: I (write) am going to write a letter to my friends back home in Texas. ��2. A: I'm about to fall asleep. I need to wake up! � B: I (get) will get you a cup of coffee. That will wake you up. ��3. A: I can't hear the television! � B: I (turn) will turn it up so you can hear it. ��4. We are so excited about our trip next month to France. We (visit) are going to visit Paris, Nice and Grenoble.��5. Sarah (come) will come to the party. Oliver (be) will be there as well.

�6. Ted: It is so hot in here! �Sarah: I (turn)______ the air-conditioning on. �

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EXERCISE & ANSWER

Using the words in parentheses, complete the text below with the appropriate tenses.

1. A: Why are you holding a piece of paper? � B: I (write) am going to write a letter to my friends back home in Texas. ��2. A: I'm about to fall asleep. I need to wake up! � B: I (get) will get you a cup of coffee. That will wake you up. ��3. A: I can't hear the television! � B: I (turn) will turn it up so you can hear it. ��4. We are so excited about our trip next month to France. We (visit) are going to visit Paris, Nice and Grenoble.��5. Sarah (come) will come to the party. Oliver (be) will be there as well. ��6. Ted: It is so hot in here! � Sarah: I (turn) will turn the air-conditioning on. �.