What are the English tenses? What is the most commonly used English tense? Please illustrate the usage of English tenses in sentences with examples.

Tense is a form of English predicate verb, which expresses the time and aspect of action. The so-called posture refers to the way of action or the state of things. English and Chinese are different, indicating the time and posture of the action is mainly realized by the change of the predicate verb form itself. In English, there are four kinds of times when actions occur: present, past, future and past and future; There are also four gestures that indicate the occurrence of actions: general, progressive, complete and complete. The combination of time and posture constitutes tense. English has the tense 16 (see the table below). There are only ten commonly used: simple present tense, simple past tense, simple future tense, past future tense, present continuous tense, past continuous tense, future continuous tense, present perfect tense, past perfect tense and present perfect continuous tense.

8.1-present indefinite tense

1. stands for a habitual action; The quality or state of a person or thing when speaking; And objective truth.

Predicate verbs: Except for the third person singular, you need to add -s after the verb, others use the original verbs (be and have verbs have special forms with different people). This tense is often followed by an adverbial with the concept of frequency or present, such as: always, never, every day, etc. For example:

We get up at six every morning. We get up at six every morning.

Everyone is in high spirits. Everyone is in high spirits.

Light travels faster than sound. (objective fact) The speed of light is faster than the speed of sound.

2. Used in adverbial clauses of time and conditions to replace the general future tense.

For example:

If it is fine tomorrow, we will have a picnic. If it is sunny tomorrow, we will have a picnic.

Bring me some magazines next time you come. Bring me some magazines next time you come.

3. Used with some verbs with the meaning of "start, arrive" to indicate the action that will take place as planned.

Commonly used participles are: arrive, yes, start, go, leave, start, stay and so on. For example:

The delegation will arrive this afternoon.

There is a new movie tonight. There is a new movie tonight.

4. headlines used in newspapers and periodicals

For example:

Algerian troops opened fire on anti-government rioters.

Jilin Nature Reserve is full of wild animals.

8.2— Past Tense (past indefinite tense)

Indicates the action or state at some time in the past. The predicate verb uses the past tense: the past tense of regular verbs is to add -ed or-d after the prototype verb; The variant forms of irregular verbs need to be memorized (see appendix 1). This tense is often followed by an adverbial indicating the past time, such as: then, that time, just now, three days ago, or an adverbial clause indicating the past time guided by when, while, etc. For example:

The children just went out. The children have just gone out.

She passed away ten years ago.

Note that sometimes there is an adverbial of place in a sentence that uses the past tense instead of the past time adverbial. At this time, the adverbial of place often implies that the action took place at some time in the past. For example:

I lost my wallet in the theater. I lost my wallet in the theater.

8.3— Future indefinite tense

Indicates an action or situation that will happen relative to the speaking time. The predicate form is shall or will plus the verb prototype. (In Britain, the first person uses shall, while others use will；; In America, all kinds of people use will. This tense is usually followed by an adverbial indicating the future time, such as soon, next week, tomorrow, etc. For example:

My sister will be nineteen next month. My sister will be nineteen next month.

I will return the book to you as soon as possible. I will return the book to you as soon as possible.

Note indicates other forms of future time.

1) be going to do means to do something recently. For example:

What are you going to do tonight? What are you going to do tonight?

This wall will be painted green. The wall will be painted green.

Sometimes, it is also used for weather conditions. For example:

It will rain. It will rain.

Being can be used in conditional sentences to indicate future time, but will(shall) can't. For example:

If you are going to play tennis this afternoon, you'd better get your shoes ready now. If you want to play tennis this afternoon, you'd better get your shoes ready now.

Be to do means what will happen as planned. For example:

We will meet at the school gate. We agreed to meet at the school gate.

3) about to do means "about to do something" For example:

The autumn harvest is about to begin. The autumn harvest is about to begin.

4) The present tense indicates the action to be taken according to the regulations and timetable (see this lecture 8. 1-3).

5) The present continuous tense means to arrange the upcoming action as planned (see 8.5-2 in this lecture).

8.4 past future tense indefinite tense

Indicates an action or situation that will occur after a certain time in the past. It is often used in the subject clause where the predicate verb is the simple past tense. Its form consists of the past tense of will or shall, would or should and the original verb. For example:

He said that he would get married soon. He said that he would get married soon.

I asked him when he would come here again. I asked him when he would come here again.

Note that like the general future tense, there are other corresponding expressions in the general past future tense, such as was (were) going to do. For example:

He said he would try again. He said he would try again.

8.5 Present continuous tense

It consists of be (am, is, are)+ present participle. Mainly used for:

1. indicates an ongoing action or situation when speaking.

For example:

They are doing experiments now. They are conducting an experiment.

Professor Wang is attending a conference in Paris. Professor Wang is attending a conference in Paris.

2. Indicates the operation that will happen as planned.

But only a few verbs are applicable, and they often follow the adverbial of time. Such common verbs are: go, come, go, arrive, etc. For example:

He will come here next week and stay here until August.

He will come here next week and stay here until August.

Note 1) Verbs that are not used in the progressive tense include state verbs that express feelings, emotions, mental states, all relationships and characteristics, and generally cannot be used in the progressive tense (see 7.2). For example:

Agree (agree) to belong to (belong to) own (own)

Love (remember) want (want)

Look (as if) look (see) listen (listen)

Notice (notice) seems to be (yes)

Feel (know) the mind (mind)

Think (believe) forget (forget)

Like (like) to realize (realize) one's wish (hope)

However, when this participle is used in other meanings, part of it can be used in the continuous tense.

For example:

I'm going to see Mary tomorrow. I will see Mary tomorrow.

He is considering the problem. He is thinking about it.

2) be's progressive tense+dynamic adjective (see the fifth adjective 5. 1-2-2) can sometimes express people's activities and behaviors in a relatively short time. For example:

I'm just curious. I'm just curious.

Mary is very modest now. Mary is very modest now.

3) Habitual progressive aspect

The present (or past) continuous tense can sometimes be used with words such as always, constantly, forever, etc. , with emotional color, is often used to express some unpleasant situations. For example:

You always find fault with me. You always find fault with me.

John always loses things. John is always forgetful.

8.6 Past continuous tense

Indicates an ongoing action at a certain moment or stage in the past. Predicate form: It consists of was(were)+ present participle. There is usually an adverbial indicating the past time. For example:

We were just talking about you. We are talking about you.

I was playing the piano when she came in. I am playing the piano.

Note that the past continuous tense is usually used to describe the plot in the story. For example:

It was a dark night with a strong wind. It was a dark night and the wind was blowing.

8.7 Future continuous tense

Predicate form: it consists of shall or will+be+ present participle.

1. mainly indicates the action that is going on at a certain time or in the future.

For example:

What will you be doing this time tomorrow? What will you be doing this time tomorrow?

We will have a meeting from 3 to 4 this afternoon. We will have a meeting from three to four this afternoon.

2. Sometimes it can also indicate an action that is expected to happen soon or will happen.

For example:

I believe he will come soon. I think he will arrive soon.

I'm going to see a friend off this afternoon. I'm going to see a friend off this afternoon.

8.8 The present perfect tense

Predicate form: it consists of have+past participle. There are two main uses:

1. represents actions that happened in the past but have an impact on the present.

At this time, you don't have to use adverbials of time, but you can also use them with some adverbials of time that express indefinite past. Common adverbials are already, however, never, before, recently, just now, once, once and so on. For example:

I have been to Beijing many times. I have been to Beijing many times.

They have published their experimental results. They published the experimental results.

2. It means an action that has continued from a certain time in the past to the present (it may continue).

Often used in verbs with continuous meaning, usually followed by adverbials indicating a period of time, such as since, two years, so far, recent years, etc. For example:

He has lived here since 1949. He has lived here since 1949.

I have studied English for two years. I have studied English for two years.

Note 1) Verbs with boundary meanings (such as start, end, death, loss, finding, falling, going, coming, joining, etc. ) and verbs with instantaneous meaning (such as knocking, jumping, hitting, hitting, etc.). ) cannot be used in the second usage of the perfect tense. (See Lecture 7-2) For example:

It can't be said that he has been in the army for ten years.

It should be said that he has been a soldier for ten years.

He has been in the army for ten years.

He joined the army ten years ago.

He has been in the army for ten years.

It is (used to be) ... because this structure is also often used in the present perfect tense. For example:

It's been a long time since they last met. It's been a long time since they last met.

3) In the sentence pattern "This is the first (second) time ...", the perfect form is often used in clauses. For example:

Is this your first visit to Hong Kong? Is this your first visit to Hong Kong?

This is the second time I have broken a cup this year. This is the second time I have broken the teacup this year.

4) In the question guided by when and where, the present perfect tense ("Where have you been?" ) generally not. Except), because the main point of this kind of sentence is the specific time and place where things happen. For example:

-When did you meet him? When did you meet him?

I saw him an hour ago. I saw him an hour ago.

-Where did you buy the book? Where did you buy this book?

I bought this book in the school bookstore. I bought it in the school bookstore.

5) The difference between the present perfect tense and the general past tense

(1) Both of them can indicate actions that happened in the past, but the former indicates the influence of past actions on the present, and the latter indicates the facts of past actions. Try to compare:

He has gone to Beijing. He has gone to Beijing. (meaning people are gone)

He went to Beijing (last week). He went to Beijing (last week). The action took place last week, and now people may have come back. )

(2) Both can represent actions that started in the past and lasted for a period of time. The present perfect tense indicates that the action is still going on, and the general past tense indicates that the action has been terminated. Try to compare:

My uncle has lived in Rome for four years. My uncle has lived in Rome for four years. (I still live there)

My uncle lived in Rome for four years. My uncle lived in Rome for four years. (I don't live there now)

8.9 past perfect tense

Predicate form: it consists of had+ past participle, indicating the action that has been completed before a certain time in the past. It is often used as an adverbial of time guided by prepositions or conjunctions such as by and before to indicate the time from the past to a certain time. This tense is often used in objects or attributive clauses. For example:

John learned some Chinese before he came to China. John learned some Chinese before he came to China.

I had worked in this university for ten years by the end of last year. I had worked in this university for ten years by the end of last year.

He found his lost book. He found his lost book.

The past perfect tense is also often used in the main clauses of sentence patterns such as "no earlier than …" and "hardly … when (before)", and the general past tense is often used in clauses. When "no quiet" and "hardy" are moved to the beginning of the sentence to show emphasis, the word order is required to be reversed (see the first lecture 17.2-2). For example:

Hardly had we got home when it began to rain.

Hardly had we got home when it began to rain.

Hardly had we got home when it began to rain.

Hardly had he entered the office when the telephone rang.

Hardly had he entered the office when the telephone rang.

Hardly had he entered the office when the telephone rang.

Pay attention to the difference between the past perfect tense and the general past tense.

Both of them represent past actions, but the general past tense represents the past time relative to the present, while the past perfect tense represents the past relative to a certain moment in the past, that is, the past. Be careful not to misuse the past perfect tense in sentences with no past relative time or in sentences with past relative time. For example:

They had finished the work yesterday.

They finished the work yesterday.

They finished the work yesterday.

Error: All the delegates arrived before 6 pm yesterday.

Correct: All the delegates arrived before 6 o'clock yesterday afternoon.

All the delegates arrived before six o'clock yesterday afternoon.

8. The present perfect continuous tense of10

The present perfect continuous tense consists of have +been+ present participle, which means that the action started at some time in the past, has been going on until now, and may continue. It is usually used with adverbials to indicate a period of time, such as: a few hours, starting from this morning ... for example:

They have been watching TV for two hours. They have been watching TV for two hours.

He has been writing this article since this morning.

Note 1) The difference between the present perfect continuous tense and the present perfect tense.

(1) The present perfect continuous tense and the second present perfect tense (that is, indicating the continuation of the action) have similar usages and are often interchanged. The difference between the two is that the present perfect continuous tense emphasizes the continuity of action more than the present perfect continuous tense, and the former can be said to be the form of emphasis of the latter. Try to compare:

We have lived here for ten years.

We have lived here for ten years.

We have lived here for ten years.

(2) Without adverbial of time, the present perfect continuous tense indicates that the action is still going on, and the present perfect tense indicates that the action has ended in the past. For example:

The students have been preparing for the exam. The students have been preparing for the exam.

The students are ready for the exam. The students are ready for the exam.

(3) The present perfect continuous tense is generally not applicable to state verbs (static verbs). To express the continuation of state verbs, we can only use the present perfect tense. For example:

They have known each other since 1970. They have known each other since 1970.

He hopes that he will have the opportunity to receive shepherd education. He has always wanted to have a chance to go to college.

2) The change form of the present perfect continuous tense in the past is the past perfect continuous tense. Its form is: had+been+ present participle. For example:

She asked me what I had been doing all these years. She asked me what I had been doing all these years.

They are all sweaty because they have been playing basketball. They are all sweating because they have been playing basketball.