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TomJ Posted 12 years ago
Grammar
A:1: Choosing the correct verb tense
Hello teachers; I've been given an exercise on choosing the correct verb form from those given in the brackets. And I also need to explain why the verb form that I choose is correct. I've tried to do this myself first, but I'm not sure if I'm entirely correct. Would you kindly help me with this exercise?
Here's the exercise:
1) The Earth moves round the sun. (moved, moves, is moving) [I chose ‘simple present tense’, because it’s a scientific/permanent fact; something that is always true]
2) My friends saw the Prime Minister yesterday. (see, have seen, saw) [‘simple past’ – because time expression ‘yesterday’ puts the action in a finished time in the past]
3) I have sent him only one letter up to now. (send, sent, have sent) [Teachers, I’m stuck here and don’t know how I should explain the reason why ‘have sent’ is the correct alternative]
4) She is looking worried about something. (looks, looking, is looking) [‘is looking’ – because the action is happening at the present moment; at the time of speaking]
5) It started to rain while we were playing tennis. (are playing, were playing, had played) [‘were playing’ – because the action was happening/occurring at the time when it started to rain]
6) He was driving fast when the accident happened. (drove, was driving, is driving) [‘was driving’ – because the action (driving) was in progress at the time the accident happened]
7) He often falls asleep while he drives. (is driving, drives, drove) [I need your help here, please]
8) I'm sure I had seen him at the party last night. (saw, have seen, had seen) [‘had seen’ – because the action of seeing him happened in the past]
9) He is having a mill in this town. [has, is having, have]
10) He thanked me for what I have done. (have done, had done, have been doing) [‘present perfect’ because the action has already happened or finished]
11) I am hearing a strange noise. (hear, am hearing, have been hearing) [‘present continuous’ – because the action ‘hearing’ is happening now or at the time of speaking]
12) I have known him for a long time. (know, have known, have been knowing) [I’d like you to explain to me why ‘have known’ is the correct alternative, please. I know ‘have known’ is the correct option, but I can’t explain why ‘have been knowing is not correct here.]
13) She speaks English fluently. (speaks, has been speaking, spoke) [‘simple present’ – because it’s a fact about her]
14) Don't disturb him when he does his homework. (does, is doing, has been doing) [I need your help here, please]
Here's the exercise:
1) The Earth moves round the sun. (moved, moves, is moving) [I chose ‘simple present tense’, because it’s a scientific/permanent fact; something that is always true]
2) My friends saw the Prime Minister yesterday. (see, have seen, saw) [‘simple past’ – because time expression ‘yesterday’ puts the action in a finished time in the past]
3) I have sent him only one letter up to now. (send, sent, have sent) [Teachers, I’m stuck here and don’t know how I should explain the reason why ‘have sent’ is the correct alternative]
4) She is looking worried about something. (looks, looking, is looking) [‘is looking’ – because the action is happening at the present moment; at the time of speaking]
5) It started to rain while we were playing tennis. (are playing, were playing, had played) [‘were playing’ – because the action was happening/occurring at the time when it started to rain]
6) He was driving fast when the accident happened. (drove, was driving, is driving) [‘was driving’ – because the action (driving) was in progress at the time the accident happened]
7) He often falls asleep while he drives. (is driving, drives, drove) [I need your help here, please]
8) I'm sure I had seen him at the party last night. (saw, have seen, had seen) [‘had seen’ – because the action of seeing him happened in the past]
9) He is having a mill in this town. [has, is having, have]
10) He thanked me for what I have done. (have done, had done, have been doing) [‘present perfect’ because the action has already happened or finished]
11) I am hearing a strange noise. (hear, am hearing, have been hearing) [‘present continuous’ – because the action ‘hearing’ is happening now or at the time of speaking]
12) I have known him for a long time. (know, have known, have been knowing) [I’d like you to explain to me why ‘have known’ is the correct alternative, please. I know ‘have known’ is the correct option, but I can’t explain why ‘have been knowing is not correct here.]
13) She speaks English fluently. (speaks, has been speaking, spoke) [‘simple present’ – because it’s a fact about her]
14) Don't disturb him when he does his homework. (does, is doing, has been doing) [I need your help here, please]
Top answer
3. You are correct: no specific time in past, implied continuation into future. 4.
- 3.
- You are correct: no specific time in past, implied continuation into future.
- 4.
- Also in progress (see #6) 7.
- Is driving: in progress 8.
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5 Answers
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3. You are correct: no specific time in past, implied continuation into future.
4. Also in progress (see #6)
7. Is driving: in progress
8. Saw: defined time (You could say that you hadn't seen him since the previous party a year ago)
9. Has: No action in progress, as it would be if you were having a good time.
10. Had done: Action completed before the time of 'thank'
4. Also in progress (see #6)
7. Is driving: in progress
8. Saw: defined time (You could say that you hadn't seen him since the previous party a year ago)
9. Has: No action in progress, as it would be if you were having a good time.
10. Had done: Action completed before the time of 'thank'
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Thank you, Philip, for your informative post!
I'd like to ask you a few more things, please.
#1: When we say that something is in progress, does it mean that the thing is going on/continuing AT the moment or time of speaking? I know it's one of the main uses of present progressive/continuous tense. But I was wondering if these things ( 'action in progress' and 'action continuing or
I'd like to ask you a few more things, please.
#1: When we say that something is in progress, does it mean that the thing is going on/continuing AT the moment or time of speaking? I know it's one of the main uses of present progressive/continuous tense. But I was wondering if these things ( 'action in progress' and 'action continuing or
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#1 - Yes, an action in progress at the time another action occurred. Note that you could have two verbs in the continuous tense: Tom was washing the dishes while Mary was walking the dog.
#2 - 1a This sounds like a "scene" that happens on a regular basis. 1b This doesn't make sense to me.
#2 - 2a Same as 1a above, same "scene". 2b Doesn't make sense to me.
As a rule of thumb, for s
#2 - 1a This sounds like a "scene" that happens on a regular basis. 1b This doesn't make sense to me.
#2 - 2a Same as 1a above, same "scene". 2b Doesn't make sense to me.
As a rule of thumb, for s
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She looks worried about something
I hear a strange noise
Because verbs of perception and appearing are not used in the continuous tense
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Sir in question no 5 answer is were but why not are
Pls explain
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