Verb Tenses Flashcards
When do we use the simple present tense?
a. ) the fact that it is true now
b. ) a recurring event
c. ) a state or condition
d. ) a planned future action (with a future time word)
How do we create a question using the simple present tense?
do/does + subject + verb
How do we express the negative in the simple present tense?
do/does + not + verb
What is the typical ESL error with simple present tense?
Students continuously add a form of “be” after the subject pronoun when not needed (ex. Every day I am work here).
When do we use the simple past tense?
a. ) a completed action
b. ) an activity that took place regularly in the past
c. ) a completed condition
How do we create a question with the simple past tense?
did + subject + verb
How do we express the negative in the simple past tense?
did + not + verb
What is the typical ESL error with simple past tense?
Students continuously add a form of “be” after the subject pronoun when not needed (ex. Every day I was work here).
When do we use simple future tense?
a. ) a prediction about a future event
b. ) a decision at the time of speaking (not planned in advance)
c. ) an agreement to do something
How do we create a question with the simple future tense?
will + subject + verb
How do we express the negative in simple future tense?
will + not + verb
What is this ESL error when they are trying to use simple future tense?
“In five minutes, I return here. Please wait.”
case of native language interference
What is this ESL error when using simple future tense?
“What are your plans for Friday?”
*“I will have a party.”
Students have been taught that “will” means a future time so they will use “will” for every future action. For previously planned actions, though, we usually use “be going to.”
