TDC 1Pedagogical GrammarVerb Tenses to Express Present Time

Present Verb Tenses- Not as easy as one might assume. Basically, ...

1) Actions that happen repeatedly - _________________2) Actions that are happening right now - _____________3) Actions that began in the past and are still happening

now - ________________

Typical ELL Errors-I am in this city for all my adult life.-The solution to my problem isn’t depend on another person.-Is working your uncle at the bank now?-Modern cars are having much better tires than in the past.-Do you have worked at this bank since the last time I saw you?

Simple Present

Present Progressive

Present Perfect

Present Verb TensesVerb Tense Example Meaning

Simple Present

I study Chinese every day. a habitual or repeating action

Present Progressive

I am studying Chinese today.

a current action

Present Perfect

I have studied Chinese since 2006.

an action that began in the past and continues to be true

Present Perfect Progressive

I have been studying Chinese all morning.

an action that began in the past and is continuing now (with emphasis on the fact that it is still happening now.

Present Verb TensesBE CAREFUL1) The Present Simple can also be used to talk about scheduled events in the future.

Example: The train arrives at five tomorrow.

2) The Present Progressive can also be used to talk about future arrangements.

Example: We are visiting grandma tomorrow.

3) The Present Perfect can also be used to talk about actions that happened at an unspecified time in the past.

Example: I have already been to Miami.

Past Now Future

X X X X X I X X X X X

Simple Present

What ELLs Should Know

--s in the third person singular-Irregular forms (-ies / -es / has)

Singular Plural

I walk we walk

you walk you walk

he/she/it walks they walk

Verb Tense Example Meaning

Simple Present

I study Chinese every day. a habitual or repeating action

Typical ELL Errors-Laura cook scrambled eggs for breakfast every day.-My baby sister crys when she is hungry.-I am walk to school every day.

Past Now Future

X I X

Present Progressive

What ELLs Should Know-am/is/are + present participle-Formation of present participles*

Singular Plural

I am walking we are walking

you are walking you are walking

he/she/it is walking they are walking

Typical ELL Errors-We study very hard for tomorrow’s test.-The earth is going around the sun once a year.-My baby brother crying now.-He is siting on the table.-I am having two cars.

Verb Tense Example Meaning

Present Progressive

I am studying Chinese today. a current action

Past Now Future

X X X X X I

Present Perfect

What ELLs Should Know

-has / have + past participle-Formation of past participles*

Singular Plural

I have walked we have walked

you have walked you have walked

he/she/it has walked they have walked

Typical ELL Errors-I lived here my whole life.-Sarah have rented the same apartment since 2005.-Sarah has already complete all the homework.-Macy has putted the book on the teacher’s table.

Verb Tense Example Meaning

Present Perfect

I have studied Chinese since 2006.

an action that began in the past and continues to be true

Past Now Future

X X X X X I

Present Perfect Progressive

What ELLs Should Know-has / have + been + present participle

Singular Plural

I have been walking we have been walking

you have been walking you have been walking

he/she/it has been walking they have been walking

Typical ELL Errors-I been waiting for the bus for almost 45 minutes.-I am waiting for the bus for almos 45 minutes.

Verb Tense Example Meaning

Present Perfect Progressive

I have been studying Chinese all morning.

an action that began in the past and is continuing now (with emphasis on the fact that it is still happening now.*

Negative Forms

Typical ELL Errors-I no speak French well. // The soup doesn’t smells good.-The man is not like this food. // We don’t have eaten yet.

Tense Negative Form

Simple Present

I/you/we/they + do + not + verbhe / she / it + does + not + verb

Present Progressive

I am + not + present participleyou/we/they + are + not + present participlehe / she / it + is + not + present participle

Present Perfect

I/you/we/they + have+ not + past participlehe / she / it + has + not + past participle

Present Perfect Progressive

I/you/we/they + have+ not + been + present participlehe / she / it + has + not + been + present participle

What ELLs Should Know-Most difficult – Present Simple*

Contractions

Typical ELL Errors-I amn’t from northern India.-Linda’s bought a new car. It’s an amazing sound system.

Tense Affirmative Negative

Simple Present ----- do not – don’tdoes not – doesn’t

Present Progressive

I am – I’mhe/she/it is – he’s/she’s/ it’syou/we/they are – you’re, we’re, they’re

am not - ---is not – isn’t (he’s not...)are not – aren’t (you’re not...)

Present Perfect + Present Perfect Progressive

I/you/we/they have – I’ve / you’ve / we’ve / they’vehe / she / it has – he’s / she’s / it’s*

I/you/we/they have not – haven’t (I’ve not...)he / she / it has not – hasn’t (he’s not...)

Forming Questions

Typical ELL Errors-Do Luke like hockey? // Does Valery goes to class every day?-Is Mary have a sports car? // Do you wearing a new tie today?-How many international trips did you have taken in your life?

Tense Negative Form

Simple Present do + I/you/we/they + verbdoes + he / she / it + verb

Present Progressive

am + I + present participleare + you/we/they + present participleis + he / she / it + present participle

Present Perfect have + I/you/we/they + past participlehas + he / she / it + past participle

Present Perfect Progressive

have + I/you/we/they + been + present participlehas + he / she / it + been + present participle

What ELLs Should Know-Most difficult – Present Simple*

Present TensesPortuguese Interference Common Errors

English Present Perfect tense can be rendered in Portuguese by the present form or the past form.

1. “I live here all my life.”2. “I already watched this film.”

Portuguese speakers frequently use the simple present to talk about the future.

1. “If you need a ride to the store, I take you.”2. “In a little while, I cook dinner.”

In Portuguese, the ending of verbs change according to the subject. Students might get confused.

In Portuguse, there are no auxiliary verbs used to form questions or to form negative sentences in the Simple Present.

1. “___You want to go?”2. “I no want to go.”