1

El Presente Simple (o habitual)

1. Forma:
Infinitivo sin to (+ -s en 3. persona singular). Aux para negat. e int. do/does

2. Usos:
2.1. Para expresar acciones habituales/hablar de hechos generales o cientficos:
Ej.: We buy bread everyday.
He doesn't play the guitar.
Nurses look after patients in hospitals
The earth goes round the sun.

2.2. Con horarios y programas:

Ej.: The train leaves at 4

2.3. En oraciones temporales (time clauses):

Ej.: Ill stay at home until you come back.
When I arrive, I'll let you know.
When the sun shines, it gets warmer.
Observa que los presentes de los dos primeros ejemplos van en subjuntivo en espaol.
Van introducidas por las siguientes conjunciones: as son as, by the time, when, until, the moment
(that),

2.4. Con stative verbs (verbos estticos):

Ej.: I think he is very bossy

3. Los adverbios y expresiones adverbiales de tiempo que suelen ir con el present simple son los de
frecuencia:
often hardly ever
usually on Tuesdays
sometimes once/twice/three times (a week)
always every (month)
never (con verbo afirmativo) how often?
Ej.: How often does she go dancing?
She goes dancing once a week.
She doesn't go dancing on Sundays.

4. Observa el contraste entre las siguientes oraciones:

(1) The speaker is reading the news.
(2) He reads it everyday.

Como ves se contrasta aquello que se realiza mientras se est hablando (1) con aquello que se suele
realizar habitualmente (2).
El Presente Continuo se usa ms en ingls que en espaol, ya que nosotros a veces utilizamos el simple en
su lugar:
Ej.:What are you doing? = Qu ests haciendo/ haces?
I'm reading = Estoy leyendo/leo.
Why is he complaining? = por qu protesta?
She's complaining too much = Se queja demasiado
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El Presente Continuo (o Progresivo).

1. Forma:
Presente de be + -ing.
2. Usos:
2.1. Para describir acciones/situaciones que estn ocurriendo ahora (en el momento de hablar). Las
expresiones de tiempo seran: now, right now, at the moment.
Ej.: Listen! lt is thundering!
Wheres Margaret? Shes having a bath.
Im tired. Im going to bed now. Goodnight!

2.2. 0 en un sentido ms general/amplio. Exprexiones de tiempo: this year, these days, this month,
Ej.: He's travelling a lot lately.
We're not sleeping well these days.
Are you watching the TV afternoon series?

2.3. Para expresar lo que haremos con toda seguridad en un futuro prximo porque lo hemos fijado de
antemano. Expresiones de tiempo: this evening, tonight, tomorrow, next Friday/year,
Ej.: I am playing rugby on Sunday.
He's meeting her next weekend.

2.4. Con el adverbio always, para denotar una queja: Ej.: He is always shouting.

3. Otros adverbios que tambin pueden ir con el present continuous: still (an, en afirmativas e
interrogativas), yet (todava, en negativas). Fjate en la posicin de ambos.

Ej.: Paul is still planning their holidays!

Are they still talking?
The computers are not working yet.

4. Stative verbs: Hay unos cuantos verbos que no suelen ir en Presente Continuo. Estos son:

los de sentido: see, hear, smell, notice.

los de sentimiento: want, desire, refuse, wish, care, adore.
los de pensamiento: understand, know, believe, remember, think (creer), mean, mind.
los de posesin: possess, own, belong, have.
seem, appear.
los auxiliares: be y have.

No obstante, hay que decir que algunos de estos verbos s se pueden usar en Presente Continuo cuando su
significado vara o adquiere otro matiz. Veamos los ms importantes:

think (pensar): cuando no se da ni se piede opinin.

Ej.: What are you thinking about? I'm thinking about my boyfriend.
see: con el sentido de encontrarse, entrevistarse.
Ej.: He's seeing his doctor tomorrow.
have, sin sentido de posesin.
Ej.: She's having dinner with Derek = Est cenando con Derek.
be, en la pasiva.
Ej.: A new formula is being analyzed.
be, con sentido de comportarse.
Ej.: The children are being very noisy today.
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Pasado Simple (Pretrito Imperfecto y Pretrito Indefinido)

1. Forma:
Infinitivo sin to + -ed/o segunda columna de verbos irregulares. Aux: did

2. Usos:
2.1. Para hablar de acciones ya terminadas, que ocurrieron en un momento concreto del pasado.
Ej.: She bought a jumper yesterday.
We once saw the Queen at Ascot.
Expresiones de tiempo que pueden ir con el pasado simple:
a) adverbios o complementos como: yesterday, a week/year ago, last year/month, once, in 2007,etc

b) Subordinadas temporales introducidas por: while, when, before, until, since, etc.
Ej.: I learnt a lot of French while/when I was in Paris.
He switched off the radio as soon as the jazz music started.

2.2. Para referirse a un hbito o costumbre del pasado.

Ej.: She always went abroad for her holidays.
In the XIX century London was a dangerous city

Pasado Continuo
1. Forma:
Pasado de be+ -ing.

2. Usos:
2.1. Para describir una accin que estaba en proceso de realizacin en un momento determinado del
pasado pero cuyos lmites de comienzo y final son inciertos. Fjate en los ejemplos y contrasta con el
Pasado Simple.
Ej.: He was reading a book that evening (accin en progreso, sin concluir. No se especifica si se
termin o no).
He read a book that evening (accin concluida: implica que termin el libro).
The girl was drowning in the lake. (No se especifica si termina ahogndose o no. Esta frase
admite que luego fuera rescatada, por ejemplo).
The girl drowned in the lake (suceso concluso, irreversible: acab ahogndose).
What were you doing yesterday at seven p. m.? I was having a bath (accin en progreso en el
pasado).

2.2. Para expresar dos acciones paralelas y simultneas en el pasado, ambas en proceso de realizacin y sin
concluir. Expresiones de tiempo, conjunciones que suelen unir estas acciones: when, while, as
Ej.: While he was cooking she was laying the table.

2.3. Para indicar costumbre en el pasado, en combinacin con adverbios de frecuencia como always,
constantly. En este caso se expresa adems un sentimiento de irritacin o nostalgia.
Ej.: He was constantly finding fault with me.
My father was always inventing new things.

2.4 En combinacin con oraciones con el verbo en Pasado Simple. La accin del pasado simple corta
(interrumpe) la accin del pasado continuo. (Si una accin ocurre despus de otra no se cortan- las dos
van en pasado simple: He took me home and then he kissed me).
Ej.: As I was walking along the street, a car crashed into a tree.
Terence was dancing when I came into the room
What were you doing when the bomb exploded?
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Present Perfect (Pretrito Perfecto)

1. Forma:
Presente de have + participio del v.

2. Usos:
El Pretrito Perfecto, como su nombre en ingls indica, Present Perfect, es en realidad un tiempo
puente entre el presente y el pasado.

2.1. Para expresar acciones que se empezaron en el pasado pero no han terminado todava. Fjate en los
ejemplos y contrasta con el Pasado Simple.
Ej. We have lived in Liverpool for many years. (y todava vivimos).
We lived in Liverpool for many years. (ya no vivimos en Liverpool).
My father has bred dogs for a long time. (y todava los cra).
My father bred dogs for a long time. (ya no los cra).

2.2. Para referirse a acciones que acaban de terminar, cuyos efectos son visibles actualmente
Ej.: Ow! Ive cut my finger.
The door is closed. Thers been an accident!
La idea de que es una accin reciente que acaba de concluirse se puede reforzar con el adverbio just, que
equivale al castellano acabar de.
Ej.: The train has just left. Im afraid you're late.

2.3. Para expresar lo que se ha realizado en el pasado cuando no importa la fecha o el momento, sino la
accin en s. Fjate en los ejemplos y contrasta con el Pasado Simple:
Ej.: Henry has been to Spain three times.
Henry went to Spain in 1956, 1981 and 1984.

3. A continuacin te presentamos una lista de los adverbios y complementos de tiempo que suelen
acompaar al Present Perfect (Pretrito Perfecto):

- so far, up to now, lately, recently.

- Today, this year/ month/ week, etc.
- Just, ever, never, for ten years/five minutes/ a long time, etc... Since October/1972/quarter past eight,
etc...
- tambin se puede usar never, always, often y dems adverbios de frecuencia.

Ej.. I have bought three new dresses up to now.

We haven't seen her lately.
We have seen the Queen this morning.
We have just moved into a new house.
Have you ever played poker?
They have not visited us for a long time.
We have not drunk since nine oclock
 5

ALREADY/YET/STILL
1. already y yet.
Already y yet se usan con el Present Perfect (have + participio)

PREGUNTAS:

YET se usa en preguntas (interrogativas) y se coloca al final de la oracin. = YA?

- Have you had a swim yet? = Lo has hecho ya?
- Have you said your mathematics lesson yet?
- Have you studied Unit 17 of Conocimiento del medio yet?

RESPUESTAS:

YET se usa para contestar que no (negativas) o para decir que algo todava no ha ocurrido y se
coloca al final de la oracin. = TODAVA NO, AN NO

- I havent had a swim in my swimming-pool yet.

-I havent said my mathematics lesson yet.

- I havent studied Conditionals with inversion yet

ALREADY se usa para contestar que s (afirmativas) o para decir que algo ya ha ocurrido, y se
coloca entre el auxiliar have y el verbo.= S, YA.

- I have already had a swim in my swimming-pool. .

- I have already said my mathematics lesson.

- I have already studied the English present tenses.

2. still / yet.
YET se usa con el Present Perfect, mientras que still se usa con el Present Perfect o con el Present (Simple
o Continuous), dependiendo de su significado.

STILL se usa con el Present para decir que una accin o situacin sigue ocurriendo. Para decir lo
mismo en espaol, usamos la frase seguir haciendo algo o bien usamos todava. Ejemplos:
- I am still studying at school. = Sigo estudiando en el Instituto. Todava estoy estudiando
en el Instituto.
- She is still in love with Juan. = Sigue enamorada de Juan. Todava est enamorada de
Juan.

STILL se usa tambin para decir que algo todava no ha ocurrido y por eso tiene el mismo
significado que YET. Pero se colocan en distintos sitios dentro de la oracin. En espaol se dice de
la misma forma: Todava no he visitado Londres / No he visitado Londres todava.

STILL se coloca delante del auxiliar: I still havent visited London.

YET se coloca al final de la oracin: I havent visited London yet.
 6

Y ahora vamos a ver si haces bien el ejercicio. Hay una serie de tareas ineludibles que tienes que hacer.
Siempre hay una persona que te pregunta si has hecho ya alguna tarea y t debes contestar si ya las
hecho, si todava no la has hecho, si todava ests hacindola. Tienes un ejemplo hecho con la primera
tarea. Las tareas son:

Mothers question: Have you made your bed yet?

Your answer 1: No, I havent made it yet. Im sorry.

Your answer 2: No, I still havent made it. Im sorry.

Your answer 3: Yes, I have already made it. Stop bothering me!

Your answer 4: I am still making it. Cant you see?

Recuerda que el Pretrito Perfecto en ingls no puede ir con adverbios o expresiones de tiempo que se
refieran a momentos determinados del pasado como: ago, yesterday, last Sunday, on Sunday, in February,
at three o'clock, the other day.

Compara (Present Perfect/Past Simple)

Ej.: Have you seen Ann this morning? (It is still morning)
Did you see Ann this morning? (It is now afternoon or evening)

Present Perfect Continuous. (Pretrito Perfecto Continuo)

1. Forma:
Present Perfect de be+ -ing.

2. Usos:
La diferencia con el Present Perfect (Pretrito Perfecto) es mnima. Es ms bien una cuestin de matiz. Con
la forma progresiva se da especial nfasis a la duracin de la accin. En efecto, si decimos:
(1) lt has been raining all day,
en lugar de decir:
(2) it has rained all day,
expresamos mejor con (1) lo largo y constante de la lluvia durante todo el da.
Como el Present Perfect Continuous resalta el tiempo que est durando una accin, solemos traducirlo por
llevar en presente ms un verbo en gerundio.

NOTA: Recuerda: How long...? = Cunto tiempo?

How long ago...? = Cunto tiempo hace que...?
Ejemplos: How long have you waited? (Pretrito Perfecto)
have you been waiting? (Pretrito Perfecto Continuo)
How long ago was the last war? (Pasado Simple).

Expresiones de tiempo: for a year, since, how long?; all night/morning/day/week.

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Past Perfect (Pretrito Pluscuamperfecto)

1. Forma:
El pasado del verbo have + participio del verbo.

2. Usos:

2.1 El Past Perfect indica una accin anterior a la del Pasado Simple.
Ej. Mother had prepared dinner before we arrived.
When we got to the field, the football match hadn't started yet.
Had you finished packing when the taxi carne?

Como habrs observado en los ejemplos:

a) Al tratarse de un pasado anterior a otro pasado, el Past Perfect (pasado anterior...) aparece casi
siempre en combinacin con otra oracin con el verbo en Past Simple
(...otro pasado). Ambas oraciones van unidas por conjunciones temporales como when, after,
before, once, as soon as, until, by the time
Ej.: I had painted the windows when it started to rain.
As soon as they had handed out the papers, the exam began.
We didn't start the exercise until everybody had come.

b) Tambin suele ir acompaado de la mayora de los adverbios y complementos que

acompaan al Pretrito Perfecto (just, already, yet, for, since , ever, never, etc...)
Ej.: When he was 65, he had already retired.
When the race started, many people had not arrived yet.
El uso del Pretrito Pluscuamperfecto no es rgido pues, a veces, puede ser sustituido por el Pasado Simple.
Ej.: She left before I had opened/opened my mouth.
Si te fijas en estos ejemplos, en espaol ocurre lo mismo.

Past Perfect Continuous (Pretrito Pluscuamperfecto Continuo)

1. Forma:
Had+ been + participio del v.

2. Usos:

2.1. Para reforzar la idea de duracin de una accin que tuvo lugar antes que otra.
Ej.: The telephone had been ringing for three times before anybody answered.

___________
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FORMAS DE EXPRESAR EL FUTURO (1)

WILL

- Para expresar predicciones generales qu e no estn bajo nuestro control

o Will

I think the weather will be nice later

o Pero cuando se predice lo que va a ocurrir basndonos en lo que se ve en ese momento se

utiliza `going to

Look at those black clouds. It is going to rain. (not `will)

- Decisiones espontneas, ofrecimientos, promesas y ruegos.

Did you phone Jane? Oh! I forgot. Ill phone her now
That bag looks heavy. Ill help you with it.
I wont tell anyone. I promise.
Will you please be quiet?

- Expresiones comunes:
o Probably
o Im sure
o I think
o I dont think
o I wonder

PRESENT SIMPLE

- Para hablar de un horario establecido.

The plane from Madrid arrives at three.
The film starts at seven.

PRESENT CONTINUOUS

- Describe planes ya organizados para una hora o da concreto.

Im playing tennis with my friend on Sunday

GOING TO

- Planes e intenciones para el futuro.

Im going to university. Ive passed all my exams

- Cuando hay evidencia de lo que va a ocurrir en ese momento.

I feel terrible. I think Im going to be sick (I feel terrible now)

Look at those black clouds. Its going to rain (The clouds are there now)
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Usos especiales de SHALL

1. Shall l/vve...? Para ofrecerse a hacer algo y para hacer sugerencias:
Ej.: Shall 1 answer the telephone for you?
Ej.: Shall we drive to the seaside?
Usos especiales de WILL
1. Will you...? Para hacer una peticin de forma educada y para hacer una invitacin
Ej.: Will you pass me the salt, please?
Will you have some more fish?

Future Continuous
1. Forma:
Futuro del verbo to be+ -ing

2. Usos:
2.1. Para expresar lo que estar ocurriendo en un momento determinado del futuro.

Ej.: He will be waiting at the station when the train arrives.

When the clock strikes 9 we shall be climbing the mountain.
This time next year she will be studying at the University.

2.2. Para hacer una pregunta educada acerca de los planes de otra persona:

Ej.: Will you be staying here long?

Will you be visiting Mary again this week?

Fjate en la siguiente lista de adverbios y expresiones adverbiales de tiempo tpicas del futuro continuo: at
this time tomorrow/next week/next, on Thursday, in the next dacade, in __ day's time/week's
time/month's time/year's time
Ej.: What will you be doing in ten day's time?

Compara:
- Its ten oclock now. Sam is in his office. He is working.
- At ten oclock yesterday Sam was in his office. He was working.
- At ten oclock tomorrow Sam will be in his office. He will be working.

Future Perfect
1. Forma:
Futuro del verbo to have+participio

2. Usos:
2.1 Para hablar de acciones que se habrn completado en un momento determinado del futuro.

Se suele utilizar `by para especificar de qu momento futuro estamos hablando (by this time next week, by
2 oclock, by the end of, by then, by July, in five years):
Ej.: By the time Im 30, Ill have travelled around the world.

Compara:
- Sam and Mary have been married for 24 years. Next year they will have been married for 25 years.
When their first child was born, they had been married for three years
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REPORTED SPEECH

Compara la diferencia entre el estilo directo y el indirecto:

Estilo directo:
- He said: I dont want to go home yet.

Estilo indirecto o reported speech:

- He said (that) he didnt want to go home yet.

En estilo indirecto that es opcional. Si se incluye, el registro es algo ms formal que si se omite.

Cuando los verbos como say, ask, tell, etc. (reporting verbs) estn en pasado, cambia el tiempo
verbal del resto de la oracin en el estilo indirecto. La excepcin se produce cuando hablamos de
algo que an tiene validez en el presente:

- They told me: Water boils at 100 degrees --- They told me (that) water boils at 100 degrees.
- She said: He has to work all weekend --- She said (that) he had to work all weekend.

Cambios de tiempo verbal en el estilo indirecto:

ESTILO DIRECTO ESTILO INDIRECTO (REPORTED SPEECH)

Present Past
i enjoy reading comics He said he enjoyed reading comics
Shes washing the dishes. He said she was washing the dishes.
We have watched all those films He said they had watched all those films.
Past Past perfect
I worked for an art gallery. He said he had worked for an art gallery.
Future Conditional
Ill post those letters. He said he would post those letters.
Can Could
I cant wait any longer. He said he couldnt wait any longer.
Must/have to Must/Had to
I must take that train. He said he had to take that train.
May Might
She may lend me some money. He said she might lend him some money.
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Expresiones que cambian en estilo indirecto:

ESTILO DIRECTO ESTILO INDIRECTO (REPORTED SPEECH)

Pronombres personales y objeto
I dont know you She said she didnt know me
We are late He said they were late
Posesivos
Thats not my book He said that wasnt his book
Adverbios y expresiones de tiempo
tomorrow The following day/the day after/the next day
yesterday The previous day/the day before
today That day
tonight That night
last week The previous week/the week before
a month ago The previous month/the month before
next week The following week/the seek after
now Then
here There
this That
these those

Reporting verbs:

- Verbo + (that): say, claim, explain, insist, agree, complain, deny, reply.
- Verbo + pronombre objeto + (that): tell (She told me that...)
- Verbo + infinitivo con to: offer, refuse, agree, promise...
- Verbo + for + verbo(-ing): apologise, thank

1. STATEMENTS. Oraciones Enunciativas (afirmativas y negativas).

1.1. Recuerda que los verbos introductores ms frecuentes para estas oraciones son: say, tell y answer.
Veamos la diferencia entre say y tell.

Tell es muy frecuente en Reported Speech cuando en la oracin introductora se menciona la persona
a la que se dirige el mensaje. Fjate en los ejemplos:

Ej.: He said, I can help you

He said (that) he could help me.
He said to me: I can help you
He told me (that) he could help me.

Recuerda que cuando despus de say se menciona la persona a la que nos dirigimos, sta va precedida de
to (He said to me). Tell, sin embargo, no lleva ninguna preposicin (He told me).
1.2. Otros reporting verbs para comunicar la intencin o el tono del hablante en afirmaciones son : admit,
announce, apologise, complain, reply, insist, remind, boast

1.3. Como recordars, that es el conector que introduce las oraciones afirmativas y negativas en Reported
Speech. Lo hemos puesto entre parntesis porque es opcional; sin embargo, lo ms frecuente es omitirlo.
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2. QUESTIONS.
Los verbos introductores ms frecuentes para este tipo de oraciones son: ask, inquire, want to
know, wonder, etc.
Llos tiempos verbales, los pronombres y los adjetivos posesivos, as como los adverbios y
expresiones de tiempo y lugar, sufren los mismos cambios que las oraciones enunciativas (STATEMENTS)
Las interrogativas indirectas se construyen como afirmativas (no hay inversin sujeto-verbo ni
signo de interrogacin, y tampoco comillas)

2.1. YES/NO QUESTIONS

Ej.: Did you sleep enough? the coach asked

The coach asked if/whether she had slept enough. (el entrenador pregunt si ella haba
dormido suficiente)

2.2. WH- QUESTIONS

Ej.: Where does the famous footballer live?
Kim asked where the famous footballer lived (Kim pregunt dnde viva el famoso futbolista)

2.3. OTROS CASOS

Las preguntas que empiezan con Shall I/WE? se transforman de modo diferente segn su significado:
a) Especulaciones o preguntas sobre el futuro. Siguen las reglas del futuro, siendo wonder el verbo
introductor habitual.
Ej.: Where shall I be in ten years' time, She asked.
She wondered where she would be in ten years' time.

b) Cuando se piden instrucciones o consejo, el Estilo Indirecto va introducido por ask, inquire, etc.,
seguido de should o to be + infinitivo.
Ej.: Shall we pay here, he asked.
He asked if they should pay there.

c) Los ofrecimientos generalmente van introducidos con el verbo offer+ infinitivo.

Ej.: Shall I help you?, he asked.
He offered to help him.

d) Las sugerencias se hacen con el verbo suggest or recommend. Tambin se puede usar advice para dar
consejo e invite para hacer una invitacin. Las sugerencias se pueden pasar al estilo indirecto de dos
formas:
a) Usando una oracin de complemento directo introducida por that con suj y verbo en forma base.
Ej` Lets have lunch together,Janet suggested
Janet suggested that we have lunch together. (Janet sugiri que comiramos juntas)
b) Usando el gerundio, sin especificar ningn sujeto.
Ej `Lets play football after school
He suggested playing football after school

e) Otras preguntas con will you/would you/could you se transforman segn el significado:
Will you?: peticin
Ej.: He said: Will you help me, please?
He asked me to help him.
Will you/would you?: ofrecimiento.
Ej.: Would you like a cup of tea?
He offered me a cup of tea.
Could you: peticin.
Ej.: Could you come tomorrow?, he said.
He asked me to come the next day.
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3. ORDERS/REQUESTS

Los verbos introductores ms frecuentes para estas oraciones son: tell, order, shout, ask, etc.

3.1. Para pasar una orden a estilo indirecto, se cambia el imperativo por el infinitivo
Ej.: She said: Put on your coat, Bob
She told Bob to put on his coat.

3.2. Las rdenes negativas se expresan con not+ to+ infinitivo.

Ej.: He said: don't smoke
He told them not to smoke.

3.3. Hay otros reporting verbs (verbos introductores) frecuentes en las oraciones imperativas que
transmiten el significado de la oracin. Estos verbos seran: Beg, urge, remind. warn, advise, recommend e
invite.
Ej.: Please, forgive me, he said.
He begged her to forgive him.

Go on, Mary, hurry up, he said.

He urged her to hurry up.

4. EXCLAMATIONS
Cuando se trata de transformar exclamaciones en Reported Speech, es conveniente utilizar un verbo que
resuma el significado.
Ej.: She said: Thank you
She thanked me.

She said: Merry Christmas

She wished me a Merry Christmas.

She said: Congratulations!

She congratulated me.