PRESENTE

En inglés, hay cuatro tiempos verbales de presente. Utilizamos el presente para hablar de algo
que está ocurriendo ahora, o que es cierto ahora y en cualquier momento.

 Simple present para referirse a rutinas y hechos generales.

 Present continuous para hablar de acciones que están teniendo lugar en este
momento.

 Present perfect para acciones repetidas, acciones en que la dimensión temporal no es

relevante y acciones que empezaron en el pasado y aún no han finalizado.

 Present perfect continuous Para hablar de acciones en curso, en las que tanto el
proceso como el resultado son importantes.

SIMPLE PRESENT

EL "SIMPLE PRESENT" SE UTILIZA:

 Para expresar hábitos y rutinas, hechos generales, acciones repetidas o situaciones,

emociones y deseos permanentes:
I smoke (hábito); I work in London (permanencia); London is a large city (hecho
general)

 Para dar instrucciones o indicaciones:

You walk for two hundred meters, then you turn left.

 Para hablar de eventos programados, presentes o futuros:

Your exam starts at 09.00.

 Para referirse al futuro, detrás de algunas conjunciones: after, when, before, as soon
as, until:
He'll give it to you when you come next Saturday.

¡Cuidado! El "simple present" no se utiliza para hablar de lo que está ocurriendo en este
momento.

EJEMPLOS

 Hábitos y rutinas
He drinks tea at breakfast.
She only eats fish.
They watch television regularly.

 Eventos y acciones repetidos

We catch the bus every morning.
It rains every afternoon in the hot season.
They drive to Monaco every summer.
  Hechos generales
Water freezes at zero degrees.
The Earth revolves around the Sun.
Her mother is Peruvian.

 Instrucciones o indicaciones
Open the packet and pour the contents into hot water.
You take the No.6 bus to Watney and then the No.10 to Bedford.

 Eventos programados
His mother arrives tomorrow.
Our holiday starts on the 26th March

 Construcciones de futuro
She'll see you before she leaves.
We'll give it to her when she arrives.

FORMACIÓN DEL "SIMPLE PRESENT": TO THINK

Afirmativa Interrogativa Negativa

I think Do I think? I do not think

You think Do you think? You do not think

He thinks Does he think? He does not think

She thinks Does she think? She does not think

It thinks Does it think? It does not think

We think Do we think? We do not think.

They think Do they think? They do not think.

NOTAS SOBRE LA TERCERA PERSONA DEL SINGULAR DEL "SIMPLE PRESENT"

 En la tercera persona del singular, el verbo siempre termina en -s:

he wants, she needs, he gives, she thinks.

 Para las formas negativa e interrogativa, se emplea DOES (= tercera persona del
auxiliar 'DO') + el infinitivo del verbo.
He wants ice cream. Does he want strawberry? He does not want vanilla.
  Verbos que terminan en -y : en la tercera persona del singular, se cambia la -y por -ies:
fly --> flies, cry --> cries
Excepción: cuando una vocal precede a la -y:
play --> plays, pray --> prays

 Añadimos -es a los verbos que terminan en:-ss, -x, -sh, -ch:
he passes, she catches, he fixes, it pushes

EJEMPLOS

 He goes to school every morning.

 She understands English.

 It mixes the sand and the water.

 He tries very hard.

 She enjoys playing the piano.

PRESENT CONTINUOUS

FORMACIÓN DEL "PRESENT CONTINUOUS"

El "present continuous" de cualquier verbo se compone de dos partes: el presente del verbo to
be + el "present participle" del verbo principal.

(Para formar el "present participle": raíz+ing, e.g. talking, playing, moving, smiling)

Afirmativa

Sujeto + to be + raíz + ing

She is talking.

Negativa

Sujeto + to be + not + raíz + ing

She is not (isn't) talking

Interrogativa
to be + sujeto + raíz + ing

Is she talking?

EJEMPLOS: TO GO, "PRESENT CONTINUOUS"

Afirmativa Negativa Interrogativa

I am going I am not going Am I going?

You are going You aren't going. Are you going?

He, she, it is going He, she, it isn't going Is he, she, it goi

We are going We aren't going Are we going?

You are going You aren't going Are you going?

They are going They aren't going Are they going?

Nota: contracciones de las formas negativas: I'm not going, you're not going, he's not going
etc.

FUNCIONES DEL "PRESENT CONTINUOUS"

Como ocurre con todos los tiempos verbales del inglés, la actitud del hablante es tan
importante como el momento en que ocurre la acción o el evento. Al emplear el "present
continuous", nos estamos refiriendo a algo que no ha terminado o está incompleto

EL "PRESENT CONTINUOUS" SE UTILIZA:

 para describir una acción que está teniendo lugar en este momento: You are using the
Internet. You are studying English grammar.

 para describir una tendencia o una acción que está sucediendo en la actualidad: Are
you still working for the same company? More and more people are
becoming vegetarian.

 para describir una acción o evento futuros que ya están programados: We're going on
holiday tomorrow. I'm meeting my boyfriend tonight. Are they visiting you next
winter?
  para describir una situación o evento temporales: He usually plays the drums, but he's
playing bass guitar tonight. The weather forecast was good, but it's raining at the
moment.

 con "always, forever, constantly", para describir y enfatizar una sucesión de acciones
repetidas: Harry and Sally are always arguing! You're constantly complaining about
your mother-in-law!

¡CUIDADO! Hay algunos verbos que no suelen emplear la forma progresiva

VERBOS QUE NO SUELEN EMPLEAR LA FORMA PROGRESIVA

Los verbos de la siguiente lista suelen utilizar la forma simple porque hacen referencia
a estados, más que acciones o procesos.

SENSACIÓN / PERCEPCIÓN

 to feel*

 to hear

 to see*

 to smell

 to taste

OPINIÓN

 to assume

 to believe

 to consider

 to doubt

 to feel (= pensar)

 to find (= considerar)

 to suppose

 to think*

ESTADOS MENTALES

 to forget

 to imagine

 to know
  to mean

 to notice

 to recognise

 to remember

 to understand

EMOCIONES / DESEOS

 to envy

 to fear

 to dislike

 to hate

 to hope

 to like

 to love

 to mind

 to prefer

 to regret

 to want

 to wish

MEDIDAS

 to contain

 to cost

 to hold

 to measure

 to weigh

OTROS

 to look (=parecerse a)

 to seem
  to be (en la mayoría de los casos)

 to have(cuando significa "poseer")*

EXCEPCIONES

Los verbos de sensación y percepción (see, hear, feel, taste, smell) suelen utilizarse con can: : I
can see... Pueden tomar la forma progresiva pero, en este caso, su significado suele variar.

 This coat feels nice and warm. (percepción de las cualidades del abrigo)

 John's feeling much better now (está mejor de salud)

 She has three dogs and a cat. (posesión)

 She's having supper. (está tomando)

 I can see Anthony in the garden (percepción)

 I'm seeing Anthony later (tenemos intención de vernos)

PASADO
En inglés, existen cuatro tiempos verbales de pasado. Los empleamos para hablar de acciones
que empezaron y terminaron en el pasado, o de acciones iniciadas en el pasado y que
continúan en el presente.

 Simple past para acciones que empiezan y terminan en el pasado.

 Past continuous para acciones iniciadas en el pasado que continúan en el presente.
 Past perfect para acciones que empezaron y terminaron en el pasado, con anterioridad
a otra acción también ocurrida en el pasado.
 Past perfect continuous para acciones que estaban ocurriendo en el pasado hasta que
tuvo lugar otra acción.

SIMPLE PAST

FUNCIONES DEL "SIMPLE PAST"

El "simple past" se utiliza para hablar de una acción que concluyó en un tiempo anterior al
actual. La duración no es relevante. El tiempo en que se sitúa la acción puede ser el pasado
reciente o un pasado lejano.

EJEMPLOS

 John Cabot sailed to America in 1498.

 My father died last year.

  He lived in Fiji in 1976.

 We crossed the Channel yesterday.

Siempre se utiliza el "simple past" para referirse a cuándo ocurrió algo, de modo que va
asociado a ciertas expresiones temporales que indican:

 frecuencia: often, sometimes, always

I sometimes walked home at lunchtime.
I often brought my lunch to school.

 un tiempo determinado: last week, when I was a child, yesterday, six weeks ago
We saw a good film last week.
Yesterday, I arrived in Geneva.
She finished her work atseven o'clock
I went to the theatre last night

 un tiempo indeterminado: the other day, ages ago, a long time ago People lived in
caves a long time ago.

 She played the piano when she was a child.

Nota: el término ago es útil para expresar distancia temporal en el pasado. Se

coloca después del periodo de tiempo de que se trate: a week ago, three years ago, a minute
ago.

Cuidado: el "simple past" del inglés puede parecerse a un tiempo verbal de tu propio idioma y,
sin embargo, su significado puede ser distinto.

FORMACIÓN DEL "SIMPLE PAST"

FORMACIÓN DEL "SIMPLE PAST" CON VERBOS REGULARES

Afirmativa

Sujeto + raíz + ed

I skipped.

Negativa

Sujeto + did not + infinitivo sin to

They didn't go.

Interrogativa

Did + sujeto + infinitivo sin to

Did she arrive?

Interrogativa negativa

Did not + sujeto + infinitivo sin to

Didn't you play?

TO WALK

Afirmativa Negativa Interrogativa

I walked I didn't walk Did I walk?

You walked You didn't walk Did you walk?

He walked He didn't walk Did he walk?

We walked We didn't walk Did we walk?

They walked They didn't walk Did they walk?

"SIMPLE PAST" DE LOS VERBOS TO BE, TO HAVE, TO DO

Sujeto Verbo

Be Have

I was had

You were had

He/She/It was had

Sujeto Verbo

We were had

You were had

They were had

NOTAS SOBRE LAS CONSTRUCCIONES AFIRMATIVA, NEGATIVA E INTERROGATIVA

AFIRMATIVA

La forma afirmativa del "simple past" es sencilla.

 I was in Japan last year

 She had a headache yesterday.

 We did our homework last night.

NEGATIVA E INTERROGATIVA

Para las formas negativa e interrogativa del "simple past" del verbo "do" como verbo
ordinario, se emplea como auxiliar "do", e.g. We didn't do our homework last night.
La forma negativa del verbo "have" en "simple past" suele construirse utilizando el
auxiliar "do", aunque en ocasiones solo se añade not o la contracción "n't".

La forma interrogativa del verbo "have" en "simple past" suele emplear el auxiliar "do".

EJEMPLOS

 They weren't in Rio last summer.

 We didn't have any money.

 We didn't have time to visit the Eiffel Tower.

 We didn't do our exercises this morning.

 Were they in Iceland last January?

 Did you have a bicycle when you were young?

 Did you do much climbing in Switzerland?

Nota: para construir las formas negativa e interrogativa de todos los verbos en "simple past",
se utiliza siempre el auxiliar 'did''.

"SIMPLE PAST": VERBOS IRREGULARES

Algunos verbos hacen el "simple past" de forma irregular. Estos son los más comunes.

TO GO

 He went to a club last night.

 Did he go to the cinema last night?

 He didn't go to bed early last night.

TO GIVE

 We gave her a doll for her birthday.

 They didn't give John their new address.

 Did Barry give you my passport?

TO COME

 My parents came to visit me last July.

 We didn't come because it was raining.

 Did he come to your party last week?

PAST CONTINUOUS

FUNCIONES DEL "PAST CONTINUOUS"

El "past continuous" describe acciones o eventos situados en un tiempo anterior al presente,

cuyo comienzo se sitúa en el pasado y que todavía no ha concluido en el momento de hablar.
Dicho de otro modo, expresa una acción incompleta o inconclusa del pasado.

Se utiliza:

 Con frecuencia, para describir el contexto en una historia escrita en pasado, e.g. "The
sun was shining and the birds were singing as the elephant came out of the jungle.
The other animals were relaxing in the shade of the trees, but the elephant moved
very quickly. She was looking for her baby, and she didn't notice the hunter who was
watching her through his binoculars. When the shot rang out, she was
running towards the river..."

 para describir una acción incompleta que se vio interrumpida por otra acción o evento,
e.g. "I was having a beautiful dream when the alarm clock rang."

 para expresar un cambio de opinión: e.g. "I was going to spend the day at the beach
but I've decided to get my homework done instead."

 con 'wonder', para formular una petición muy educada: e.g. "I was wondering if you
could baby-sit for me tonight."
EJEMPLOS

 They were waiting for the bus when the accident happened.

 Caroline was skiing when she broke her leg.

 When we arrived he was having a bath.

 When the fire started I was watching television.

Nota: con los verbos que no suelen conjugarse en "past continuous" se emplea normalmente
el "simple past".

FORMACIÓN DEL "PAST CONTINUOUS"

El "past continuous" de cualquier verbo está compuesto de dos partes: el pasado del verbo "to
be" (was/were) y la raíz del verbo principal +ing.

Sujeto was/were raíz + ing

They were watching

Afirmativa

She was reading

Negativa

She wasn't reading

Interrogativa

Was she reading?

Interrogativa negativa

Wasn't she reading?

TO PLAY, "PAST CONTINUOUS"

Afirmativa Negativa Interrogativa

Afirmativa Negativa Interrogativa

I was playing I was not playing Was I playing?

You were playing You were not playing Were you playing

He was playing He wasn't playing Was he playing?

We were playing We weren't playing Were we playing

They were playing They weren't playing Were they playin

PRESENT PERFECT

FORMACIÓN DEL "PRESENT PERFECT"

El "present perfect" de cualquier verbo está compuesto por dos elementos: la forma apropiada
del verbo auxiliar to have (en presente) y el "past participle" del verbo principal. La forma del
"past participle" de un verbo regular es raíz+ed, e.g. played, arrived, looked. En cuanto a los
verbos irregulares, consulta la Tabla de verbos irregulares de la sección 'Verbos'.

Afirmativa

Sujeto to have past participle

She has visited.

Negativa

Sujeto to have + not past participle

She has not (hasn't) visited.

Interrogativa
to have sujeto past participle

Has she visited?

Interrogativa negativa

to have + not sujeto past participle

Hasn't she visited?

TO WALK, "PRESENT PERFECT"

Afirmativa Negativa Interrogativa

I have walked I haven't walked Have I walked?

You have walked You haven't walked. Have you walked

He, she, it has walked He, she, hasn't walked Has he, she, it wa

We have walked We haven't walked Have we walked?

You have walked You haven't walked Have you walked

They have walked They haven't walked Have they walked

FUNCIONES DEL "PRESENT PERFECT"

El "present perfect" se emplea para señalar un vínculo entre el presente y el pasado. El tiempo
en que transcurre la acción es anterior al presente pero inespecífico y, a menudo, recae un
mayor interés sobre el resultado que sobre la propia acción.

¡CUIDADO! Puede que, en tu idioma, exista un tiempo verbal con una estructura similar pero
es probable que su significado NO sea el mismo.

EL "PRESENT PERFECT" SE UTILIZA PARA DESCRIBIR

 Una acción o situación iniciada en el pasado y que continúa en el presente. I have

lived in Bristol since 1984 (= todavía vivo allí.)
  Una acción realizada durante un periodo de tiempo aún no concluido. Shehas beento
the cinema twice this week (= la semana todavía no ha terminado.)

 Una acción repetida en un periodo temporal inespecífico situado entre el pasado y el

presente. We have visited Portugal several times.

 Una acción que ha concluido en un pasado muy reciente, lo que se indica

mediante 'just'. I have just finished my work.

 Una acción para la cual no es importante el momento preciso en que

aconteció. He has read 'War and Peace'. (= lo relevante es el resultado de la acción)

Nota: Cuando queremos dar o pedir información sobre cuándo, dónde o quién, empleamos el
"simple past". Consulta cómo elegir entre el "simple past" y el "present perfect".

ACCIONES INICIADAS EN EL PASADO Y QUE CONTINÚAN EN EL PRESENTE

 They haven't lived here for years.

 She has worked in the bank for five years.

 We have had the same car for ten years.

 Have you played the piano since you were a child?

CUANDO SE HACE REFERENCIA A UN PERIODO TEMPORAL INACABADO

 I have worked hard this week.

 It has rained a lot this year.

 We haven't seen her today.

ACCIONES REITERADAS EN UN PERIODO INESPECÍFICO, ENTRE EL PASADO Y EL PRESENTE.

 They have seen that film six times

 It has happened several times already.

 She has visited them frequently.

 We have eaten at that restaurant many times.

ACCIONES CONCLUIDAS EN UN PASADO MUY RECIENTE (+JUST)

 Have you just finished work?

 I have just eaten.

 We have just seen her.

 Has he just left?

CUANDO LA DIMENSIÓN TEMPORAL NO ES RELEVANTE O CONOCIDA

 Someone has eaten my soup!

 Have you seen 'Gone with the Wind'?

 She's studied Japanese, Russian, and English.

PRESENT PERFECT + EVER, NEVER, ALREADY, YET

EVER

Los adverbios "ever" y "never" se refieren a un tiempo no identificado, anterior al

presente (Have you ever visited Berlin?). "Ever" y "never" siempre se colocan antes del verbo
principal (en "past participle"). "Ever" se utiliza:

EN PREGUNTAS

EJEMPLOS

Have you ever been to England?

Has she ever met the Prime Minister?

EN PREGUNTAS NEGATIVAS

EJEMPLOS

Haven't they ever been to Europe?

Haven't you ever eaten Chinese food?

EN ORACIONES NEGATIVAS CON "NOTHING+EVER" O "NOBODY+EVER"

EJEMPLOS

Nobody has ever said that to me before.

Nothing like this has ever happened to us.

CON "THE FIRST TIME"

EJEMPLOS

It's the first time that I've ever eaten snails.

This is the first time I've ever been to England.

NEVER

"Never" significa nunca antes de ahora y equivale a "not (...) ever": (I have never visited Berlin)

¡CUIDADO!: "Never" y "not" no deben usarse juntos.

I haven't never been to Italy.
I have never been to Italy.

ALREADY

"Already" se refiere a una acción que ha ocurrido en un tiempo anterior al presente pero no
especificado. Sugiere que no es necesario repetir la acción.

EJEMPLOS

I've already drunk three coffees this morning. (= ¡y me estás ofreciendo otro!)
Don't write to John, I've already done it.

También se utiliza para preguntar:

Have you already written to John?

Has she finished her homework already?

"Already" puede colocarse antes del verbo principal (en "past participle") o al final de la frase:

I have already been to Tokyo.

I have been to Tokyo already.

YET

"Yet" se utiliza en oraciones negativas e interrogativas, con el significado de (no) en el periodo

temporal entre el pasado y el ahora, (no) hasta el momento presente, incluido éste. Suele
colocarse al final de la frase.

EJEMPLOS

Have you met Judy yet?

I haven't visited the Tate Gallery yet
Has he arrived yet?
They haven't eaten yet

PRESENT PERFECT: FOR, SINCE

Empleando el "present perfect" podemos definir un periodo de tiempo anterior al momento

presente, considerando bien su duración, caso en el que utilizamos "for" + periodo temporal,,
o bien su inicio o punto de partida, caso en el que utilizamos "since" + momento concreto.
"For" y "since" pueden asimismo emplearse con el "past perfect". "Since" admite únicamente
tiempos verbales perfectos. "For" puede también emplearse con el "simple past".
"FOR" + PERIODO DE TIEMPO

for six years, for a week, for a month, for hours, for two hours
I have worked here for five years.

"SINCE" + MOMENTO CONCRETO

since this morning, since last week, since yesterday

since I was a child, since Wednesday, since 2 o'clock
I have worked here since 1990.

"PRESENT PERFECT" CON "FOR"

She has lived here for twenty years.

We have taught at this school for a long time.
Alice has been married forthree months.
They have been at the hotel for a week.

"PRESENT PERFECT" CON "SINCE"

She has lived here since 1980.

We have taught at this school since 1965.
Alice has been married since March 2nd.
They have been at the hotel since last Tuesday.