Simple Present Tense

1A. Explanation
The simple present tense takes one oI two Iorms depending on the subject.
Subject base form -s form
I, you eat
They, We go
Plural nouns work
He, She, It eats
Singular nouns goes
Non count-nouns works

1B. Examples
Subjects followed by verb in base
form:
Subjects with verb in s form
I like rice. She makes toys.
You look nice. He rakes leaves.
They think twice. It takes time.
We throw dice. Mom bakes pies.
CheIs use spice. Water slakes thirst.
The boys ring the doorbell. Jill loves dates.
Children sing on special occasions. Mr. Smith Iills crates.
Some people bring giIts to parties. Grandpa washes plates.
Bees sting when they are disturbed. The dog jumps gates.

1C. Exercises
1. Jerry (come/comes) to school on time.
2. Jerry and Linda (come/comes) to school on time.
3. Ms. Jones (teach/teaches) geography.
4. The cat (sleep/sleeps) on the soIa every day.
5. Milk (cost/costs) two dollars a quart.
Present Progressive / Continuous
The present progressive tense takes the Iorm be J ing.
The Iorm oI 'be is determined by the subject oI the sentence.
He is singing.
She is listening.
They are sleeping.
I am going home.
In English, the present progressive is used to indicate actions happening at the time oI
speaking, or right now.
Jake is speaking to his mother right now.
Please keep quiet. The baby is sleeping.
The present progressive can also be used to indicate actions occurring over a period
oI time which includes the present.
I`m taking Iive classes at the university.
Grace is working at a chemical Iactory.
What are you doing these days?
The present progressive is sometimes used to indicate ongoing, developing, imminent
or Iuture actions.
ngoing
Don`t bother Mr. Grumpy while he is watching the Iootball game.
Developing
I`m beginning to like this place!
Imminent
A: Honey, where are you?
B: I`m coming. Just let me put on my shoes.
Future (Note the presence oI Iuture time words.)
A: Are you going to the concert this weekend?
B: I wish I could, but I`m meeting an important client Irom Oklahoma.
Some non-action verbs do not occur in the present progressive tense. The simple
present is suIIicient.
Past Simple
Explanation
1. The simple past tense is expressed with the 5,89 form oI the verb and no9ing el8e.
My grandIather died last year.
(Correct)
My grandIather was died last year. (Incorrect)
My grandIather has died last year. (Incorrect)
2. The simple past tense reIers to
a. action which occurred at a speciIic time in the past
b. completed action
c. past status
Examples
Specific past action Completed action Past status
I ate lunch at noon today.
He drove to work
yesterday.
She Iinally mailed the
letter.
Jan Iinished her report
on time.
John was still single in
1995.
Jane was a movie star.

ote the usage of the past tense in the following story.
Yesterday Mrs. Hubbard had a very rough day. In the morning, she went to the
kitchen and looked in the cupboard Ior some Iood Ior her dog, but the cupboard
was empty. Her poor dog stared up at her with its hungry eyes, and she knew
she had to do something quickly. She hurried to the grocery store to buy some
dog Iood, but unIortunately the store was out oI her dog`s Iavorite brand, so
she had to catch a bus downtown. AIter buying the Iood, she waited Ior a halI
hour in the rain to get a taxi. When she Iinally got home, her dog was sound
asleep on the living room soIa.
Common problems with the past tense
1. Using the present tense when the past tense is required.
Last week, Tonya Iix her neighbor`s car. (Incorrect)
Last week, Tonya Iixed her neighbor`s car. (Correct)
2. Using 'was with verbs in the past tense.
It was happened one night in September. (Incorrect)
It happened one night in September. (Correct)

Past Progressive / Continuous
Past progressive tense is used to indicate that an action was in progress when another
action occurred in the past.
Past progressive (was/were Ving) reIers to the action in progress, and simple past
tense reIers to the "interrupting" action.
While I was eating dinner, the telephone rang.
The telephone rang while I was eating dinner.
When the telephone rang, I was eating dinner.
I was eating dinner when the telephone rang.
Past continuous can also be used to indicate only one action which occurred in the
past:
What was John doing yesterday?
He was working at the Iactory.
What were they doing yesterday aIternoon?
They were playing soccer.
What were you doing last night?
I was studying English.
Present Perfect Simple
Present Perfect 1ense can be used in three situations:
1. To indicate something that has happened at an indeIinite time in the past.
I have seen that movie already.
She has leIt Ior CaliIornia.
They have not eaten their dinner yet.
2. To indicate something which started in the
past and continues :n9il now.
I have lived in New York Ior nine years.
We have been here since Friday.
He has played Iootball since he was a child.
3. To indicate something which occurred recen9ly.
I have been sick l,9ely.
She hasn`t slept much recen9ly.
otes:
When speaking about a 85ecific 9ime, use past tense.
A: I have seen that movie already. (Non-speciIic time)
B: Oh really? When did you see it?
A: I saw it last week with Bob. (SpeciIic time)
Some words should no9 be used in situation 2 (above)
I have met John Ior Iive years. (INCORRECT)
I have known John Ior Iive years. (CORRECT)
I met John Iive years ago. (CORRECT)
I have met John already. (CORRECT)
Sometimes, but not always, present perfect continuous can be used instead oI present perfect.
I have lived there Ior ten years. (Okay)
I have been living there Ior ten years. (Okay)
I have exercised a lot recently. (Okay)
I have been exercising a lot recently. (Okay)
I have seen that movie ten times. (Okay)
I have been seeing that movie ten times. (NOT Okay)

Present Perfect Progressive
The present perfect progressive expresses the meaning 'until now and makes the connection
between the 5,89 and 5re8en9. Since it is progressive, it usually connotes an idea oI continuity. It
is oIten used with prepositional phrases: for ,mo:n9 of 9ime and 8ince 5oin9 in 9ime.
I ave been living in Minneapolis 8ince 1999.
I ave been living in Minneapolis for 9ree ye,r8.
The present perfect progressive tense is made by placing ,;e been (or ,8 been) immediately
in Iront oI the ing Iorm oI the main verb.
The present perfect progressive can sometimes be interchanged with the 5re8en9 5erfec9 9en8e
with little or no deviation in meaning.
Esther as worked there Ior nine years.
Esther as been working there Ior nine years.
However, in cases where the present perfect tense carries the meaning 'beIore now (non-
speciIic time in the past), the present perfect progressive c,nno9 be used.
I ave been seeing that movie Iive times already.
I ave seen that movie Iive times already.
(Incorrect!)
(Correct)
Past Perfect
Past perfect tense is used to indicate that one action occurred before another action in 9e 5,89.
In other words, past perfect tense indicates the fir89 oI the two actions.*
For example,
When I woke up this morning, my roommate ,/ lef9 already.
AIter I ,/ e,9en my dinner, I went to see a movie.
BeIore I arrived at the theater, the movie ,/ already beg:n.
Sometimes, when the meaning is clear Irom context, the 8im5le 5,89 9en8e can be used.
AIter I ,/ gone shopping, I stopped at the health spa.
AIter I wen9 shopping, I stopped at the health spa.
The most common error with the past perfect is using it where it /oe8 no9 belong.
When I was young, I had been a cowboy.
When I was young, I w,8 a cowboy.
(Incorrectno reIerence to other events)
(Correct)
Yesterday the Johnsons had opened their new business.
Yesterday the Johnsons o5ene/ their new business.
(Incorrect)
(Correct)

*In some ;ery :n:8:,l cases, the past perfect tense can reIer to the 8econ/ past action.
BeIore I had Iinished my homework, the telephone rang.
(The telephone interrupted me beIore I Iinished my homework.)
Future Simple
In English the Future Time is expressed in a number oI ways. The most common are with will
and be going 9o. See examples Irom the Iollowing sentences.
I will Iinish my homework in an hour.
I`m going to Iinish my homework in an hour.
With be going 9o, make sure the verb be agrees with its subject. I`m going to eat a whole
watermelon.
She`s going to eat a whole watermelon.
Actually, we`re going to eat a whole watermelon together.
In speech, the words going 9o are oIten pronounced ' gonna .
Don`t Iorget the be verb.
A: What are you gonna do this weekend?
B: I`m gonna stay home and clean my carpet.
NOT: I gonna stay.
NOT: I`m gonna to stay.
What`s the diIIerence between will and be going 9o?
Both can be used interchangeably in some cases. (Predictions and guesses)
My prints will be here tomorrow.
My prints are going to be here tomorrow.
Be going 9o is preIerable Ior strong intentions or Ior describing the inevitable.
I`m going to give her a piece oI my mind.
There`s no way they can score 21 points in 2 minutes. We`re going to win!
Will is the preIerable Iorm Ior making oIIers or expressing pop decisions.
A: Who will help me Iinish this chocolate cake?
B: I will.
A: I have two tickets leIt Ior the Iront row.
B: I`ll take them.
Sometimes Iuture time can be expressed with either the 5re8en9 or 5re8en9 5rogre88i;e 9en8e. In
such cases, time words must be expressed or clearly implied.
I Ily to Beijing tomorrow.
I`m Ilying to Beijing tomorrow.
Sorry I can`t attend the picnic on Saturday. I`m Ilying to Beijing.
Future Progressive
uture progressive tense is used to indicate action which will be taking place at some time in the
Iuture.
For example,
I will be singing at Symphony Hall next month.
We`ll be leaving next Monday.
When you arrive, I`ll be cooking dinner.
The future progressive tense is Iormed by adding will be to the ing Iorm oI the main verb.
She will be coming around the mountain in a Iew minutes.
She`ll be riding a white horse into town.
The future progressive tense is not as common as other tenses, and it can some-times be
replaced by 8im5le f:9:re, 5re8en9 5rogre88i;e or even 8im5le 5re8en9.
I`ll be leaving in a Iew minutes.
I`ll leave in a Iew minutes.
I`m going to leave in a Iew minutes.
I`m leaving in a Iew minutes.
I leave in a Iew minutes.
Future Perfect
The future perfect tense is not commonly used in English. It indicates that an action will be
completed in the Iuture (usually beIore some other action or event).
I will Iinish my Russian course in June. In July, I will begin studying Chinese.
By the time I begin studying Chinese, I will ,;e fini8e/ my Russian course.
When I Iinish this race, I will ,;e r:n a total oI Iive miles.
BeIore they leave Ior Miami, they will ,;e ;i8i9e/ Houston and New Orleans.
The important thing to remember is the time oI com5le9ion. (Beginning time may vary.)
I started studying last year. I will ,;e 5,88e/ my exams when I graduate next
June.
I am studying right now. I will ,;e 5,88e/ my exams when I graduate next June.
I will start studying next month. I will ,;e 5,88e/ my exams when I graduate
next June.

Regular Verbs
(see Complete list oI Irregular Verbs)
base -s form past past participle -ing form notes
call calls called called calling

clean cleans cleaned cleaned cleaning

look looks looked looked looking 1
talk talks talked talked talking 1
end ends ended ended ending 2
wait waits waited waited waiting 2
kiss kisses kissed kissed kissing 3
wash washes washed washed washing 3
live lives lived lived living 4
love loves loved loved loving 4
beg begs begged begged begging 5
sin sins sinned sinned sinning 5
play plays played played playing

stay stays stayed stayed staying

cry cries cried cried crying 6
study studies studied studied studying 6
die dies died died dying

tie ties tied tied tying

otes:
1. Pronunciation diIIerences in past/past participle aIter /p, s, k, I/ sounds

2. Pronunciation diIIerences in past/past participle aIter /t, d/ sounds
3. Spelling and pronunciation diIIerences in s Iorm aIter /s, sh, ch, z/ sounds
4. Dropping oI 'silent e with ing endings
5. Doubled consonants aIter 'short vowel sounds
6. Spelling diIIerences when 'y is preceded by a consonant
This is the complete list oI Irregular Verbs in English. Click on the letter A-Z to Iind words you
need.
(see a list oI Regular Verbs)
Irregular Verbs

Inf|n|t|ve S|mp|e ast ast art|c|p|e
A
arlse arose arlsen
awake awakened / awoke awakened / awoken
B
backsllde backslld backslldden / backslld
be was were been
bear bore born / borne
beaL beaL beaLen / beaL
become became become
begln began begun
bend benL benL
beL beL / beL /
bld bld / bade bldden
bld bld bld
blnd bound bound
blLe blL blLLen
bleed bled bled
blow blew blown
break broke broken
breed bred bred
brlng broughL broughL
broadcasL broadcasL / broadcasLed broadcasL / broadcasLed
bulld bullL bullL
burn burned / burnL burned / burnL
bursL bursL bursL
busL busLed / busL busLed / busL
buy boughL boughL
C
casL casL casL
caLch caughL caughL
choose chose chosen
cllng clung clung
cloLhe cloLhed / clad cloLhed / clad
come came come
cosL cosL cosL
creep crepL crepL
cuL cuL cuL
D
daydream daydreamed / daydreamL daydreamed / daydreamL
deal dealL dealL
dlg dug dug
dlsprove dlsproved dlsproved / dlsproven
dlve dove / dlved dlved
dlve dlved / dove dlved
do dld done
draw drew drawn
dream dreamed / dreamL dreamed / dreamL
drlnk drank drunk
drlve drove drlven
dwell dwelL / dwelled dwelL / dwelled
E
eaL aLe eaLen
F
fall fell fallen
feed fed fed
feel felL felL
flghL foughL foughL
flnd found found
flL (Lallor change slze) flLLed / flL flLLed / flL
flL (be rlghL slze) flL / flL /
flee fled fled
fllng flung flung
fly flew flown
forbld forbade forbldden
forecasL forecasL forecasL
forego forewenL foregone
foresee foresaw foreseen
foreLell foreLold foreLold
forgeL forgoL forgoLLen /
forglve forgave forglven
forsake forsook forsaken
freeze froze frozen
C
geL goL goLLen /
glve gave glven
go wenL gone
grlnd ground ground
grow grew grown
H
hang hung hung
have had had
hear heard heard
hew hewed hewn / hewed
hlde hld hldden
hlL hlL hlL
hold held held
hurL hurL hurL
K
keep kepL kepL
kneel knelL / kneeled knelL / kneeled
knlL knlLLed / knlL knlLLed / knlL
know knew known
L
lay lald lald
lead led led
lean leaned / leanL leaned / leanL
leap leaped / leapL leaped / leapL
learn learned / learnL learned / learnL
leave lefL lefL
lend lenL lenL
leL leL leL
lle lay laln
lle (noL Lell LruLh) lled lled
llghL llL / llghLed llL / llghLed
lose losL losL
M
make made made
mean meanL meanL
meeL meL meL
mlsundersLand mlsundersLood mlsundersLood
mow mowed mowed / mown
P
parLake parLook parLaken
pay pald pald
plead pleaded / pled pleaded / pled
proofread proofread proofread
prove proved proven / proved
puL puL puL
Q
qulckfreeze qulckfroze qulckfrozen
qulL qulL / qulL /
R
read read (sounds llke red) read (sounds llke red)
rld rld rld
rlde rode rldden
rlng rang rung
rlse rose rlsen
run ran run
S
saw sawed sawed / sawn
say sald sald
see saw seen
seek soughL soughL
sell sold sold
send senL senL
seL seL seL
sew sewed sewn / sewed
shake shook shaken
shave shaved shaved / shaven
shear sheared sheared / shorn
shed shed shed
shlne shlned / shone shlned / shone
shooL shoL shoL
show showed shown / showed
shrlnk shrank / shrunk shrunk
shuL shuL shuL
slng sang sung
slnk sank / sunk sunk
slL saL saL
slay (klll) slew / slayed slaln / slayed
slay (amuse) slayed slayed
sleep slepL slepL
sllde slld slld
sllng slung slung
sllnk sllnked / slunk sllnked / slunk
sllL sllL sllL
smell smelled / smelL smelled / smelL
sneak sneaked / snuck sneaked / snuck
sow sowed sown / sowed
speak spoke spoken
speed sped / speeded sped / speeded
spell spelled / spelL spelled / spelL
spend spenL spenL
splll spllled / spllL spllled / spllL
spln spun spun
splL splL / f splL / f
spllL spllL spllL
spoll spolled / spollL spolled / spollL
spread spread spread
sprlng sprang / sprung sprung
sLand sLood sLood
sLeal sLole sLolen
sLlck sLuck sLuck
sLlng sLung sLung
sLlnk sLunk / sLank sLunk
sLrew sLrewed sLrewn / sLrewed
sLrlde sLrode sLrldden
sLrlke (deleLe) sLruck sLrlcken
sLrlke (hlL) sLruck sLruck / sLrlcken
sLrlng sLrung sLrung
sLrlve sLrove / sLrlved sLrlven / sLrlved
subleL subleL subleL
sunburn sunburned / sunburnL sunburned / sunburnL
swear swore sworn
sweaL sweaL / sweaLed sweaL / sweaLed
sweep swepL swepL
swell swelled swollen / swelled
swlm swam swum
swlng swung swung
T
Lake Look Laken
Leach LaughL LaughL
Lear Lore Lorn
LelecasL LelecasL LelecasL
Lell Lold Lold
LesLdrlve LesLdrove LesLdrlven
LesLfly LesLflew LesLflown
Lhlnk LhoughL LhoughL
Lhrow Lhrew Lhrown
LhrusL LhrusL LhrusL
Lread Lrod Lrodden / Lrod
&
undersLand undersLood undersLood
underLake underLook underLaken
undo undld undone
W
wake woke / waked woken / waked
waylay waylald waylald
wear wore worn
weave wove / weaved woven / weaved
wed wed / wedded wed / wedded
weep wepL wepL
weL weL / weL /
wheL wheLLed wheLLed
wln won won
wlnd wound wound
wlLhdraw wlLhdrew wlLhdrawn
wlLhhold wlLhheld wlLhheld
wlLhsLand wlLhsLood wlLhsLood
wrlng wrung wrung
wrlLe wroLe wrlLLen
Choosing the Correct Verb Tense
1. Does Tense Time ?
Not Always
2. Situation and Time Words determine Time
3. Time chooses Tense (not the other way around)
4. Present Time (ow)
Present Continuous Tense
I am eating my dinner right now.
Present Tense Ior 'non-action verbs
I want some chocolate ice cream.
5. Future Time
Future with 'will
I will leave tomorrow
Future with 'be going to
I am going to leave tomorrow.
Future Continuous tense
I will be leaving tomorrow.
Future with Present Continuous tense
I am leaving tomorrow
Future with Present tense
I leave tomorrow.
. Past Time
Facts: Use Simple Past Tense only
I ate my breakIast at 7:00 this morning.
Relationship between two times.
I had eaten my breakIast when my roommate leIt.
Relationship between events.
I was eating my breakIast when the telephone rang.
Less Common Tenses
The past perfect progressive and future perfect progressive are not commonly used in English.
They indicate action which occurs continuously over a period oI time, when another action or
event intervenes. Some examples are included here Ior your reIerence.
Past Perfect Progressive
We ,/ been 5l,ying baseball Ior two hours yesterday when it started to rain.
I ,/ been 8en/ing out applications Ior months. Finally, I got a phone call.
uture Perfect Progressive
We will ,;e been flying Ior two hours when we cross the Mississippi River.
In August, I will ,;e been 89:/ying here Ior three years.
OIten the past perfect progressive and future perfect progressive can be replaced by their
counterparts: 5,89 5erfec9 or f:9:re 5erfec9.
I ,/ been /ri;ing Ior hours when I stopped to rest.
I ,/ /ri;en Ior hours when I stopped to rest.
By the time I get to Tempe, I will ,;e been 9r,;eling all day.
By the time I get to Tempe, I will ,;e 9r,;ele/ all day.
How to construct the passive.
1. Check to see iI the active sentence contains an object.
John ate an apple. (S V O) Passive is possible.
John ate yesterday. (S V) Passive is not possible.
2. Move the object to the Iront oI the sentence. Put the original subject in a "be" phrase .
An apple (V) by John.
3. Put the verb in the Iorm "be" 3 (oI main verb)
An apple V be u eaten by John.
4. Put the "be" in the same tense as the original active sentence.
An apple was/were eaten by John. ( past tense)
5. Make the Iirst verb agree with the new subject.
An apple was eaten by John.
(Put other elements oI the sentence in grammatical and logical order.)
Yesterday the large green apple was quickly eaten by John, who didnTt realize that it belonged
to his sister.
When other (auxiliary) verbs and modals are used in combination with the passive, remember:

Modal 1
(Modal)
Have 3
(PerIect)
be V-ing
(Progressive)
be 3
(Passive)

The apple should have been being eaten by John
Combination oI auxiliary verbs with the passive.
Present Tense

Modal 1
(Modal)
Have 3
(PerIect)
be V-ing
(Progressive)
be 3
(Passive)

The apple is eaten
by
John
Past Tense

Modal 1
(Modal)
Have 3
(PerIect)
be V-ing
(Progressive)
be 3
(Passive)

The apple was eaten by John
Present ProgressiveTense

Modal 1
(Modal)
Have 3
(PerIect)
be V-ing
(Progressive)
be 3
(Passive)

The apple is being eaten by John
Past Tense

Modal 1
(Modal)
Have 3
(PerIect)
be V-ing
(Progressive)
be 3
(Passive)

The apple was being eaten
by
John
Present PerIect Tense

Modal 1
(Modal)
Have 3
(PerIect)
be V-ing
(Progressive)
be 3
(Passive)

The apple have been eaten by John
Present PerIect Progressive

Modal 1
(Modal)
Have 3
(PerIect)
be V-ing
(Progressive)
be 3
(Passive)

The apple have been being eaten by John
Past PerIect Progressive

Modal 1
(Modal)
Have 3
(PerIect)
be V-ing
(Progressive)
be 3
(Passive)

The apple had been being eaten by John
Future/Modal

Modal 1
(Modal)
Have 3
(PerIect)
be V-ing
(Progressive)
be 3
(Passive)

The apple will be eaten by John
Future/Modal

Modal 1
(Modal)
Have 3
(PerIect)
be V-ing
(Progressive)
be 3
(Passive)

The apple is going to be eaten by John
Modal

Modal 1
(Modal)
Have 3
(PerIect)
be V-ing
(Progressive)
be 3
(Passive)

The apple must be eaten by John
Past Modal

Modal 1
(Modal)
Have 3
(PerIect)
be V-ing
(Progressive)
be 3
(Passive)

The apple must have been eaten by John
Combination

Modal 1
(Modal)
Have 3
(PerIect)
be V-ing
(Progressive)
be 3
(Passive)

The apple must have been being eaten by John

on Passives

The Iollowing sentences indicate a common error among non-native speakers oI
English.
X Jackson was arrived at 10:00 yesterday.
X My dog was died last week.
X What was happened?
X Dudley was slept at a hotel last night.
When using the simple past tense, only one verb is needed. The correct sentences
are:
Jackson ,rri;e/ at 10:00 yesterday.
My dog /ie/ last week.
What ,55ene/?
Dudley 8le59 at a hotel last night.
Sometimes students conIuse the simple past tense with the 5,88i;e. Notice the
diIIerence in the Iollowing sentences.
Tamara ,9e a sandwich at noon.
A sandwich w,8 e,9en by Tamara.
Tamara ate yesterday.
Yesterday was eaten by Tamara.
Simple past tense
Passive past tense
Okay
Not Okay
(Ye89er/,y is not an object. Thus, the passive is not possible here.)
Some verbs in English are in-transitive. That is, they do not take objects. These
verbs c,nno9 be used in the passive voice.
Alexander wro9e a letter.
A letter w,8 wri99en by Alexander.
The news 8:r5ri8e/ Karen.
Karen w,8 8:r5ri8e/ (by the news).
My dog died last week.
X My dog was /ie/ last week.
Monica 8wim8 every day.
Monica is swum every day.
Transitive verb and object
Passive voice okay
Transitive verb and object
Passive voice okay
In-transitive verb (no object)
Incorrect! Passive not okay
In-transitive verb (no object)
Incorrect! Passive not okay
*Some verbs can be either transitive or in-transitive depending on the situation.
Jim w,lke/ to school this morning.
Jim w,lke/ the dog this morning.
The dog w,8 w,lke/ (by Jim).
Stative passives
Stative passives are verb-like words that Iollow 'be in sentences and Iunction as adjectives. See
the examples below:
He is :ngry.
(Ad[ecLlve)
He is in9ere89e/
(SLaLlve passlve)
His leg is broken
(SLaLlve passlve)

Stative passives indicate a status or condition which may exist over a period oI time. In contrast,
action verbs oIten indicate a change Irom one status to another.
We go9 m,rrie/ in 1998.

(Action: We changed Irom 'single to
'married.)
We ,re m,rrie/ now.
SLaLus Cur currenL condlLlon ls marrled")
Jack broke the window.
(AcLlon lndlcaLes whaL happened aL a glven
momenL)
The window i8 broken.
(SLaLus lndlcaLes Lhe condlLlon of Lhe wlndow)

Note how the action/status contrast works with other verbs:
Jared fell asleep.


Jared i8 asleep.
(AcLlon Change ln sLaLus from awake" Lo
asleep)

(SLaLus lndlcaLes !ared's currenL condlLlon)
Joan bec,me sick.


Joan i8 sick.
(AcLlon !oan changed from healLhy" Lo slck")

(SLaLus !oan's presenL condlLlon)
The building c,:g9 Iire.


The building i8 on fire now.
(AcLlon lndlcaLes Lhe polnL when Lhe flre
sLarLed)

(SLaLus lndlcaLes Lhe condlLlon of Lhe bulldlng)
The doctor c,me in.

The doctor i8 in.
(AcLlon)

(SLaLus)

Stative passives are oIten used with prepositional expressions.
See Grammar: Preposition Collocations with 'Be".
She i8 in9ere89e/ in photography.
Brad w,8 worrie/ ,bo:9 his mother.
Carmen i8 9errifie/ of snakes.
Everyone w,8 c,:g9 :5 in the excitement.
Some ad[ecLlves also flL ln Lhe same paLLern
Karen i8 fon/ of chocolates.
I`m cr,y ,bo:9 sports cars.
You`re f:ll of baloney.
Passive with Get
The word get is sometimes used instead oI be to Iorm the passive. In such cases, get indicates a
change in status or condition. For example,
I got sick aIter eating the red meat.
They will get married tomorrow.
He got killed in the accident.
(I bec,me sick.)

(They c,nge/ Irom 'single to
'married.)
(Something caused him to die.)

et is oIten used in idiomatic expressions. For example,
What time will you get done?
James got drunk at the party.
I hope you get better soon.
We got engaged last week.
(What time will you be Iinished?)
(He became drunk at the party.)
(I hope you become well soon.)
(We became an engaged couple.)
Get Married/Be Married

Get Married/Be Married
Active: The preacher married Jack and Jill.
Passive: Jack and Jill were married (by the preacher).
Jack married Jill. (S V O) (Okay)

Be Married To Two meanings:
Jack was married to Jill.
Jill was married to Jack.


Jack is married.
Jack is married to Jill.
Jack was married.
(by the preacher)
(but not anymore)
Status
(current status)
(Iact)
(but he isn`t anymore)
Jack has been married Ior Iive months.
Jack and Jill have been married Ior Iive months.
How long have Jack and Jill been married?
Incorrect:
X Jack married to Jill.
X Jack married with Jill.
X Jack was married with Jill.

Get Married
Jack and Jill will get married next week.
Jack and Jill will be married next week (by the preacher).
Jack got married on April 1.
Jack got married (to Jill) on April 1. (not common)
Jack and Jill got married on April 1. (better)
Incorrect:
X Jack and Jill have gotten married since October.
X How long have Jack and Jill gotten married?

Get Engaged/Be Engaged
Get engaged
Be engaged
Be engaged to
Jill got engaged (to Jack) last week. (not common)
Jack and Jill got engaged last week.
Jack and Jill are engaged now.
Jack and Jill have been engaged Ior one week.
Incorrect:
X Jack engaged Jill.
X Jack got engaged with Jill.
X They have gotten engaged Ior one week.
X How long have they gotten engaged?

Get Divorced/Be Divorced
A divorced B
Get divorced
Be divorced
Be divorced Irom
Jack divorced Jill. (or vice versa)
Jack and Jill got divorced last month.
Jack and Jill are divorced now.
Jack is divorced
Jill is divorced.
When did they get divorced?
How long have they been divorced?
They have been divorced Ior a month.
Jack is divorced Irom Jill. (not common)
Incorrect:
X Jill got divorced with Jack.
X Jack has gotten divorced Ior one month.
X How long have Jack and Jill gotten divorced?
Problems with Verbs

1. Subject - Verb Agreement
Third person singular -s
That man live in CaliIornia. (wrong)
That man lives in CaliIornia. (correct)
2. Wrong tense
Watch Ior key 'time words and phrases
Yesterday I go to the dance. (wrong)
Yesterday I wen9 to the dance. (correct)
3. Passive and non-passive expressions
Extra 'be
What was happened last night? (wrong)
What ,55ene/ last night? (correct)
Omitted 'be
I concerned about my grades. (wrong)
I ,m concerned about my grades. (correct)
4. Modal usage
Insertion oI 'to
I had better to go. (wrong)
I had better go. (correct)
Non-base Iorm aIter modal
I could played basketball. (wrong)
I could 5l,y basketball. (correct)
5. Wrong word choice
I have met Johanna Ior Iive years. (wrong)
I have known Johanna Ior Iive years. (correct)