Before refers to what time. Marker words in the Present Simple. Hint words to help

Ventilation 12.06.2024
Ventilation

The English language is rich in tenses. It is easy to get confused in their diversity, because it is impossible to remember all the cases and nuances of using each of the tense forms. Words come to the rescue, but not simple ones, but special ones - indicators of time.

Present Continuous

Present Continuous or Present Continuous refers to a group of present tenses in English, which describes a long-term action that continues for some time. It is formed using two verbs. The first is an auxiliary verb to be, which varies according to persons and numbers. The second is a main verb with an invariable ending - ing, which carries the main meaning:

Liza is smiling now. She has a good temper - Lisa is smiling now. She's in a good mood.

The sun is shining brightly in the sky - The sun is shining brightly in the sky.

Marker words

In the flow of speech, it is not always possible to quickly navigate and use the desired tense form, because there are so many rules and subtle differences in the use of this or that tense. But there are no hopeless situations. Language asks riddles and itself comes to the rescue, offering its own clues - marker words.

Each tense form has its own satellite words. Various adverbs of time, prepositions are auxiliary signals that emphasize the features of time and thereby indicate that this or that time is before us. The Present Continuous tense is not an exception. He has his own staff of assistants.

Most Present Continuous signal words are aimed at emphasizing the duration of an action and indicate that the event being described is happening at the moment.

Present Continuous Indicator Words

Marker words

Present Continuous

Examples

Now (Now), right now (right now)

Tom is translating a sentence from Russian into English now - Tom is translating a sentence from Russian into English now.

At this moment (at the moment, at the moment, at this moment)

At this moment two close friends are waiting for the train at the railway station - At the moment, two close friends are waiting for the train at the station.

Still (still, still, still)

My mother is still protecting and looking after me - My mother still protects me and looks after me.

At present (currently, today)

The weather is changing rapidly at present - The weather is changing rapidly at the present time.

Today (Today)

Today our dreams are coming true - Today our dreams are coming true.

Tonight (tonight)

It is a pity, but we are working tonight - It’s a pity, but we are working tonight.

Currently (now, now, currently, now)

A famous writer is currently creating a new novel abroad - A famous writer is currently creating a new novel abroad.

Words such as today (today), tomorrow (tomorrow), this/next year (this/next year), tonight (in the evening) can also be markers of Present Continuous time and thereby draw attention to another function of time - an indication of the near future.

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Present simple tense in English

We said that they represent regular daily activities. We also mentioned that for each tense (and not only simple) there are marker words, the presence of which in a sentence indicates at what tense we should put the verb. We remind you that the following words serve as indicators of the present simple tense:

TODAY- Today
EVERYDAY/ WEEK/ MONTH- every day/week/month
USUALLY- usually
SOMETIME- Sometimes
OFTEN- often
SELDOM=RARELY- rarely
ALWAYS- Always

Previously we did not indicate always in marker words for the present simple tense, so as not to confuse the already difficult process of learning English tenses. Now that you have a certain base, we can safely add that the marker word always used for two tenses.

  1. Present Simple- everything is very clear here. If you always do something, then you do it regularly, often, etc. That's why always fits very organically into the scheme of marker words for the present simple tense.
    They will celebrate Christmas in the country. They ALWAYS DO so.- They will celebrate Christmas outside the city. They always do this.
  2. Present Perfect- in this case, “always” is used for actions that regularly occurred in the past, but are no longer performed at the present time.
    My grandfather has always liked black and white films. - My grandfather always liked black and white films. (This means that now he no longer likes them).

As additional words, you can use marker words:

  • FROM TIME TO TIME- occasionally
  • EVERY NOW AND THEN- every now and then
  • FREQUENTLY- often
  • OCCASIONALLY- Sometimes

Having dealt with the marker words, let's once again summarize the basic rules of application Present Simple:

  1. Regular actions in the present tense:
    We go to the gym every Wednesday.- We go to the gym every Wednesday.
  2. Current facts and events:
    Britain is ruled by the Queen.- Great Britain is ruled by the Queen.
  3. Rules and laws:
    Water boils at 100 degrees.- Water boils at 100 degrees.
  4. (For verbs not used in continuous tense). Current actions:
    This house belongs to us now.- Now this house belongs to us.
  5. Schedules and programs (in the future tense):
    The show is on Channel 6 tomorrow.- The show will be on Channel 6 tomorrow.
  6. Actions that will definitely and definitely be performed in the future (in the meaning of the future tense):
    My vacation starts in June.- My vacation will begin in June.

To better consolidate the material, go through the exercise

Verb tenses in English table.

Legend:

S – subject,

V – verb

Let's start from the present time.

Present Simple

Present Continuous

Present Perfect

Present Perfect Continuous

How to form?

V/V(e)s

I go to school every day.

Molly goes to school every day

Don't/doesn't V

I don't go to school every day.

Molly doesn't go to school every day.

Do/Does + S + V

Do you go to school every day?

How to form?

Am/is/are Ving.

They are playing.

Am/is/are not +Ving

I am not playing.

He isn't watching.

We are not listening.

Am/Is/Are + S+ Ving

How to form?

Have/has +V3

I have watched this film.

She has done her homework.

Have/has not +V3

I haven't met her before

He has not watched the film.

Have/Has +S+V3.

Have we met before?

How to form?

Have/has been Ving

I have been working.

She has been waiting.

Have/hasn't been Ving

I haven’t been waiting for you.

She hasn't been running.

Have/ has + S+ been Ving

Have you been working all day long?

When to use?

A common, regularly repeated action.

Molly often visits her granny.

Schedule.

The ship leaves at 8 sharp.

Facts, laws of nature.

When to use?

The action is happening (lasting) at the moment.

She is watching TV now.

The action takes place during this period.

I am reading M.Twain these days.

Planned action.

When to use?

The action is completed, but there is no indication of when it was completed.

She has done her homework.

The action is completed, there is no indication of the moment of completion and there is a result that is important at the moment.

I have bought some flour, so we can bake a cake.

When to use?

An action that has lasted up to the present moment (perhaps the action is still ongoing).

Usually, generally, once a month, twice a week, always, every day/week/month, never, often, rarely, sometimes, rarely

Pointer words. Time markers.

Pointer words. Time markers.

lately, recently, twice, several times, ever, never, just, already, yet, for, since

Pointer words. Time markers.

Table of verb tenses in English: past tense.

Let's move on to the past tense of the verb in English. I offer you the following table.

Past Simple

Past Continuous

Past Perfect

Past Perfect Continuous

Howform?

I played hockey.

Molly went to the zoo.

Didn't +V

I didn't play hockey.

Molly didn't go to the zoo.

Did+S+V

Did you play tennis?

Howform?

Was/were+Ving

She was sleeping.

They were dancing

Was/were not Ving

She was not crying.

We were not waiting for him.

Was/were +S+Ving

Was she writing a letter?

Were you dreaming?

How to form?

Had +V3

I had done my homework by 6 o’clock.

Had not +V3

She hadn’t finished cooking before her mother came.

Had+S+V3

How to form?

Had been Ving

I had been crying before he came.

Had not +S+ been Ving

I hadn’t been cooking by midnight.

Had + S + been + Ving

When to use?

An ordinary single action in the past.

I visited my granny last month.

Chain of events in the past.

I opened my bag, found the key and started the car.

When to use?

An action that lasted at a certain point in the past.

She was dancing at 5 o"clock yesterday.

She was sleeping when her brother came.

When to use?

The action ended before the moment in the past.

I had watched the film before we went to the cinema.

She had fallen asleep before midnight yesterday.

When to use?

The action lasted until a moment in the past.

Sally had been waiting for half an hour and then she decided to go home.

Words- pointers. Markerstime.

yesterday, last (that) month, the day before yesterday, last (that) week\month\year, in 2010, on the 10 of April, ago

Pointer words. Time markers.

all day/night long, at that moment/time, while, at 5 o"clock, when +Past Simple

Pointer words. Time markers.

Pointer words. Time markers.

Verb tense table: future tense.

Let's move on to the future tense of the verb in English. I offer you a table of future tenses in English.

Future Simple

Future Continuous

Future Perfect

Future Perfect Continuous

Howform?

Will V

I will stay with you forever.

Won't (will not) V

Won't help you.

Will +S+V

Will you come to my party?

Howform?

Will be Ving

I will be reading at 2 o’clock tomorrow.

Won't be Ving

She won't be sleeping if you come later.

Will +S+be Ving

Will you be waiting for me?

Howform?

Will have +V3

I will have read the book by tomorrow.

Won't have V3

She won’t have dinner cooked by that time.

Will+ S+have V3

Will you have finished homework by midnight?

Howform?

Will have been Ving

I will have been waiting for you till midday.

Won't have been Ving

I won't have been reading for so long.

Will +S + have been doing

Will you have been doing your homework till 5 o’clock?

When to use?

Single or sequential actions in the future

I will meet you at the station.

She will come home and then she will take a shower.

When to use?

The action lasts at a certain point in the future.

I will be lying on the beach at this time tomorrow.

When to use?

The action will end until a point in the future.

I will have written all the letters by 5pm.

Whenuse?

The action lasts until a moment in the future.

Molly will have been living in Kongo for three years next November.

Words- pointers. Markerstime.

Tomorrow, the day after tomorrow , tonight, one of these days, next week/month, in an hour /minute, later, soon, in (the) future

Words- pointers. Markerstime.

all day/night long, at that moment/time, while, at 5 o"clock, when

Words- pointers. Markerstime.

Words- pointers. Markerstime.

all day long, by, before, since, for, till

Russian-speaking people often come to their aid." auxiliary words", indicating time in English. The fact is that the tense systems in English and Russian languages ​​are strikingly different: in Russian there are three tenses (past, present, future), and in English there are 4 groups of active tenses, each of which consists of past, present, future tense. Fortunately, the distinctive feature of each tense is certain words that help to understand what time it is.

Below is a table with "auxiliary words" indicating tense in English:

INDEFINITE

CONTINUOUS

PERFECT

PERFECT CONTINUOUS

P

A

S

T

yesterday

X days ago

last week

in xxxx year

and other words indicating that the action was performed some time ago

at x o'clock yesterday

from x to x yesterday

for x hours last week

the whole day

all day long yesterday

when he came

and other words indicating that the action was performed some time in the past

by x o'clock yesterday

before we came

by the end of last week

and other words indicating that the action was completed at a certain point in the past

FOR...WHEN

all words characteristic of CONTINUOUS and PERFECT

those. the action continued to be performed for some time up to a certain point in the past time

P

R

E

S

E

N

T

usually/generally

sometimes

those. words that make it clear that the action is routine. No attention is paid to the exact execution time and duration of the action itself.

Replaces the future tense when talking about a schedule, schedule

at the moment

at present

Replaces the future tense when the action is planned in advance

recently

this week

and other words showing the connection between the action performed to date

FOR...SINCE/WHEN

those. The action has been running for some time and has not yet finished

F

U

T

U

R

E

tomorrow

next year

in x days

in xxxx year

and other words indicating that the action will be performed

at x o'clock tomorrow

from x to x tomorrow

for x hours next week

the whole day

all day long tomorrow

when he cames

and other words indicating that the action will be performed some time in the future

by x o'clock tomorrow

before we come

by the end of next week

and other words indicating that the action will be completed by a certain point in the future

FOR...WHEN

those. the action will be performed some time at some point in time in the future

Here are some illustrative examples:

Group " Indefinite»:

Past: I cooked dinner* yesterday(2 hours ago, last Friday) – I was cooking dinner yesterday.

Present: I always(very often) cook dinner – I always cook dinner.

Future: I will cook dinner tomorrow(next Monday) – I’ll cook dinner tomorrow.

Group " Continuous"(the speaker wants to emphasize the duration of the action):

Past: I was cooking dinner for two hours last Sunday(from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.). – I cooked dinner for two hours last Sunday.

Present: I am cooking dinner right now(at the moment) – I’m cooking dinner right now.

Future: I will be cooking tomorrow for all day(at 5 o’clock tomorrow) – I’ll be cooking dinner all day tomorrow.

Group " Perfect»:

Past: I had cooked dinner by 10 o’clock yesterday– I cooked dinner at 10 o’clock yesterday.

Present: I have cooked dinner today– I cooked dinner today.

Future: I will have cooked dinner by 10 o'clock tomorrow– I will prepare dinner tomorrow at 10 o’clock.

Group " Perfect continuous»:

Past: I had been cooking dinner for all day, when he came - I had been preparing dinner all day when he came to me.

Present: I have been cooking dinner all day, that's why I am tired – I’ve been cooking dinner all day, so I’m tired.

Future: I will have been cooking for hours, when you will go to work - I will already be cooking for hours when you go to work.

* In modern English (especially in American), the word “dinner” is increasingly used to mean dinner, and the word “lunch” is used for lunch

Article " English tense table"sums up a large section of English grammar called" tenses in English". There are 12 tense forms in English. As in Russian, in English there is present (Present), past (Past) and future (Future), but each of these tenses in English is divided into simple, continuous and perfect continuous. You can find the rules for using tenses in English on our website in the “Articles – English” section. Below is a table of tenses in English, which shows in a schematic form the formation of different tenses in English. You should pay attention to tense markers in English. which will help you correctly use this or that tense of the English language.

Conventions: S – subject (performer of the action), V – predicate (action/verb), + – affirmative sentence in English, - – negative sentence in English, ?

– interrogative sentence in English.:

Present Continuous

Indicates constant, regular action, well-known facts. Time markers: 1) usually, often, sometimes, always, rarely, hardly ever, never– stand before the predicate (V)

2) every day/week/year…, once/twice a week/month…- come at the end of a sentence I

+ S+V/V(e)s

I/we/you/they work

He/She/It works


S + don’t/doesn’t + V 1

I/we/you/they don’t work

He/She/It doesn’t work

? Do/Does +S + V 1 ?

Do we/you/they work?

Does he/she/it work?

Where do/does +S + V 1 ?

Where we/you/they work?

Where does he/she/it work?

Indicates a long-term action that occurs at the moment of speech or a temporary action ( I’ m staying at the hotel ). Can be used to convey the future tense: I"m seeing my doctor on Friday. Time markers: now, at the moment (or from the context).

+ S +am/is/are +V ing

I'm working

He/She/It is working

We/You/They are working

- S + am not/isn’t/arent +V ing

I'm not working

He/She/It isn’t working

We/You/They aren't working

? Am/Is/Are +S + V ing?

Is he/she/it working?

Are we/you/they working

What am/is/are +S + V ing?

What are you doing now?

Past Simple

Past Continuous

Indicates an action that happened in the past. Time markers : yesterday, last year/week/month, two days ago, in 2001( or from context).

+ S + V ed/ V 2

I worked

He bought it yesterday

- S + didn’t +V 1

I didn't work

He didn’t buy it yesterday

? Did +S + V 1 ?

Did you work?

Did he buy it yesterday?

What did +S + V 1 ?

What did he buy?

Indicates a continuous action in the past that occurred at a certain point in the past. Time markers: yesterdayat 5,when you came (or from the context).

+ S + was/were +V ing

I/He/She/It was working at 5:30 yesterday.

We/You/They were working….

- S + wasn’t/weren’t +V ing

I/He/She/It wasn’t working at 5:30 yesterday.

We/You/They weren't working...

? Was/Were +S + V ing?

Was I/he/she/it working at ….

We/you/they working at…..

What was/were +S + V ing?

What were they doing at 5:30 yesterday?

Present Perfect

Present Perfect Continuous

Indicates a past action, the result of which is felt in the present. Time markers: never, ever, yet, since, for, before, already, just.

+ S + have/has +V ed/ V 3

I/We/You/They have worked/done….

He/She/It has worked/done……

- S + haven’t/hasn’t +V ed/ V 3

I/We/You/They haven’t worked/done….

He/She/It hasn’t worked/done……

? Have/Has +S + V ed/ V 3 ?

Have I/we/you/they worked/done …

Has she/he/it worked/done….

What have/has +S + V ed/ V 3 ?

What have you done?

Indicates an action that began in the past, lasted until the moment of speech, and may still be ongoing. Time markers: since, for.

+ S + have/has + been +V ing

I/We/You/They have been working since morning

He/She/It has been working since morning

- S + haven’t/hasn’t + been +V ing

I/We/You/They haven’t been working since morning

He/She/It hasn’t been working since morning

? Have/Has +S + been +V ing?

Have you/we/they been working…

Has he/she/it been working….

What have/has +S + been + V ing ?

What have you been doing since morning?

Past Perfect

Past Perfect Continuous

Indicates an action that was completed before a certain point in the past or another past action.

+ S + had +V ed/ V 3

I had done all work by 6 p.m.

- S +hadn’t +V ed/ V 3

I hadn’t done all work by 6 p.m.

? Had +S + V ed/ V 3 ?

Had you done….

What had +S + V ed/ V 3 ?

What had you done by 6 p.m. yeste rday?

indicates an action that began in the past, lasted for some time and ended (or has not yet ended) before a certain point in the past.

+ S +had+ been +V ing

- S + hadn’t + been +V ing

I had been working by the time he came

? Had +S + been +V ing?

Had you been working…

What had +S + been + V ing….. ?

Future Simple

Future be going to...

Indicates future tense:

1. predictions for the future (without visible evidence);

2. promises, threats;

3. decisions made at the time of speech;

4. irreversible events.

Markers: tomorrow, next wee k , (or from the context).

+ S + will +V 1

She'll be 24 next week

- S + won’t (wiil +not) +V 1

It won't rain tomorrow

? Will +S + V 1 ?

Will it rain tomorrow?

Where will +S + V 1 ?

Where will you do?

Indicates future tense:

1. predictions for the future (visible confirmation);

2. plans and intentions.

+ S +am/is/are + going to +V 1

It is going to rain (there are clouds in the sky)

- S + am not/isn’t/aren’t + going to +V 1

I"m not going to attend that meeting

? Am/Is/Are +S + going to + V 1 ?

Are you going to call him?

What am/is/are +S + going to +V 1 ?

What are you going to do?

Future Perfect

Future Perfect Continuous

Indicates an action that will end before a certain time or another action in the future or will continue to continue (rarely used).

+ S + will + have +V ed/ V 3

She’ll have worked/done….

- S +won't+have +V ed/ V 3

She won’t have worked/done …

? Will +S + have +V ed/ V 3 ?

Will she have done...?

What will +S + have +V ed/ V 3 ?

What will you have done...?

Used to describe an action that will begin before some point in time in the future and will still be in progress at that point in time. It is used very rarely, never in oral speech.

+ S + will + have + been +V ing

I’ll have been working….

- S +won't+have + been + V ing

I have been working….

? Will +S + have + been + V ing?

Will you have been working…

What will +S + have + been +V ing?

What will you have been doing….?

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