Grammatica

Simple Present

Usage
1. With verbs like to love, to desire, to see, to think and to contain only the simple present is used. I believe you’re right
This box contains chocolates

2. With other verbs we use the simple present for: - habits, things we do regularly or every day
Judy works long hours - things which are normal everyday actions. It takes more than an hour to travel to school.

Present continuous

Usage
1. The present continuous is used for actions which are happening at the time of speaking or in the period of speaking. My brother normally works in an office, but today he’s working in the garden. I’m reading a novel by Hunter, but I can’t find it just now.

2. The present continuous is sometimes used to express irritation. In that case the Ving form is often used with words like always or continually. He is always asking the same questions.

3. The present continuous is used for planned actions in the near future. We are leaving next Monday.

4. In letters, the present continuous is often used in certain expressions. I am writing to you to let you know that
We are expecting further news soon.

Simple Past

Usage
We use the simple past to show that an action happened at a certain time in the past. Last week we booked two places for the music video workshop. Anita Roddick opened the first branch of The Body Shop in England in 1976.

Past Continuous
Usage
We use this tense to say that an action - took place during a certain period in the past. At this time last night I was still working at the office. - was going on when another action began. He was having breakfast when his mother came in.

Present Perfect Usage

We use the present perfect - for actions which began in the past and still continue. We have waited for you since two o’clock. These goods have been here for over two years.

- for actions where the result is more important than time. My teacher has read your letter. (So he/she knows what’s in your letter.)

- in How long
questions and in sentences with time expressions beginning with for/since. How long have you been au pair now? (hoe lang ben je nu al au pair?) I haven’t seen Bob for a while.

- with the word just to say that an action happened a short time ago. Our teacher has just left the classroom. What have I just told you?

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Present Perfect Continuous

Usage
The present perfect continuous can be used to say that an action began in the past and is still going on. The usage is similar to that of the present perfect. The ing-form can be used when you want to - stress the duration of the action. They have been waiting for more than an hour now. We have been studying English all morning.

- say that an activity has just finished. The result of that activity is clear: Yes, I know I’m dirty. I’ve been cleaning my motorbike. I’m all sweaty. I’ve been doing aerobics for more than an hour.

Past Perfect

Usage
The past perfect is used to say that an action in the past happened before another action in the past. I asked her to send the letter, but she had already done it. I wanted to buy those jeans yesterday, but someone else had already bought them.

Future
Form and usage
English has four future forms. 1. Will and shall to express intentions and predictions. We shall send you a letter when we are in Paris
I will be in London tomorrow.

2. The present continuous to express plans and arrangements in the near future. We are leaving next Monday. We are playing cards tonight.

3. Be + going to, to express plans and predictions. It’s going to be a cold night. I’m going to see John when I am in Amsterdam.

4. The present tense can only be used when you’re talking about schedules or timetables of trains or planes. My plane leaves at six. The shop reopens on 6 September.

Passive

Form
Present simple
am/are/is checked
word/wordt gecontroleerd
present continuous
Am/are/is being checked
word/wordt gecontroleerd
Past simple
Was/were checked
Ben/is/werd gecontroleerd
Past continuous
Was/were being checked
Werd gecontroleerd
Future
Shall/will be checked
Word/wordt/zal/zullen gecontroleerd worden
Present perfect
Have/has been checked
Ben/is/zijn gecontroleerd
Past perfect
Had been checked
Was/waren gecontroleerd

Usage
1. Thousands of citizens were killed (you concentrate on the citizens who were affected by the action of the bombs.) The bombs killed thousands of citizens. (You want to point out that the bombs were the killers.)

2. The passive can be preceded by can, could, may, might, should, would, must. It can also be done tomorrow. The puzzle may never be solved. The keys must be handed in now.

3. Look at the following phrases; in Dutch you often get men or er. It is said that the queen has 1279 hats (men zegt dat¡K) It is expected that many people will spend their holiday in Spain. (men verwacht dat¡K)

4. Dutch er. Many Landrovers were sold last year
er zijn
There is a lot of poverty in the suburbs
er bestaat

Indirect speech “He said that” Form
When we use indirect speech we get the past tense of the verb. Are>were ‘we are in love’ > They said they were in love. Will>would ‘We will see you tomorrow’ > They said they would see us tomorrow. Must>had to ‘must go’. > He said I had to go.