English Tenses Active

1. Simple Present (Present Simple) – Introduction
Simple present is also called present simple.



The simple present expresses an action in the present taking place once, never or several times. It is also used for actions that take place one after another and for actions that are set by a timetable or schedule. The simple present also expresses facts in the present

2. Present Progressive – Introduction
The present progressive puts emphasis on the course or duration of an action.

The present progressive is used for actions going on in the moment of speaking and for actions taking place only for a short period of time. It is also used to express development and actions that are arranged for the near future.
Present progressive is also known as present continuous.

3. Simple Past (Past Simple)
The simple past expresses an action in the past taking place once, never, several times. It can also be used for actions taking place one after another or in the middle of another action.
Form of Simple Past

Positive Negative Question
no differences I spoke. I did not speak. Did I speak?

For irregular verbs, use the past form (see list of irregular verbs). For regular verbs, just add “ed”.
Exceptions in Spelling when Adding ‘ed’
Exceptions in spelling when adding ed Example
after a final e only add d love – loved
final consonant after a short, stressed vowel
or l as final consonant after a vowel is doubled admit – admitted
travel – travelled
final y after a consonant becomes i hurry – hurried




Use of Simple Past
• action in the past taking place once, never or several times
Example: He visited his parents every weekend.
• actions in the past taking place one after the other
Example: He came in, took off his coat and sat down.
• action in the past taking place in the middle of another action
Example: When I was having breakfast, the phone suddenly rang.
• if sentences type II (If I talked, …)
Example: If I had a lot of money, I would share it with you.
Signal Words of Simple Past
• yesterday, 2 minutes ago, in 1990, the other day, last Friday
• If-Satz Typ II (If I talked, …)

4. Past Progressive (Past Continuous)
The past progressive puts emphasis on the course of an action in the past.
Form
Positive Negative Question
I/he/she/it I was speaking. I was not speaking. Was I speaking?
you/we/they You were speaking. You were not speaking. Were you speaking?
Exceptions in spelling when adding ing Example
final e is dropped (but: ee is not changed) come – coming
(but: agree – agreeing)
after a short, stressed vowel, the final consonant is doubled sit – sitting
l as final consonant after a vowel is doubled (in British English) travel – travelling
final ie becomes y lie – lying
Exceptions in Spelling
Use of Past Progressive
• puts emphasis on the course of an action in the past
Example: He was playing football.
• two actions happening at the same time (in the past)
Example: While she was preparing dinner, he was washing the dishes.
• action going on at a certain time in the past
Example: When I was having breakfast, the phone suddenly rang.
Signal Words of Past Progressive
• when, while, as long as

5. Present Perfect Simple
The present perfect simple expresses an action that is still going on or that stopped recently, but has an influence on the present. It puts emphasis on the result.
Form of Present Perfect
Positive Negative Question
I/you/we/they I have spoken. I have not spoken. Have I spoken?
he/she/it He has spoken. He has not spoken. Has he spoken?

For irregular verbs, use the participle form (see list of irregular verbs, ). For regular verbs, just add “ed”.

Exceptions in Spelling when Adding ‘ed’
Exceptions in spelling when adding ed Example
after a final e only add d love – loved
final consonant after a short, stressed vowel
or l as final consonant after a vowel is doubled admit – admitted
travel – travelled
final y after a consonant becomes i hurry – hurried
Use of Present Perfect
• puts emphasis on the result
Example: She has written five letters.
• action that is still going on
Example: School has not started yet.
• action that stopped recently
Example: She has cooked dinner.
• finished action that has an influence on the present
Example: I have lost my key.
• action that has taken place once, never or several times before the moment of speaking
Example: I have never been to Australia.
Signal Words of Present Perfect
• already, ever, just, never, not yet, so far, till now, up to now

6. Future I Simple will
Will future expresses a spontaneous decision, an assumption with regard to the future or an action in the future that cannot be influenced.
Form of will Future
positive negative question
no differences I will speak. I will not speak. Will I speak?
Use of will Future
 a spontaneous decision
example: Wait, I will help you.
 an opinion, hope, uncertainty or assumption regarding the future
example: He will probably come back tomorrow.
 a promise
example: I will not watch TV tonight.
 an action in the future that cannot be influenced
example: It will rain tomorrow.
 conditional clauses type I
example: If I arrive late, I will call you.
Signal Words
 in a year, next …, tomorrow
 Vermutung: I think, probably, we might …, perhaps

7. Future I Simple going to
Going to future expresses a conclusion regarding the immediate future or an action in the near future that has already been planned or prepared.
Form of going to Future
positive negative question
I I am going to speak. I am not going to speak. Am I going to speak?
you/we/they You are going to speak. You are not going to speak. Are you going to speak?
he / she / it He is going to speak. He is not going to speak. Is he going to speak?
Use of going to Future
 an action in the near future that has already been planned or prepared
example: I am going to study harder next year.
 a conclusion regarding the immediate future
example: The sky is absolutely dark. It is going to rain.
Signal Words
 in one year, next week, tomorrow

8. Future I Progressive (Future I Continuous)
Future I progressive puts emphasis on the course of an action taking place in the future.
Form
 A: He will be talking.
 N: He will not be talking.
 Q: Will he be talking?
Use
 action that is going on at a certain time in the future
 action that is sure to happen in the near future
Signal Words
 in one year, next week, tomorrow

9. Future II Simple
Future II Simple expresses an action that will be finished at a certain time in the future.
Form
 A: He will have talked.
 N: He will not have talked.
 Q: Will he have talked?
Use
 action that will be finished at a certain time in the future
Signal Words
 by Monday, in a week
10. Future II Progressive (Future II Continuous)
Future II progressive puts emphasis on the course / duration of an action taking place before a certain time in the future. It can also be used to express an assumption regarding a future action.
Future II progressive is not used very often as it can usually be replaced by future II simple.
Form
 A: He will have been talking.
 N: He will not have been talking.
 Q: Will he have been talking?
Use
 action taking place before a certain time in the future
 puts emphasis on the course of an action
Signal Words
 for ..., the last couple of hours, all day long

English Irregular Verbs

List of Irregular Verbs
Infinitive Simple Past Past Participle
alight alighted, alit alighted, alit
arise arose arisen
awake awoke, awaked awoken, awaked
be was, were been
bear bore borne, born
beat beat beaten, beat
become became become
beget begot begotten
begin began begun
bend bent bent
bereave bereaved, bereft bereaved, bereft
beseech besought, beseeched besought, beseeched
bet bet, betted bet, betted
bid bade, bid bidden, bid, bade
bide bade, bided bided
bind bound bound
bite bit bitten
bleed bled bled
bless blessed, blest blessed, blest
blow blew blown
break broke broken
breed bred bred
bring brought brought
broadcast broadcast, broadcasted broadcast, broadcasted
build built built
burn burnt, burned burnt, burned
burst burst burst
bust bust, busted bust, busted
buy bought bought
can could (kein Participle)
cast cast cast
catch caught caught
choose chose chosen
cleave cleft, cleaved, clove cleft, cleaved, cloven
cling clung clung
clothe clothed, clad clothed, clad
come came come
cost cost cost
creep crept crept
crow crowed crew, crowed
cut cut cut
deal dealt dealt
dig dug dug
do did done
draw drew drawn
dream dreamt, dreamed dreamt, dreamed
drink drank drunk
drive drove driven
dwell dwelt, dwelled dwelt, dwelled
eat ate eaten
fall fell fallen
feed fed fed
feel felt felt
fight fought fought
find found found
flee fled fled
fling flung flung
fly flew flown
forbid forbad, forbade forbid, forbidden
forecast forecast, forecasted forecast, forecasted
forget forgot forgotten
forsake forsook forsaken
freeze froze frozen
geld gelded, gelt gelded, gelt
get got got, gotten
gild gilded, gilt gilded, gilt
give gave given
gnaw gnawed gnawed, gnawn
go went gone
grind ground ground
grip gripped, gript gripped, gript
grow grew grown
hang hung hung
have had had
hear heard heard
heave heaved, hove heaved, hove
hew hewed hewed, hewn
hide hid hidden, hid
hit hit hit
hold held held
hurt hurt hurt
keep kept kept
kneel knelt, kneeled knelt, kneeled
knit knitted, knit knitted, knit
know knew known
lay laid laid
lead led led
lean leant, leaned leant, leaned
leap leapt, leaped leapt, leaped
learn learnt, learned learnt, learned
leave left left
lend lent lent
let let let
lie lay lain
light lit, lighted lit, lighted
lose lost lost
make made made
may might (kein Participle)
mean meant meant
meet met met
melt melted molten, melted
mow mowed mown, mowed
pay paid paid
pen pent, penned pent, penned
plead pled, pleaded pled, pleaded
prove proved proven, proved
put put put
quit quit, quitted quit, quitted
read read read
rid rid, ridded rid, ridded
ride rode ridden
ring rang rung
rise rose risen
run ran run
saw sawed sawn, sawed
say said said
see saw seen
seek sought sought
sell sold sold
send sent sent
set set set
sew sewed sewn, sewed
shake shook shaken
shall should (kein Participle)
shear sheared shorn, sheared
shed shed shed
shine shone shone
shit shit, shitted, shat shit, shitted, shat
shoe shod, shoed shod, shoed
shoot shot shot
show showed shown, showed
shred shred, shredded shred, shredded
shrink shrank, shrunk shrunk
shut shut shut
sing sang sung
sink sank sunk
sit sat sat
slay slew slain
sleep slept slept
slide slid slid
sling slung slung
slink slunk slunk
slit slit slit
smell smelt, smelled smelt, smelled
smite smote smitten
sow sowed sown, sowed
speak spoke spoken
speed sped, speeded sped, speeded
spell spelt, spelled spelt, spelled
spend spent spent
spill spilt, spilled spilt, spilled
spin spun spun
spit spat spat
split split split
spoil spoilt, spoiled spoilt, spoiled
spread spread spread
spring sprang, sprung sprung
stand stood stood
steal stole stolen
stick stuck stuck
sting stung stung
stink stank, stunk stunk
stride strode stridden
strike struck struck
string strung strung
strive strove striven
swear swore sworn
sweat sweat, sweated sweat, sweated
sweep swept swept
swell swelled swollen, swelled
swim swam swum
swing swung swung
take took taken
teach taught taught
tear tore torn
telecast telecast, telecasted telecast, telecasted
tell told told
think thought thought
throw threw thrown
thrust thrust thrust
tread trod trodden
understand understood understood
wake woke, waked woken, waked
wear wore worn
weave wove woven
wed wed, wedded wed, wedded
weep wept wept
wet wet, wetted wet, wetted
win won won
wind wound wound
wring wrung wrung
write wrote written

Communication Situations

1. English Vocabulary – Body Parts
Body Parts

arm
eye
eyebrow
belly
leg
breast
thumb
elbow
fist
finger
foot (plural: feet)
ankle
buttocks
hair
neck
hand
wrist
hip
chin
knee
head
lip
mouth
nose
nostril
upper arm
thigh
ear
bottom, bum
back
underarm, forearm
lower leg
shoulder
forehead
waist
calf (plural: calves)
cheek
eyelash, lash
tooth (plural: teeth)
toe
tongue


2. Personal Description
Appearance
I am / You are / He is / She is …

tall
small
overweight, fat
slim
young
old
… years old.
beautiful / pretty (Mädchen / Frau), handsome (Junge / Mann)
sun-tanned
pale

I have / You have / He has / She has (got) …

blue / green / grey / brown eyes
freckles
a beard
a full beard
a moustache
a goatee
a stubbly beard
blond hair
red hair
brown hair
black hair
dyed hair
blond highlights
short hair
long hair
straight hair
curly hair / curls
a bald head
a square / round / triangular / oval face
a big / small / long nose
big / small ears


Clothing and Accessories
I wear / You wear / He wears / She wears …
glasses
contact lenses
I am wearing / You are wearing / He/She is wearing …

earrings
a necklace
a wristband
a bracelet
a cap
a red scarf
a tie

Character
I am / You are / He is / She is …

shy
quiet
lively
active
easygoing
outgoing
nice
friendly
funny
happy
annoying
sad
aggressive
a pain in the neck
a little chatter box


3. Asking for and Giving Directions
Asking for and Giving Directions

How do I get to …?
What's the best way to …?
Where is …?
Go straight on (until you come to …).
Turn back./Go back.
Turn left/right (into …-street).
Go along …
Cross …
Take the first/second road on the left/right
It's on the left/right.
straight on
opposite
near
next to
between
at the end (of)
on/at the corner
behind
in front of
(just) around the corner
traffic lights
crossroads, junction
signpost


4. English Vocabulary – Geography
Geography

arctic
Atlantic, Atlantic Ocean
mountain
mountains
state
earthquake
river
temperate
is bounded by
capital
island
climate
continent
coast
country
sea
bordering country
national park
North America
ocean
Pacific, Pacific Ocean
San Andreas Fault (also: San Andreas Rift)
lake
steep coast
beach
valley
tropical
divided


5. Hotel and Restaurant
Accomodation

accommodation
dormitory
double room
family room
twin room
single room
double bed
youth hostel
bunk bed
fill in a form
reception
receptionist
key
book in advance
B&B
vacancies
no vacancies

Hotel

arrival date / date of arrival
departure date / date of departure
room service
air conditioning
make a reservation / book a room
request more information
complete / fill in the form
staff
cancel a booking

Restaurant

eating out
bill (The bill please.)
bottle
dessert
drink
hungry
thirsty
menu
order (Are you ready to order?)
restaurant
set meal
table (A table for two please.)
guest
waiter , waitress
Here you go.
tip (Shall we tip the waiter?)


6. Introducing and Greeting People
Greeting People

Hello. / Hi.
Good morning. (before 12 o'clock)
Good afternoon.(after 12 o'clock)
Good evening .

Introducing People

What's your name?
Who are you?
My name is ...
I am ...
My friends call me ...
You can call me ...
Haven't we met (before)?
Yes, I think we have.
No, I don't think we have.
I think we've already met.
I don't think we've met (before).
This is ...
Meet ...
Have you met ...?
Yes, I have.
No, I haven't.
Yes, I think I have.
No, I don't think I have.
Hello, ... (name)
Nice to meet you. (informal)
Pleased to meet you.
How do you do? (formal)
Nice to see you.
Nice to see you again.

Health

How are you?
How are you today?
Fine, thank you/thanks.
Not too bad.
Very well.
I'm okay / all right.
Not too well, actually.
What's wrong with you?
What's the matter with you?
Are you all right?
I'm tired .
I'm exhausted .
I've got a cold

Say Goodbye

Good bye.
Bye. / See you.
See you later.
See you soon.
See you tomorrow.
See you next week.
Good night.

7. Shopping
Shop Assistant

Can I help you?
What can I do for you?
Are you being served ?
Sorry, we don't sell stamps.
Anything else?
It's on offer.
Buy two for the price of one.
How much / many would you like?
What size do you take?
Sorry, we are out of bread .
Would another colour do?
Would you like to try it on?
The fitting room is over there.
The dress suits you very well.
Pay at the cash desk / till, please.
I'll take this to the cash desk / till for you.
Here you are. / Here you go.
You're welcome.
That's 20 euros/euro altogether .
You don't happen to have any change , do you?
Here's your change.

Customer

I need ...
I'd like a bottle of milk, please.
Have you got souvenirs ?
Do you sell stamps?
Where can I buy post cards?
Where can I get a film for my camera?
Where can I find newspapers?
Are these bottles returnable ?
It doesn't fit me.
It doesn't suit me.
I don't like it.
It's too small / big / wide / tight / expensive .
I'm size ...
Have you got this in another size / colour?
May I try this on, please?
Where can I try this on, please?
How much is it?
That's all.
Where is the cash desk / till?
Could I get a receipt , please?
Could I get a (plastic) bag, please?
(I'm afraid/ Sorry) I don't have any change .
Do you accept credit cards?

8. English Vocabulary – Weather
Weather
What's the weather like today?
What will the weather be like tomorrow?
Nice day today, isn't it?
What awful weather!
What a lovely day!
It's raining.
It's snowing.
It's …
Tomorrow it will be …
Yesterday it was …
sunny
cloudy
overcast
foggy
stormy
windy
cold
warm
hot